Irungbam Surkumar Singh

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Surkumar Singh

| image = Surkumar1.jpg

| fullname = Irungbam Surkumar Singh

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|3|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Imphal, India

| currentclub = Mumbai Tigers

| clubnumber = 13

| height = {{height|m=1.74}}

| position = Right back

|years1 = 2000–2001

|clubs1 = East Bengal

|caps1 = 19

|goals1 = 2

|years2 = 2001–2003

|clubs2 = Mahindra United

|caps2 = 34

|goals2 = 0

|years3 = 2003–2004

|clubs3 = East Bengal

|caps3 = 0

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2004–2007

|clubs4 = Mahindra United

|caps4 = 34

|goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2007–2009

|clubs5 = East Bengal

|caps5 = 16

|goals5 = 0

|years6 = 2009–2012

|clubs6 = Mohun Bagan

|caps6 =

|goals6 = 4

|years7 = 2013–14

|clubs7 = Mumbai Tigers

|caps7 = 0

|goals7 = 0

|years8 = 2014–

|clubs8 = United Sikkim

|caps8 = 6

|goals8 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2006

| nationalteam1 = India U23

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2001–2011

| nationalteam2 = India

| nationalcaps2 = 52{{Cite web |url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/3099/Irrungbam_Surkumar_Singh.html |title=Surkumar Singh player profile |access-date=3 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111183140/http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/3099/Irrungbam_Surkumar_Singh.html |archive-date=11 November 2017 |url-status=live }}

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

Irungbam Surkumar Singh (born 21 March 1983) is an Indian footballer who played for the India national football team as a defender.{{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}} Graduated out of the prestigious Tata Football Academy in 2000, he played for the Kolkata giants East Bengal, and later for United Sikkim in the 2nd Division of I-League. After impressing at under-16 level while playing for Manipur under-16 despite being only 13, Surkumar was hired by Tata Football Academy. He spent four years in TFA and used to play as a center back.

He also made his international debut in 2001 in the historic 1-0 win over UAE in a 2002 World Cup qualifier.

Career

=East Bengal=

After signing his first professional contract with East Bengal, he was turned into a right back by then-East Bengal coach Syed Nayemuddin. That change brought the best out of Surkumar as he played a key role in East Bengal’s first ever National League title.

=Mahindra United=

After just one season with the red and gold brigade, he joined Mahindra United. He won the Durand Cup with the Mumbai-based outfit but also tore his ligament there in a Mumbai League match.

=East Bengal=

Surkumar returned to East Bengal for his second spell and won the treble with them in 2003 - ASEAN Cup, National Football League (NFL) and Kolkata Premier League.

=Mahindra United=

Surkumar then joined Mahindra for the second time in his career and spent three successful seasons with the Mumbai club. The fullback won every major trophy with the Red Devils of India and was adjudged AIFF Player of the Year in 2006.

=East Bengal=

He rejoined East Bengal for this third spell and won the Federation Cup in 2007.

=Mohun Bagan=

Then in 2009, for the first time in his career Surkumar signed for Mohun Bagan. He had scored the only goal from a Snehasish Chakraborty corner, as debutantes Shillong Lajong F.C. had thrashed the century-old club 1-4 at Kolkata.{{Cite web |url=http://www.shillonglajong.com/lajong-hammer-mohan-bagan-4-1 |title=LAJONG HAMMER MOHAN BAGAN 4-1 – Shillong Lajong FC | Official Website |access-date=7 May 2013 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226101410/https://www.shillonglajong.com/lajong-hammer-mohan-bagan-4-1/ |url-status=dead }}

=Mumbai Tigers=

In the 2013 I-League 2nd Division, he had opened the scoring for the Mumbai Tigers F.C. in their last match against Bhawanipore F.C. in the 3-5 loss.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kolkatafootball.com/ileague_2nd_2013/index.html |title=Ileague 2nd divn -2013 | LIVE Indian Football News | LIVE kolkatafootball.com | Indian Football | I-LEAGUE LIVe SCORE | Live Indian Football News | Live Indian Soccer News | Football in India | Soccer of India. | KOLKATA FOOTBALL NEWS |access-date=3 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104152631/http://kolkatafootball.com/ileague_2nd_2013/index.html |archive-date=4 January 2019 |url-status=dead }}

He won the Kolkata League with Mohun Bagan in his first season and will be an important player for them once he returns from international duty. For the national team, Surkumar has been a regular since the 2005 SAFF Cup triumph. The attacking right wingback has easily been India’s best player in that position in the last decade. Unlike very few fullbacks in the country, Surkumar also has the ability to score goals, especially from long range. He has four international goals to his name with the most recent one coming in the 3-6 defeat against Yemen in Pune.{{Cite web |url=http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/currentSqad/surkumar.asp |title=Profile |access-date=15 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231215135/http://eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/currentSqad/surkumar.asp |archive-date=31 December 2008 |url-status=usurped }}

=United Sikkim F.C.=

In 2014, he has joined United Sikkim F.C.

Honours

East Bengal

IFA Shield: 2000
ASEAN Club Championship: 2003{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/field/968097/making-a-mark-in-asia-east-bengals-2003-asean-cup-win-a-defining-moment-for-indian-club-football|title=Making a mark in Asia: East Bengal's 2003 Asean Cup win – a defining moment for Indian club football|website=Scroll.in|date=26 July 2020 |access-date=25 September 2021|archive-date=27 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127192359/https://amp.scroll.in/field/968097/making-a-mark-in-asia-east-bengals-2003-asean-cup-win-a-defining-moment-for-indian-club-football|url-status=live}}

India

Individual

AIFF Player of the Year: 2006{{cite web |title=Jeje Lalpekhlua is 2016 AIFF Player of the Year |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=7722 |website=the-aiff.com |access-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227132308/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=7722 |archive-date=27 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=All India Football Federation Awards: Sunil Chhetri and Bala Devi win Player of the Year Trophy |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/all-india-football-federation-awards-sunil-chhetri-and-bala-devi-win-player-of-the-year-trophy-240310-2015-02-14 |access-date=26 September 2020 |newspaper=India Today |date=14 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926234124/https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/all-india-football-federation-awards-sunil-chhetri-and-bala-devi-win-player-of-the-year-trophy-240310-2015-02-14 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |url-status=live }}