Gostha Behari Pal

Born: 20 August 1896

Died: 8 April 1976

• He was an Indian professional football player.
• He was the first captain of India national football team, played in the 1920s and 1930s.
• Nicknamed as “Chiner Pracheer” (The Wall of China) he was one of the best defenders of contemporary Indian football.
• He started playing for Kumartuli A.C. aged 11 and joined Mohun Bagan at the age of 16.
• In 1921, he was honored with the captaincy of the Mohun Bagan football team, and he remained as the club captain for the next 5 years.
• In 1924, he was also appointed as the captain of the Indian national football team. He retired in 1935.
• He was awarded Padma Shri in 1962, fourth highest civilian award in India.
• Mohun Bagan awarded him the Mohun Bagan Ratna posthumously, which is given to former greats of that club, in 2004.
• An archive was launched in his honor and named the Gostha Pal Archive, inside the Mohun Bagan club premises.

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