Former India captain Baichung Bhutia is set to announcement his retirement from international football in New Delhi on Wednesday, bringing an end to an illustrious 16-year career.
Bhutia, who has been the face of Indian football, will make the announcement at the AIFF headquarters in New Delhi, where he has called for a media conference on Wednesday, sources told DNA.
Speculation has been rife on the imminent retirement of the talismanic striker, who pulled out of India under-23 side’s tour of England due to a calf injury. Bhutia has been struggling with injuries in the past one year and could only play for 15 minutes in the Asian Cup in Qatar in January — the most prestigious event India has ever taken part in the last 27 years.
Bhutia, though, is expected to continue to play for his club United Sikkim, which he had founded last year.
Bhutia captained India for more than 10 years and has scored 43 international goals, more than any other footballer of the country. He is also the only Indian and one among few international players to have played more than 100 matches for his country.
Under him, India won the SAFF Championships thrice, two Nehru Cup titles (in 2007 and 2009) and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup which gave India the right to play in the Asian Cup this
year for the first time after 1984.
year for the first time after 1984.
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