Bhaichung Bhutia is a former Indian national football player. He represented India in international competitions for 16 years and won huge honours. Let’s take a closer look at his personal and professional life.
Biography/Wiki
Bhaichung Bhutia or the famous “Sikkim Sniper” was born on December 15, 1976 in Tinkitam, Sikkim, India. He is 42 years old, has the health of a teenager, and can often be seen nutmegging players on his Instagram posts. He represented India in international football and wore the blue jersey for 16 years before retiring in 2011. The centre-forward was known as the “Sikkim Sniper” for his ability to score goals.
physical characteristics
Bhaichung Bhutia constitution
Bhutia is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and weighs approximately 67 kg (150 lbs). His chest measurement is 42 inches, waist measurement is 32 inches, and biceps are 15 inches. He has black hair and black eyes.
Education and Careers
He was born and brought up in Sikkim. He studied at St. Xavier’s School in Pajun, east Sikkim. He has always loved football. At the age of 14, he joined Gangtok Boys Club, where his uncle Karma Bhutia was the head coach. Bhutia received his football training from Tashi Namgyal Academy in Sikkim and then joined SAI Gangtok. He was awarded the best player award in the 1992 Subroto Cup. Former India goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly noticed his talent and helped him transition to Kolkata football.
Bhaskar Ganguly
At the age of 16, he signed for East Bengal Football Club, his first professional club. In the summer of 1999, he was signed by the English third division team Bury Football Club, becoming the second Indian player to play for a European club after Mohammad Salim.
Muhammad Salem
On April 15, 2000, he became the first Asian player to score a goal in a professional game in England. He also captained the Indian team to the LG Cup title in Vietnam in 2002, three South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship titles, two Nehru Cup titles (2007 and 2009) and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup champions, which guaranteed them a place in the 2011 Asian Cup Qatar Cup. Inivalappil Mani Vijayan (or IM Vijayan) three-time India Player of the Year described Bhutia as:
God’s gift to Indian football.
Vijayan
On August 24, 2011, he announced his retirement from the national team. In 2012, a farewell match against Bayern Munich was held for him.
On November 13, 2012, he was appointed as the interim head coach of Sikkim United. On February 12, 2015, he returned to East Bengal for the last time on a half-season contract and later retired from professional football. In January 2018, he was appointed as the head coach of the Sikkim team. He has also partnered with Carlos Queiroz and Nike to open a football school in Delhi.
family
He was born to his father, Dorji Dorma, and his mother, Sonam Topden. He grew up with two brothers, Bom Bom Bhutia and Chewang Bhutia, and a sister, Cali. On December 30, 2004, he married hotel professional Madhuri Tipnis.
Baichung Bhutia and his wife
The couple has two daughters, Samara Dechen Bhutia and Keisha Dolkar Bhutia, and a son, Ugen Kalzang Bhutia.
Bhaichung Bhutia and his children
In 2015, Bhaichung and Madhuri divorced after 11 years of marriage.
Records/Achievements
- In the 1996-97 season, Butia, who played for JCT FC, was the top scorer.
- In 1996, he was named India’s Player of the Year.
- In 1997, while playing for East Bengal FC, Bhutia scored his first hat-trick against Mohun Bagan.
- While playing for East Bengal in the 2005-06 season, he was awarded the “Best Player of the National Football League” by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Awards
- Arjuna Football Award (1998)
- Padma Shri(2008)
Then President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presents Padma Shri Award to Shri Bhaichung Bhutia
religion and politics
He was born into Buddhism, but he did not believe in any religion; in fact, he was an atheist. He joined the Trinamool Congress and contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Darjeeling constituency but lost. In 2018, after breaking up with the Trinamool Congress, he formed his own political party, Hamro Sikkim Party.
fact
- He is a huge fan of Arsenal and FC Barcelona.
- His favorite football players are Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
- Bhaichung is not vegetarian and does not smoke.
- In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and dancing.
- In 2009, Bhutia participated in the dance reality show “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa” and won the title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymG2SxS2aFA
- In 2009, Bhutia had a dispute with Mohun Bagan. On 18 May 2009, Bhutia announced that he would quit Mohun Bagan as club officials questioned his football commitment. In 2009, he was suspended for six months by Mohun Bagan. Bhutia was quoted as saying
This is just a ploy to keep me in Mohun Bagan for another season. But I won’t play for them anymore.
- In 2011, Bhutia was trapped in the Sikkim earthquake. Although he was not injured, his United Sikkim office was destroyed. Later, he was accompanied by several Bollywood actors including Neha Dhupia and Rahul Bose to raise funds for earthquake victims.
Assets and Net Worth
He owns movable assets worth over Rs 3.88 crore, including jewellery, an Audi car, bank deposits and investments.
Bhaichung Bhutia with his car and children
His real estate includes some inherited lands in Kolkata and Sikkim with a total value of Rs 1,347 crore. As of 2016, his net worth is Rs 170 million.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education