Samik Mitra Explained

Samik Mitra
Birth Date:1 December 2000
Birth Place:West Bengal, India
Height:1.88 m
Currentclub:Chennaiyin
Clubnumber:1
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:AIFF Elite Academy
Youthclubs2:East Bengal
Years1:2017–2018
Clubs1:Chennaiyin B
Caps1:9
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2020
Clubs2:Indian Arrows (loan)
Caps2:8
Goals2:0
Years3:2020–
Clubs3:Chennaiyin
Caps3:11
Goals3:0
Club-Update:16:00, 24 February 2023 (UTC)

Samik Mitra (Bengali: শমীক মিত্র; born 1 December 2000) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Chennaiyin in the Indian Super League. He rose through ranks at Chennai and currently serves as their first choice goalkeeper.[1]

Career

Chennaiyin B

2017-18: I-League 2nd Division debut

After graduating from AIFF Elite Academy Samik was signed by Chennaiyin B in October 2017.[2] He made his debut against Langsning FC in 2017-18 I-League 2nd Division opener playing the full game in a 2–1 loss.[3] He made five appearances for the B team in his first season all coming in league where his only clean sheet came against Jamshedpur B when he came on as a 62nd-minute substitute and did not concede in a 2–0 loss.[4]

2018-19: Loan to Indian Arrows

On 16 October 2018, he was sent on loan to Indian Arrows for 2018–19 I-League season. He made his debut and only appearance on 8 February 2019 against Chennai City FC at Kalinga Stadium which was also his I-League debut. He started and played full match as Indian Arrows lost 0–2.[5] He returned from loan at the end of I-League season and played in the 2018-19 I-League 2nd Division opener against Fateh Hyderabad which ended in a 2–1 loss.[6] He made four appearances for B team this season where his only clean sheet came against Ozone FC when he came on as 60th-minute substitute and did not concede in a 3–0 loss.[7]

2019-20: Durand Cup and loan to Indian Arrows

He was selected for the Chennaiyin team for the 2019 Durand Cup, which consisted of reserve team players.[8] On 8 August, he made his debut against Gokulam Kerala which ended in a 4–0 loss. But he kept clean sheets in the next two games against TRAU and Indian Air Force which both ended in goalless draws.[9] He joined Indian Arrows for another season on loan. He was in between the sticks in first game of the season against Gokulam Kerala which ended in a 1–0 loss.[10] He started in six more games for Arrows but failed to keep any clean sheets. He played his last game of the season in a 1–0 loss to TRAU FC.[11]

Chennaiyin FC

2020-22: Contract Extension and Rise to First Team

On 27 August 2020, he signed a new multi-year contract with Remi Aimol and Aman Chetri. It was also confirmed that all these youngsters will be included in Chennaiyin's squad for 2020-21 ISL.[12] Hence, he was included in ISL squad.[13] He was the third-choice keeper behind Vishal Kaith and Karanjit Singh and only made it to matchday squad once.[14] The following season, he was again third choice keeper but he made his ISL debut in the last league game against Mohun Bagan where he started and played full game as Chennaiyin lost 1–0.[15] He got some gametime in RFDL where he captained the team in first two games.[16]

2022-23: Takeover as first choice keeper and Super Cup

He started the season as third choice keeper but eventually took over Debjit Majumder as first choice keeper in the middle of the ISL season. He started in ten ISL games and kept two clean sheets as Chennaiyin failed to qualify for playoffs.[17] On 11 April 2023, he made Super Cup debut when he started and played full 4–2 win over NorthEast United FC.[18] He kept his first clean sheet in the next game against Churchill Brothers which ended in a 0–0 stalemate.[19]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupAFCTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chennaiyin B2017–18I-League 2nd Division500050
2018–19400040
2021–22RFDL300030
Indian Arrows (loan)2018–19I-League100010
2019–20700070
Indian Arrows total80000080
Chennaiyin2019–20Indian Super League003030
2020–21000000
2021–22100010
2022–2310030130
2023–24302050
Chennaiyin total1408000220
Career total3408000420

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Never did any formal training" - Chennaiyin FC's Samik Mitra outlines his football roots and how his love for the color red kickstarted his career. 23 February 2023.
  2. Web site: ISL's Chennaiyin FC sign six AIFF Elite Academy graduates. 12 December 2019. Arunava Chaudhari.
  3. Web site: Chennaiyin FC 'B' lose 2-1 in Second Division League opener. 14 March 2018.
  4. Web site: Jamshedpur FC Reserves get a double over the ISL Champions’ Reserves Team. 15 April 2018.
  5. Web site: Indian Arrows 0-2 Chennai City. Soccerway.
  6. Web site: Narrow Defeat For Chennaiyin FC B As 2nd Division League Resumes. 22 February 2019.
  7. Web site: Chennaiyin FC B Go Down Against Ozone FC. 11 March 2019.
  8. Web site: Rejuvenated Chennaiyin FC B team set forDurand Cup challenge. 2 August 2019.
  9. Web site: Durand Cup 2019: Marcus Joseph Hat-Trick Helps Gokulam Sink TRAU 4-1, Meet East Bengal In Semis. 18 August 2019.
  10. Web site: I-League: Gokulam Kerala FC Edge Past Indian Arrows. 7 December 2019.
  11. Web site: TRAU Rise To Fourth With 1-0 Win Over Indian Arrows.
  12. Web site: Chennaiyin FC youngsters Remi Aimol, Samik Mitra and Aman Chetri pen new multi-year contracts. 27 August 2020.
  13. Web site: ISL 2020-21: Chennaiyin FC's full squad revealed. 19 November 2020.
  14. Web site: ISL 2020-21 highlights: Chennaiyin, NorthEast United play out 3-3 draw. 18 February 2021.
  15. Web site: ISL 2021-22: ATK Mohun Bagan book place in semis with 1-0 win over Chennaiyin FC. 3 March 2022.
  16. Web site: Goa and Chennaiyin FC finish RFDL campaign on high with closing wins. 11 May 2022.
  17. Web site: CHENNAIYIN FC'S PLAYOFFS HOPES DENTED AS KERALA BLASTERS FC SEAL COMEBACK WIN. 7 February 2023.
  18. Web site: Super Cup: Chennaiyin FC Register 4-2 Win Over NorthEast United to Kick Start Campaign. 12 April 2023.
  19. Web site: Churchill Brothers, Chennaiyin play goalless draw in Hero Super Cup. 15 April 2023.