Father-in-law Bhattacharya applauds Chhetri's decision to retire, envisions long-term club commitment

Sunil Chhetri with father-in-law Subrata Bhattacharya (Pic: PTI)

There is no better person to speak about Sunil Chhetri as a footballer and a human being than former national team defender and father-in-law Subrata Bhattacharya who feels the Indian talisman will play club football "for a long time" post international retirement.

Chhetri is making his swansong appearance in Indian team jersey, in the second round FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday.

"It's a perfect decision, he (Chhetri) thinks his time has come to retire from international jersey and he could not have chosen a better time," Bhattacharya told PTI here.

"This day comes for every sportsperson and it's nothing new. But the good thing is he will play at club level.

"He is second to none in fitness and I see him playing at club level for a long time after his retirement. Even Chuni Goswami retired in 1966 but played till 1972," he added.

Having started his journey as a 21-year-old forward scoring a goal against Pakistan in Quetta on June 12, 2005, the long-serving Indian captain went on to become the highest goal-scorer (94 goals from 150 appearances) for country.

It was a 17-year-old Chhetri's Shyam Thapa-like bicycle kick that caught Bhattacharya's attention during a Mohun Bagan trial in 2002 as the then coach instructed the Mariners officials to "sign him up".

"He was small in stature and could go unnoticed but there he was, showing his acrobatic skills with a bicycle kick and scored a goal. It quicky reminded me of Shyam Thapa (former India international) at his peak, and I made up my mind to sign him for Mohun Bagan."

Chhetri began his top-tier football journey with a three-year contract at the age of 17 and there was no looking back since then.

"He possessed remarkable agility, consistently outmanoeuvreing defenders with his exceptional aerial prowess to score goals effortlessly," the former coach and Indian defender recalled fondly.

"But I never thought he would go on to become an Indian football legend and the top goal-scorer for the nation. Perhaps it was his hunger for success, the dedication and work ethics took him there, something to look forward to by the rising Indian footballers. I never have to tell anything on football, he is God's gift. There is no discussion about football at home," said the septuagenarian who went on to become Chhetri's father-in-law.

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But Bhattachraya had a tinge of regret that he would not be able to see live Chhetri's final appearance in his Indian No 11 jersey.

"I am looking forward to see him play in his last international match, let's see how does he play -- but I will watch it from TV. I don't have any tickets, how will go? Nobody has given me any tickets. No I'm not going," he said after asking repeatedly.

Did his son-in-law not give him any tickets?

Bhattachraya, however, chose not to elaborate. "I'm not going, just that, I will watch the match on TV."

The All India Football Federation has not distributed any 'complimentary passes'.

(With agency inputs)