Former India Goalkeeper and Arjuna Awardee Subrata Paul Hangs Up His Gloves

One of the greatest Indian goalkeepers Subrata Paul, 36, on Friday decided to call it quits, bringing curtains on a glittering career spanning 16 years.

“I am filled with a mixture of emotions. There’s a sense of accomplishment for the journey I’ve been on, coupled with a touch of sadness at leaving the beautiful game behind,” Paul said to AIFF.

“But more than anything, there’s an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the incredible opportunities and experiences football has given me,” he added.

“Looking back, I am incredibly proud of my career. Representing India at various levels, including the AFC Asian Cup, has been a great honour. From the highs of victory to the lows of setbacks, the journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions, but each moment has contributed to my growth as a player and as a person.”

At the end of his long and illustrious career, which contains three Nehru Cups, one AFC Challenge Cup, and one Tri-Nation Cup trophy, Paul remains grateful to Providence. “Football has been the defining force in my life. It has shaped me as a person, instilled discipline, taught me valuable lessons about teamwork, and given me the immense privilege of representing my country on the world stage. Without football, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” he said.

“Thank You Spiderman. Blue Tigers custodian hangs up his gloves today,” the All India Football Federation posted on X.

“Mentoring young players like Gurpreet has been immensely rewarding. I strive to share my knowledge and experience, helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities they face. Seeing their growth and success fills me with pride, knowing that I’ve contributed to their journey,” said Paul.

The former India custodian’s contribution to Indian Football does not stop, however, as he steps into a new phase of his life.

“The next chapter is an open book, and I’m excited to explore its possibilities. While I’m still figuring it all out, I know I want to remain connected to the sport in some way. Coaching, mentoring young players, or contributing to the development of Indian Football are some of the areas that interest me,” he said.

Paul, who made his debut against Lebanon in the World Cup qualifiers in 2007, had 65 appearances for India.

He earned the sobriquet “Spiderman” for his heroics under the bar against heavyweights South Korea in the 2011 Asian Cup in Doha when India had qualified after a gap of 27 years.

Overall, Paul made more than 35 saves in the whole tournament and has become one of the stars of the team since.

South Korea had 20 shots on goal of which Paul saved 16 as India went down 1-4 in a valiant display.

Paul captained the Indian team under coach Stephen Constantine in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. Under him, India made the second round defeating Nepal on aggregate.

At the club level, he represented both the city’s Big Two — Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.

Hailing from Sodepur in West Bengal, Paul is a graduate from Tata Football Academy, and started out from Mohun Bagan.

He was involved in a tragic incident when Dempo forward Cristiano Junior lost his life after a collision with the goalkeeper in the 2004 Federation Cup final.

Dempo won the match 2-0 but were left to mourn the death of Junior at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Paul also played for Danish Super League side FC Vestsj lland and became the fourth Indian footballer to play professional football abroad.

(With inputs from Agencies)