I.M. Vijayan

Biography:

A former professional football player and captain of the India national football team, Inivalappil Mani Vijayan (born April 25, 1969) is also known by the moniker Kalo Harin (Blackbuck). He was a striker for the India national football team, when in the late 1990s and early 2000s he forged a productive offensive partnership with Bhaichung Bhutia . Indian Player of the Year Vijayan became the first player to win the title more than once, having won it in 1993, 1997, and 1999. In 2003, he was also granted the Arjuna Award.

One of the biggest names in Indian football, Vijayan began his career with the Kerala Police football team. A fiercely competitive player, he finally rose to the top of Indian club football earnings and was a regular member of the Indian squad. In a 1999 SAF Games encounter against Bhutan, he scored one of the fastest goals in international history in just 12 seconds after kickoff.

Even though Vijayan played his whole career in India till his retirement, clubs in Malaysia and Thailand were interested in his skills. He ended his career having netted 29 goals for India in 70 international matches. In his hometown, Vijayan has established a football academy to develop future players after quitting the national team. From 2000 until 2004, he led the Indian football team as captain.

In numerous films, Vijayan has also played a number of noteworthy roles. Mmmmm, one of his films, made the shortlist for India’s 93rd Academy Awards submission. Vijayan was born in Thrissur, Kerala, on April 25, 1969, into a Malayali family. He was raised in an extremely impoverished household and had to support his family by selling soda bottles at the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium.

At the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium in Kerala, Vijayan began his career selling soda for 10 paise (0.02 cents) per bottle. He attended CMSHSS, Thrissur, the Church Mission Society High School. His love for football somehow attracted the attention of M.K. Joseph, the Kerala DGP at the time, who helped him get accepted into the 17-year-old Kerala Police football club.

Vijayan made an immediate impression on the national football community with his flawless technique and extremely aggressive playing style, winning games for Kerala Police at the Quilon Nationals in 1987. Up till 1991, he kept playing for Kerala Police. After that, he joined Mohun Bagan. In 1992, he returned to Kerala Police, but the following year, he rejoined Mohun Bagan for a second stint with the club.

He began working for JCT Mills Phagwara in 1994 and remained there for three more years till joining FC Kochin in 1997.  He stayed with the club for a year before moving again, this time to Mohun Bagan in 1998 (his third stint), and eventually returning to FC Kochin in 1999.

At the Palakkad Noorani Football Stadium’s opening ceremony, Vijayan was accompanied by Bhaichung Bhutia. Vijayan joined the Bangladeshi Dhaka Premier Division League team Muktijoddha Sangsad in August 2000 during the off-season. He played in five league games, but the All India Football Federation fined him 50,000 rupees in March 2001 due to the signing’s lack of an international transfer certificate. He then made a comeback to FC Kochin, where he played until 2001.

He then made a comeback to FC Kochin, where he played until 2001. After that, he signed with East Bengal. He left in 2002 to rejoin JCT Mills Phagwara. He played for the team for two years before leaving JCT in 2004 to join Churchill Brothers S.C. After a year, he quit the team and signed with East Bengal in 2005, his final professional football team while still playing. In 2006, he moved out of East Bengal. Vijayan participated in the 2020–21 futsal season with the Gokulam Kerala squad.