Biography
Who is Sunil Chhetri?
Early life and upbringing
Born in Secunderabad, Sunil Chhetri spent most of his youth in Darjeeling. His father, K. B. Chhetri, was an officer in the Indian Army and played football for the military team. His mother, Sushila Chhetri, was also a footballer who represented the Nepal women's national team. During his school years at Bethany School, he began playing the sport competitively at a young age.
He lived at Pashupati Fatak for part of his childhood. He is multilingual and speaks English, Hindi, Nepali, Bengali, and Kannada fluently. He can also understand Telugu, Marathi, and Konkani. These linguistic skills helped him handle various regions throughout his career.
Club football career
His professional path began with City Club in Delhi during the 2001 to 2002 season. He soon joined Mohun Bagan, where he signed his first professional contract after a week of trials. Throughout his career, he played for several clubs including JCT, where he scored 21 goals in 48 matches. He also had stints with East Bengal, Prayag United, and Dempo. He currently serves as a forward for the Indian Super League club Bengaluru.
He also pursued opportunities abroad. He signed for the Kansas City Wizards in the United States in 2010. He later joined the reserve side of Sporting CP in Portugal. In previous years, he attracted interest from clubs like Leeds United and Coventry City, though those moves did not materialize.
International achievements
Sunil Chhetri has been a cornerstone for the Indian national team. He helped the country win the Nehru Cup in 2007, 2009, and 2012. His leadership helped India secure victories in the SAFF Championship in 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023. He also led the team to success in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which earned them a spot in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He scored twice during the final tournament in 2011.
In 2016, he led Bengaluru FC to a silver medal finish in the AFC Cup. In June 2024, he announced his retirement from all forms of international football after a match against Kuwait. However, on 6 March 2025, it was announced that he had returned to the national team to assist them.
Awards and family life
In his personal life, he married Sonam Bhattacharya in December 2017. The couple welcomed their son, Dhruv, in August 2023. His individual accolades include winning the AIFF Player of the Year seven times between 2007 and 2022.
He received the Arjuna Award in 2011 for sporting excellence. In 2019, he was honored with the Padma Shri, a major civilian award in India. In 2021, he became the first football player to receive the Khel Ratna Award, which is the highest sporting honor in the country.
Birthday and age
Sunil Chhetri was born on August 3, 1984, which makes Sunil 42 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Sunil shares the date with 56 other famous people.
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