Gurpreet Singh Sandhu: Career, Net Worth, Awards & Family

If you are an Indian football fan, it is very unlikely that you haven't heard about Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The tall, lanky keeper has been a staple for the Indian national football team since 2011. Sandhu represents Bengaluru FC at the club level. He signed a contract extension with the Karnataka-based club and will be staying on till 2028.

The goalkeeper has seen his fair share of success over the course of his career. For Bengaluru FC alone, he has won the ISL in the 2018-19 season, the Hero Super Cup, and the Durand Cup. Sandhu's presence between the posts has been very reassuring for the club, as he has a good track record of keeping clean sheets.

Who is Gurpreet Singh Sandhu?

One of India's old guards in front of the post, Gurpreet, is a regular figure marking his territory under the post. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu began his professional career signing for the Kolkata giants East Bengal in 2010. He did not get many opportunities that season and was eventually loaned out to Pailan Arrows for one season before returning to East Bengal in the 2011-2012 season. In 2014, following a successful spell at East Bengal, the Punjab native made his way to Norway. He joined Stabaek and, in doing so, became the first Indian to play for a top European league. He spent three years at the club before making his way to Bengaluru FC in 2017.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Net Worth

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu net worth is estimated to be around approximately 8-10 crores INR according to Sovrenn. He is currently one of the highest-paid footballers in the country. Sandhu was also India's first-choice goalkeeper for several years and is considered one of the biggest stars in the Indian lineup.

What is Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Salary?

Sandhu is one of the most expensive footballers in the country, and his contract is very lucrative. His annual earnings from Bengaluru FC reflect the money he makes in a financial year. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu salary of 1.9 crores INR per annum in the ISL reflects the money he commands in the market. In addition to that, he is also the face of PUMA India. Recently, Wellbeing Nutrition also tied up with the star goalkeeper as part of their ‘Unhustle Fitness’ campaign.

Playing Style and Strengths

Sandhu is as reliable a goalkeeper as they come, as his teammates can find comfort in knowing he stands as the last line of defence between the posts. He is blessed with good reflexes, which are very effective when it comes to shot-stopping and saving penalties. On top of that, his tall frame also comes in handy to parry away the ball when danger arises.

His ball distribution is also on point. Sandhu is comfortable playing both short passes with his defenders and adept at making a long pass to help with the attack. His distribution is fluid. Sandhu isn't a sweeper keeper, so he prefers staying in his box and marshals the defenders. As a former Captain, he also exudes leadership qualities.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Family and Early Life

Sandhu was born into a Sikh-Jat family in Mohali. He began playing football regularly at the age of 9. Both his parents were police officers. Sandhu has stated that his mother was the one who used to help him with his daily commute to and from the training academy. The academy was on the other side of the city, and it was a long journey, but his mother was there with him every step of the way.

Reminiscing about his early life, Sandhu fondly recalled his mom giving him extra cash whenever he went away for a tournament. These memories have stayed with him even now, and he fondly recalls them with nostalgia. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu family played a crucial role in his early development, laying the foundation for his professional football career.

Who is Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Wife?

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu wife is Devenish Sandhu. The two had been dating for a very long time and tied the knot in Devenish's hometown in Sydney, Australia, in 2022. After some courting, Sandhu popped the question on a romantic date while going down on his knees, to which she obliged, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the footballer's life. There isn't much information publicly available about Sandhu's wife's profession.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Career

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu career took him across some of the biggest clubs in Indian football. He's also had a taste of Europe's top-flight during his career. From East Bengal to Bengaluru FC, Sandhu has been instrumental behind the success of every club he has been a part of. Coming to his national duties, Sandhu was called up to the senior team after being a part of the youth level (U19 and U23).

Club Career

After being a part of East Bengal's youth side, Sandhu joined the club as a senior player in the 2009-10 season. He had a brief spell at Pailan Arrows during that phase. Initially a second-choice goalkeeper for the Red and Gold Brigade, Sandhu became a regular for the Kolkata giants from the 2011 I-League campaign.

In 2014, Gurpreet made his way to the Norwegian club Stabaek. He made his debut for the club in a friendly game. He took part in various club games and was featured in an away fixture against IK Start. Sandhu also became the only Indian to participate in a UEFA Europa League match. After three years in Norway, Sandhu returned to India and joined Bengaluru.

The following seasons at Bengaluru went by like a dream for the Chandigarh-born player. He kept on collecting clean sheets after clean sheets every season, helping the club reach the ISL finals and win the trophy in the 2018-19 season. The following season, he also won the Golden Glove for keeping back-to-back clean sheets, making the Bengaluru defence seem impenetrable. He became the team's Vice Captain and then also captained the side during Sunil Cheetri's absence.

International Career

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made his international debut against Turkmenistan. He then clashed against Iran in a match that was really about to test his skills. The match didn't go India's way, but Sandhu did manage to keep the damage to a minimum against a strong Iranian side. Sandhu was also part of the Indian squad that beat Kyrgyzstan. He also came out as a hero against Qatar with his brilliant saves.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Awards and Achievements

Gurpreet Singh is the proud recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2019. He has also won back-to-back Golden Gloves in the 2018-19 season and the Tri-Nation Series Golden Glove in 2023.