Amal Dutta
Personal information
Full name Amal Dutta
Date of birth (1930-01-10)10 January 1930
Place of birth Jorasanko, Calcutta, Bengal, British India
Date of death 10 July 2016(2016-07-10) (aged 86)
Place of death Baguiati, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Friends Club
Subarnon
Sporting Union
Bengal Nagpur Railway
Aryans
1953–1956 East Bengal
Mohun Bagan
International career
1953–1954 India 1 (0)
Managerial career
1960 Bengal
1960–1962 Aryan
1963–1965 East Bengal
1967–1968 Orissa
1969–1971 Mohun Bagan
1976–1985 East Bengal
1980–1981 Orissa
1985–1987 Mohun Bagan
1987 India
1989–2006 Mohun Bagan
2006–2007 Chirag United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Amal Dutta (4 May 1930 – 10 July 2016) was a former Indian footballer, coach and football manager.[1][2][3] Born in Calcutta, then Bengal Presidency, he is considered as the first professional football coach in the country. A finest thinker of the sport,[4] Dutta had a rivalry with Pradip Kumar Banerjee during his coaching days in Kolkata club football.[5][6]

Known for introducing the "diamond system" in football in India in the late 1970s, Dutta is known as "Diamond Coach".[7][8]

Playing career

Earlier career

Dutta began his playing career in Friends Club of Jorasanko.[9] He then went on to play for numerous clubs of lower divisions, Subarnon, Sporting Union, Aryans and Bengal Nagpur Railway respectively.[9]

East Bengal and Mohun Bagan

Dutta made his full-time professional club football debut in the CFL, in early 1950s, appeared with East Bengal in three consecutive seasons from 1953 to 1956.[9] During his playing days with both East Bengal and India, he played under two of the country's legendary coaches, Bagha Som and Syed Abdul Rahim.[10] In his first season with the club, he was part of the team that toured Romania and participated in World Youth Festival, and Soviet Union in 1953.[11][12][13] In that year, the club played against German side Kickers Offenbach[14] and Soviet team Torpedo Moscow.[15]

He also played for Mohun Bagan, arch-rival of East Bengal, for a short period of time and represented the club in Rovers Cup.[9]

International career

On 25 October 1953, Dutta made his national team debut against Pakistan in Rangoon during the Quadrangular Series, which was his only appearance for India. Managed by Balaidas Chatterjee, they won the tournament.[16][17][18] He was also a member of Indian squad in the 1954 Asian Games in Manila.[11]

Coaching career

Dutta hanged-up his boots after his playing career cut short due to injury at the age of 29.[19] Soon in the early 1960s, he left his job in the Indian Railways to become a full-time coach.[11] He then went to England for a one-year FA coaching course paid for from his own finances, where he was taught by renowned football administrator Walter Winterbottom, who was first manager of England.[20] Dutta was influenced by Indian coach Sir Dukhiram Majumder.[21]

After returning to India, Dutta started a coaching camp in Bally, Howrah. His first major assignment was to coach Railways in 1960 for the Santosh Trophy, and later managed Odisha twice in the same tournament. Dutta later managed Calcutta Football League club Aryan from 1960 to 1962 and guided players like Asim Moulick.[22] His first assignment with a big club was in 1963 with East Bengal midway through the Calcutta Football League. His first Kolkata Derby match against Mohun Bagan ended in a 3–0 defeat in CFL, and in the return leg, East Bengal bounced back and clinched a 2–0 victory.[11] He remained as coach of East Bengal in 1964 but a year later, after gaining coaching course abroad, the first-ever in India and a feat for which, he received little recognition.[11]

I am known as a Harley Street specialist. When the patient (losing football club) has been treated by all doctors and not recovered, they come to me.

— Dutta on his coaching days, in an interview with Novy Kapadia.[11]

Leaving his job from the Indian Railways to become a full-time coach, was a bold step in the then amateur football scene of the country and it is the reason behind his nickname, the 'first professional coach of India'.[23] In his long coaching career he was associated with premier football clubs of India, and also became coach of India.[24] Dutta coached all the three big clubs of the Kolkata Maidan. With East Bengal; he won the CFL (twice), IFA shield (twice), Rovers Cup, Durand Cup, Darjeeling Gold Cup, Bordoloi Trophy, Airlines Gold Cup, Sanjay Gandhi Gold Cup and ATP Shield. He had more success with Mohun Bagan whom he coached to 4 Calcutta Football League titles, 4 IFA Shield titles, 3 Federation Cups, 2 Durand Cups and also wins in DCM Trophy, All Airlines Gold Cup, Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup and Nehru Trophy.[25] In a single season with Mohammedan Sporting in 1980, Dutta won Rovers, DCM and Sikkim Governors Gold Cup titles.[25]

With Mohun Bagan, Dutta won multiple trophies including a "double" in 1969 (IFA Shield and Calcutta Football League). He guided the team clinching Rovers Cup consecutively from 1970 to 1972 while players like Bhabani Roy were flourished under his tenure.[26] After managing the mariners in 1969–1971 and 1985–1987, Dutta returned to the club again in 1989.[27] He then utilized an innovative 3–4–3 "Diamond System", with Abdul Khaliq and Okerie in the front, the club played offensively, which was rare in Indian football. At the 1997 Federation Cup, one of the most anticipated matches in Indian football history, Dutta managed the club against Banerjee's East Bengal in front of the recorded 131,000+ spectators at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.[28][29] Despite of a 4–1 defeat, fans lauded Mohun Bagan's impressive style of play under his "Diamond System".[30][31][32][33]

Dutta has also managed another Kolkata-based NFL side Tollygunge Agragami from 1999 to 2000.[34][35] He helped the team reaching final of the 105th edition of IFA Shield in November 1999.[36] Tollygunge also played in the Calcutta Football League under his short spell of coaching.[37] In September 2006, Dutta was roped in as head coach of Chirag United in place of Belgian manager Philippe De Ridder.[38][39][40] Dutta also managed teams like BNR, Titanium SC, Bhatri Sangha.[25] In his coaching career, he managed the India national football team and helped them clinching gold at the 1987 South Asian Games, held in Pakistan.[41][42] In 1967–68, and 1980–81, he managed Odisha in Santosh Trophy, and also worked as technical director of India while Syed Nayeemuddin was head coach. He also managed another Kolkata-giant Mohammedan Sporting.[43] A rough and tough behavior coach in local and national level teams, and highly controversial character on and off the pitch, Dutta is known as the first Indian professional coach, who gave Bengali youngsters their first taste of world football by showing them video clippings of famous Brazilian players of that time.[25]

Tactics

Dutta was renowned for his bold and innovative tactics and formation, Diamond system.[44] Popularly known as the "Diamond Coach" of Indian football for utilising the 3–4–3 diamond formation, he was one of the key figures who shaped the Kolkata Derby rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.[41] Dutta is India's first ever licensed coach, who is credited to have employed modern methods in domestic football, before those became popular in the country.[19]

Chandreshwar(C)
Pradip
Bhabani
Altaf
Priyalal
Sitesh
Pranab
Amal Dutta's 4–2–4 line-up for Mohun Bagan against East Bengal at the 1969 IFA Shield final.

During his early days with the "red and gold brigade" as head coach, he felt that 2–3–5 formation is outdated and wanted to try a three-man defence influenced by the Soviet Union.[41][44] His proposal to acquire the three-man defence tactic was denied by then East Bengal manager Jyotish Chandra Guha.[44] He brought the iconic Brazilian 4–2–4 system in Mohun Bagan despite opposition from club legends including Sailen Manna, and later used the bold 3–4–3 formation.[11] As chief coach of India, Dutta introduced the 4–4–2 formation at the Football at the 1987 South Asian Games, in which they won gold defeating Nepal. The 3–4–3 diamond formation was popularly used by Johan Cruyff's FC Barcelona. Being a stickler for discipline, Dutta revolutionized football in Kolkata.[41][11]

Personal life

Dutta was born in Calcutta, brought up in Shikdarpara Lane.[9] Noted Bengali poet and writer Akshay Kumar Baral was his maternal grandfather.[9] In his earlier days, Dutta learnt Tabla playing from Radheshyam Dutta.[9] He was married to Arati Dutta.[9] The 1946 riots in Bengal changed Dutta's life for a while.[44] In his working career before entering into coaching, Dutta was employed in both Bengal Nagpur Railway and Income Tax Department of India.[9] He also worked in Rifle Factory Ishapore, also coached the institution's football team.[44]

He is author of several books including Football Khelte Hole (lit. 'If You Play Football'),[7] and his autobiography Jotodin Bnachi (lit. 'So Long As I Am Alive').[44] Dutta died on 10 July 2016 at the age of 86.[45]

Legacy

In July 2016, Utpal Ganguly, president of Indian Football Association, announced that the best coach of every Calcutta Football League season will be awarded with Amal Dutta Trophy, as IFA's tribute to Amal Dutta.[46][47]

A multipurpose stadium named "Amal Dutta Krirangan" in Dum Dum, North 24 Parganas, was built in honour of Dutta, which was inaugurated by sports and PWD minister Aroop Biswas in March 2020.[7][48] The stadium also hosts matches of Calcutta Football League.[49][50][51]

Honours

Player

India

East Bengal

Manager

East Bengal[53][54][55]

Mohun Bagan[56]

India

Tollygunge Agragami

Chirag United

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bhattacharya, Nilesh (23 July 2016). "Diamond Touch". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  2. ↑ Rampling, Ali (11 May 2020). "Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal: 5 of the Greatest Kolkata Derbies of All Time". www.90min.com. 90 Minutes. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Banerjee, Debanjan (9 August 2015). "উপচে পড়া গ্যালারি রঙিন করলেন খাবরা" [Khabra colored the overflowing gallery]. anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  4. ↑ Sengupta, Somnath (13 July 2011). "Tactical Evolution of Indian Football (Part Two): Revolution Under Rahim Saab". thehardtackle.com. Kolkata: The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  5. ↑ Roy, Angshuman. "Giving wing to dreams". telegraphindia.com. The Telegraph (Kolkata). Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  6. ↑ Mitra, Atanu (8 November 2017). "How Asia's oldest football league made its mark". www.redbull.com. RedBull. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 "Aroop Biswas inaugurates Amal Dutta Krirangan in Dum Dum". www.millenniumpost.in. Kolkata: Millennium Post. 6 March 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Remembering the first Professional Coach of Indian Football, the Maestro, Our very own 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡, 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐚". twitter.com. Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "মুছে গেল হীরকের দ্যুতি" [The light of the diamond disappeared]. eisamay.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Ei Samay Newspaper. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Sengupta, Somnath (13 July 2011). "Tactical Evolution of Indian Football (Part Three): PK Banerjee – Amal Dutta – Nayeemuddin". thehardtackle.com. Kolkata: The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kapadia, Novy (12 July 2016). "Amal Dutta: A Man More Sinned Against Than Sinning". sports.ndtv.com. NDTV. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "History". eastbengalfootballclub.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "1940S TO 1960S". East Bengal Football Club. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  14. ↑ Neil Morrison (12 November 2015). "Kickers Offenbach (West Germany) Asian tour 1953". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "Soccer Barefoot 1953 (21.08) Torpedo (USSR) – East Bengal Club (India): 3–3. Aleks Chistogan – thewikihow". www.thewikihow.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  16. ↑ "Quadrangular Football: India's Win". The Indian Express. Rangoon, Burma. 25 October 1953. p. 9. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Morrison, Neil (1999). "Asian Quadrangular Tournament (Colombo Cup) 1952–1955: 1953 (Rangoon, Burma)". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022.
  18. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava (2000). "The Indian Senior Team at the 1953 Rangoon Quadrangular Cup". indianfootball.de. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Amal Dutta (1930—2016): The forgotten visionary of Indian football". newindianexpress.com. Kolkata: The New Indian Express. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Rahim, Amal Dutta, P.K. and Nayeem: The Coaches Who Shaped Indian Football" (PDF). la84foundation.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
  21. ↑ Sengupta, Somnath (24 April 2012). "Legends Of Indian Football: The Pioneers". thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  22. ↑ Das, G. C. (14 September 2008). "Indian Legendary Football Players Profile: Asim Moulick". kolkatafootball.com. Kolkata Football. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  23. ↑ "Rahim, Amal Dutta, P.K. and Nayeem: The Coaches Who Shaped Indian Football" (PDF). la84foundation.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
  24. ↑ Bhattacharya, Rupayan (21 July 2016). "অমল আলোর কমল বনে [Amal Dutta and his days in Indian football]". eisamay.com (in Bengali). Ei Samay. Archived from the original on 11 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Chakraborty, Ratan (11 July 2016). "চলে গেলেন বাঙালিকে বিশ্ব ফুটবলের স্বাদ দেওয়ার জনক" [The father who gave Bengalis a taste of world football has passed away]. anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Former India player and Mohun Bagan great Bhabani Roy no more". telegraphindia.com. Kolkata: The Telegraph India. 21 September 2014. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "Counting chickens before the eggs are laid". rediff.com. 23 July 1997. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  28. ↑ Sengupta, Somnath (27 July 2013). "Mohun Bagan and East Bengal: A Derby to Remember". inbedwithmaradona.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  29. ↑ "Kolkata Derby: From the history book". All India Football Federation. the-aiff.com. 8 December 2012. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  30. ↑ Kapadia, Novy (7 June 2015). "Mohun Bagan: Blaze of Glory". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  31. ↑ Choudhury, Angikaar. "The East Bengal-Mohun Bagan derby: The rivalry that divides Kolkata". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  32. ↑ "The Kolkata Derby they met as early as 1921!". sportstarlive.com. 1 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  33. ↑ Wadwha, Arjun (19 May 2008). "History of Football in India". thesportscampus.com. TheSportsCampus. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  34. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava (1999). "Season ending Transfers 1999: India". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  35. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava (2000). "Season ending Transfers 2000: India". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  36. 1 2 3 "KHALEQUE WAS OFF-SIDE, CLAIMS AMAL DUTTA". telegraphindia.com. Kolkata: The Telegraph India. 26 November 1999. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  37. ↑ "BNR SHOCK TOLLYGUNGE". telegraphindia.com. Kolkata: The Telegraph India. 12 July 1999. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  38. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava (18 September 2006). "NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF September 2006 - Amal Dutta replaces Philippe De Ridder". www.indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  39. ↑ Sengupta, Somnath (13 July 2011). "Tactical Evolution Of Indian Football: Part Four – Modern Era (1999—2011)". thehardtackle.com. Kolkata: The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  40. ↑ "United SC Coaches – Amal Dutta". unitedsportsclub.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  41. 1 2 3 4 Bharadwaj, Sathvik K (31 August 2022). "Five most successful Indian football coaches". khelnow.com. Khel Now. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  42. ↑ Garin, Erik; King, Ian (2000). "3rd South Asian Federation Games 1987 (Calcutta, India)". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 30 July 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  43. ↑ "Indian Football Photographs — Mohammedan Sporting Club". India-Soccer. 1 August 2009. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mitra, Atanu (12 July 2016). "Amal Dutta (1930—2016): the Indian football coach whom players swore by and swore at". Scroll.in. Kolkata. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  45. ↑ "Former India footballer and coach Amal Dutta dies at the age of 86". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. Press Trust of India. 10 July 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  46. ↑ "সেরা কোচ পাবেন অমল দত্ত ট্রফি" [The best coach will get Amal Dutta Trophy]. anandabazar.com. Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. 24 July 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  47. ↑ "অমল দত্ত ট্রফি পাচ্ছেন মৃদুল" [Mridul Banerjee to be felicitated with Amal Dutta Trophy]. anandabazar.com. Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. 6 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  48. ↑ Ganguly, Shovan (7 March 2020). "কিংবদন্তি কোচ অমল দত্তের নামে স্টেডিয়াম" [Stadium renamed after legendary football coach Amal Dutta]. amarbangla.co (in Bengali). Kolkata. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  49. ↑ Ghoshal, Dipankar (20 July 2023). "CFL 2023, FIFA: কলকাতা লিগে অনবদ্য গোল, ভিডিয়ো পাঠানো হল ফিফায়" [CFL 2023, FIFA: Impressive goals in Kolkata league, video sent to FIFA]. tv9bangla.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: TV9 Bangla. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  50. ↑ "কলকাতা ময়দানে সাইড ভলিতে গোল, পুসকাস পুরস্কারে এরিয়ানের সৈকত" [Side volley goal at Calcutta Maidan, Ariane's beach at the Puskas Award]. anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকা. 20 July 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  51. ↑ "Saikat Sarkar Wonder Goal: শ্যাম থাপার স্মৃতি ফেরালেন কল্যাণীর সৈকত, বিস্ময় গোলের ঘোর কাটছে না ময়দানে!" [Saikat Sarkar Wonder Goal: Shyam Thapa brought back the memory of Kalyani beach, wonder goal is not cut in the field!]. etvbharat.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: ETV Bharat News. 19 July 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  52. ↑ "Indian Soccer Team To Rangoon". The Indian Express. 21 October 1953. p. 6. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  53. ↑ Mitra, Atanu (12 July 2016). "Amal Dutta (1930–2016): the Indian football coach whom players swore by and swore at". Scroll. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  54. ↑ Singhal, Akshat (27 August 2020). "Amal Dutta: The Tactical Genius". The Turf Football. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  55. ↑ Banerjee, Ritabrata (12 April 2020). "Indian Football: Down the memory lane - East Bengal's 'Golden era' of 1970s". Goal. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  56. ↑ "The Centenary – 1980 to 1989". Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  57. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava (2000). "The Indian Senior Team at the 1987 Calcutta SAF Games". indiafootball.de. IndiaFootball. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  58. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Mcdowell's Cup". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 7 January 2002. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  59. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava (2007). ""Celebration" Trades Cup 2007". indianfootball.de. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  60. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "2006/07 Season in Indian Football". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  61. ↑ "Bachendri Pal conferred Bharat Gaurav by East Bengal Club". Jagranjosh. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  62. ↑ Ghoshal, Amoy (23 November 2016). "All time Indian XI". sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

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