If there is one name that is synonymous with Indian football legends alongside Chuni Goswami, it is PK Banerjee.
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He belonged to a golden era of the beautiful game in the country, an era that seems almost forgotten now when football was a source of pride for the nation. The current generation of players doesn’t even come close.
PK was born in the Bengal Presidency during the British Raj. Like many youngsters, he had a passion for sports, and football was his first love. He displayed great talent for the game, and by his teenage years, he was already excelling. At the young age of 15, in 1951, he played for Bihar in the Santosh Trophy as a right-winger. Three years later, he moved to Kolkata to join the Aryan Football Club, and later on, he played for Eastern Railway. It was only a matter of time before his debut for the national team.
In 1955, at the age of 19, PK made his first appearance in the Quadrangular tournament held in what was then East Pakistan. It marked the beginning of a glorious career that would see him score 65 goals in 84 matches for India.
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In official FIFA games, he scored 14 goals in 45 games, but this in no way diminishes his immense contribution and legacy.
PK was a part of the star-studded team that achieved a remarkable 4th place finish in the 1956 Olympics, which remains India’s best performance in the Games to this day. He also played in the 1958, 1962, and 1966 Asian Games. In 1962, India won the gold medal, a historic moment in Indian football history. PK also represented India in the 1960 Olympics, where he scored a goal to help India draw 1-1 with France. He represented India three times in the prestigious Merdeka tournament, helping the team win silver in 1959 and 1964, and bronze in 1965. Injuries eventually forced him to retire in 1967.
PK also had an illustrious club career and later became the coach of the Indian national team from 1972 to 1981, and again in 1985. He also coached East Bengal and guided Mohun Bagan to victory in the IFA Shield, Rovers Cup, and Durand Cup in a single season. PK was named the Indian Footballer of the 20th century by IFFHS and received the Padma Shri award in 1990. In 1961, he was honored with the Arjuna Award. In 2004, he was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit, and in 2005, FIFA named him the Player of the Millennium.
Sadly, for today’s football fans who are obsessed with foreign players, PK belonged to an era that is gradually fading into oblivion.
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He represented the good old days and serves as a reminder of a time when India was considered competitive in the world of football.
PK passed away in 2020, leaving behind a legacy that is hard to match.
