Michel Castanha Explained

Michel Castanha
Fullname:	Michel Margaret Castanha
Birth Date:	23 December 1992
Birth Place:	Curtorim, Goa, India
Position:	Defender
Currentclub:	East Bengal
Clubnumber:	13
Youthclubs1:	Bodyline Club
Clubs1:	Bodyline Club
Clubs2:	Panjim Footballers
Years3:	2016–2017
Clubs3:	Pune City
Years4:	2017–2018
Clubs4:	India Rush Soccer
Years5:	2018
Clubs5:	Churchill Brothers
Years6:	2019–2021
Clubs6:	Gokulam Kerala
Years7:	2021–2022
Clubs7:	Sethu
Years8:	2022–2023
Clubs8:	Gokulam Kerala
Years9:	2023
Clubs9:	Sesa FA
Years10:	2023–
Clubs10:	East Bengal
Nationalyears1:	2009
Nationalteam1:	India U20
Nationalyears2:	2018–
Nationalteam2:	India
Nationalcaps2:	7
Nationalgoals2:	0

Michel Margaret Castanha (born 23 December 1992) is an Indian professional footballer from Goa, who plays as a defender for East Bengal in the Indian Women's League and the India women's national football team.^[1]

Early life

Castanha hails from Curtorim and began her career at the age of eight playing for a Bodyline Club from Maharashtra.

Career

Castanha made her debut in the Under-17 Nationals at the age of 12 in Chandigarh in 2005. In the Indian top tier, Castanha played for Pune City and India Rush Soccer in 2016 and 2017 editions.^[2] Castanha has spent two seasons with Gokulam Kerala FC in the IWL and was part of the title-winning squad in 2019 and 2022 editions. She also played for Sethu FC which finished runners-up in the 2021 season.^[3]

She made her debut for the Indian national team at the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2018 in South Korea.^[4] She was part of the national team which won the SAFF Championship and the South Asian Games in 2019.^[5] She was part of the Indian team which participated in the 2022 AFC Asian Cup^[6] but withdrew due to COVID pandemic. In July 2023, she was selected for the Senior India camp to be held at Bhubaneshwar from July 30 for the AFC Olympic Qualifiers^[7] Round II which was held at Tashkent.

Honours

India

• SAFF Women's Championship

2019

• South Asian Games Gold medal: 2019

Gokulam Kerala

• Indian Women's League

2019–20, 2022–23

Sethu

• Indian Women's League runner-up: 2021–22

Panjim Footballers

• Goa Women's League

2017

External links

• Michel Castanha at All India Football Federation

Notes and References

1. Web site: Michel Castanha . 2023-09-12 . www.the-aiff.com.
2. Web site: India Rush Soccer Club hopes to make the best of their IWL opportunity after backdoor entry . 25 March 2018 . scroll.in . 2 December 2023 . 26 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180326082509/https://scroll.in/field/873052/india-rush-soccer-club-hopes-to-make-the-best-of-their-iwl-opportunity-after-backdoor-entry . live .
3. Web site: Castanha excited to be part of India camp . 23 August 2021 . thegoan.net . 1 December 2023 . 24 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210824011904/https://www.thegoan.net/sports/%EF%BB%BFcastanha-excited-to-be-part-of-india-camp/73442.html . live .
4. Web site: Michel CASTANHA, Goa’S RISING star . 7 November 2017 . heraldgoa.in .
5. Web site: Michel Castanha, the only Goan named in India women's football squad . 28 September 2021 . gomantaktimes.com .
6. News: 2020-11-21 . Women's national team to start first camp since COVID-19 lockdown on December 1 . The Times of India . 2023-09-12 . 2022-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220925191650/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/indian-womens-football-team-to-start-first-camp-after-covid-19-lockdown-on-december-1/articleshow/79338249.cms . live .
7. Web site: IANS . 2023-07-26 . Indian Women's Football Team; 34 players selected for training camp in Bhubaneswar . 2023-09-12 . www.thestatesman.com . 2023-10-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231006222752/https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/indian-womens-football-team-34-players-selected-for-training-camp-in-bhubaneswar-1503204496.html . live .