Legendary IM Vijayan Dedicates Padma Shri Honor to Indian Football Fans

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Indian football legend, IM Vijayan had a memorable and eventful day on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

Early in the morning, he received a call from a senior government official in New Delhi informing him of the Government of India's decision to honor him with the prestigious Padma Shri award for his exceptional contributions to sports.

The official announcement came later in the evening, and soon after, Vijayan's phone was flooded with congratulatory messages. Among those reaching out to celebrate his achievement were the Chief Minister and Sports Minister of Kerala, prominent politicians, government officials, senior football administrators, current and former players, and close friends.

Amid the overwhelming recognition and praise, Vijayan, known as one of the most skilled and iconic forwards of the 1990s, didn't forget those who made his journey in football meaningful.

"I dedicate my award to every football fan in the country. What I am today is because of them," Vijayan shared with the-aiff.com from his Kerala home. "I am not sure how good I was as a footballer. But the love I received from the fans was the biggest achievement of my career. They are the people who are responsible for taking the beautiful game to this height."

Expressing his emotions, Vijayan added, "Yes, I am happy, extremely happy. You ought to feel satisfied when your services are recognised." He further remarked, "I don't know how much this award will help Indian football. At the same time, this may encourage some youngsters in some parts of the country to pursue football. If so, it would give me a deep sense of fulfilment."

Vijayan began his National Team career in January 1991, debuting against Romania during the Nehru Cup in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Over the course of 12 years, he became an integral part of the Blue Tigers' lineup. By the time he retired after the Afro-Asian Games final in Hyderabad in October 2003, Vijayan had cemented his legacy as one of India's most admired footballers. Together with Bhaichung Bhutia, he formed a formidable attacking partnership that left many defenses in disarray.

The Padma Shri now adds to Vijayan's illustrious career, which includes being the fastest scorer of an international hat-trick for India (against Pakistan during the 1999 South Asian Games). He was also named AIFF Player of the Year on three occasions (1992, 1997, 2000) and received the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2003.

Currently, Vijayan serves as an AIFF Executive Committee member and Chairperson of the AIFF Technical Committee.

With this award, Vijayan joins an elite group of Indian footballers who have received the Padma Shri, including Gostho Paul, Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, PK Banerjee, Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Bembem Devi, and Brahmanand Sankhwalkar.