Great Footballer Sailen Manna Is Dead

Sailen Manna, one of the all time greatest footballer in India died today.  Sailendra Nath Manna was popular as Sailen Manna in Indian football and used to play as a defender. Sailen Manna was 87 years old and survived by his wife and daughter. Sailen Manna was suffering from old age complications.

Yesterday at 11.00 pm, Sailen Manna was admitted to AMRI hospital and the end came at about 01.55 am.

Sailen Manna as a Footballer

Born on 1 September 1924 and a graduate from Surendranath College, Sailen Manna started his football career with Howrah Union in 1940, then a club of second division. Sailen Manna joined Mohun Bagan in 1942 and played there till his retirement in 1960. In West Bengal any discussion on Mohun Bagan is not complete without the name of Sailen Manna. Sailen Manna was captain of Mohun Bagan from 1950-1955.

In international football, Sailen Manna was the caption of Indian football team in first Asian Games football in 1951 and India won the gold medal under his captaincy. Sailen Manna was caption of Indian football team in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and the 1954 Manila Asian Games. Sailen Manna was in Indian football team in 1948 London Olympics.

Sailen Manna is considered as one of the all time best defenders in Indian football. After retirement from football, Sailen Manna was coach of Mohun Bagan football team in 1961. Afterwards Sailen Manna served Mohun Bagan as football secretary and assistant secretary.

Awards for Sailen Manna

Sailen Manna has received many awards in his glorious football career. Sailen Manna was honoured as country's footballer of the millennium by the All India Football Federation in 2000.

England Football Association honoured Sailen Manna by putting his name in its 1953 Yearbook as one of the 10 best captains of the world.

Sailen Manna was awarded with Padma Shri in 1970 by India government.

Sailen Manna was awarded with Mohun Bagan Ratna in 2001 by Mohun Bagan club.