Mehtab Singh (footballer)
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}}
{{short description|Indian footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mehtab Singh
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Mehtab Singh
| height = 1.83 m
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|06|05}}
| birth_place = Khemkaran, Punjab, India{{cite web|title=Ignoring sounds of bullets, East Bengal footballer excels|date=3 August 2017 |url=https://www.mykhel.com/football/ignoring-sounds-bullets-east-bengal-footballer-excels-012078.html|publisher=mykhel.com|accessdate=25 April 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426152202/https://www.mykhel.com/football/ignoring-sounds-bullets-east-bengal-footballer-excels-012078.html|url-status=live}}
| currentclub = Mumbai City
| clubnumber = 5
| position = Centre-back
| youthyears2 = 2016–2017
| youthyears1 =
| youthyears3 =
| youthclubs2 = East Bengal
| youthclubs1 = Mahilpur Football Academy
| youthclubs3 =
| years1 = 2016–2020
| clubs1 = East Bengal
| caps1 = 17
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019
| clubs2 = → Gokulam Kerala (loan)
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2020–
| clubs3 = Mumbai City
| caps3 = 91
| goals3 = 5
| nationalyears1 = 2019–2022
| nationalteam1 = India U23
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2023–
| nationalteam2 = India
| nationalcaps2 = 10
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}} {{Medal|Country|{{fb|IND}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|SAFF Championship}}
{{Medal|W| 2023 India|}}
| pcupdate = 06:00, 12 March 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 16:06, 13 October 2023 (UTC)
}}
Mehtab Singh ({{langx|pa|ਮਹਿਤਾਬ ਸਿੰਘ}}; born 5 June 1998) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Indian Super League club Mumbai City and the India national team.
Career
=Early career=
Mehtab Singh was born in Khemkaran village in Punjab. He travelled around 165 kilometres from Khemkaran to Mahilpur football academy to learn to play football.{{fact|date=June 2022}}
He later represented the East Bengal U18 side in the 2017–18 U18 I-League.{{fact|date=June 2022}}
On 13 December 2017, he scored a goal to help his team to a victory over Mohun Bagan in a crucial under-18 I-League match.{{cite web|title=U'18 I League: Mehtab Singh strike gives East Bengal a 1-0 win in derby|date=13 December 2016 |url=https://xtratime.in/u18-i-league-mehtab-singh-strike-gives-east-bengal-a-1-0-win-in-derby/|publisher=xtratime.in|accessdate=25 April 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426161604/https://xtratime.in/u18-i-league-mehtab-singh-strike-gives-east-bengal-a-1-0-win-in-derby/|url-status=live}}
=East Bengal=
He was promoted to the senior squad and played in the 2017–18 Calcutta Premier Division for the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/i-league-2017-18-what-does-the-season-have-in-store|access-date=2020-03-03|title=I-League 2017/18 : What does the season have in store?|language=en|website=sportskeeda.com|first=Sayak Dipta|last=Dey|date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303034726/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/i-league-2017-18-what-does-the-season-have-in-store|archive-date=3 March 2020}} On 28 November 2017, he made I-League debut in a 2–2 draw against Aizawl.{{cite web|title=I League 2017-18: East Bengal settles for a 2-2 draw against defending champions Aizawl FC.|date=28 November 2017 |url=https://xtratime.in/i-league-2017-18-east-bengal-settles-for-a-2-2-draw-against-defending-champions-aizawl-fc/|publisher=xtratime.in|accessdate=25 April 2019|archive-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427010248/https://xtratime.in/i-league-2017-18-east-bengal-settles-for-a-2-2-draw-against-defending-champions-aizawl-fc/|url-status=live}}
On 14 November 2018, he suffered a head injury due to an collision with Siddharth Singh during the practice when the duo jumped for an aerial ball as their heads clashed against each other. Mehtab was the worst affected as he was seen with a bloody forehead and lay unconscious for sometime before being rushed to the hospital where he had 18 stitches.{{cite news |title=Injured defender Mehtab Singh likely to miss East Bengal's next two matches|newspaper=The Times of India |date=15 November 2018 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/injured-defender-mehtab-singh-likely-to-miss-east-bengals-next-two-matches/articleshow/66640719.cms |publisher=timesofindia.com |access-date=25 April 2019}}{{cite web|title=East Bengal defender out of danger after head collision|url=http://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/18311/east-bengal-defender-out-of-danger-after-head-collision.html|publisher=theweekendleader.com|accessdate=25 April 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426163724/http://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/18311/east-bengal-defender-out-of-danger-after-head-collision.html|url-status=live}}
=Gokulam Kerala=
On 31 January 2019, he was loaned to Gokulam Kerala for the rest of the season. He made a total of 5 appearances for the Kerala side.{{cite web |title=Mehtab Singh joins Gokulam Kerala on loan for the rest of the 2018-19 season|url= https://www.facebook.com/GoalIndia/photos/a.10150591608037496/10156411633072496/?type=3|publisher=facebook.com |access-date=25 April 2019}}
=Mumbai City=
==2020-21 season==
In 2020, Singh moved to Mumbai City on a 3-year contract ahead of the 2020-21 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.mumbaicityfc.com/news/mumbai-city-sign-defender-mehtab-singh | title=Mumbai City sign defender Mehtab Singh }} During this season, coach Sergio Lobera used Mehtab as a squad player, only starting five games during the course of the season. However, this season, Mumbai became the first ever team to win both the ISL Shield and the ISL Cup in one season. However, Mehtab was on the bench for the shield deciding match on the final day of the league season, and the ISL Cup final.
==2021-22 season==
Despite Mehtab being left on the bench for the early part of the season under new coach Des Buckingham, he established his place during the second part of the season, starting 10 out of the last 13 games of the season. He scored his first goal against FC Goa on 26 February 2022, heading in a free-kick from Cássio Gabriel.https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/625594/mumbai-city-fc-fc-goa
Later in March 2022, he was included in club's 2022 AFC Champions League squad.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/all-need-know-mumbai-city-fc-s-afc-champions-league-2022-campaign|title=All you need to know about Mumbai City FC's AFC Champions League 2022 campaign|website=sportskeeda.com|publisher=Sportskeeda|date=6 April 2022|access-date=6 April 2022|first=Sayantan|last=Guha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406165901/https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/all-need-know-mumbai-city-fc-s-afc-champions-league-2022-campaign|archive-date=6 April 2022}} During that campaign, Mehtab started in four out of Mumbai's six games. He came off the bench for the closing minutes in Mumbai's win over Air Force Club on 11 April 2022, where Mumbai became the first team from India to win a game in the AFC Champions League.{{cite web | url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/mumbai-city-fc-create-history-with-a-win-over-al-quwa-al-jawiya | title=Mumbai City FC create history with a win over Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | date=11 April 2022 }} He also played the full 90 minutes in a scoreless draw against UAE's Al Jazira Club,{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/632230/al-jazira-mumbai-city-fc | title=Mumbai City 0-0 Al-Jazira (18 Apr, 2022) Final Score - ESPN (IN) }} and in Mumbai's 1-0 win over Air Force Club in the reverse fixture as well.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/632183/air-force-club-mumbai-city-fc | title=Mumbai City 1-0 Air Force (27 Apr, 2022) Final Score - ESPN (IN) }}
==2022-23 season==
Mehtab was again used as a rotation player in Mumbai's run to the final of the 2022 Durand Cup. However, when the ISL season began, Mehtab retained his place in the team from the previous season, playing the full match in 20 out of the 22 games the club played. Despite coming off the bench as a substitute in the first game of the season against Hyderabad FC, he started the next three games against Odisha FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Kerala Blasters FC, winning the Man Of the Match award in all three games{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlKFUMAFO4M&pp=ygULI3NpbmdoaGVybzI%3D | title=Mehtab Singh: Hero of the Match | Mumbai City FC 2-0 Odisha FC | MW 2, Hero ISL 2022-23 | website=YouTube | date=16 October 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/videos/mehtab-singh---hero-of-the-match-mumbai-city-fc-1-1-jamshedpur-fc-mw-3-hero-isl-2022-23 | title=Mehtab Singh - Hero of the Match | Mumbai City FC 1-1 Jamshedpur FC | MW 3, Hero ISL 2022-23 | date=23 October 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/videos/mehtab-singh---hero-of-the-match-kerala-blasters-0-2-mumbai-city-fc-mw-4-hero-isl-2022-23 | title=Mehtab Singh - Hero of the Match | Kerala Blasters 0-2 Mumbai City FC | MW 4, Hero ISL 2022-23 | date=29 October 2022 }} He scored his first goal of the season in the Kerala Blasters match as well.{{cite web | url=https://www.mumbaicityfc.com/news/match-report-kerala-blasters-fc-0---2-mumbai-city-fc | title=Match Report: Kerala Blasters FC 0 - 2 Mumbai City FC }} This season, Mumbai won the league shield in record-breaking fashion, with an 18-match unbeaten run.{{Cite web |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/isl/mumbai-city-fc-wins-isl-indian-super-league-winners-shield-after-beating-fc-goa-mcfc-v-fcg-news/article66496830.ece |title=Mumbai City FC wins the ISL 2022-23 League Winners Shield after a 5-3 win over FC Goa |date=11 February 2023 |access-date=2 April 2023 |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318210820/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/isl/mumbai-city-fc-wins-isl-indian-super-league-winners-shield-after-beating-fc-goa-mcfc-v-fcg-news/article66496830.ece |url-status=live }}
In the play-offs, Mumbai were knocked out in the play-off semi final against Bengaluru FC. After a 1-0 loss in the first leg, Mehtab scored Mumbai's second goal in the second leg with a header from a corner, equalizing the score 2-2 on aggregate. However, he ended up missing his penalty during sudden death. Defender Sandesh Jhingan subsequently scored his penalty for Bengaluru FC, knocking The Islanders out of the playoffs.{{cite web | url=https://www.mumbaicityfc.com/news/match-report-bengaluru-fc-1-2-mumbai-city-fc | title=Match Report: Bengaluru FC 1-2 Mumbai City (2-2 agg); BFC win 9-8 on penalties }}
==2023-24 season==
Mehtab was once again part of Mumbai's AFC Champions League squad, starting 3 out of Mumbai's 6 games in the competition. In Mumbai's fourth game, a home match versus Al Hilal, Mehtab put in a strong defensive performance but got a red card in the 54th minute, reducing Mumbai to ten men. The club went on to lose 0-2 in a spirited performance.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/686983/al-hilal-mumbai-city-fc | title=Al Hilal 2-0 Mumbai City (6 Nov, 2023) Final Score - ESPN (IN) }}
Mehtab scored his first goal of the season against NorthEast United FC, in an eventual 1-2 away win for the club.{{cite web | url=https://www.mumbaicityfc.com/news/match-report-northeast-united-1-2-mumbai-city-fc | title=Match Report: NorthEast United 1-2 Mumbai City FC }} Despite coach Des Buckingham leaving the club mid-season, Mehtab kept his place under new coach Petr Kratky. He remained a regular starter as the club lost the ISL Shield on the final day against Mohun Bagan Super Giant,{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/697854/mumbai-city-fc-mohun-bagan-super-giant | title=Mohun Bagan 2-1 Mumbai City (15 Apr, 2024) Final Score - ESPN (IN) }} but took revenge in the ISL Cup final, where this time the club won 3-1 against Mohun Bagan Super Giant.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.in/football/match/_/gameId/702296/mumbai-city-fc-mohun-bagan-super-giant | title=Mumbai City 3-1 Mohun Bagan (4 May, 2024) Final Score - ESPN (IN) }}
==2024-25 season==
Mehtab began the 2024-25 season strongly. He scored his first goal of the season in a hard-fought 1-0 win over Hyderabad FC, heading in from a Lallianzuala Chhangte corner.{{cite web | url=https://www.mumbaicityfc.com/news/match-report-mumbai-city-1-0-hyderabad-fc#:~:text=Mumbai%20City%20secured%20a%20hard,0%20win%20for%20the%20Islanders | title=Match Report : Mumbai City 1-0 Hyderabad FC | date=30 June 2024 }}
International
On 13 February 2019, Singh was called up to the India under-23 side which participated in the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers.{{cite news |title=Liston in India U-23 preliminary camp |url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/liston-in-india-u-23-preliminary-camp/ |accessdate=24 March 2019 |work=Navhind Times |date=13 February 2019 |archive-date=24 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324151610/http://www.navhindtimes.in/liston-in-india-u-23-preliminary-camp/ |url-status=live }} He made his debut for the side in a friendly match against Qatar U23 ahead of the competition.{{cite web|title=india U-23 SUFFER NARROW LOSS TO QATAR|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9501|publisher=AIFF.com|accessdate=25 April 2019|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322044146/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=9501|url-status=live}}
On 14 March 2023, Singh was called up to the Indian senior squad for the first time.{{cite news |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/igor-stimac-names-provisional-squad-ahead-of-hero-tri-nation-international-football-tournament |title=Igor Stimac names provisional squad ahead of Hero Tri-Nation International Football Tournament |website=The AIFF |date=14 March 2023 |access-date=14 March 2023 |archive-date=14 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314111409/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/igor-stimac-names-provisional-squad-ahead-of-hero-tri-nation-international-football-tournament |url-status=live }} He made his debut in the Hero Tri-Nation International Football Tournament against Myanmar on 22 March, as one of the starters in a 1–0 victory.{{cite web|first=Soumo|last=Ghosh|date=22 March 2023|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/anirudh-thapa-strikes-as-india-edge-past-myanmar-in-hero-tri-nation-opener-in-imphal|title=Anirudh Thapa strikes in India's win over Myanmar in Hero Tri-Nation opener|work=the-aiff.com|accessdate=22 March 2023|archive-date=22 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322165548/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/anirudh-thapa-strikes-as-india-edge-past-myanmar-in-hero-tri-nation-opener-in-imphal|url-status=live}}
Personal life
In December 2022, Mehtab married his long-time girlfriend Shauli Sarkar.
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|1 April 2024}}{{soccerway|mehtab-singh/472296}}
| 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"|AFC !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3" |East Bengal
| rowspan="2" |I-League |6 | 0 | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20
|11 | 0 | colspan="2" |– | 2{{efn|name=DurandCup|Appearance(s) in Durand Cup}} | 0 | colspan="2" |– | 13 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2" |East Bengal total
!17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| rowspan="1" |Gokulam Kerala (loan)
| rowspan="1" |I-League |5 | 0 | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– | 5 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="5" |Mumbai City
| rowspan="4" |Indian Super League |12 | 0 | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22
|13 | 1 | colspan="2" |– | colspan="2" |– | 6{{efn|Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League|name=statsAFCCL}} | 0 | 19 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23
|21 | 2 | 3{{efn|name=SuperCup|Appearance(s) in Super Cup}} | 1 | 5{{efn|name=DurandCup}} | 1 | 1{{efn|Appearance in playoff for AFC Champions League}} | 0 | 30 | 4 | |
| 2023–24
|17 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=SuperCup|Appearance(s) in Super Cup}} | 0 | 4{{efn|name=DurandCup}} | 1 | 4{{efn|Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League|name=statsAFCCL}}
|0 | 26 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2" |Mumbai City total
!63 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 86 | 6 | |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!85 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 110 | 6 |
{{notelist}}
= International =
{{updated|13 March 2024}}{{NFT|90435}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="1" |India
|2023 | 9 | 0 | |
| colspan="2" |Total | 9 | 0 |
Honours
East Bengal
- Calcutta Football League: 2017–18{{cite web|title=Calcutta Football League: East Bengal wins eighth consecutive title|url=https://www.sportstarlive.com/football/east-bengal-holds-mohun-bagan-to-win-calcutta-football-league-eight-times-in-a-row/article19747202.ece|work=sportslive.com|date=24 September 2017 |accessdate=3 August 2018|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724064406/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/east-bengal-holds-mohun-bagan-to-win-calcutta-football-league-eight-times-in-a-row/article19747202.ece|url-status=live}}
Mumbai City
India
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mumbai City FC squad}}
{{India squad 2023 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Mehtab}}
Category:Footballers from Punjab, India
Category:People from Tarn Taran district
Category:Indian men's footballers
Category:India men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Gokulam Kerala FC players
Category:East Bengal Club players
Category:Indian Super League players
Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen