Arun Ghosh

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Arun Ghosh

|image =

|caption =

|fullname =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|6|7|df=yes}}

|birth_place = Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Kolkata, West Bengal, India)

|death_date =

|death_place =

|position = Defender

|clubs1 = Howrah Union{{cite web|url=https://insidesports.in/archives/5533|title=কর্পোরেট ক্রিকেট দিয়ে হাওড়া ইউনিয়নে শতবর্ষ উৎযাপন শুরু|date=21 January 2023|access-date=26 January 2022|location=Kolkata|website=insidesports.in|publisher=ইনসাইড স্পোর্টস|language=bn|trans-title=Howrah Union keen to start club's centenary celebration with corporate cricket tournament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205233414/https://insidesports.in/archives/5533|archive-date=5 February 2023}}

|clubs2 = Mohun Bagan

|clubs3 = East Bengal

|nationalteam1 = India

| manageryears1 = 1978{{cite web |title=The Senior National Team at 1978 Asian Games |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1978asiangames.html |website=indiafootball.de |publisher=IndiaFootball |access-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819164524/http://indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1978asiangames.html |archive-date=19 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}

| managerclubs1 = India

| manageryears2 = 1978–1980

| managerclubs2 = East Bengal

| manageryears3 = 1980

| managerclubs3 = Mohun Bagan

| manageryears4 = 1984{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-india-gear-up-to-challenge-trinidad-and-tobago |title=Indian Football: India gear up to challenge Trinidad and Tobago |publisher=Sportskeeda |date=21 August 2011 |access-date=3 January 2023 }}

| managerclubs4 = India

| manageryears5 = 1985{{Cite web |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1986worldcupq.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1986 World Cup Qualifiers |access-date=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819175833/http://indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1986worldcupq.html |archive-date=19 August 2016 |url-status=dead }}

| managerclubs5 = India

|medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}

}}

Arun Ghosh (born 7 June 1941) is a former Indian football player who represented India internationally.{{cite web |url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/700415 |title=Arun Ghosh |work=Olympedia |access-date=14 December 2021 |archive-date=14 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214195934/https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/700415 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://home.123india.com/alokghosh/Heritage/Our%20Sportsmen.htm|title=OUR SPORTSMEN|website=123india.com|access-date=27 September 2007|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210527/http://home.123india.com/alokghosh/Heritage/Our%20Sportsmen.htm}} He also played club football for both the Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal Club. He later managed the India national team.{{cite web |first1=Ritabrata |last1=Banerjee |title=4 instances when India could have played in FIFA World Cup |date=12 March 2015 |website=sportskeeda.com |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/slideshow/4-instances-india-could-played-fifa-world-cup |publisher=Sportskeeda |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131224003/https://www.sportskeeda.com/slideshow/4-instances-india-could-played-fifa-world-cup |archive-date=31 January 2023 }}

Playing career

He was part of the team that played in the 1960 Rome Olympics under coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim. He later appeared in 1964 Merdeka Cup, where they achieved second place. In the same year, he went on to represent his nation at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup, where they also finished as runners-up as Israel clinched the title.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2011/01/07/2293901/asian-cup-know-your-history-part-one-1956-1988 |title=Asian Cup: Know Your History - Part One (1956–1988) |publisher=Goal.com |date=2011-01-07 |access-date=2015-05-03 |archive-date=2019-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531055150/https://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2011/01/07/2293901/asian-cup-know-your-history-part-one-1956-1988 }}{{cite web |first=Arunava |last=Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1964asiacup.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1964 Tel Aviv Asia Cup |publisher=indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162221/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1964asiacup.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} He was also a member of the squad that won gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games Football Championship in 1962. He also played in the final, where India defeated South Korea 2–1.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/still-get-goosebumps-remembering-1962-asian-games-football-gold-arun-ghosh/articleshow/77930006.cms|title=Still get goosebumps remembering 1962 Asian Games football gold run:Arun Ghosh|newspaper=The Times of India|date=4 September 2020|agency=PTI|access-date=2 August 2022|archive-date=21 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821080544/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/still-get-goosebumps-remembering-1962-asian-games-football-gold-arun-ghosh/articleshow/77930006.cms|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/greatest-indian-football-xi-of-all-time|title=All time Indian XI|date=23 November 2016|access-date=21 June 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201149/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/greatest-indian-football-xi-of-all-time|website=sportskeeda.com|publisher=Sportskeeda|first=Amoy|last=Ghoshal}}

{{Cquote|When I was young, I used to play both badminton and football well. At that time, we did it, have proper grounds to play badminton so we used to organize matches with friends during evenings and football, I used to play at a local club. This was in 1954 or 1955. One day, one of my school friends named Tota had a trial in Howrah Union, then in the second division of Kolkata League. At that time I was very fit and strong and Dashu Mitra was impressed with my physique. He asked me if I played football. Hearing that I did, he asked me to come to practice the following day. Initially we were given the job of ball boys but Howrah Union eventually became my first club.|source=Ghosh, on the beginning of his playing career.{{cite news|url=https://thehardtackle.com/2013/lack-of-focus-on-youth-development-is-biggest-problem-of-indian-football-arun-ghosh-exclusive-interview/|date=23 August 2013|access-date=26 August 2022|website=thehardtackle.com|publisher=The Hard Tackle|title="Lack of Focus on Youth Development Is The Biggest Problem of Indian Football" – Arun Ghosh (Exclusive Interview)|first1=Somnath|last1=Sengupta|first2=Aindrila|last2=Ghosh|first3=Bhaktimoy|last3=Sengupta|location=Kolkata|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127020642/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2013/lack-of-focus-on-youth-development-is-biggest-problem-of-indian-football-arun-ghosh-exclusive-interview/|archive-date=27 January 2022}}|Cquote}}

Ghosh represented Bengal in Santosh Trophy,{{Cite web|first=Novy|last=Kapadia|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/memorable-moments-in-the-santosh-trophy-2|website=www.sportskeeda.com|publisher=Sportskeeda|date=27 May 2012|access-date=7 March 2021|title=Memorable moments in the Santosh Trophy|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412140304/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/memorable-moments-in-the-santosh-trophy-2}} and played club football for then Calcutta Football League side East Bengal. He shifted to the "red and gold brigade" after playing for Mohun Bagan in the early 1960s.

At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Jim Lewis, a member of the England football team, is famously reported to have told Arun Ghosh, a defender in the Indian football team:

"You play like Bobby Moore!"

This compliment came before India’s impressive performance in their match against France, which ended in a 1–1 draw. India had shown exceptional skill, ball control, and tactical discipline, which surprised many European players and commentators. Jim Lewis’s remark highlighted how aesthetically pleasing and technically sound India's football was during that match — reminiscent of the flair associated with Bobby Moore.

It was always regretted for Arun ji, and it is repeatedly said by him to us that had Rahim Saheb lived for a few more years, an Olympic medal could have been won by India, which was missed at the Melbourne Games in 1956. {{cite web |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Soham |title=1960–1965: When Chuni Goswami & co propelled Mohun Bagan to the zenith of success |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/1960s-mohun-bagan-chuni-goswami-trophies-indian-football/1utzzq9j0icvgze2iw9ple0p1 |website=Goal |access-date=26 August 2020 |date=30 April 2020 |archive-date=7 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207100844/https://www.goal.com/en/news/1960s-mohun-bagan-chuni-goswami-trophies-indian-football/1utzzq9j0icvgze2iw9ple0p1 }}

Managerial career

In 1974, Ghosh went on to became coach of the India U-20 team along with Syed Abdul Salam, ahead of the 1974 AFC Youth Championship in Thailand.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-football-down-the-years-looking-back-at-the-glorious-moments#|title=Indian Football Down the Years: Looking back at the glorious moments|first=AIFF|last=Media Team|website=www.the-aiff.com|publisher=All India Football Federation|language=en|trans-title=|location=New Delhi|agency=|date=15 August 2022|access-date=20 October 2022|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921011335/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/indian-football-down-the-years-looking-back-at-the-glorious-moments}} After a brief training camp in Patiala, his team participated in the tournament and reached the final. A 2–2 scoreline against Iran-20 insured that both the teams shared the trophy.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/from-gate-crashers-to-joint-winners-indias-journey-at-the-asian-youth-championship-bangkok-1974|title=From gate-crashers to joint winners: India's journey at the Asian Youth Championship Bangkok 1974|date=30 April 2020|access-date=24 August 2022|first=Shabbir|last=Ali|website=www.the-aiff.com|publisher=All India Football Federation|location=Hyderabad|archive-date=24 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824155910/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/from-gate-crashers-to-joint-winners-indias-journey-at-the-asian-youth-championship-bangkok-1974}} Under his coaching, India U-20 team achieved their first ever continental title, in which Shabbir Ali scored five goals.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/down-the-memory-lane-1974-india-crowned-champions-of-asia/1q6hztibcvav61kfbogj9a88um|title=Down the memory lane: India's AFC Youth Championship triumph in 1974|date=30 April 2020|access-date=24 August 2022|website=www.goal.com|publisher=Goal|first=Ritabrata|last=Banerjee|archive-date=24 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824155908/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/down-the-memory-lane-1974-india-crowned-champions-of-asia/1q6hztibcvav61kfbogj9a88um}}

Ghosh also served as director of Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur from 1997 to 2003.{{cite web|first1=Gautam|last1=Roy|first2=Swapan|last2=Ball|date=2007|url=http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers3.asp|title=East Bengal Football Club – Famous Players|access-date=25 February 2009|website=www.eastbengalfootballclub.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221072434/http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers3.asp|archive-date=21 February 2009}}

His Friends

Arun Ghosh sir’s best friend was our Indian Pele Tulsidas Balaram. He always regards him as the best Indian football player. When he was in the team, he called Balaram ji as "Balram Kaku" because they had a 5-year age gap. But as time passed by, they became best friends and in the last days of Balaram ji he shifted his home to Uttarpara. He also had a great friendship with Pradyut Barman who played a few matches in the 1962 Asian Games and they used to talk for hours on telephone and face to face also. He also has great respect for Sheoo Mewalal who played twice in Olympics for India. When Mewalal ji passed away no newspaper was covering his death story. He went to a newspaper office and told them to write about Mewalal ji.

Current Situation

Arun sir’s journey from a budding footballer in Howrah Union to a celebrated player and coach is a story of dedication, perseverance, and excellence. His contributions to Indian football, both on and off the field, have left an indelible mark. As a player, he inspired a generation of footballers, and as a coach, he laid the foundation for the sport’s future in India. Arun’s legacy serves as a guiding light for Indian football, reminding us of the heights that can be achieved through hard work and passion. Currently Arun ji is living with his family in Howrah, West Bengal with his full family. He is currently suffering with Alzheimer's and Dementia where the world has forgotten our hero.

Currently he is not engrossed in watching football but he is a huge fan of Chelsea F.C. and his favorite player is Didier Drogba. He has coached were footballers like Mahesh Gawli, Kalyan Chaubey, Noel Wilson, Clifford Miranda, Subrata Paul, etc. Have come out. He did not require any foreign support as much. Clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal still felicitate him with awards and the MP of Howrah and his student Prasun Banerjee also gave him award. Plus, Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee also writes letters to him. His son is a National Table Tennis champion and his grandson is an engineer and state Table Tennis player. When Maidaan released in 2024 he had just recovered from pneumonia so the producer Boney Kapoor, director Amit Sharma and 1962 Asian Games winner DMK Afzal were also there in the screening in Avani Riverside Mall.

Honours

=Player=

India

Asian Games Gold medal: 1962
AFC Asian Cup runners-up: 1964{{cite web |first=Arunava |last=Chaudhuri |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1964asiacup.html |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1964 Tel Aviv Asia Cup |publisher=Indianfootball.de |access-date=20 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002162221/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1964asiacup.html |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Merdeka Tournament third-place: 1965,{{cite web |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1965 Merdeka Cup |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1965merdekacup.html |website=indiafootball.de |publisher=IndiaFootball |access-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233522/http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1965merdekacup.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }} 1966{{cite web |title=The Indian Senior Team at the 1966 Merdeka Cup |url=http://www.indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1966merdekacup.html |website=indiafootball.de |publisher=IndiaFootball |access-date=30 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819155050/http://indianfootball.de/specials/india/indianteam/1966merdekacup.html |archive-date=19 August 2016 |url-status=live }}

=Manager=

India U20

AFC Asian U-19 Championship: 1974{{cite web|title=Asian U-19 Championship 1974|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u19-74.html|first=Neil|last=Morrison|access-date=1 March 2022|archive-date=5 November 2017|website=RSSSF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105201750/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/as-u19-74.html}}

East Bengal

Federation Cup: 1978–79

Mohun Bagan

Federation Cup: 1980–81

=Individual=

Arjuna Award: 1965{{cite web|url=http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm#Football|title=LIST OF ARJUNA AWARD WINNERS - Football {{!}} Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225221945/http://yas.nic.in/yasroot/awards/arjuna.htm#Football|archive-date=25 December 2007|access-date=25 December 2007|website=yas.nic.in|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports}}{{cite web|title=List of Arjuna Awardees (1961–2018)|url=https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20ARJUNA%20AWARDEES.docx%2061%20-%2017_0_0.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|access-date=12 September 2020|df=dmy-all|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718084523/https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20ARJUNA%20AWARDEES.docx%2061%20-%2017_0_0.pdf}}
East Bengal "Bharat Gaurav Award": 2013{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Arun-Ghosh-to-be-conferred-East-Bengals-Bharat-Gaurav-award/articleshow/20934248.cms|title=Arun Ghosh to be conferred East Bengal's Bharat Gaurav award|work=The Times of India|date=5 July 2013 |accessdate=19 December 2019|archive-date=3 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903172332/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Arun-Ghosh-to-be-conferred-East-Bengals-Bharat-Gaurav-award/articleshow/20934248.cms}}