KOLKATA: Former India and East Bengal defender Shyamal Ghosh, who as a coach was also credited with introducing Bhaichung Bhutia to Indian football, passed away at a city hospital on Tuesday. He was 71.
Ghosh made his international debut during the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 1974 and went on to play seven matches for India, including the Asian Games in 1974.
At the club football, his first major break was Mohun Bagan in 1972, but it was his stellar performance in East Bengal jersey thereafter in the 1970s which caught everyone's attention.
His first season at East Bengal turned out to be the most productive as the team won five trophies in 1973 – Calcutta Football League, IFA Shield, DCM Trophy, Bordoloi Trophy and Rovers Cup.
He also captained the red-and-gold team in 1977.
He joined Rajasthan Club in 1980 and hung up his boots as a player after playing a couple of seasons for them.
During his heydays, he was also a regular member of Santosh Trophy squad and helped Bengal win it three times in a row — from 1975 to 1977.
Post retirement, he donned the coach's garb and guided East Bengal to the CFL, Durand Cup and Kalinga Cup titles in 1993. It was during this time he handed Bhaichung his debut in Indian football when the legendary striker joined the city club as a precocious 17-year-old talent.
Despite his success as a East Bengal coach, Ghosh didn't ply his trade in big clubs for long and devoted to unearthing and training youngsters later on.
East Bengal club honoured him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
