Monoranjan Bhattacharya

Monoranjan Bhattacharya, nicknamed Mona, is a retired Indian professional footballer and football manager. During his playing career, he represented the "Big Two" of Kolkata football, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. He also represented India in various international tournaments between 1978 and 1989.

He was one of the finest Indian stopper-back during his time in Indian football. Foreigners who played against him have said he was physically strong, was good in aerial tussles and a very clean tackler. East Bengal supporters worship him. Legendary football coach Amal Dutta was influential nurturing talents including Bhattacharya.

Club career
Bhattacharya appeared with Calcutta Football League club George Telegraph, before joining East Bengal Club in 1977. With the "red and gold brigade", he created a club record for continuously representing the club in a period spanning fourteen years. He was one of the most successful defenders of his time and was known for his strong and skillful game. He captained the club in 1981–82 season. In 1985, he won Federation Cup with the club and went on to represent his team at the 1985–86 Asian Club Championship in Saudi Arabia. Managed by legendary P. K. Banerjee,  his team played in the Central Asia Zone (tournament named "Coca-Cola Cup"), where they defeated numerous foreign clubs to win it. They defeated New Road Team of Nepal 7–0, Abahani Krira Chakra of Bangladesh 1–0, thrashed Club Valencia of the Maldives 9–0 (the biggest margin of victory by an Indian team over any foreign opponents).

In the 1980s, Bhattacharya as stopper-back and Bhaskar Ganguly as goalkeeper, made East Bengal defense unbreakable. In 1986, he along with Bhaskar Ganguly signed with Bangladeshi club Abahani Krira Chakra for a crucial Dhaka Derby match to decide the Dhaka League champions, and became one of the few Indian players who plied their trades abroad. However, after suffering a 2–0 defeat, both players returned to East Bengal. At the end of 1990–91 season, he left East Bengal to join their arch-rival Mohun Bagan AC. After spending a couple of seasons with Mohun Bagan, Monoranjan returned to East Bengal in 1993 for his last season as a player.

International career
Monoranjan was a regular for India national football team between 1978 and 1989 and competed football tournaments within the period. He is praised for his performance against Argentina in 1984 Nehru Cup, where India was narrowly defeated by 1–0 with the goal from Ricardo Gareca.

Coaching career
Monoranjan is a qualified AFC coach who managed East Bengal Club from 1996 to 1998 and again in the season of 2000–01. Under his coaching, the club won its first National Football League title in 2000–01. In that season, they won Federation Cup. Due to East Bengal FC's poor showing in the inaugural 2007–08 I-League, their coach Subrata Bhattacharya resigned and Monoranjan became the coach of East Bengal for the third time. He guided the club hanging in the relegation zone to a sixth-place finish in the I-League. After the league ended, he decided not continue in the post citing prior family engagements.

In 2008, he was appointed head coach of DSA Senior Division side Hindustan FC for a season.

In 2018, Bhattacharya was appointed head coach of CFL Premier Division side Tollygunge Agragami.

Player
East Bengal
 * Federation Cup: 1978–79, 1980–81, 1985
 * IFA Shield: 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991
 * Durand Cup: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
 * Calcutta Football League: 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993
 * Rovers Cup: 1990
 * Wai Wai Cup (Nepal): 1993
 * All Airlines Gold Cup: 1987, 1988, 1990
 * Darjeeling Gold Cup: 1985
 * SSS Trophy: 1989, 1991
 * Sait Nagjee Trophy: 1986
 * Stafford Cup: 1986

India
 * South Asian Games Gold medal: 1985, 1987

Individual
 * East Bengal "Lifetime Achievement Award": 2019

Manager
East Bengal
 * Federation Cup: 1996
 * National Football League: 2000–01