Prasun Banerjee
Prasun Banerjee (born 6 April 1955) is an Indian former professional footballer, coach, and politician.[1]
As a central defensive midfielder, he captained the India national team and earned the Arjuna Award in 1979 for outstanding achievements in sports.[1][2]
Banerjee played primarily for Mohun Bagan, where he won 25 trophies, including the Calcutta Football League in 1981 and the Federation Cup in 1984, and was selected for the club's All-Time Best-XI.[3][4][2]
He also represented the Asian All-Star XI, becoming only the second Indian to do so, and as joint captain of the India U-19 team, secured the 1974 AFC Youth Championship.[3][2][5]
After retiring, he briefly coached Mohun Bagan and transitioned into politics with the Trinamool Congress, becoming the first professional footballer elected to the Lok Sabha as MP for Howrah in 2014.[4][6][7]
Early Life and Background
Family and Upbringing
Prasun Banerjee was born on 6 April 1955 in Kolkata, West Bengal, to Pravat Kumar Banerjee and Bina Banerjee.[8][9] He grew up in a family with deep ties to football, as his elder brother, Pradip Kumar Banerjee, became one of India's most celebrated players, earning recognition as the country's player of the 20th century and later serving as national coach.[1] This sibling connection provided an early environment steeped in sporting culture, though specific details on his parents' professions remain limited in available records.[10] Banerjee received his primary education at Adars Vidyalay in Kolkata before pursuing higher studies at Surendranath College, from which he obtained a B.Sc. degree under the University of Kolkata.[9] His upbringing in post-independence Kolkata, amid a burgeoning local football scene dominated by clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, aligned with the era's emphasis on community sports, though no direct evidence links his immediate family beyond his brother to organized play.[1]Entry into Football
Prasun Banerjee, born on 6 April 1955 in Kolkata, began his competitive football journey in the early 1970s through youth representative teams. He featured as a member of the Junior Bengal Football Team in 1972, marking his initial exposure to organized football at a regional level.[1] Banerjee transitioned to club football by joining Kidderpore SC, a team in the Calcutta Football League, where he started his professional career as a midfielder. This stint provided foundational experience in competitive matches within one of India's prominent domestic leagues. He later played for Aryans Club, further honing his skills in the local circuit before advancing to higher-profile clubs.[3][11] These early affiliations, occurring when Banerjee was in his late teens, capitalized on the vibrant football ecosystem in Kolkata, known for nurturing talents through league and inter-state competitions. His progression from junior representative duties to CFL clubs underscored a trajectory built on consistent performance in lower divisions, setting the stage for national recognition.[3]Football Career
Club Playing Career
Banerjee commenced his professional club career with Kidderpore SC in the Calcutta Football League.[3] He subsequently represented Aryans FC, recording appearances in the 1981/82 season, and had an extended stint with Mohammedan Sporting Club, during which he helped secure nine trophies.[8][3] His most prominent association was with Mohun Bagan AC, joining in 1974 and establishing himself as a key central defensive midfielder known for precise passing and tactical acumen.[12] Over his time there, spanning multiple seasons including 1982/83 to 1984/85, Banerjee contributed to more than 25 trophies, among them five IFA Shields and five Durand Cups (1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982).[8][3] In the 1979 Durand Cup final, he scored the decisive goal—a 25-yard free kick—in a 1–0 victory over Punjab Police.[13] These achievements underscored his role in the club's dominance in Indian football tournaments during the 1970s and early 1980s.[5] Banerjee's contributions at Mohun Bagan led to his selection in the club's All-Time Best XI as a central defensive midfielder.[1] His club career, marked by versatility across midfield roles and loyalty to Kolkata's premier teams, concluded in the mid-1980s following consistent appearances into the 1984/85 season.[8]International Playing Career
Prasun Banerjee made his debut for the senior India national football team on 26 July 1974, substituting for Gautam Sarkar against Malaysia in the Merdeka Cup at Kuala Lumpur.[5] According to records from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), he accumulated 49 appearances for the senior team, scoring 3 goals, and served as captain in 5 matches.[5] Banerjee was recognized in the Limca Book of Records for representing India in 100 football matches, a figure that likely encompasses a broader range of internationals beyond strictly official senior fixtures.[14] Banerjee participated in multiple international tournaments, including the Asian Games in 1974, 1978, and 1982; the Merdeka Cup in 1974, 1981, and 1982; the Pre-Olympics in 1980, where he captained the side; the Nehru Cup in 1982; the King's Cup in 1977 and 1981; the Presidents Cup in 1982; and the Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1977.[5] A key highlight was India's quarter-final finish at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, with Banerjee featuring prominently as a central midfielder.[5] His leadership extended to captaining the national team in various fixtures, contributing to India's competitive showings in regional competitions during an era when the side often relied on defensive solidity and counter-attacks.[5] For his international contributions, Banerjee received the Arjuna Award in 1979, India's highest sporting honor at the time for football.[5] Earlier, as joint captain of the India U-20 team alongside Shabbir Ali, he helped secure a shared title with Iran at the 1974 AFC Youth Championship in Bangkok, marking an early milestone in his representative career.[5]Coaching Roles
Prasun Banerjee briefly served as coach of Mohun Bagan for two months during the 1990–91 season.[5] This interim role followed his playing career with the club, where he had been a key midfielder and captain.[3] The stint occurred amid transitional periods for Mohun Bagan in domestic competitions, though specific match outcomes or tactical impacts from Banerjee's tenure are not extensively documented in available records.[3] Following this period, Banerjee largely stepped away from active football management, focusing instead on administrative and political pursuits.[3] He possessed a coaching B licence, obtained under international guidance, which qualified him for such roles but did not lead to prolonged engagements.[15] No further head coaching positions with clubs or the national team are recorded, distinguishing his post-playing involvement from that of contemporaries like his brother P.K. Banerjee, who held extensive managerial tenures.[5]Career Statistics and Honours
Prasun Banerjee represented the India national team in 49 matches, captaining the side on 5 occasions and scoring 3 goals.[5] His international debut occurred on July 26, 1974, as a substitute against Malaysia in the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur.[5] He contributed to India's quarter-final appearance at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.[5] At the club level, Banerjee primarily featured for Mohun Bagan, where he scored 24 goals across competitions, including 14 in the Calcutta Football League, 4 in the Bordoloi Trophy, and single goals in the IFA Shield, Durand Cup, Rovers Cup, and Darjeeling Gold Cup, plus 2 in the Federation Cup.[5] He later played for Mohammedan Sporting, netting 4 goals in tournaments such as the Calcutta Football League (1), Federation Cup (2), and Sanjay Gandhi Gold Cup (1).[5] For the Bengal state team in the Santosh Trophy, he scored 3 goals and won 7 titles as a player, captaining the side to victory in 1979.[5] Banerjee's honours include the Arjuna Award in 1979 for his contributions to Indian football.[5] He also served as joint captain of the Indian youth team that shared the Asian Youth Soccer Tournament title with Iran in Bangkok.[5]| Competition | Trophies Won with Mohun Bagan |
|---|---|
| Calcutta Football League | 4 (1976, 1978, 1979, 1983) |
| IFA Shield | 5 (1976 joint, 1977, 1978 joint, 1979, 1982) |
| Durand Cup | 4 (1974, 1977, 1979, 1982 joint) |
| Rovers Cup | 2 (1976, 1977) |
| Federation Cup | 3 (1978 joint, 1980 joint, 1982) |
| Bordoloi Trophy | 4 (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977) |
| Darjeeling Gold Cup | 3 (1975, 1976 joint, 1979) |
| Sait Nagjee Trophy | 1 (1978) |