Indian Soccer Legend Padma Shri Sailendra Nath Manna died in Kolkata

Indian soccer legend Sailendra Nath Manna, popularly known as Sailen Manna, died in Kolkata on 27 February 2012. Born on 1 September 1924, Manna had joined Mohun Bagan in 1942 at the young age of 18 after a short stint with the local league's second division side Howrah Union which he had joined in 1940. He continued to don the green and maroon jersey of  Mohun Bagan till his retirement in 1960. Known for his keen game sense, Manna was famed for his anticipation, covering and set pieces.

He led India to the gold in the inaugural Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951 In the inaugural Asiad in 1951, the Manna-led Indian team beat Iran 1-0 in the final to claim the gold.

He represented India in 14 international matches and was the first footballer to captain India in two back-to-back Asian Games.
Manna made his international debut against France in the London Olympics in 1948. He then captained the country in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and the 1954 Manila Asian Games as well. Under his captaincy, India emerged champions in the Quadrangular tournament - also featuring Burma (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Pakistan - consecutively in 1952, 1953 and 1954.
After retiring as player, Manna joined as Mohun Bagan coach in 1961, and in later years served the club administration as football secretary and assistant secretary.

Awards & Recognitions

The England Football Association named him in its 1953 Yearbook as one of the 10 best captains of the world. He is the only Asian Footballer ever to be named among the 10 best Captains in the world by the English FA.

Manna became the second footballer after Goshto Pal to receive the Padma Shri in 1970. Besides being conferred the Padma Shri in 1971, he was also declared the AIFF Player of the Millennium in 2000.

Mohun Bagan, the club he captained from 1950-55,acknowledged its gratefulness by conferring on him its highest award, Mohun Bagan Ratna, in 2001.

Rated as one of the best defenders the India ever produced, Manna was adjudged the country's footballer of the millennium by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in 2000.