In conscious public memory, Indian football starts and ends with Bhaichung Bhutia. Such has been his impact that in a cricket-crazy country like India, Bhutia managed to create a niche for himself.
On Wednesday, the 34-year-old talisman announced his retirement from international football in New Delhi, drawing curtains on a glorious career that spanned over 16 years. A spate of injuries that restricted his appearances over the last two years, forced Bhutia to arrive at this decision.
His exit, in an odd way, seems unceremonious. After all, a colourful two decades that he has enjoyed deserved more than such an anti-climatic end. “I had chosen Asian Cup as the moment to end my career. It would have been ideal, I guess. But as I did not play much, I thought it wasn’t the right platform. Things don’t go your way all the time,” Bhutia told DNA. “Then I thought of playing my last match in the England tour. But the injury has been bothering me too much. There was no point delaying the inevitable.”
The writing was always there on the wall in the last two years. Before every tournament, and after it, the question of his retirement was always raised. India’s interim coach Armando Colaco’s decision to keep him out of the senior squad further fuelled the speculations that Bhutia would soon hang up his boots.
Colaco’s focus was to groom the youngsters and to build a fit and injury-free squad. Bhutia, at 34, realised he wasn’t getting any younger and accepted the decision gracefully.
Perhaps, it was this humility that made him such an adorable figure. “I am happy with the admiration and respect I have got. I feel satisfied that I have given my best for the development of football in India. And I guess, I have succeeded to a certain extent,” Bhutia said.
The lone Indian and one of few international footballers to have played more than 100 matches for his country, Bhutia has been the trailblazer of the game in the country as he was the first Indian in the post-independence era to ply his trade in Europe when he played for English Division Two side Bury FC from 1999 to 2002.
Bhutia is also the international face of Indian football, having rubbed shoulders with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Michael Ballack, Fabio Cannavaro, Clarence Seedorf and Edgar Davis and a host of other stars in several charity matches.
Bhutia said he will continue to play domestic football for United Sikkim, a club he co-owns. But for how long he can carry on remains to be seen.
“I am retiring from international football, I will continue to play for my club. My aim is to make United Sikkim an example for the rest of the country. I hope I succeed in doing that. We need to boost our club culture and I will be a very satisfied person if I can help achieve that,” Bhutia said. “I have never thought of coaching. But administration has always interested me. Hopefully, it will all pan out well.”
