Peter Thangaraj Explained

Peter Thangaraj
Birth Date:	1935 12, df=yes
Birth Place:	Hyderabad
Death Place:	Bokaro, India
Position:	Goalkeeper Centre forward (occasionally)
Years1:	1953–1960
Clubs1:	Madras Regimental Centre
Years2:	1960–1963
Clubs2:	Mohammedan Sporting
Years3:	1963–1965
Clubs3:	Mohun Bagan
Years4:	1965–1971
Clubs4:	East Bengal
Years5:	1971–1972
Clubs5:	Mohammedan Sporting
Nationalteam1:	India
Nationalcaps1:	?
Nationalgoals1:	1^[1]

Havildar Peter Thangaraj (24 December 1935 – 24 November 2008) was an Indian football player and a non-commissioned officer in the Indian Army.^{[2] [3]} Thangaraj played for the Indian national side at the 1956 Melbourne and 1960 Rome Olympics.^[4] He was voted Asia's best goalkeeper in 1958.^[5] Thangaraj was a recipient of Arjuna Award for the year 1967.^{[6] [7]}

Thangaraj played domestic club football for both the Calcutta Football League clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. He earned fame during his days with the "red and gold brigade" from 1965 to 1971, and captained the team in 1969–70.^{[8] [9] [10]} He was the first choice goalkeeper for the club over the years.^{[11] [12] [13]}

Club career

Thangraj was born in 1935 in Hyderabad State. He began his football career with Morning Star Club, and then moved to Friends Union Club of Secunderabad. He joined the Indian Army in 1953 and began representing the Madras Regimental Centre where he played as a centre forward, but took to goalkeeping subsequently with great success.^[14] Madras Regimental Centre won the Durand Cup in 1955 and 1958. Thangaraj captained the Services team for its first-ever triumph in the Santosh Trophy in 1960.

After leaving Services, Thangaraj played for Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting (1960–63, 1971–72), Mohun Bagan^[15] (1963–65), and East Bengal (1965–71) and was a huge fan favorite at the time. He was part of the Bengal team, which won the Santosh Trophy in 1963. Later, he led the Railways in 1965 and won the Santosh Trophy for them. Along with the likes of Chuni Goswami and P. K. Banerjee, Thangaraj was one of the mainstays of the Indian team in 1960s and 70s.

International career

Thangaraj had an illustrious international career. His first stint with the Indian team was the Quadrangular Tournament held at Dacca in 1955. Under the coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim, he played for India both at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, and represented India at 1958 Tokyo, 1962 Jakarta,^[16] and 1966 Bangkok Asian Games.^[17] India won the Gold Medal at the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games.

He represented India at the Merdeka Cup tournament held at Kuala Lumpur from 1958 to 1966. He also represented India at the 1964 and 1966 Asian Cup held in Israel and Burma respectively.^{[18] [19]} He was named the Best Goalkeeper of Asia in 1958, and awarded the Arjuna Award in 1967.Recognizing his contribution to Indian football, he was awarded the Arjuna Award by the government of India in 1997.^[20] He twice played for the Asian All-Star team and was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper in 1967. Thangaraj retired from active football in 1971 and then took to coaching.^{[21] [22]}

Managerial career

After retirement, in 1973, Thangaraj became head coach of the football team of Aligarh Muslim University.^[23] He later managed Goa Professional League side Vasco SC until 1975. After that he joined Steel Authority of India Limited and remained in Bokaro Steel Plant from 1976 till his retirement in 1995.^[23] At that time, Vasco won Bordoloi Trophy, KFA Shield and Chakola Gold Trophy in 1973.^[24]

Later life, death and legacy

Thangaraj was a devoted follower of Lev Yashin, and was later appointed as advisor of the football department/division of Bokaro Steel Plant. He died in Bokaro (now in Jharkhand), on 24 November 2008 after a massive heart-attack.

Legendary strikers of India, Chuni Goswami and P. K. Banerjee often credited his long kicks as source of some of their best goals in career.

Honours

India

• Asian Games Gold medal: 1962
• AFC Asian Cup runners-up: 1964^[25]
• Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament

1955

• Merdeka Tournament runner-up: 1959;^[26] third-place: 1966^[27]

Madras Regimental Centre

• Durand Cup

1955, 1958

Mohun Bagan^[28]

• Durand Cup

1963, 1964, 1965

• Calcutta Football League

1963, 1964, 1965

East Bengal

• IFA Shield

1970

Services

• Santosh Trophy

1960–61

Bengal

• Santosh Trophy

1962–63

Railways

• Santosh Trophy

1964–65

Individual

• Arjuna Award

1967^[29]

• AFC Asian All Stars

1967^[30]

• AFC – Best Goalkeeper of Asia: 1958^[31]
• East Bengal Club Goalkeeper of the Millennium^[32]
• Asian Goalkeepers of the Century: 2000
• Sportskeeda All time Indian Football XI^[33]

See also

• List of East Bengal Club captains

Further reading

• Book: Kapadia . Novy . 2017. Barefoot to Boots: The Many Lives of Indian Football . Penguin Random House . 978-0-143-42641-7 .
• Book: Martinez. Mukharjiim . Projit B. 2009. Football: From England to the World: The Many Lives of Indian Football . . 978-1-138-88353-6 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702174505/https://books.google.co.in/books?id=nbzhAQAAQBAJ&dq=kerala+footballer+in+Burma&source=gbs_navlinks_s . 2 July 2022 .
• Book: Nath, Nirmal. History of Indian Football: Upto 2009–10. 2011. Readers Service. 9788187891963. https://web.archive.org/web/20220722172604/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/History_of_Indian_Football.html?id=QbUFaAEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y. 22 July 2022.
• Book: Soccer in South Asia: Empire, Nation, Diaspora. 2001. Frank Cass Publishers. London, United Kingdom. 978-0-7146-8170-2. Dineo. Paul. Mills. James. 25 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220725072732/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Soccer_in_South_Asia.html?id=71JHZiiP3hoC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y.
• Web site: Triumphs and Disasters: The Story of Indian Football, 1889—2000. . 20 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120813081005/http://pierretristam.com/pdfs/wc10.pdf . 13 August 2012 . dead.
• Book: Mukhopadhay, Subir . সোনায় লেখা ইতিহাসে মোহনবাগান . 2018 . 978-93-850172-0-9.
• Book: Majumdar, Boria, Bandyopadhyay, Kausik . 2006 . Goalless: The Story of a Unique Footballing Nation . . 9780670058747 .
• Book: Boria. Majumdar. Kausik. Bandyopadhyay. A Social History Of Indian Football: Striving To Score. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629140637/https://books.google.com/books?id=V-sMYjZkpigC&pg=PA69. 29 June 2021. Routledge. 2006. 9780415348355.
• Book: Jaydeep. Basu. Stories from Indian Football. https://web.archive.org/web/20221011131939/https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Stories_from_Indian_Football.html?id=QeovtKLi-1sC&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y. 11 October 2022. UBS Publishers' Distributors. 2003. 9788174764546.
• Book: Banerjee . Argha . Basu . Rupak . মোহনবাগান: সবুজ ঘাসের মেরুন গল্প . 2022. Shalidhan . 978-81-954667-0-2.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Colombo Cup 1953 (Rangoon, Burma) . 17 July 2021 . 27 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140727145000/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/brindies-quad.html#53 . rsssf.com . RSSSF .
2. Web site: Peter Thangaraj : Biographical information & Results . Olympedia . 1 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221114225425/https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/25834 . 14 November 2022.
3. News: Still get goosebumps remembering 1962 Asian Games football gold run: Arun Ghosh. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. 4 September 2020. PTI. 2 August 2022. 21 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220821080544/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/still-get-goosebumps-remembering-1962-asian-games-football-gold-arun-ghosh/articleshow/77930006.cms.
4. Web site: Old-timers recollect past glory of city football. https://web.archive.org/web/20211022162920/https://www.thehansindia.com/amp/posts/index/Hans/2018-07-14/Old-timers-recollect-past-glory-of-city-football/398165. 22 October 2021. thehansindia.com. The Hans India. 5 September 2021.
5. News: Express India . Peter Thangaraj dead . 26 November 2008. 2008-12-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120616022622/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/peter-thangaraj-dead/390942/ . 16 June 2012 .
6. Web site: List of Arjuna Award Winners — Football . https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221945/http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm#Football. 25 December 2007. 25 December 2007. yas.nic.in. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
7. Web site: List of Arjuna Awardees (1961–2018). Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India). 12 September 2020. dmy-all. 18 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200718084523/https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20ARJUNA%20AWARDEES.docx%2061%20-%2017_0_0.pdf.
8. Web site: Kolkatafootball.com :East Bengal League History: Indian Football Capital's News. kolkatafootball.com. 2019-02-11. 12 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011211/https://www.kolkatafootball.com/capeb.htm.
9. Web site: East Bengal FC » Historical squads. worldfootball.net. 2019-02-11. 12 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011647/https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/east-bengal-fc/20/.
10. Web site: East Bengal Club — The Official Site of East Bengal Club. eastbengalclub.co.in. 2019-02-11. 8 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191108213722/http://eastbengalclub.co.in/teamarchives.html.
11. Web site: 12:56 PM IST. ETV Bharat News Desk, West Bengal. ভারত-পাকিস্তানের জার্সি গায়ে মাঠে নেমেছিলেন বলাই দে . Balai Dey, who played for both the India and Pakistan . 16 June 2019. 5 April 2022. etvbharat.com. ETV Network. 4 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220404112728/https://www.etvbharat.com/bengali/west-bengal/state/kolkata/balai-dey-who-played-for-india-and-pakistan-1/wb20190616125621719. bn.
12. Web site: Indian Football: Balai Dey, the Mohun Bagan legend who played for both India and Pakistan. scroll.in. Scroll. 13 August 2022. 13 August 2022. Jaydeep. Basu. https://web.archive.org/web/20220813112136/https://scroll.in/field/1030283/indian-football-balai-dey-the-mohun-bagan-legend-who-played-for-both-india-and-pakistan. 13 August 2022.
13. Web site: বাংলা ভাগের ক্ষত কিভাবে বিষিয়ে দিল মোহনবাগান আর ইস্টবেঙ্গলকে?. How did the wound of the partition of Bengal poisoned both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal?. Ayan. Bhattacharya. 7 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231107163804/https://inscript.me/how-east-bengal-mohun-bagan-became-rival-history-of-west-bengal-club-football-by-ayan-bhattacharya-robibarer-royak. inscript.me. ইনস্ক্রিপ্ট বাংলা নিউজ. Kolkata. bn. 10 September 2023. 7 November 2023.
14. Web site: 12 May 2021. SportMob – Best Indian football players of all time. 28 January 2022. SportMob.com. 9 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220809100523/https://sportmob.com/en/article/967888-Best-Indian-football-players-of-all-time.
15. Web site: Legends Of Indian Football: Jarnail Singh. 4 April 2011. 7 October 2022. Somnath. Sengupta. thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. Mumbai. https://web.archive.org/web/20220107101542/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/legends-of-indian-football-jarnail-singh/. 7 January 2022.
16. Web site: Sengupta. Somnath. Tactical Evolution of Indian Football (Part Two): Revolution Under Rahim Saab. Kolkata. 13 July 2011. 2021-03-16. thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. en-US. 25 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211025021904/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-two-revolution-under-rahim-saab/.
17. Web site: Syed Abdul Rahim: The Indian Ferguson The visionary who guided India to their greatest success. www.sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. 4 September 2015. 20 August 2022. Faizan. Qadiri. https://web.archive.org/web/20220820151814/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/syed-abdul-rahim-the-indian-ferguson. 20 August 2022.
18. Web site: Asian Eye – Indian football still finding its feet :: Total Football Magazine – Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, Non-League News. Total Football Magazine. totalfootballmag.com. 3 May 2015. 13 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211213074737/http://www.totalfootballmag.com/features/columnists/asian-eye-indian-football-still-finding-its-feet/. Tim. Alper.
19. Web site: Indian Football Down the Years: Looking back at the glorious moments. AIFF. Media Team. www.the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. en. New Delhi. 15 August 2022. 20 October 2022. 21 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220921011335/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-football-down-the-years-looking-back-at-the-glorious-moments.
20. Web site: Arjuna Award winners . Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports . 10 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221945/http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm . 25 December 2007 .
21. News: The Hindu. Thangaraj passes away. 26 November 2008. 15 December 2008. 29 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180629135523/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/Thangaraj-passes-away/article15348833.ece. live.
22. Web site: Peter Thangaraj profile at Sports Portal, Govt. of India. . 15 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090410011652/http://sportal.nic.in/legenddetails.asp?sno=681&moduleid=&maincatid=40&subid=0&comid=55 . 10 April 2009 . dead.
23. Web site: Legends of Indian football :: Hall of Fame: PETER THANGARAJ. Arunava. Chaudhuri. indianfootball.de. 19 February 2016. 5 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160805144603/http://indianfootball.de/data/halloffame/thangaraj_peter.html. dead.
24. Web site: Former Vasco defender George Ambrose no more. 8 August 2022. 20 September 2022. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. TNN. Panaji, Goa. https://web.archive.org/web/20220809180604/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/former-vasco-defender-george-ambrose-no-more/articleshow/93415990.cms. 9 August 2022. live.
25. Web site: Asian Cup: Know Your History - Part One (1956-1988) . Goal.com . 2011-01-07 . 2015-05-03 . 31 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190531055150/https://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2011/01/07/2293901/asian-cup-know-your-history-part-one-1956-1988 . live .
26. Web site: The Indian Senior Team at the 1959 Merdeka Cup. www.indianfootball.de. IndianFootball. 2000. Chaudhuri. Arunava. https://web.archive.org/web/20180608085202/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1959merdekacup.html. 8 June 2018. (information given by Jaydeep Basu, Sunil Warrier, and Gautam Roy).
27. Web site: The Indian Senior Team at the 1966 Merdeka Cup . indiafootball.de . IndiaFootball . 30 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160819155050/http://indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1966merdekacup.html . 19 August 2016 . live .
28. Web site: Mukherjee . Soham . 1960–1965: When Chuni Goswami & co propelled Mohun Bagan to the zenith of success . Goal . 26 August 2020 . 30 April 2020 . 7 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201207100844/https://www.goal.com/en/news/1960s-mohun-bagan-chuni-goswami-trophies-indian-football/1utzzq9j0icvgze2iw9ple0p1 .
29. Web site: National Award winning Footballers. indianfootball.de. IndianFootball. Arunava. Chaudhuri. 2000. 25 January 2019. 1 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181001123849/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/nationalawards.html. dead.
30. Web site: Asian All Stars . The Straits Times . 26 May 1967 . 7 September 2020 . Gov.sg . 20 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220620173531/https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19670526-1.2.197 .
31. Web site: Legends of Indian Football : Peter Thangaraj. 14 May 2018. 7 October 2022. Somnath. Sengupta. thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. Mumbai. https://web.archive.org/web/20210413164430/https://thehardtackle.com/2012/legends-of-indian-football-peter-thangaraj/. 13 April 2021.
32. Web site: Gautam. Roy. Swapan. Ball. 2007. East Bengal Football Club – Famous Players. 25 February 2009. www.eastbengalfootballclub.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20090221072439/http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers4.asp. 21 February 2009.
33. Web site: All time Indian XI. 23 November 2016. 21 June 2021. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201149/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/greatest-indian-football-xi-of-all-time. sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. Amoy. Ghoshal.