Menu

Bhaichung Bhutia Age, Height, Wife, Biography, Affairs & More

Baichung Bhutia

Bio/Wiki
NicknameSikkimese Sniper
ProfessionFootballer
Physical Stats & More
Height (approx.)in centimeters- 173 cm
in meters- 1.73 m
in Feet Inches- 5’ 8”
Weight (approx.)in Kilograms- 67 kg
in Pounds- 147 lbs
Body Measurements (approx.)- Chest: 42 inches
- Waist: 32 inches
- Biceps: 15 inches
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBlack
Career
DebutClub- 1993 for East-Bengal FC
International- On 10 March 1995 against Thailand
RetirementClub- 2015
International- 24 August 2011
Jersey Number15
Position Striker
FootRight
Coach/MentorKarma Bhutia (His Uncle)
Karma Bhutia
Clubs ManagedUnited Sikkim (2012), Sikkim
Records (main ones)/Achievements• In the 1996-97 season, playing for the JCT FC, Bhutia was the top goal-scorer.
• In 1996, he was named Indian Player of the Year.
• In 1997, playing for East Bengal FC, Bhutia scored his first hat-trick against Mohun Bagan.
• Playing for East Bengal in the 2005-06 season, he was awarded the "Player of the National Football League" by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Awards• Arjuna Award for Football (1998)
• Padma Shri (2008)
• Banga Bhushan (2014)
Career Turning PointIn 1997, when he scored a hat-trick against Mohun Bagan
Personal Life
Date of Birth15 December 1976 (Wednesday)
Age (as of 2023)47 Years
BirthplaceTinkitam, Sikkim, India
Zodiac sign/Sun signSagittarius
NationalityIndian
HometownTinkitam, Sikkim
SchoolSt. Xaviers School, Pakyong, East Sikkim
College/UniversityNot Known
Educational QualificationNot Known
ReligionAthiest
Food HabitNon-Vegetarian
Political InclinationHamro Sikkim Party
HobbiesPlaying Basketball, Dancing
Relationships & More
Marital StatusDivorced
Marriage Date30 December 2004
Family
Wife/SpouseMadhuri Tipnis (2004-2015) Hotel Professional
Baichung Bhutia with his wife
ChildrenSon- Ugen Kalzang Bhutia
Daughters- Samara Dechen Bhutia, Keisha Dolkar Bhutia
Bhaichung Bhutia with his children
ParentsFather- Dorji Dorma
Mother- Sonam Topden
SiblingsBrothers- Bom Bom Bhutia, Chewang Bhutia
Sister- Cali
Favourite Things
Favourite Football Club(s)Arsenal and Barcelona
Favourite Football PlayersThierry Henry, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho
Style Quotient
Car CollectionAudi
Money Factor
Net Worth (approx.)₹17 Crore (as per 2016) [1]Economic Times

Bhaichung Bhutia

Some Lesser Known Facts About Bhaichung Bhutia

  • Does Bhaichung Bhutia smoke?: No
  • Does Bhaichung Bhutia drink alcohol?: Not Known
  • At the age of 14, he joined the Boys Club in Gangtok where his uncle Karma Bhutia was the chief coach.
  • Bhutia received football training at Sikkim’s Tashi Namgyal Academy before a stint at SAI Gangtok. He was given the best player in the 1992 Subroto Cup.  Former India goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly noticed his talent and helped him make the transition to Calcutta football.

    Bhaskar Ganguly

    Bhaskar Ganguly

  • At the age of 16, he signed for East Bengal FC, his first professional club.
  • Bhaichung has won almost every domestic trophy with East Bengal including the NFL title (National Football League) in 2003-04.
  • In the summer of 1999, he became the second Indian player after Mohammed Salim to play in a European Club as he was signed by English third division outfit, Bury FC.

    Mohammad Salim

    Mohammad Salim

  • On 15 April 2000, he became a first Asian Player to score a goal in English professional game.
  • Bhutia is most capped Indian player to play in International games.
  • Under his captaincy, India carried off the LG Cup in Vietnam in 2002, South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championships thrice, two Nehru Cup titles (in 2007 and 2009) and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup which assured them a place in the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.
  • Inivalappil Mani Vijayan (or I.M. Vijayan) three-time Indian Player of the Year, described Bhutia as “God’s gift to Indian football”.

    I. M. Vijayan

    I. M. Vijayan

  • Bhutia received Arjuna Award in 1999. Bhutia is one of five footballers to be awarded the prestigious ‘Padma Shree’ and the only player to win it during his playing career.
  • On 30 December 2004, Bhutia settled down with his long-time girlfriend, Madhuri Tipnis in his native village of Tinkitam.
  • Bhutia and Madhuri have one son and two daughters. Bhutia wants his son to be a Tennis Player.
  • In 2008, Bhutia was solicited to run with the Olympic torch in India, but he refused to carry the torch to show support for the Tibetan independence movement. “I sympathize with the Tibetan cause. I’m against violence, but I thought I should stand by the Tibetan people in their fight,” Bhutia said. He was the first Indian player to refuse to carry the Olympic torch.
  • Bhutia is versatile, he took part and won the dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa’ in 2009.

  • In 2009, Bhutia had a fall-out with Mohun Bagan. On 18 May 2009, Bhutia announced that he would quit Mohun Bagan, due to the questioning of his footballing commitment by the club’s officials. He was suspended for the next six month in 2009 by Mohun Bagan.  Bhutia was quoted saying “It is just a ploy to keep me at Mohun Bagan for another season. But I will not play for them anymore.”
  • On 28 October 2010, he started Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in Delhi in partnership with Carlos Queiroz and Nike.
  • In 2011, Bhutia was trapped in the Sikkim earthquake. Although he was not injured, his United Sikkim offices were destroyed. Later he was accompanied by several Bollywood actors like Neha Dhupia and Rahul Bose to raise money for earthquake victims.
  • On 24 August 2011, he announced retirement from international football. A farewell match was organised for him against Bayern Munich in 2012.

  • On 13 November 2012, Bhutia was named as the interim manager of United Sikkim.
  • On 12 February 2015, he returned to East Bengal for the final time on a half-season contract, after which he would retire from professional football.
  • In January 2018, he was appointed as the manager of Sikkim.
  • On 31 May 2018, he established a new party, “Hamro Sikkim Party,” after the break up with TMC.

References/Sources:[+]