Yan Law

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Yan Law

| fullname = Yan Cheng Law

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|12|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kolkata, West Bengal, India

| currentclub = Delhi (head coach)

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = West Bengal U19

| years1 =

| clubs1 = George Telegraph

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = India U19

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| manageryears1 = 2012–2017

| managerclubs1 = Calcutta United

| manageryears2 = 2019–2020

| managerclubs2 = Punjab

| manageryears3 = 2020

| managerclubs3 = Mohammedan

| manageryears4 = 2020–2021

| managerclubs4 = Techtro Swades United

| manageryears5 = 2021

| managerclubs5 = Aizawl

| manageryears6 = 2021

| managerclubs6 = Biratnagar City

| manageryears7 = 2021

| managerclubs7 = Delhi

| manageryears8 = 2021–2022

| managerclubs8 = Aizawl

| manageryears9 = 2022–2023

| managerclubs9 = Druk Lhayul

| manageryears10 = 2023–

| managerclubs10 = Delhi

}}

Yan Cheng Law (born 24 December 1992) is an Indian professional football coach and former footballer.{{Cite web|author=Arnab Lall Seal|date=19 January 2021|title=I-League: Aizawl ready to put woes behind vs Gokulam {{!}} Football News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/i-league-aizawl-ready-to-put-woes-behind-vs-gokulam/articleshow/80350216.cms|access-date=2021-01-19|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415194456/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/i-league-aizawl-ready-to-put-woes-behind-vs-gokulam/articleshow/80350216.cms|url-status=live}} He is currently the head coach of the I-League club Delhi. He also represented India at the youth level internationally.

Playing career

Law played for the school team of La Martinière Calcutta,{{Cite episode |title=স্কুল ফুটবল টিমে প্রত্যাখ্যান, ন্যাশনালে এন্ট্রি Yan Law Bangla Motivational Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beUR34TsK0M |access-date=10 November 2024 |via=YouTube |series=জোশ Talks |date=25 June 2018 }} and went on to play in the lower tiers of the Calcutta Football League. He got called up for the West Bengal U19 team for the B.C. Roy Trophy at the age of 14 and eventually went on to represent the India U19 team.{{Cite web|title=Yan Law is the new Head Coach at Mohammedan SC|url=https://theawayend.co/2020/08/01/yan-law-head-coach-mohammedan-sc/|website=The Away End|date=1 August 2020|access-date=10 November 2024}}{{Cite web|title=Football: How Yan Law, the I-League’s youngest manager, is making a case for Indian coaches|url=https://scroll.in/field/967603/football-how-yan-law-the-i-leagues-youngest-manager-is-making-a-case-for-indian-coaches|website=Scroll.in|date=20 July 2020}}

Managerial career

At the age of 18, while playing for George Telegraph in the Calcutta league, Law was forced to take the D coaching License course by Joydeep Mukherjee, one of the George Telegraph officials, who saw potential in him to become a coach.[https://scroll.in/field/967603/football-how-yan-law-the-i-leagues-youngest-manager-is-making-a-case-for-indian-coaches How Yan Law, the I-League's youngest manager, is making a case for Indian coaches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929122414/https://scroll.in/field/967603/football-how-yan-law-the-i-leagues-youngest-manager-is-making-a-case-for-indian-coaches |date=29 September 2020 }} scroll.in Despite being made fun of by older men at the course, he eventually obtained the license. However, upon returning to George Telegraph, he was excluded from the team, so turned to coaching full-time with the help of his father.{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2019/nov/07/by-the-touchline-yan-and-the-laws-of-a-young-football-coach-2058287.html|title=By the touchline: Yan and the Laws of a young football coach|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108134204/https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2019/nov/07/by-the-touchline-yan-and-the-laws-of-a-young-football-coach-2058287.html|archive-date=8 November 2019|first1=Ayantan|last1=Chowdhury|agency=ENS|website=newindianexpress.com|publisher=The New Indian Express|date=7 November 2019|access-date=5 December 2023|location=Chandigarh}}

= Calcutta United =

Law was appointed head coach of Calcutta United Club in the lowest division of Calcutta at the age of 20 through owner Joydeep Mukherjee, who forced him to take his first courses.

By age 26, Law had obtained the AFC A License, the youngest coach to do so.

= Minerva Punjab =

In 2019, Law was appointed head coach of Minerva Punjab in the I-League after impressing owner Ranjit Bajaj while Head of Youth Development at Mohammedan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab-fc-aims-to-score-3-points-in-match-against-gokulam-kerala-28931|title=Punjab to take on Gokulam Kerala|website=tribuneindia.com|first=Anil|last=Datt|publisher=Tribune India News Service|language=en|location=Ludhiana|date=19 January 2020|access-date=9 February 2020|archive-date=9 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709092846/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/punjab-to-take-on-gokulam-kerala-28931}}{{Cite web|url=https://iftwc.com/heres-how-the-warriors-minerva-punjab-are-preparing-for-upcoming-i-league-season/|title=Here's How 'The Warriors – Minerva Punjab' are preparing for upcoming I-League season|website=iftwc.com|publisher=IFTWC – Indian Football Team for World Cup|first1=Shreyash|last1=Ingale|date=12 October 2019|access-date=28 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224181132/https://iftwc.com/heres-how-the-warriors-minerva-punjab-are-preparing-for-upcoming-i-league-season/|archive-date=24 December 2019}}

= Mohammedan =

On 31 July 2020, Yan Law was appointed as the head coach of Mohammedan SC.{{Cite web|title=Mohammedan SC appoint Yan Law as new head coach|url=https://khelnow.com/football/i-league-2nd-division-2020-mohammedan-sc-appoint-yan-law-new-head-coach|access-date=14 November 2020|date=31 July 2020|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118054540/https://khelnow.com/football/i-league-2nd-division-2020-mohammedan-sc-appoint-yan-law-new-head-coach|url-status=live}} On 11 October 2020, he parted ways with Mohammedan SC.{{Cite web|title=Mohammedan Sporting sack head coach Yan Law|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/yan-law-sacked-as-mohammedan-sporting-coach/11y341upm61m018os1x533cfmb|access-date=14 November 2020|date=11 October 2020|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116135958/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/yan-law-sacked-as-mohammedan-sporting-coach/11y341upm61m018os1x533cfmb|url-status=live}}

= Techtro Swades United =

On 14 November 2020, Yan Law was appointed as the head coach of Techtro Swades United FC.{{Cite web|title=Yan Law named as the new head coach of Techtro Swades United FC for the Himachal State League|url=https://iftwc.com/yan-law-named-new-head-coach-of-techtro-swades-united-fc/|access-date=14 November 2020|date=14 November 2020|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114114657/https://iftwc.com/yan-law-named-new-head-coach-of-techtro-swades-united-fc/|url-status=live}} He led the club to runners-up spot in their maiden tournament of Himachal Football League.

=Biratnagar City=

On 1 April 2021, Yan Law was appointed as the head coach of Biratnagar City FC.{{cite news|url=https://wesportz.com/2021/04/13661/|date=2 April 2021|title=Yan Law named Biratnagar City FC Head coach|work=Wesportz|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413114946/https://wesportz.com/2021/04/13661/|url-status=live}} He led the club to sixth spot in their maiden tournament of Nepal Super League.{{cite web |url=https://goalnepal.com/tournament/55 |title=Nepal Super League 2021 |publisher=Goal Nepal |access-date=29 June 2024}}

=Aizawl=

{{Quote box | width=30% | align=right | quote="The club always wants to promote the players of the state of Mizoram and players from the academy, which is fantastic and which I also strongly believe in. If I was also a club owner, I would love to promote the same what Aizawl FC is doing and they are doing a fantastic job. They are the factory of Mizoram football. I am really blessed to be working with such a bunch of talented youngsters. It is a young squad and for them to be performing under this pressure, at this age, is a great experience that many people do not get. It's not easy for these youngsters to cope with but I think they've been doing a good job and I am really happy to be part of Aizawl FC."|source= —Yan Law, on his days with Aizawl FC.{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/sport/happy-to-be-a-part-of-aizawl-fc-factory-of-mizoram-football-says-head-coach-yan-law/901751/|title=Happy to be a part of Aizawl FC, factory of Mizoram football, says head coach Yan Law|website=theprint.in|publisher=ThePrint|agency=Asian News International|location=Kolkata, West Bengal|date=4 April 2022|access-date=19 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408142747/https://theprint.in/sport/happy-to-be-a-part-of-aizawl-fc-factory-of-mizoram-football-says-head-coach-yan-law/901751/|archive-date=8 April 2022}}}}

On 19 January 2021, Law moved to Aizawl as manager. Under his guidance, the team achieved eighth place in 2021–22 I-League season. He parted ways with Aizawl in June 2022.

=Druk Lhayul=

In June 2022, Law was appointed as new head coach of Bhutan Premier League club Druk Lhayul FC.{{cite tweet|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/YanLawOfficial/status/1540985947109543936|title=Get ready Bhutan 🇧🇹|user=YanLawOfficial|number=1540985947109543936|access-date=19 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819115151/https://mobile.twitter.com/YanLawOfficial/status/1540985947109543936|archive-date=19 August 2022}}

=Delhi=

In 2023, Law was appointed as the new head coach of I-League club Delhi.{{Cite web|title=Yan Cheng Law returns to Indian Football as Delhi FC head coach|url=https://thebridge.in/football/yan-cheng-law-returns-indian-football-delhi-fc-coach-42709|website=The Bridge|date=26 June 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://i-league.org/i-league-2024-25-a-glance-at-all-12-contenders/|title=I-League 2024–25: A glance at all 12 contenders|publisher=I-League|first1=Akhil|last1=Rawat|location=New Delhi|date=21 November 2024|access-date=25 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121123324/https://i-league.org/i-league-2024-25-a-glance-at-all-12-contenders/|archive-date=21 November 2024}}{{Cite web |title=I-League 2024–25: List of all head coaches |url=https://khelnow.com/football/indian-football-i-league-all-head-coaches-202411 |date=22 November 2024 |access-date=9 March 2025 |website=Khel Now |language=en-us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223195201/https://khelnow.com/football/indian-football-i-league-all-head-coaches-202411 |archive-date=23 December 2024 |first1=Manav |last1=Chowdhury }}

Personal life

Law is of Chinese heritage, his great grandfather had immigrated to Calcutta. His family previously owned Kim Wah, a Chinese restaurant that was well known in the 1970s and 1980s.[https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/punjab-fc-coach-from-iconic-restaurant-family/cid/1717723 Punjab FC coach from iconic restaurant family] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418102453/https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/punjab-fc-coach-from-iconic-restaurant-family/cid/1717723 |date=18 April 2021 }} telegraphindia.com

Honours

=Player=

Bengal U19

B.C. Roy Trophy: 2003–04{{cite web|url=https://www.ccfc1792.com/pdf/CCFC-Annual-Report-2022.pdf|title=Calcutta Cricket & Football Club – 19/1, Gurusaday Road, Kolkata {{!}} 19th Annual Reports 2021–22|work=ccfc1792.com|access-date=31 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604170605/https://www.ccfc1792.com/pdf/CCFC-Annual-Report-2022.pdf|archive-date=4 June 2023}}

=Manager=

Delhi

Ladakh Climate Cup: 2023{{cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/ladakh-climate-cup-delhi-fc-rattle-tnsa-6-0-to-take-trophy-home/sports/news/3046337.html|title=Ladakh Climate Cup: Delhi FC rattle TNSA 6–0 to take trophy home|date=7 September 2023|access-date=8 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908052833/http://www.uniindia.com/ladakh-climate-cup-delhi-fc-rattle-tnsa-6-0-to-take-trophy-home/sports/news/3046337.html|archive-date=8 September 2023|website=uniindia.com|location=Jammu}}