Sunil Chhetri, Manisha Kalyan named 2021-22 AIFF Footballers of the Year

Manisha Kalyan, Sunil Chhetri named 2021-22 AIFF Footballers of the Year: Manisha Kalyan and Sunil Chhetri have been named the 2021-22 AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year, and the 2021-22 Men’s Footballer of the Year, respectively. The two stalwarts were nominated as winners by their respective National Team coaches Thomas Dennerby and Igor Stimac.

Thomas Dennerby on Manisha Kalyan

While Manisha had also won the Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year last season, this is the 7th time that Sunil won the Award, having last won it in 2018-19.

“Manisha has come up with some outstanding performances for the National Team, and also her club. She has scored goals, and also n assisted regularly. Blessed with excellent speed and being a good dribbler, she has the potential to play in bigger leagues in the future. She’s young, and still developing but has been our best player,” Women’s National Team Head Coach Thomas Dennerby mentioned.

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Manisha Kalyan recently signed a multi-year contract for Cypriot champions Apollon Ladies. The club, who were the winners of the 2020-21 Cypriot top division, earned a place in the qualifying rounds of the 2022-23 UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Igor Stimac on Sunil Chhetri

Speaking about Sunil, Men’s National Team Head Coach Igor Stimac explained, “Sunil was our highest goal-scorer, scoring 5 goals, and also the Player of the Tournament in the SAFF Cup. Furthermore, he led the national team from the front scoring 4 goals in 3 games in the 3rd round of AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Kolkata. His commitment, leadership, discipline, and hard work were impressive throughout good and bad times.”

Furthermore, Martina Thokchom was named the 2021-22 Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year, while Vikram Partap Singh was named the 2021-22 Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year by the two National team coaches.

“Martina is just 17 years old. She is a very strategic midfielder with an exceptional vision of the game,” Dennerby stated. “Thokchom has already earned her first India cap for the senior team and has been featuring quite regularly since then. She also put up a stellar performance for the Indian Arrows in the recently included IWL.”

Speaking about Vikram, head coach Igor Stimac mentioned that “He contributed to his club success last season with 22 appearances and 3 goals in the Hero ISL, and also the AFC Champions League. He also played a crucial role in our India’s campaign in the AFC U23 qualifiers for the Asian Cup scoring 1 goal.”

Meanwhile, Crystal John became the 2021-22 AIFF Best Referee of the Year. Ujjal Halder secured the 2021-22 AIFF Best Assistant Referee of the Year accolade.

AIFF Awards at a glance:

Manisha Kalyan – 2021-22 AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year

Sunil Chhetri. – 2021-22 Men’s Footballer of the Year

Martina Thokchom. – 2021-22 AIFF Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year

Vikram Partap Singh: 2021-22 Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year

Crystal John – 2021-22 AIFF Best Referee of the Year

Ujjal Halder.- 2021-22 AIFF Best Assistant Referee of the Year

Sunil Chhetri, and Manisha Kalyan named 2021-22 AIFF Footballers of the Year