I.M. Vijayan
A former India football captain and prolific striker from Kerala who scored 40 international goals, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
I.M. Vijayan is one of the greatest footballers India has produced. In 2025 he was named for the Padma Shri in the field of sports, from Kerala [1].
A striker’s career
Inivalappil Mani Vijayan was born on 25 April 1969 [2]. Between 1986 and 2006 he played club football, winning titles including the Federation Cup and the National Football League, and scored 142 goals in 284 club appearances [2].
For India, he scored a hat-trick on his debut, scored 40 international goals, helped win several SAFF Championships and Nehru Cups, and played in three AFC Asian Cup campaigns [2]. He captained the national team and was named best Indian footballer three times [2]. The citation also credits him with the fastest goal in Asian football [2].
Giving back
Vijayan is an assistant commandant in the Kerala Police and director of the Kerala Police Football Academy [2]. He supports a children’s rehabilitation organisation that offers training and a path into football to underprivileged children [2].
He has received the Arjuna Award [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2025: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2025: citation for I.M. Vijayan — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
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