Deepak Mondal

Deepak Kumar Mondal (born 12 October 1979) is an Indian professional footballer who last played as a right-back for Food Corporation of India FC. A graduate of the Tata Football Academy, Mondol, an Arjuna Award winner, was one of India's most prominent right backs for over a decade, earning 47 caps with the India national team. Mondal also played with both the Kolkata giants, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, spending five years at each club, captaining both of them.

Deepak Kumar Mandal
Personal information
Full name Deepak Kumar Mandal
Date of birth (1979-10-12) 12 October 1979
Place of birth Noamundi, Jharkhand, India
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Club information
Current team
 Ozone
Youth career
1995–1998 Tata FA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 JCT Mills Phagwara
2000–2005 East Bengal
2005–2006 Mahindra United
2006–2011 Mohun Bagan
2011–2014 United
2014 Mumbai City 12 (0)
2014–2016 East Bengal 15 (0)
2015 → Kerala Blasters (loan) 2 (0)
2016 Southern Samity
2016–17 Ozone
2018 Food Corporation of India F.C. 1 (0)
National team
1999–2011 India 20 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 July 2016

Career

Born in Noamundi, Jharkhand, Mondal began playing football from a young age in his district. He was spotted by Tata Football Academy coach, Ranjan Chowdhury, at the age of sixteen who invited Mondal to join the academy.[1] Mondol graduated from the Tata Football Academy in 1998.[2] After graduating from the academy, Mondal signed with National Football League side, JCT Mills Phagwara.[3] He stayed at the club for two seasons before joining Kolkata side, East Bengal. It was at East Bengal that Mondal began to impress and even earn himself caps for India. On 30 December 2002, after impressing the All India Football Federation and national team head coach, Stephen Constantine, with his performances in the Asian Games and the ASEAN Club Championship for East Bengal, Mondal was named the AIFF Player of the Year.[4] On winning the award, AIFF president at the time, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, said that Mondal "infused a new confidence in the deep defense".[4] Overall, while with East Bengal, Mondal won the National Football League title three times, two Durand Cup's, and four Calcutta Football League titles.[5] While at East Bengal, Mondal was part of a strong backline with Surkumar Singh and Mahesh Gawli.

Mondal stayed with East Bengal until 2005, when he signed for Mumbai side Mahindra United.[6] While with Mahindra United Mondal won another NFL title.[5] He also won a Federation Cup while with the side.[7] After a season with Mahindra United, Mondal moved back to Kolkata to sign with East Bengal rivals, Mohun Bagan. On 22 December 2008, Mondal helped Mohun Bagan win their only national title while with the club, the Federation Cup. The club defeated Dempo to win their thirteenth Federation Cup title and Mondal's second.[8] In September 2010, Mondal was awarded the Arjuna Award.[1]

After representing India at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, Mondal saw out his contract with Mohun Bagan and was released by the club. On 17 August 2011 it was announced that Mondal had signed with newly rebranded Kolkata side, Prayag United, with them being based in Kolkata a main reason for him signing.[9] Despite the club going through financial troubles, Mondal remained with the side, soon renamed to just United, till 2014. On 9 May 2014 it was announced Mondal had re-signed with East Bengal.[10] While with East Bengal, Mondal also represented Mumbai City and Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League.[11]

After two years with East Bengal again, Mondal signed for Calcutta Football League side Southern Samity.[11] After the season concluded, Mondal signed with Ozone FC for the DSK Cup.[12]

International

Mondal represented India 47 times. He won two Nehru Cup's with India, first in 2007 and then 2009. He also helped India win the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup and thus qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, their first in 27 years.[13] Like at club level, Mondal thrived under his partnership with Mahesh Gawli with India.[13]

Achievements
  • Mondal was named the “AIFF (All India Football Federation) Player of the Year" in the year 2002.
  • He twice won the Nehru Cup: in 2007 and 2009, held in New Delhi, India where Syria, India, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, and Bangladesh were the participating countries.
  • Mondal was instrumental in leading team India to win the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Challenge Cup, held in the year 2008 hosted by India. This success enabled team India to qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
  • Mondal was honored with the “Arjuna Award” in the year 2010. [14]


References
  1. Bhose, Baidurjo (13 September 2010). "Footballer Deepak Mondal finally gets the Arjuna". India Today. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  2. Chaudhuri, Arunava (10 October 2010). "TFA felicitates Deepak Mondal". SportsKeeda. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  3. "Mohun Bagan has it easy". The Hindu. 5 March 2000. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  4. "Mondal chosen 'Player of the year'". The Hindu. 30 December 2002. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  5. "Roll of Honour". All India Football Federation.
  6. "Transfers 2005". IndianFootball.
  7. Suryanarayan, SR (1 November 2005). "Brazilian key ignites Mahindra engine". Sports Taro Net. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  8. "Mohun Bagan bags Federation Cup". The Hindu. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  9. Ghoshal, Amoy (17 August 2011). "Prayag United Sports Club Sign Experienced Defender Deepak Mandal". Goal.com. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  10. Mitra, Atanu (9 May 2014). "Deepak Mandal parts ways with United, joins East Bengal". Goal.com. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  11. Jitendran, Nikhil (9 July 2016). "Deepak Mandal joins Southern Samity for Calcutta Football League". Goal.com. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  12. "Former India international Deepak Mondal joins Ozone, team to play in DSK Cup". GC Stars. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  13. Shreekumar, SS (15 August 2010). "Deepak Kumar Mondal: In defence of honest effort". New Indian Express. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  14. Ashish SIngh (12 October 2020). "Deepak Mondal". Sportsmatik.com. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
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