Born: 15th December 1976 in Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Height: 170 cms (5 feet 8 inches).
Weight: 60 kg (most probably higher now?)
Played for: SAI Centre - Gangtok 1990-93; East Bengal - Calcutta 1993-95; JCT Mills - Phagwara 1995-97, East Bengal 1997-99.
Current Side: Bury FC (English Second Division) since 1999
Playing position: Striker
Indian International since 1995
International A matches: 40
Goals scored in International A matches: 25
Honours:
- best player of the 1992 Subroto Cup
- youngest goal scorer for India in 1995, scoring the match-winner against Uzbekistan at the Nehru Cup
- best player of the Calcutta Super Division 1995
- top scorer of the Calcutta Super Division 1995
- best Indian player of the Year 1996
- top scorer of the first National Football League 1996/97
- top scorer of the SAFF Cup 1999
- best player of the SAFF Cup 1999
- Voted "Asian Player of the month" for the month of May 1999
- received Sikkim State Award 1999
- received the Arjuna Award 1999
- first Indian-born player to appear in the Football League October 1999
- first Indian-born player to score in the Football League April 2000
Career:
Since his early days Baichung's football ambitions have been promoted by his family.Baichung Bhutia first came to the forefront at the 1992 Subroto Cup in New Delhi.In 1993 Baichung was signed on by Calcutta giants East Bengal, after his showings in the Subroto Cup and for the National U-16 team in the Asian U-16 Cup Qualifiers.In 1995 Baichung along with a host of other ndian top stars went to the Punjabi club JCT Mills in the small town of
Phagwara and had two very successful seasons with them, among other things winning the first-ever Indian National Football
League title, alos becoming the league's top scorer.
In 1997 Baichung returned to Calcutta and to East Bengal. By this time Baichung had become one of India's top players
and in the 1998/99 season he was even East Bengal's captain, one of the youngest ever at 21. In this time his desire to play
professionally in Europe had grown but it was still a dream.
In March 1999 Baichung had an unsuccessful trial with english Premiership club Aston Villa. This was later followed up
by a three month rigorous training stint in Sweden, with AIK Solna. In summer 1999 Baichung had unsuccessul trials at Fulham (English First Division) and West Bromwich Albion (also English First Division), before going for a trial at Bury (Englsih Second Division). Baichung signed a
three year contract with Bury and after the havoc of getting the UK work permit, Baichung made his debut in early October
1999 against Cardiff City in a Second Division League match.Baichung also had offers to play "Major League Soccer" in North America, in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and even Belgium.
Profile compiled by Arunava Chauduri
