Anumanthan Kumar
{{short description|Singaporean footballer (born 1994)}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Indian name|Anumanthan|Mohan Kumar}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Anumanthan Kumar
| image = File:Anumanthan_kumar_lcs.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Anu in action with Lion City Sailors during the 2023–24 AFC Champions League match.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|7|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Singapore
| height = {{height|m=1.81}}{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/yglions/app_657903684284766|title=Courts Young Lions – players' profile|access-date=26 November 2014}} on Facebook
| position = Defensive-midfielder
| currentclub = Kanchanaburi Power
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = National Football Academy
| years1 = 2012–2015
| clubs1 = Young Lions
| caps1 = 63
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 2016–2017
| clubs2 = Hougang United
| caps2 = 27
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017–2018
| clubs3 = Home United
| caps3 = 24
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2019–2020
| clubs4 = Hougang United
| caps4 = 23
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2021
| clubs5 = Kedah Darul Aman
| caps5 = 21
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2022–2025
| clubs6 = Lion City Sailors
| caps6 = 64
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2025–
| clubs7 = Kanchanaburi Power
| caps7 = 0
| goals7 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2013–
| nationalteam1 = Singapore
| nationalcaps1 = 41
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 11:21, 13 June 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 24 December 2022
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|SIN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Sea Games}}
{{Medal|Bronze|Naypyidaw 2013|Football}}
}}
Anumanthan Mohan Kumar (born 14 July 1994), nicknamed Anu,{{Cite web |title=Meet The Hotties Of The Lions, Singapore’s National Football Team |url=https://www.8days.sg/entertainment/local/lions-singapore-national-football-team-hotties-828296 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=8days |language=en}} is a Singaporean professional footballer who most recently played as a defensive-midfielder for Thai League 1 club Kanchanaburi Power and the Singapore national team. Mainly a defensive-midfielder, Anu also been deployed as a central-midfielder and centre-back.
Club career
=Young Lions=
Anumanthan began his professional football career with the Young Lions in 2012. With the team short on numbers, the National Football Academy trainee was called up to the squad. He played his first game in a 1–1 draw against Balestier Khalsa on 1 April 2012.{{cite web| url=http://www.sleague.com/match-report/s-league/2012/april/2012-04-01/courts-young-lions| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422124246/http://www.sleague.com/match-report/s-league/2012/april/2012-04-01/courts-young-lions| url-status=usurped| archive-date=22 April 2012| title=Baslestier frustrated as late goals cancel out| website=S.League| access-date=10 March 2014}}
Anumanthan was one of five youth players shortlisted for the inaugural Dollah Kassim Award in 2010, which was eventually won by future Young Lions teammate Ammirul Emmran.{{cite web| url=http://www.sph.com.sg/media_releases/1120| title=Five talented youngsters to vie for inaugural Dollah Kassim Award| website=Singapore Press Holdings| date=20 November 2010}}{{cite web| url=http://www.singaporepools.com.sg/en/corp/pa/au/ms/Pages/milestones_10s_passporttoexcellence.aspx| title=Singapore Pools passport to excellence presented to the winner of the inaugural Dollah Kassim Award| website=Singapore Pools| access-date=11 March 2014}}
Anumanthan ended his Young Lions career on a high receiving offers from almost every club in the S.League vouching for his signature.
=Hougang United=
In January 2016, Anumanthan later went on to sign for Hougang United for the 2016 S.League campaign. In a stand-out breakthrough season, he won the 'Young Player of the Year' award and become the first Singaporean to win this award in 6 years after Hariss Harun won it in 2010.
Anumanthan was a vital member in the 2016 squad which almost made history by qualifying for their first ever AFC Cup, after a solid campaign for the club that year.
=Home United=
File:Anu in action for kedah 2021.jpg in 2021]]
Anumanthan signed for Home United in mid 2017 due to National Service commitments and featured his first game for the club against his former club Hougang United in October later that year. He went on to score his first goal for the club against rivals Warriors FC in a 2–1 lost. He ended the year by clinching 3rd placing in both the S.league and the Singapore Cup in 2017.
In 2018, Anumanthan went on to lead Home United to their first ever AFC Asian Cup Asean Zonal Championship title. He played a vital role in their successful campaign finishing 2nd in the Singapore Premier League.
= Returned to Hougang United =
After Anumanthan is done with his National Service commitments, in January 2019 he returned to his former club, Hougang United ahead for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season.
=Kedah Darul Aman=
On 18 January 2021, Anumanthan signed for Malaysia Super League club Kedah Darul Aman.{{Cite web|last=Karnageran|first=Narendaren|date=2020-12-31|title=M. Anumanthan eyes silverware with new team Kedah|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/m-anumanthan-eyes-silverware-new-team-kedah|access-date=2021-04-25|website=The New Paper|language=en}} On 13 August, Anumanthan scored his first goal for Kedah with a header against Selangor at the Darul Aman Stadium. Kedah went on to lose the match 2–4.{{Cite web|title=Kedah Darul Aman FC longlai berdepan Selangor|url=https://www.kosmo.com.my/2021/08/14/kedah-darul-aman-fc-longlai-berdepan-selangor/|access-date=2021-08-14|website=Kosmo|language=ms}} He led Kedah to a 2nd place finish in the 2021 Malaysian Super League and finished the season with offers from other clubs.
= Lions City Sailors =
Anumanthan went on to sign a 3 year contract for Lion City Sailors in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-02-08 |title=Football: Sailors add European pedigree with signing of Belgian winger Lestienne {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-sailors-add-european-pedigree-with-signing-of-belgian-winger-lestienne |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}} He helped his team to win the 2022 Singapore Community Shield that year and a Runner's-up finish to the league. Notably, he had put on a strong display of performance in the club's first match of the 2022 AFC Champions League to eventual champions, Urawa Red Diamonds. On 26 July 2023, Anu captained the Sailors against English giants, Tottenham Hotspurs in a friendly match at the Singapore National Stadium. On 9 December 2023, Anu guided the team to win the 2023 Singapore Cup.
Despite Maxime Lestienne's equaliser in the 91st minute of the 2025 AFC Champions League Two final against Sharjah, the Sailors finished as a runner-up after conceding in the 97th minute to finish the game in a 1–2 defeat.{{cite web|title= Sharjah edge Sailors to savour glory |url= https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/news/sharjah-edge-sailors-to-savour-glory|accessdate=19 May 2025|date=18 May 2025|work=AFC.com}}
On 10 June 2025, it was announced that Anumanthan would be leaving the club following the expiry of this contract.
=Kanchanaburi Power=
On 23 June 2025, it was announced that Anu would be joining newly promoted Thai League 1 side Kanchanaburi Power.{{Cite web|url=https://www.khaosod.co.th/sports/news_9817508|title= พลังกาญจน์ เดินหน้าเสริมแกร่งสู้ศึกลีกสูงสุดหนแรก ดึงแนวรับสิงคโปร์ร่วมทีม|access-date=23 June 2025|date=23 June 2025|website=Khaosod|lang=th}}
International career
Anumanthan was part of the Singapore national under-23 team that won the bronze medal at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.
Anumanthan was called up to the senior team in July 2013.{{cite web| url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Sports/Story/A1Story20130715-437273.html| title=Football: Birthday surprise for Anumanthan| newspaper=The New Paper| date=16 July 2013| access-date=8 March 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308191625/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Sports/Story/A1Story20130715-437273.html| archive-date=8 March 2014| url-status=live}} He made his senior debut for Singapore in a 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifying match against Oman on 14 August 2013, coming on for striker Indra Shahdan Daud in the 70th minute.{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/en/gamecast/statistics/id/365044/statistics.html?soccernet=true&cc=4716 |title=Singapore 0-2 Oman - match stats |website=ESPN FC |access-date=8 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330033602/http://espnfc.com/en/gamecast/statistics/id/365044/statistics.html?soccernet=true&cc=4716 |archive-date=30 March 2014 }} He followed it up with his first start in a friendly match against China on 6 September 2013.{{cite web| url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/match/122868/china-vs-singapore/report| title=China put six past hapless Lions| website=Goal| access-date=13 March 2014}}
In 2022, Anumanthan was included in the team for the 2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series and the 2022 AFF Championship.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-03-17 |title=Football: Four uncapped players called up for Singapore's March friendlies {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-four-uncapped-players-called-up-for-singapores-march-friendlies |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Amanda |date=2022-12-20 |title=Five players in Singapore squad to take part in AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 for the first time |url=https://youthopia.sg/read/five-players-in-singapore-squad-to-take-part-in-aff-mitsubishi-electric-cup-2022-for-the-first-time/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=youthopia.sg |language=en-US}}
Style of play
A quick, aggressive, physically strong, aerial ability and tenacious defensive-midfielder, Anu is known for his work-rate and hard-tackling style of play.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 14 June 2025}}{{Soccerway|anumanthan-mohan-kumar/234754}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=5|Young Lions
|2012 |rowspan=4|S.League |4 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan='2'|—{{efn|Young Lions withdrew from the 2012 Singapore League Cup due to participation in the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship qualifiers.}} | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 2013
|16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan='2'|— | colspan=2|— | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2014
|23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan='2'|— | colspan=2|— | 23 | 1 | |||
| 2015
|20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan='2'|— | colspan=2|— | 20 | 1 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!63 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 2 | |
| rowspan="3" |Hougang United
|2016 |rowspan=2|S.League |22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan=2|— | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2017
|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan='2'|— | colspan=2|— | 5 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3" |Home United
|2017 |rowspan=2|S.League |6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan=2|— | 7 | 1 | |||
| 2018
|18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11{{efn|name=AFC|Appearance(s) in AFC Cup}} | 2 | colspan=2|— | 33 | 3 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!24 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 4 | |
| rowspan="3" |Hougang United
|2019 |rowspan=2|Singapore Premier League |16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan=2|— | 17 | 1 | |||
| 2020
|7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=AFC}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 9 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| rowspan="1"|Kedah Darul Aman
|2021 |21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 23 | 1 | ||
| rowspan="4" |Lion City Sailors
|2022 | rowspan="3" | Singapore Premier League |22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=ACL|Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League Elite}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| 2023
|21 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=ACL}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 32 | 1 | ||
| 2024–25
|21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=ACL2|Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League Two}} | 0 | 5{{efn|Four appearances in ASEAN Club Championship, one appearance in Singapore Community Shield}} | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| colspan=2| Total
!64 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 94 | 2 | |
| Kanchanaburi Power
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!222 | 7 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 279 | 10 |
{{notelist}}
- Young Lions are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions.
=International=
== U19 International caps==
| class="wikitable"
! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition | |||||
| align=center|1 | 31 October 2011 | Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia | {{fbu|19|MAC}} | align=center|0-0 (draw) | 2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification |
| align=center|2 | 2 November 2011 | Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia | {{fbu|19|AUS}} | align=center|0-1 (lost) | 2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification |
| align=center|3 | 4 November 2011 | Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia | {{fbu|19|CHN}} | align=center|0-11 (lost) | 2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification |
| align=center|4 | 8 November 2011 | Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia | {{fbu|19|IDN}} | align=center|0-3 (lost) | 2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification |
{{Updated|December 2016}}{{NFT player|id=53395}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan=3|Singapore national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 |
| Total||12||0 |
Honours
= Club =
== Kedah Darul Aman ==
- Malaysia Super League: Runners-up: 2021
Lion City Sailors
- AFC Champions League Two runner-up: 2024–25
- Singapore Premier League: 2024–25
- Singapore Cup: 2023, 2024–25
- Singapore Community Shield: 2022, 2024
=International=
Singapore
- Southeast Asian Games: bronze medal 2013
= Individual =
- S.League Young Player of the Year: 2016{{cite web| title= Anu is the first local since Hariss to win S.League YPOTY award| url= http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/anu-first-local-hariss-win-sleague-ypoty-award| publisher= fourfourtwo| date= 1 November 2016| access-date= 1 November 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161103215642/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/anu-first-local-hariss-win-sleague-ypoty-award| archive-date= 3 November 2016| url-status= dead}}
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Singaporean men's footballers
Category:Singapore men's international footballers
Category:Singapore Premier League players
Category:Malaysia Super League players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Singaporean people of Tamil descent
Category:Singaporean sportspeople of Indian descent
Category:Young Lions FC players
Category:Hougang United FC players
Category:Lion City Sailors FC players
Category:Kedah Darul Aman F.C. players
Category:Thai League 1 players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand
Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Thailand
Category:Singaporean expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia
Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia
Category:21st-century Singaporean sportsmen
Category:Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games
Category:SEA Games bronze medalists for Singapore
Category:SEA Games medalists in football