Narayanswami Ulaganathan

Narayanswami Ulaganathan (born 1952) is an Indian former footballer. He played for Mohun Bagan in three spells, East Bengal, Mohammedan and the India national team primarily as a winger, during his 12-year career as a professional footballer.

Playing for the Mariners in 1976, he became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Durand Cup final, which came against JCT Mills. Nicknamed "Black Pearl", Ulaganathan was renowned for his speed with the ball and footwork as a winger, and was considered one of India's best wingers during his time. He was notable in not having received a single yellow card throughout his career. He retired from professional football in 1985.

Childhood and early career Ulaganathan was born in 1952 into a Tamilian family in Gautamapura, Austin Town, a locality in Bangalore, of the erstwhile Mysore State (now Karnataka). He played cricket, football, gilli-danda and marbles as a child. Growing up in Gautamapura, a locality that was named 'mini Brazil', as it was home to Arumoy Naigam, Kannan, both established footballers at the time, Ulaganathan was influenced by them, before taking to football seriously when he was 16.

His football career started in 1969 when he began playing for a local Bangalore club, Bangalore Mars. After a year with Mars, he moved to Army Base team, 515, an army team. Following this he played a striker for another army team, Chief Inspectorate of Electronics (CIL), for three seasons, till 1974. During the time, he also represented his home state, Mysore (now Karnataka), in the Santosh Trophy, from 1968 to 1973. As a senior professional, he got his first break in 1972, when he was called for the national selection camp in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for the Olympics qualifiers in Rangoon. In the 1978–79 season, he won his second Durand Cup title and also helped the team win its first Federation Cup, after the team played out a draw with Bagan 0–0, hence being declared joint winners.

Return to Mohun Bagan and later career Ulaganathan returned to his former club Mohun Bagan in 1979. He had Xavier Pius as his strike partner, both of whom would go on to win many trophies together, during their time at Bagan. During his second spell at Bagan, Ulaganathan won the IFA League in 1979 and 1983, Durand Cups in 1979, 1980 and 1982, and IFA Shield Cups in 1979, 1981 and 1982 along with two Federation Cup titles.

In 1983, following four seasons with Bagan, Ulaganathan signed for another Calcutta club, Mohammedan Sporting. Once there, he helped his team win the Federation Cup, his fourth. Sporting beat Mohun Bagan 2–0 in the final, with both goals scored by Jamshid Nassiri, with assists from Ulaganathan. After a season with Sporting, he returned to his former club, Mohun Bagan, in 1984. Having played one season with bagan, he retired in 1985.

Personal life Ulaganathan married Arati Palit, the cousin of his then teammate Dilip Palit, in 1979. They have a son, Abhishek, who played football like his father, but did not take it professionally. He has been employed with Bengal Chemicals since 1979, and currently in its Bangalore office, in the marketing department. He resides in Fraser Town, a locality in Bangalore, with his family in his house named "Soccer Ville".

Honours East Bengal Federation Cup: 1978–79