Inder Singh

Inder Singh (born 23 December 1943) is an Indian former football player and captain, manager and administrator. He played for Leaders Club of Jalandhar, JCT Mills, and the India national team, predominantly as a forward. He began his senior professional career with Leaders Club Jalandhar in 1962 and moved to JCT Mills in 1974. Playing for Punjab in the Santosh Trophy, he finished the 1974–75 tournament with 23 goals, a record that still stands. He was included in the AFC Asian All Stars team in 1968. in recognition of his contribution to Indian football. Nicknamed "bullet train" by the Japanese for his speed on football field, Singh stuck to his roots and played for the country, declining the offer of representing Malaysia in 1973. finished the tournament having scored 46 goals, with Singh scoring 23 of them, a record that still stands. The team beat Bengal in the final 6–0, with Singh scoring a hat-trick. Scoring his second goal against Hong Kong in India's 3–1 victory, he finished as the tournament's joint top scorer with two goals and India finished second. He was awarded the 'Best Right-out' at the tournament. He was part of the team at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok, finishing the tournament with one goal as India failed to defend its gold medal from the 1962 Games.

Singh found considerable success at the Malaysian tournament, Merdeka Cup. Making his first appearance in 1964, he finished with two goals, against Cambodia and South Korea. India finished as runner-up in the tournament. In 1967, he was included in the Asian All Stars XI team that played Arsenal in Kuala Lumpur. After missing out for two editions, he came back in 1968 and finished with three goals. He was made the captain for the first time in its 1969 tournament, where India were knocked out after the group stage games, and Singh finished the tournament with a lone goal that came against Singapore. Following an injury he sustained during its 1970 tournament, he sat out of the team for a year. He returned at its 1973 tournament as India's captain and scored a brace over Thailand, with India finishing sixth. Impressed by his performances at the tournament, he was asked to play for the Malaysian national team, by the then Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. Singh politely refused the offer saying he would play only for Punjab and India. He made his last appearance for India in 1975.

Career statistics Selected international goals

Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Goals 27 May 1964 Municipal Stadium, Haifa 2–0 1964 AFC Asian Cup 1 2 June 1964 Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv 3–1 1964 AFC Asian Cup 1 27 August 1964 Kuala Lumpur, Malaya 4–0 1964 Merdeka Tournament 1 4 September 1964 Kuala Lumpur, Malaya XI 2–1 1964 Merdeka Tournament 1 12 December 1966 Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok 2–1 1966 Asian Games 1 22 August 1967 Kuala Lumpur, Malaya 1–1 1967 Merdeka Tournament 1 17 August 1968 Kuala Lumpur, Malaya 3–1 1968 Merdeka Tournament 1 29 July 1973 Kuala Lumpur, Malaya 2–0 1973 Merdeka Tournament 2

Post-playing career Following his retirement of professional football as a player in 1985 with JCT Mills, he went on to manage the club for 16 years, until 2001. The club also clinched National Football League title in the inaugural season of 1996–97. JCT also won IFA Shield in 1996, first club outside Kolkata to do so. They later participated in Asian Club Championship in 1996–97 and moved to second round before losing 1–2 aggregate to New Radiant of Maldives. Following his spell as a manager of his former club, he was made the Honorary Secretary of the Punjab Football Association, a post that he held from 2001 to 2011. Merdeka Tournament runner-up: 1964; third place: 1970

Punjab Santosh Trophy: 1970–71, 1974–75, 1980–81

Individual AFC Asian Cup top scorer: 1964 Santosh Trophy top scorer: 1974–75 (with 23 goals; Record)

Awards Arjuna Award: 1969 AFC Asian All Stars: 1968 Delhi Sports Journalists Association Award: 1974 Pride of Phagwara Award: 2003