AIFF Player of the Year Awards

Indian annual association football awards

AIFF Player of the Year AwardsSport| Association football

|

Country| India
Presented by| All India Football Federation
History
First award| Men's (M): 1992
Women's (W): 2001
First winner| M: I. M. Vijayan
W: Bembem Devi
Most wins| M: Sunil Chhetri (7 awards)
W: Bala Devi (3 awards)
Most recent| M: Subhasish Bose (2024–25)
W: Soumya Guguloth (2024–25)
Website| www.the-aiff.com

The AIFF Player of the Year Awards are the annual awards presented to the best footballers in India by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).[1] The AIFF first announced the award for Men's Player of the Year in 1992;[a] I. M. Vijayan was the inaugural winner. No winner was announced in 1998 and 1999. It was re-introduced in 2000 and Viajayan won it for the second time becoming the first player to do so. Sunil Chhetri has won the award a record seven times.[2][3][4] Jo Paul Ancheri, Bhaichung Bhutia and Lallianzuala Chhangte have each won the award twice. Subhasish Bose is the most recent winner in the men's category.

The AIFF Women's Player of the Year Award was introduced in 2001. Bembem Devi was its first recipient.[5] No winner was given out from 2002 up to 2012. In 2013, the award was re-introduced and Bembem Devi won it for the second time. Other than Bembem Devi, Bala Devi and Manisha Kalyan have won the award multiple times. Bala Devi has won the award thrice, whereas Kalyan won the award twice.[6][7] Soumya Guguloth is the most recent winner in this category.

Along with the men's and women's awards, the AIFF Emerging Player of the Year Award for men was introduced in 2013.[4] Jeje Lalpekhlua was the inaugural winner. He went on to win the Men's Player of the Year Award for 2016.[8] Sandesh Jhingan is the only other player to have won both the awards.[9] Anirudh Thapa is the only player to have won this award twice.[10] In 2015, Pyari Xaxa became the inaugural winner of the award in the women's category.[11] Sanju Yadav and Kalyan are the only players to have won both the Emerging player of the Year and the Player of the Year Award for women.[12][13] In 2024, the award was renamed as Promising Player of the Year Award.[14][15] Brison Fernandes and Thoibisana Chanu are the most recent winners in the men's and women's categories respectively.

Until 2016, the men's awards were selected on the basis of voting by the coaches of the I-League clubs. Since 2017, coaches of both the I-League and the Indian Super League have voted to select the winner.[16][17] The women's awards are selected by the head coach of the women's national team in consultation with the AIFF Technical Director.[18][19]

## Men's Player of the Year

[edit]

I. M. Vijayan was the first player to receive the award in 1992. He was also the first player to win it consecutively for 1997 and 2000 (there was no award in 1998 and 1999). He has won the award three times.[4] Sunil Chhetri has received the award a record seven times: for 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018−19 and most recently, 2021−22.[a][20] Jo Paul Ancheri, Bhaichung Bhutia and Lallianzuala Chhangte are the other players who have won this award more than once.[1]

Winner by years  | Year  | Player  | Ref.

|
|

1992  | I. M. Vijayan | [16]
1993  | V. P. Sathyan
1994  | Jo Paul Ancheri
1995  | Bhaichung Bhutia
1996  | Bruno Coutinho
1997  | I. M. Vijayan
1998  | Not awarded
1999
2000  | I. M. Vijayan
2001  | Jo Paul Ancheri
2002  | Deepak Mondal
2003  | Tomba Singh
2004  | Shanmugam Venkatesh
2005  | Climax Lawrence
2006  | Irungbam Surkumar Singh
2007  | Sunil Chhetri
2008  | Bhaichung Bhutia
2009  | Subrata Pal
2010  | Gouramangi Singh
2011  | Sunil Chhetri
2012  | Syed Rahim Nabi
2013  | Sunil Chhetri
2014  | Sunil Chhetri
2015  | Eugeneson Lyngdoh | [17]
2016  | Jeje Lalpekhlua | [21]
2017  | Sunil Chhetri | [22]
2018–19  | Sunil Chhetri | [18]
2019–20  | Gurpreet Singh Sandhu | [23]
2020–21  | Sandesh Jhingan | [24]
2021–22  | Sunil Chhetri | [25]
2022–23  | Lallianzuala Chhangte | [14]
2023–24  | Lallianzuala Chhangte | [26]
2024–25  | Subhasish Bose | [27]
Multiple winners  | Wins  | Player

|

7  | Sunil Chhetri
3  | I. M. Vijayan
2  | Jo Paul Ancheri
Bhaichung Bhutia
Lallianzuala Chhangte
I. M. Vijayan, the first recipient of the award, was also the first player to win for a second time. He won the award three times. Sunil Chhetri has been chosen as the Men's Player of the Year seven times, more than any other player. Subrata Pal was the first goalkeeper to win the award.[23]

## Women's Player of the Year

[edit]

Bembem Devi was the first recipient of the award in 2001. It was not awarded again until 2013, when Bembem Devi retained it.[4][28] Bala Devi has won the award a record three times: for 2014, 2015 and 2020−21.[a][29][30] Manisha Kalyan won the award consecutively for 2020−21 and 2022−23.[7]

Winner by years  | Year  | Player  | Ref.

|
|

2001  | Bembem Devi | [5]
2002−2012  | Not awarded
2013  | Bembem Devi | [28]
2014  | Bala Devi | [30]
2015  | Bala Devi | [29]
2016  | Sasmita Malik | [1]
2017  | Kamala Devi | [3]
2018−19  | Ashalata Devi | [18]
2019−20  | Sanju Yadav | [19]
2020−21  | Bala Devi | [31]
2021−22  | Manisha Kalyan | [25]
2022–23  | Manisha Kalyan | [7]
2023–24  | Indumathi Kathiresan | [26]
2024–25  | Soumya Guguloth | [27]
Multiple winners  | Wins  | Player

|

3  | Bala Devi
2  | Bembem Devi
Manisha Kalyan
Bembem Devi was the first recipient of the Award. She won the award twice. Bala Devi has been chosen as the Women's Player of the Year thrice, more than any other player.

## Promising Player of the Year

[edit]

The award was introduced as Emerging Player of the Year Award in 2013.[32] Later in 2024, the award was renamed as Promising Player of the Year Award.[14][15] Jeje Lalpekhlua was the inaugural winner of the award for men in 2013. In the next year, Sandesh Jhingan won the award. Both Lalpekhlua and Jhingan went on to win the Player of the Year Award for 2016 and 2020–21 respectively.[a] They are the only players to have won both the awards.[8][9] Anirudh Thapa is the only player to have won the award twice. He won the award for 2017 and 2019−20.[10]

A similar award for women was introduced in 2015.[29] Pyari Xaxa was the inaugural winner.[11] Sanju Yadav and Kalyan won the award for 2016 and 2020−21 respectively. Both Yadav and Kalyan went on to win the Player of the Year Award for 2019−20 and 2021−22 respectively. They are the only players to have achieved the feat of winning both the women's awards.[12][13]

1\. Anirudh Thapa is the only player to have won the award twice.

2\. Jeje Lalpekhlua was the first player to have won both the Player of the Year Award and the Promising Player of the Year Award.

Men's Promising Player of the Year  Year  | Player  | Ref.

|
|

2013  | Jeje Lalpekhlua | [32]
2014  | Sandesh Jhingan | [30]
2015  | Pritam Kotal | [29]
2016  | Rowllin Borges | [1]
2017  | Anirudh Thapa | [3]
2018−19  | Sahal Abdul Samad | [18]
2019−20  | Anirudh Thapa | [19]
2020−21  | Suresh Singh Wangjam | [31]
2021−22  | Vikram Pratap Singh | [25]
2022–23  | Akash Mishra | [14]
2023–24  | David Lalhlansanga | [26]
2024–25  | Brison Fernandes | [33]
Women's Promising Player of the Year  Year  | Player  | Ref.

|
|

2015  | Pyari Xaxa | [11]
2016  | Sanju Yadav | [12]
2017  | Panthoi Chanu | [34]
2018−19  | Dangmei Grace | [35]
2019−20  | Ratanbala Devi | [12]
2020−21  | Manisha Kalyan | [13]
2021−22  | Martina Thokchom | [25]
2022–23  | Shilji Shaji | [14]
2023–24  | Neha Sillay | [26]
2024–25  | Thoibisana Chanu | [33]

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d From 1992 to 2017, the award was given for the performance of the player for that year and was mostly awarded at the end of that year. Since 2018, the award has been given for a football season and awarded in the middle of the year.

## See also

[edit]

* FPAI Indian Player of the Year
* Football in India

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Jeje Lalpekhlua is 2016 AIFF Player of the Year". All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
2. ^ "AIFF announce Sunil Chhetri as the Player of the Year". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
3. ^ a b c "Sunil Chhetri wins 2017 AIFF Player of the Year award". The Times of India. Press Trust of India (PTI). 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
4. ^ a b c d "Sunil Chhetri is 2013 AIFF Player of the Year". All India Football Federation. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
5. ^ a b Solomon, Joseph (8 March 2015). "19 years and counting – The legend of Oinam Bembem Devi". All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
6. ^ "Women's football: Mary Kom an inspiration for Bala Devi". Sportstar. The Hindu. 2 February 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
7. ^ a b c Chetiar, Ronald (4 July 2023). "Lallianzuala Chhangte wins AIFF Men's Footballer of the Year award for 2022-23". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
8. ^ a b "Jeje Lalpekhlua adjudged India's best footballer of 2016 by AIFF". Hindustan Times. 21 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
9. ^ a b Bhattacharjee, Neeladri (21 July 2021). "AIFF Awards: Jhinghan named men's player of the year, Wangjam emerging footballer of 2020-21". Sportstar. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
10. ^ a b Peter, Naveen (25 November 2020). "Chennayin's Anirudh Thapa quick off the mark in ISL". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
11. ^ a b c "Striker Pyari Xaxa wins AIFF award". Odisha TV. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
12. ^ a b c d "Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sanju Yadav win AIFF Footballer of the Year men's and women's awards". Scroll.in. 25 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
13. ^ a b c "AIFF Awards: Chhangte, Manisha named men's and women's Players of Year". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 4 July 2023. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
14. ^ a b c d e "President Kalyan Chaubey chairs AIFF AGM in Bengaluru". All India Football Federation. 4 July 2023. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
15. ^ a b "Chhangte, Indumathi named best on a shining Night of AIFF Awards". All India Football Federation. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
16. ^ a b "All India Football Federation Awards: Sunil Chhetri and Bala Devi win Player of the Year Trophy". India Today. 14 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
17. ^ a b "Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Bala Devi get top All India Football Federation awards". India Today. Press Trust of India (PTI). 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
18. ^ a b c d "Sunil Chhetri and Ashalata Devi bag top honours at AIFF Awards". Sportstar. The Hindu. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
19. ^ a b c "Gurpreet and Sanju declared winners of AIFF Player of the Year Awards". All India Football Federation. 25 September 2020. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
20. ^ "I draw inspiration from MC Mary Kom, say Sunil Chhetri". All India Football Federation. 11 July 2019. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
21. ^ Alvares, Rohan (9 June 2017). "AIFF Awards: Jeje Lalpekhlua named best Indian player". The Times of India. Times Now Network (TNN). Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
22. ^ "Chhetri wins 2017 AIFF player of the year award". Business Standard. Press Trust of India (PTI). 22 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
23. ^ a b Sharma, Nitin (26 September 2020). "Chandigarh lad Sandhu adjudged men's football player of the year by AIFF". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
24. ^ "Sandesh named AIFF Men's Footballer of the Year, Suresh wins Emerging Player award". All India Football Federation. 21 July 2021. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
25. ^ a b c d "Manisha, Sunil named 2021-22 AIFF Footballers of the Year". All India Football Federation. 9 August 2022. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
26. ^ a b c d "Lallianzuala Chhangte, Indumathi Kathiresan bag Player of the Year honours at AIFF awards ceremony". The Times of India. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
27. ^ a b "Soumya Guguloth, Subhasish Bose the crème de la crème of AIFF Awards 2025". All India Football Federation. 2 May 2025. Archived from the original on 3 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
28. ^ a b Pathak, Manashi (25 January 2020). "Bembem Devi: Grateful that my contribution to women's football is recognised". Sportstar. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
29. ^ a b c d "Eugenson Lyngdoh voted '2015 AIFF Player of the Year'". All India Football Federation. 20 December 2015. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
30. ^ a b c "Sunil Chhetri voted 2014 AIFF Player of the Year". All India Football Federation. 27 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
31. ^ a b "Bala Devi, Manisha Kalyan named winners of annual AIFF Awards". All India Football Federation. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
32. ^ a b "AIFF presents Indian Football Awards". All India Football Federation. 13 Feb 2014. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
33. ^ a b Pitts, Andre (2 May 2025). "AIFF Awards 2025: Subhasish Bose, Soumya Guguloth bag India's top football honours - full winners list". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
34. ^ "I started as a defender during my childhood: Panthoi Chanu". All India Football Federation. 29 July 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
35. ^ "Dangmei hoping to help India grace biggest stage of all". Inside FIFA. 28 August 2020. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Official AIFF website.

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