Mihir Bose (footballer)

Mihir Bose (born 3 May 1955), is a retired Indian professional footballer who played as a forward. He played for the India national team, representing the country in the 1981 Merdeka Tournament in Kuala Lumpur and the 1982 Nehru Cup in Kolkata. In a domestic career spanning twelve years between 1977 and 1989, he had represented all three of Calcutta's football clubs, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting. Bose won twenty-four trophies while representing the big three of Kolkata.

Club career
Mihir Bose started his career at Port Trust in 1973, and joined Bengal Nagpur Railway in 1974 where he spent three seasons before joining East Bengal in 1977 and became a renowned name after scoring in the famous 2–0 win over Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Football League Kolkata Derby on 7 July 1977 at the Mohun Bagan Ground. He also scored in the 1978–79 Durand Cup Final against Mohun Bagan as East Bengal won 3–0 to lift the title. In 1980, Mihir Bose joined Mohun Bagan and scored in the 1980 Indian Federation Cup Final against East Bengal which ended 1–1, and both teams were adjudged as joint champions. After spending two seasons, he returned to East Bengal and played three more seasons, captaining the side in 1983–84. He rejoined Mohun Bagan for a single season in 1985. Bose then signed for Mohammedan Sporting in 1986 where he played till 1989 before hanging up his boots.

Bose won a total of twenty-four trophies playing for the big three and scored ninety-two goals for them with sixty-four of them for East Bengal, nineteen for Mohun Bagan, and nine goals for Mohammedan Sporting. Mihir Bose was also part of the infamous match that cost the lives of sixteen football fans at the Eden Gardens on 16 August 1980, remembered as the Football Lovers' Day.

He also represented West Bengal and Railways in the Santosh Trophy.

International career
Mihir Bose made his debut for the India national team in 1981 in a game against New Zealand national football team in the 1981 Merdeka Tournament in Kuala Lumpur. He represented the country in eleven matches, including the 1981 Merdeka Tournament in Kuala Lumpur and the 1982 Nehru Cup in Kolkata and scored one goal against China on 16 February 1982 at Kolkata.

Honours
East Bengal
 * Calcutta Football League: 1977, 1982
 * Federation Cup: 1978
 * Durand Cup: 1978, 1982
 * IFA Shield: 1983, 1984
 * Bordoloi Trophy: 1978
 * Darjeeling Gold Cup: 1982
 * DCM Trophy: 1983
 * Sanjay Gandhi Gold Cup: 1983

Mohun Bagan
 * Federation Cup: 1980, 1981
 * Durand Cup: 1980, 1985
 * IFA Shield: 1981
 * Rovers Cup: 1981, 1985
 * Sikkim Gold Cup: 1984
 * Sait Nagjee Football Tournament: 1981

Mohammedan Sporting
 * Bordoloi Trophy: 1986
 * All Airlines Gold Cup: 1986
 * Rovers Cup: 1987
 * Independence Day Cup: 1988