Arun Ghosh

Arun Ghosh (born 7 June 1941) is a former Indian football player who represented India internationally. He also played club football for both the Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal Club. He later managed the India national team.

Playing career

He was part of the team that played in the 1960 Rome Olympics under coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim. He later appeared in 1964 Merdeka Cup, where they achieved second place. In the same year, he went on to represent his nation at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup, where they also finished as runners-up as Israel clinched the title. He was also a member of the squad that won gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games Football Championship in 1962. He also played in the final, where India defeated South Korea 2–1.

Ghosh represented Bengal in Santosh Trophy, and played club football for then Calcutta Football League side East Bengal. He shifted to the "red and gold brigade" after playing for Mohun Bagan in the early 1960s.

At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Jim Lewis, a member of the England football team, is famously reported to have told Arun Ghosh, a defender in the Indian football team:

"You play like Bobby Moore!"

This compliment came before India’s impressive performance in their match against France, which ended in a 1–1 draw. India had shown exceptional skill, ball control, and tactical discipline, which surprised many European players and commentators. Jim Lewis’s remark highlighted how aesthetically pleasing and technically sound India's football was during that match — reminiscent of the flair associated with Bobby Moore.

It was always regretted for Arun ji, and it is repeatedly said by him to us that had Rahim Saheb lived for a few more years, an Olympic medal could have been won by India, which was missed at the Melbourne Games in 1956.

Managerial career

In 1974, Ghosh went on to became coach of the India U-20 team along with Syed Abdul Salam, ahead of the 1974 AFC Youth Championship in Thailand. After a brief training camp in Patiala, his team participated in the tournament and reached the final. A 2–2 scoreline against Iran-20 insured that both the teams shared the trophy. Under his coaching, India U-20 team achieved their first ever continental title, in which Shabbir Ali scored five goals.

Ghosh also served as director of Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur from 1997 to 2003.

His Friends

Arun Ghosh sir’s best friend was our Indian Pele Tulsidas Balaram. He always regards him as the best Indian football player. When he was in the team, he called Balaram ji as "Balram Kaku" because they had a 5-year age gap. But as time passed by, they became best friends and in the last days of Balaram ji he shifted his home to Uttarpara. He also had a great friendship with Pradyut Barman who played a few matches in the 1962 Asian Games and they used to talk for hours on telephone and face to face also. He also has great respect for Sheoo Mewalal who played twice in Olympics for India. When Mewalal ji passed away no newspaper was covering his death story. He went to a newspaper office and told them to write about Mewalal ji.

Current Situation

Arun sir’s journey from a budding footballer in Howrah Union to a celebrated player and coach is a story of dedication, perseverance, and excellence. His contributions to Indian football, both on and off the field, have left an indelible mark. As a player, he inspired a generation of footballers, and as a coach, he laid the foundation for the sport’s future in India. Arun’s legacy serves as a guiding light for Indian football, reminding us of the heights that can be achieved through hard work and passion. Currently Arun ji is living with his family in Howrah, West Bengal with his full family. He is currently suffering with Alzheimer's and Dementia where the world has forgotten our hero.

Currently he is not engrossed in watching football but he is a huge fan of Chelsea F.C. and his favorite player is Didier Drogba. He has coached were footballers like Mahesh Gawli, Kalyan Chaubey, Noel Wilson, Clifford Miranda, Subrata Paul, etc. Have come out. He did not require any foreign support as much. Clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal still felicitate him with awards and the MP of Howrah and his student Prasun Banerjee also gave him award. Plus, Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee also writes letters to him. His son is a National Table Tennis champion and his grandson is an engineer and state Table Tennis player. When Maidaan released in 2024 he had just recovered from pneumonia so the producer Boney Kapoor, director Amit Sharma and 1962 Asian Games winner DMK Afzal were also there in the screening in Avani Riverside Mall.

Honours

Player

India
*Asian Games Gold medal: 1962
*AFC Asian Cup runners-up: 1964
* Merdeka Tournament third-place: 1965, 1966

Manager

India U20
* AFC Asian U-19 Championship: 1974

East Bengal
* Federation Cup: 1978–79

Mohun Bagan
* Federation Cup: 1980–81

Individual

* Arjuna Award: 1965
* East Bengal "Bharat Gaurav Award": 2013

See also

* History of Indian football
* History of the India national football team
* India national football team at the Olympics
* List of India national football team captains
* List of India national football team managers

References

Further reading

Bibliography
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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghosh, Arun
Indian men's footballers
1964 AFC Asian Cup players
India men's international footballers
Footballers at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Olympic footballers for India
Living people
1941 births
Medalists at the 1962 Asian Games
Footballers at the 1962 Asian Games
Footballers at the 1966 Asian Games
Asian Games gold medalists for India
Asian Games medalists in football
East Bengal Club players
Mohun Bagan Super Giant players
Footballers from Kolkata
Calcutta Football League players
Recipients of the Arjuna Award
Men's association football defenders
East Bengal Club managers
Mohun Bagan Super Giant managers
Indian football managers
India national football team managers