Gurjinder Kumar

Gurjinder Kumar (; born 10 October 1990) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Super League Kerala club Malappuram FC.

Club career

Early career Born in Nawanshahr, Punjab, Gurjinder was born into a family of footballers. At the age of 10, after his older brother died, he started to take football seriously and joined the Chandigarh Football Academy. The club eventually managed to get into a 4–0 lead but then gave up four goals to draw the match 4–4. He then scored his second career goal the next season against Viva Kerala again, in a match Pune managed to win 3–1. Kumar then went on to score his third goal of his career, and his second that season, only a month later on 21 December 2011 against Churchill Brothers in which his 84th-minute strike helped Pune finish the match 2–0 winners. His fourth goal of his career, and last for the season, came on 18 January 2012 against Mumbai in which he found the net in the 90th minute to finish a 3–0 victory for Pune. Then after the 2011–12 season, he was given the "Goal of the Year" award for his strike against Chirag United Kerala. He won the Ashok Piramal Group "Young Player of the Year" award for 2012–13 season.

Gurjinder did not score again until the 2013–14 season when his goal against Rangdajied United on 11 December 2013 to give Pune a 2–0 lead which they would eventually give up and lose 3–2.

Salgaocar Gurjinder Kumar signed for Salgaocar for the 2014-15 I-League and made his debut in the 2014-15 Indian Federation Cup, scoring 3 times in the group stages.

FC Pune City In July 2015 Kumar was drafted to play for FC Pune City in the 2015 Indian Super League. NorthEast United In 2020 Kumar was signed by NorthEast United on a 2 years deal.

International In June 2011 Kumar made his international debut for India at the under-23 level against Qatar U23 side for the 2012 Olympic qualifiers. He then made his senior international debut for India on 27 February 2012 against Azerbaijan in a friendly in which he started and played the full 90 minutes as India lost 0–3.

Career statistics Club

International stats

India national teamYearAppsGoals201210201340 Total 5 0

Honours

Individual Pune's Best U-23 Player of the Year: 2010–11 Pune F.C. Goal of the Year: 2011–12 Ashok Piramal Group Young Player of the Year: 2012–13

Club Mohun Bagan Calcutta Football League (1): 2018–19