# Arun Ghosh

Arun Ghosh (born 7 July 1941) is a former Indian football player who represented India internationally. He also played club football for both the Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal Club. He later managed the India national team.

## Playing career

He was part of the team that played in the 1960 Rome Olympics under coaching of Syed Abdul Rahim. He later appeared in 1964 Merdeka Cup, where they achieved second place. In the same year, he went on to represent his nation at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup, where they also finished as runners-up as Israel clinched the title. He was also a member of the squad that won gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games Football Championship in 1962. He also played in the final, where India defeated South Korea 2–1.
   When I was young, I used to play both badminton and football well. At that time, we did it, have proper grounds to play badminton so we used to organize matches with friends during evenings and football, I used to play at a local club. This was in 1954 or 1955. One day, one of my school friends named Tota had a trial in Howrah Union, then in the second division of Kolkata League. At that time I was very fit and strong and Dashu Mitra was impressed with my physique. He asked me if I played football. Hearing that I did, he asked me to come to practice the following day. Initially we were given the job of ball boys but Howrah Union eventually became my first club.
Ghosh represented Bengal in Santosh Trophy, and played club football for then Calcutta Football League side East Bengal. He shifted to the "red and gold brigade" after playing for Mohun Bagan in the early 1960s.
It was always regretted for Arun ji, and it is repeatedly said by him to us that had Rahim Saheb lived for a few more years, an Olympic medal could have been won by India, which was missed at the Melbourne Games in 1956.

## Managerial career

In 1974, Ghosh went on to became coach of the India U-20 team along with Syed Abdul Salam, ahead of the 1974 AFC Youth Championship in Thailand. After a brief training camp in Patiala, his team participated in the tournament and reached the final. A 2–2 scoreline against Iran-20 insured that both the teams shared the trophy. Under his coaching, India U-20 team achieved their first ever continental title, in which Shabbir Ali scored five goals.
Ghosh also served as director of Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur from 1997 to 2003.

## His Friends

Arun Ghosh sir’s best friend was our Indian Pele Tulsidas Balaram. He always regards him as the best Indian football player. When he was in the team, he called Balaram ji as "Balram Kaku" because they had a 5-year age gap. But as time passed by, they became best friends and in the last days of Balaram ji he shifted his home to Uttarpara. He also had a great friendship with Pradyut Barman who played a few matches in the 1962 Asian Games and they used to talk for hours on telephone and face to face also. He also has great respect for Sheoo Mewalal who played twice in Olympics for India. When Mewalal ji passed away no newspaper was covering his death story. He went to a newspaper office and told them to write about Mewalal ji.

## Current Situation

Arun sir’s journey from a budding footballer in Howrah Union to a celebrated player and coach is a story of dedication, perseverance, and excellence. His contributions to Indian football, both on and off the field, have left an indelible mark. As a player, he inspired a generation of footballers, and as a coach, he laid the foundation for the sport’s future in India. Arun’s legacy serves as a guiding light for Indian football, reminding us of the heights that can be achieved through hard work and passion. Currently Arun ji is living with his family in Howrah, West Bengal with his full family. He is currently suffering with Alzheimer's and Dementia where the world has forgotten our hero.
Currently he is not engrossed in watching football but he is a huge fan of Chelsea F.C. and his favorite player is Didier Drogba. He has coached were footballers like Mahesh Gawli, Kalyan Chaubey, Noel Wilson, Clifford Miranda, Subrata Paul, etc. Have come out. He did not require any foreign support as much. Clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal still felicitate him with awards and the MP of Howrah and his student Prasun Banerjee also gave him award. Plus, Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee also writes letters to him. His son is a National Table Tennis champion and his grandson is an engineer and state Table Tennis player. When Maidaan released in 2024 he had just recovered from pneumonia so the producer Boney Kapoor, director Amit Sharma and 1962 Asian Games winner DMK Afzal were also there in the screening in Avani Riverside Mall.

## Honours
### Player

India
* Asian Games Gold medal: 1962
* AFC Asian Cup runners-up: 1964
* Merdeka Tournament third-place: 1965, 1966

### Manager

India U20
* AFC Asian U-19 Championship: 1974
East Bengal
* Federation Cup: 1978–79
Mohun Bagan
* Federation Cup: 1980–81

### Individual

* Arjuna Award: 1965
* East Bengal "Bharat Gaurav Award": 2013