Pritam Kotal

Pritam Kotal (born 8 September 1993) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for the club ATK and the Indian national team.[1]

Pritam Kotal
Kotal in 2019 AFC Asian Cup
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-09-08) 8 September 1993
Place of birth Uttarpara, West Bengal, India
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s) Right back/Center back
Club information
Current team
 ATK Mohun Bagan
Number 20
Youth career
Chirag United
Wari Football Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Pailan Arrows 32 (0)
2013–2017 Mohun Bagan 61 (3)
2014 → Pune City (loan) 10 (0)
2015 → Pune City (loan) 2 (0)
2016 → ATK (loan) 12 (0)
2017–2018 Delhi Dynamos 24 (2)
2019–2020 ATK 27 (1)
2020– ATK Mohun Bagan 0 (0)
National team‡
2011–2012 India U19
2012–2016 India U23 10 (1)
2015– India 36 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:20, 14 November 2019 (UTC)

Career

Early career

Born in Uttarpara, West Bengal, Kotal began playing football at the age of four after being inspired by his uncle, who was also a footballer.[2] He then began his youth career with Chirag United before playing for the West Bengal youth team.[2] Kotal also played for Wari in 2009.[3]

After spending time with the India under-19 side, Kotal joined the All India Football Federation's development I-League side, Pailan Arrows.[3] He played in six matches during his debut 2011–12 season for the side.[3]

Mohun Bagan

After Pailan Arrows disbanded and before the 2013–14 season, Kotal signed with Mohun Bagan.[3] He made his debut for the club on 23 October 2013 against Salgaocar. He came on as an 85th-minute substitute for Aiborlang Khongjee as Mohun Bagan won 2–1.[4] Kotal scored his first goal for the club on 7 February 2015 against Pune. His 77th-minute goal was the only one in a 1–0 victory for Mohun Bagan.[5] He scored his second goal of his career, and second for the season, on 20 May 2015 against Royal Wahingdoh. His goal was the first of two as Mohun Bagan won 2–0.[6] As well as providing two goals, Kotal also helped Mohun Bagan to win their first ever I-League title, and the first for a side from Kolkata, since the league was established in 2007. Following the league triumph, Kotal said "it is a dream come true for every footballer to be part of the I-League winning squad, and to win it at the start of your football career will act as a motivation to me in the coming days."[7]

Pune City (loans)

In July 2014, it was announced that Kotal would be among 84 Indian players who would be a part of the 2014 ISL Inaugural Domestic Draft, being available on loan from Mohun Bagan.[8] On 22 July 2014, he was drafted in the fifth round of the draft by Pune City.[9] He made his debut for the club in the Indian Super League on 18 October 2014 against Mumbai City. Despite starting the match, Pune City lost the match against their Maharashtra rivals 5–0.[10] After his first season at the club, Kotal said the experience of playing in the Indian Super League really helped him, that he played at left back for all the games he played, and that playing with former Inter Milan defender Bruno Cirillo helped him improve.[7]

Kotal also returned to Pune City for the 2015 season but only played two matches.[11]

Atlético de Kolkata (loan)

On 14 June 2016 it was announced that Kotal had signed with Atlético de Kolkata for the 2016 Indian Super League season.[12] He made his debut for the side on 2 October 2016 against Chennaiyin. Kotal started the match and played the whole 90 as Atlético de Kolkata drew 2–2.[13]

International
Kotal in a melee during 2019 AFC Asian Cup group match against Thailand.

Kotal first began his international career for India at the under-19 level. After successfully going through a trial, Kotal was selected into the squad that went on an exposure trip to China before playing for the side during the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers which India failed to make.[14] He then played for the under-22 side during the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship qualifiers in Oman. He only played once during the qualifiers against Oman U23 as a left back.[3] He was then part of the under-23 side to participate at the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea.[15] Kotal's participation with the under-23 side then continued in 2015 when he was part of the squad that took part in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers in Bangladesh.[16]

After impressive performances for his club, Kotal made his international debut for India on 12 March 2015 in their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Nepal. The match was also Stephen Constantine's first match as head coach for India.[17] He played the full match but earned a sixth minute yellow card as India won 2–0.[18] Nine months later, on 3 January 2016, Kotal helped India re-take the SAFF Championship when they defeated the reigning champions Afghanistan 2–1 in extra-time. Kotal started the match and played the entire match for India.[19]

Style of play

During his youth playing career, Kotal played as a defensive midfielder.[7] Once he joined the Pailan Arrows he said that he started to play all three positions in defense more, especially right and left back. Kotal is however adjusted to playing in the middle as well if needed.[7]

Career statistics

Club
As of 14 March 2020[20]
Club Season League Federation Cup Durand Cup/Super Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pailan Arrows 2011–12 I-League6000000060
2012–13 260102000290
Pailan Arrows Total 320102000350
Mohun Bagan 2013–14 I-League20040——00240
2014–15 172000000172
2015–16 6050——40150
2016–17 18150——20251
Mohun Bagan Total 6131400060813
Pune City (loan) 2014 Indian Super League100——————100
2015 20——————20
Pune City Total 120000000120
ATK (loan) 2016 Indian Super League120——————120
Delhi Dynamos 2017–18 141——10——150
ATK 2018–19 6000————60
2019–20 21100————211
ATK Total 271000000271
Career total 158415030601824

International
As of 13 July 2019[21]
India national team
YearAppsGoals
201590
201640
201790
201870
201960
Total350

Honours

Club
Mohun Bagan[20]

International
India[20]
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References
  1. "Most promising young footballer of McDowell Mohun Bagan - Part 2 - Pritam kotal". Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  2. Nazareth, Daniel (20 October 2014). "Pritam Kotal – The Young Star of Pune". Red Bull. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  3. "McDowell's Mohun Bagan New Recruit - Pritam Kotal". Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. 13 November 2013. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  4. "Mohun Bagan 2-1 Salgaocar". Soccerway.
  5. "Mohun Bagan 1-0 Pune". Soccerway.
  6. "Mohun Bagan 2-0 Royal Wahingdoh". Soccerway.
  7. "Interview of McDowell Mohun Bagan Defender Pritam Kotal". Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  8. Das, Shankar (19 July 2014). "IMG-Reliance announce list for ISL domestic players draft". SportsKeeda. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  9. "Domestic Player Draft". Indian Super League.
  10. "Mumbai City 5-0 Pune City". Soccerway.
  11. "FC Pune City's overhaul was much needed, and could easily take them to semis". FirstPost. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  12. "ATK Indians". Atletico de Kolkata. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  13. "Atletico de Kolkata 2-2 Chennaiyin". Soccerway.
  14. "Pritam Kotal - FC Pune City". Goal.com. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  15. "Indian football squad announced; team cleared to participate for Incheon Games". India.com. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  16. "Indian Football team departs for Bangladesh; Full Qualification schedule and Time-table". India.com. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  17. "India 2-0 Nepal: Chhetri leads Blue Tigers to victory over neighbours". Goal.com. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  18. "India 2-0 Nepal". Soccerway.
  19. "India 2-1 Afghanistan". Soccerway.
  20. Pritam Kotal at Soccerway
  21. "Kotal, Pritam". National-Football-Teams.
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