Pradip Kumar Banerjee, born on 23 June 1936 in Jalpaiguri, Bengal Presidency (then British India), is a former Indian footballer and renowned football coach. Primarily playing as a striker, Banerjee scored a total of 65 career goals. He began his football journey at the young age of 15, representing Bihar in the Santosh Trophy while playing as a right winger.
In 1954, he joined the Aryan Club in Kolkata and later went on to represent Eastern Railway, where he further cemented his legacy. Banerjee was a key member of the Indian national team, participating in three Asian Games—1958 in Tokyo, 1962 in Jakarta (where India clinched the gold medal), and 1966 in Bangkok. He also represented India at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, contributing to one of the nation’s most iconic football eras.
Unfortunately, recurring injuries curtailed his playing career, leading to his withdrawal from the national team and eventual retirement in 1967.
P. K. Banerjee began his managerial career with East Bengal in 1972. Over the years, he returned to manage the club on multiple occasions, leaving a lasting legacy. One of his most iconic moments came in 1975, when he led East Bengal to a resounding 5–0 victory over arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in the IFA Shield Final—the biggest winning margin in the history of the Kolkata Derby.
In 1976, Banerjee took charge of Mohun Bagan, where he guided the team to a historic triple-crown, winning the IFA Shield, Rovers Cup, and Durand Cup—a first-ever feat in the club’s history.
Banerjee was also appointed as the head coach of the Indian national team in 1972, starting with the qualification campaign for the 1972 Munich Olympics. He continued to serve Indian football in this role until 1986, helping shape the national side during a crucial period of its development.
In 1991, he joined the Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur as its Technical Director, a role he held until 1997, where he mentored and developed the next generation of Indian football talent. He later returned to serve as the technical director of the Indian national team in 1999.
P. K. Banerjee’s contributions earned him numerous accolades. In 2005, FIFA honoured him with the Player of the Millennium award. He also received the prestigious International Fair Play Award from the Olympic Committee—a distinction no other Indian footballer has achieved to date.
PK Banerjee Facts:
P. K. Banerjee made his debut for the Indian national football team in the 1955 Quadrangular Tournament held in Dacca (now Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh), at just 19 years old.
While his talent and passion were undeniable, his career was repeatedly hampered by frequent injuries, which eventually forced him to withdraw from international football.
A standout moment in his playing career came at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, where he captained India and scored a memorable equalizer against France, helping the team secure a 1–1 draw—a result still remembered as a proud moment in Indian football history.
Transitioning into management, Banerjee led Mohun Bagan to a historic treble in 1976, winning the IFA Shield, Rovers Cup, and Durand Cup in the same season—marking the club’s first-ever triple-crown triumph.
In 1972, Banerjee was appointed as the head coach of the Indian national team, beginning with the qualification campaign for the 1972 Munich Olympics. He went on to coach the national side until 1986, playing a pivotal role in shaping the team across more than a decade.
PK Banerjee Records:
Asian Games Gold Medal: 1962
Colombo Cup: 1955
Merdeka Tournament runner-up: 1959, 1964; third-place: 1965
Received Padma Shri in 1990
Received Arjuna Award in 1961
Listed as Indian Footballer of the 20th Century by IFFHS.
FIFA Order of Merit, highest honor by FIFA in 2004
Banerjee is the only footballer from Asia who has been awarded the FAIR PLAY Award.
Mohun Bagan Ratna: 2011
Bharat Nirman Awards — Lifetime Achievement 2011
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