Sunil Chhetri: Career, Net Worth, Awards & Family

India's standing in world football has for long been modest, currently ranked 127th amongst its international peers and trailing behind Asian neighbours like Indonesia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam etc. Indian football has always leaned on the magic woven by iconic football players who propelled the nation through their sheer force of will. Former legends like Gostha Pal (1900-1930s), Sailen Manna (1940s-1950s), P.K. Banerjee (1950s-1970s), Chuni Goswami (1950s-1970s), and Jarnail Singh (1960s) shaped the golden chapter of Indian football.

Chuni Goswami brought flair to Indian football, coupled with PK Banerjee's goals and Jarnail Singh's iron-clad defence, which proved pivotal in India clinching their first and till date only intercontinental recognition in the 1962 Asian Games held in Jakarta.

They set the precedent for football players of the modern era to take up the reins of Indian football from where they left it, carrying forward a legacy built on sheer passion and resilience.

The football missionaries of the modern era, i.e., the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia, Subrata Pal, Sandesh Jhingan and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, led by the eternal captain of Indian hearts Sunil Chhetri, have graciously taken the baton of Indian football and have since dedicated their lives to the same cause.

Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia can be credited with popularising football among cricket-favouring audiences, bringing about a revolution in the football landscape of the country. However, it was Sunil Chhetri who completed the process initiated in the 1990s, culminating his performances and PR into an ode to the Indian Footballing legacy, now propagated worldwide.

Who is Sunil Chhetri?

Sunil Chhetri was born on 3rd August 1984 in Secunderabad, to parents K.B Chhetri and Sushila Chhetri. He developed an initial interest in football during the early years of his high school education, in line with his Nepali roots, where football is considered not just a game but a way of life. His father, K. B. Chhetri, an officer in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical, played football in the army, passing on his love of football to the youngster who already spent most of his time playing at Pashupati Fatak, near Bethany School, in Darjeeling, where he was enrolled as a student. Owing to his diverse upbringing, Chhetri speaks five languages fluently, namely, English, Hindi, Nepali, Bengali and Kannada.

Sunil Chhetri Net Worth

Sunil Chhetri has been the face of Indian football for more than two decades, spanning almost his entire professional career. Through his exploits and calm yet commanding demeanour, Chhetri has propagated the message of football worldwide, making him an ideal target for brands to promote their campaigns. Sunil Chhetri's net worth is approximately ₹ 8 crore or $1 million.

Although his market value is only ₹50,37,650 or €50,000, which reflects only his club valuation and not his overall wealth, including brand deals and personal possessions. According to Forbes India, Sunil Chhetri earned about 6.1 crore in culmination on completion of his 2019 season through football and endorsements, pointing to reliable income generation, contributing significantly to his net worth.

What is Sunil Chhetri Salary?

Sunil Chhetri played football locally in his teenage years before getting called by Mohun Bagan (now Mohun Bagan Super Giant) for initial tryouts. He went for the trials and was immediately signed for a 3-year contract. Sunil Chhetri has come a long way since those days, from a salary of ₹ 75,000 for 3 months, to signing multi-crore deals with big brands and clubs, all of which is attributed to nothing but his hard work and perseverance.

Playing Style and Strengths

Despite his short and stout frame, the desire and subsequent decision of the legend to become a striker rang cacophonous in the conventional thinking of the masses. However, he makes up for his height with the intensity of his play style by pressing the opponents relentlessly and closing down any open passing lanes.

His constant work on his fitness is showcased in his ability to out-jump much bigger opponents, while also taking up rigid and secure back-to-goal hold-up stances.

Sunil Chhetri's tactical astuteness is a major factor contributing to his longevity, showing that he runs his mind to reach places where his feet can't carry him, making intelligent runs through the opponent's defensive third and even aiding the vision of his teammates by signaling to them the most optimal course of action to progress play. This awareness is also used in his dribbling, where he doesn't rely on flashy skills but on simple intuitions and trained reflexes to wrong-foot the defender and create space.

To cap it all off, being a striker, Sunil Chhetri works extremely hard on his shooting technique, which can be seen in his arsenal full of power shots, chip shots, finesse shots and first touch finishes.

Sunil Chhetri Family and Early Life

Sunil Chhetri's tenacity comes from the discipline instilled in him by the army roots of his father. Moreover, his mother and her twin sister were part of the Nepalese women's national team, making football a part of Sunil's already athletic gene pool. Sunil Chhetri developed his game while moving from Darjeeling to Gangtok to Delhi, due to his father's volatile posting, thus never finding consistency, but inculcating the cultural rendition of football in every region.

Despite being in the army, his father earned a modest income, difficult for the complete sustenance of Sunil Chhetri family, which became another motivating factor for Chhetri's growing desire to become a footballer. These hardships shaped the childhood of a young man, whose exuberance would go on to inspire a whole nation, whose work ethic would carve out an unmatched legacy reminiscent in spirit to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, and most importantly, the one who is anchored to his roots firmly despite his winged feet.

Who is Sunil Chhetri Wife?

Sunil Chhetri wife is Sonam Bhattacharya, daughter of his former head coach at Mohun Bagan and an overall legend of Indian Football, Subrata Bhattacharya. The first buds of this romance bloomed on the field itself as Sunil Chhetri met Sonam, accompanying his father and Sunil's coach to a match in Kolkata on the pretext of being a big fan of Chhetri. After 13 years of dating, the couple tied the knot on December 4, 2017, and subsequently welcomed their first son, Dhruv, on August 31, 2023.

Sunil Chhetri Career

Sunil Chhetri career is an illustrious one to say the least, with the 40-year-old having played for a variety of clubs throughout his career, helping him to represent the Indian badge that he wears so proudly, even better. Sunil's longevity is a testimony to his love for his country, as he did not even hesitate to return from his retirement this year after feeling that the Indian team for which he has appeared 155 times and scored 95 goals could perform better with him. Over the years, he has captained both club and country and won many prestigious titles.

Club Career

Over the two decades of his career, Chhetri has spanned the rich heritage of India's domestic clubs thoroughly. He began his professional career with Mohun Bagan, following which he joined JCT FC, where he was able to showcase his talents more effectively, owing to the experience gained from his previous stint. Chhetri made a very controversial decision by joining Bagan's arch rivals East Bengal next, but his positive and unconflicted personality brought about calm amidst the tensions that can only be achieved by a player as endeared to the audience as the lovable Chhetri.

Chhetri's popularity in India made international clubs track his progress, and Kansas City even managed to sign him in 2010. However, Sunil Chhetri's love for Indian football fans brought him back to his country. Following a few sporadic stints with several clubs, Chhetri joined Bengaluru FC in 2015. The club has since occupied a special place in Chhetri's heart, as he took Bengaluru FC to greater heights than previously imagined. Apart from winning the I-League and Indian Super League with Bengaluru FC, Chhetri has also won the I-League with Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers.

International Career

Sunil Chhetri made his debut in 2005 in a game against Pakistan, where he also scored his first goal of many to come for the Indian National Team. Over the years, Chhetri has been Integral in India's AFC Challenge Cup 2008, SAFF Cup wins in 2011, 2015 and 2021, along with multiple Nehru Cup wins. While being focused on making his country reach the level of Asian giants, he has managed to become the fourth highest goal scorer among other active footballers by scoring 95 goals in his career behind the likes of greats like Ronaldo (138) and Messi (112). Chhetri recently came out of his retirement in a friendly against the Maldives, where he scored in the 3-0 win to end India's 489-day winless streak, proving himself to be the eternal guardian angel of Indian football.

Sunil Chhetri Awards and Achievements

Sunil Chhetri awards cabinet is stacked, but in no way amounts to his talents or his contribution towards Indian football. He has won a record seven AIFF Player of the Year awards, while also being the first Indian player to win the ISL's top player award in 2017-18. He has received several prestigious national awards, namely the Arjuna Award, the Padma Shri and the Khel Ratna. However, knowing Chhetri, his biggest achievement would be to qualify India for the World Cup, which still looks like a distant dream as the talisman of Indian football approaches the twilight of his career.