Former East Bengal and Mohun Bagan midfielder Renedy Singh has been one of the most instrumental midfield maestros in the history of Indian Football. The former Indian captain was so good with the ball as well as a dead-ball specialist. Renedy Singh hung up his boots forever on July 1, 2015, after a brilliant national career that spanned thirteen years.
The Manipur-born midfielder has his roots in Sekmai, a well-known Football hub. The Tata Football Academy graduate was one of the most experienced members of the 2011 Asian Cup squad. He was elected president of the Football Players’ Association Of India in 2014.
Club Career: Renedy Singh:
Renedy Singh spent six years at the Tata Football Academy, which is known as India’s very own La Masia. Renedy joined East Bengal in 1996. After four years with the Red and Gold Brigade, he joined their arch-rivals, Mohun Bagan.
Later, he played for Chirag United SC and JCT FC, and he again reunited with East Bengal in 2008. During this time, he played 45 games wearing the Red and Gold shirt and scored on ten occasions. After 2010, he left East Bengal and joined United Sikkim.
Later, he signed for Shillong Lajong in 2012. In the 2014–15 season, he took the field as a Kerela Blasters player. On February 27, 2015, he joined Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia on loan from Kerela Blasters, becoming the first Indian to sign for a Bulgarian club, but did not make any official appearance.
International Career: Renedy Singh:
Renedy got his first senior international cap in 1998, when he was only 19. Moving forward, he made 72 appearances for the national team. Reliving his best days in Blue, Renedy said,
“I have played for clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, JCT, and so on. But playing for the national team when we defeated the UAE with Sukhi sir was a great moment. When we won against Syria with Bob Houghton, sir, it was the best moment.”
He added,
“The game against Bahrain was very special. The shot struck the bar and came out, and Sunil (Chhetri) headed it back in. Those were different memories of playing against teams like Bahrain, Australia, and South Korea and beating the UAE in the World Cup Qualifiers.”
Success and Achievements:
With East Bengal, he won the Federation Cup in 1996, the IFA Shield in 1997, and the IFA Cup in 2000. With them, he also won the Calcutta Football League in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Wearing the National team’s jersey, he won the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008. He won the SAFF Championship in 2005 and 2011. He also won the Nehru Cup in 2007 and 2009.
Renedy also achieved a silver medal in the Afro-Asian Games in 2003.
Renedy Singh and his Academy:
Once in an interview, Renedy Singh said,
“What kills me is that 99% of the players are below the poverty line. When I hear that they don’t even have the means to eat breakfast, as a human being, it deeply saddens me. And if I don’t help them as much as I can, what’s the use? “
So, Renedy started football school in Imphal four years ago. The name of his school was Renedy Football School. Later, the school was named Classic Football Academy. More or less 300 kids had started training at the school. He formed a football academy in Manipur. Speaking about his academy, Renedy said,
“We also formed a club by the name of Classic Football Academy, and now we are at the top of the first division in the Manipur football league. Winning our next match will steer us to the Manipur Premier League. I want this academy takes part in the I-League qualifiers in the name of Classic Football Academy. Also I can recall that playing for TFA, we defeated several heavyweight teams, including East Bengal, in different tournaments. I dream of making our Classic Football Academy as successful as TFA was. I want all the talented young footballers to mature as professional footballers from our academy to mature into professional footballers. They should not go to the country’s other coaching schools.”
Managerial Career: Renedy Singh:
Firstly, in 2015-16, Renedy Singh was appointed as the assistant coach of ISL side FC Pune City. He has had special gratitude for David Platt, the former Manchester City coach who worked as the chief coach of Pune City FC. He said,
“There was practically a big difference between Manchester City and Pune City FC. Still, Platt treated his coaching staff and the footballers, especially Indian footballers, in such an impeccable way that I cannot forget. His man-management style was unique. Whatever knowledge I gained on the game and coaching techniques from him was simply unparalleled.”
Regarding his managerial experience, Renedy said,
“I got Ranjan Chowdhury, then Mohammad Habib, and P.K. Banerjee sir in Tata Football Academy (TFA). Then Sukhvinder Sir was there and selected me for the Indian team. I was only 19 years old at that time. Then I played under Stephen Constantine and then Bob Houghton for six years. I have learned many things about the game from all these coaches. But Platt’s contribution to the development of my coaching is unparalleled.”
In 2019, he was appointed as the Head Coach of Neroca FC.
Historic decision of fielding an all-Indian Eleven in an ISL match for the first time:
Due to having only one foreign player before the match, Renedy Singh, interim Head Coach of East Bengal FC, has fielded an all Indian eleven in a match against Jamshedpur FC. On his decision, he said,
“It was vivid that Indian footballers can also fight. They also have the physical strength and guts to fight neck-to-neck against foreign players. I do not mind the clubs bringing foreign coaches and foreign players to the ISL. But they also need to perform. Whereas Indian coaches, if they are recruited by any ISL club, will be put under the scanner, and they have to prove in every match.”
Renedy Singh is appointed as the Assistant coach of Bengaluru FC:
Ahead of the upcoming season, Renedy joined Bengaluru FC as a deputy of Simon Grayson. Joining the Blues on a three-year deal, he said,
“I’m really excited for what lies ahead in the form of a new challenge with Bengaluru FC. This is a club that raised the standards of professionalism in Indian football, and I’m keen to play a part in their journey over the coming years. I’m looking forward to joining the team in preseason and working our way towards what will hopefully be another successful season.”
Management’s views:
Blues’ Director of Football, Darren Caldeira, said,
“We’re delighted to be able to bring Renedy on board, as he brings with him a huge amount of experience both as a player and as a coach. His ability to bring the best out of Indian players will be vital as we enter an important phase at the football club, and on behalf of Bengaluru FC, I want to welcome him and wish him luck.”
Follow our Twitter handle for more updates.
