Sudhir Karmakar

Sudhir Karmakar (born 1948), is a retired Indian professional footballer who played as a defender. He played for the India national team, representing the country in the 1970 Asian Games where India finished third and won Bronze. In a domestic career spanning thirteen years between 1970 and 1983, he represented the two Calcutta's football giants, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, having a unique distinction of winning the coveted treble - IFA Shield, Durand Cup and Rovers Cup with both the teams.

Club career Sudhir Karmakar was part of the famous 1970s East Bengal side that won the Calcutta Football League consecutively for six times from 1970 to 1975. He joined East Bengal in 1970, and in the first season, he was pivotal in the club winning the League and the IFA Shield, with a memorable performance in the final against PAS Tehran where he was adjudged as the man of the match, having kept the Iranian national team striker Asghar Sharafi nullified throughout the match. He also captained East Bengal in the 1972–73 season, where East Bengal won all five tournaments they participated in, including the coveted triple crown of Indian football: IFA Shield, Durand Cup and Rovers Cup, remaining undefeated throughout the season in all competitions and conceded just three goals. Sudhir Karmakar won a total of 26 major trophies at East Bengal.

Sudhir Karmakar joined Mohun Bagan in 1976 and played 4 seasons. The most memorable season came in the 1977–78 season, where he helped Bagan win their first triple crown and hence having a unique distinction of winning the triple crown with two different clubs.

He left Bagan and rejoined East Bengal in 1980, and helped the club win the 1980 Federation Cup and the Rovers Cup once again. He remained with the club till 1982–83 season, until finally retiring from football.

He also represented West Bengal in the Santosh Trophy.

International career

Sudhir Karmakar was part of the Indian national football team in the 1970 Asian Games where India finished third and won Bronze. He was adjudged as the best defender of the tournament.

Honours East Bengal Calcutta Football League (7): 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1982 Federation Cup (1): 1980 Durand Cup (3): 1970, 1972, 1982 IFA Shield (5): 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 Rovers Cup (4): 1972, 1973, 1975, 1980 Bordoloi Trophy (2): 1972, 1973 DCM Trophy (2): 1973, 1974 Stafford Challenge Cup (1): 1981 Darjeeling Gold Cup (1): 1982

Mohun Bagan Calcutta Football League (3): 1976, 1978, 1979 Federation Cup (1): 1978 Durand Cup (2): 1977, 1979 IFA Shield (4): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 Rovers Cup (2): 1976, 1977 Darjeeling Gold Cup (2): 1976, 1977

Bengal Santosh Trophy: 1969–70