He never shy away from the dirt and the dust. The elbows and the physicality of the game only inspire him to perform better. He doesn't care about the statistics or the records in his kitty, what matters is the game – the game he is so passionate about. The game that is his life. Being a football player is not easy. No sport is easy. But when your passion surpasses all obstacles, you truly become a champion. Today, we will try to decode the interesting life of a talented footballer and an equally talented writer, Sandesh Jhingan. There are some myriad aspects of this gentleman that many may not be aware of. What gives him the off-field kick to kick a storm in the field and what inspired him to take up the sport. Let us find out!
Sandesh Jhingan Biography
| Full Name | Sandesh Jhingan |
| Date of Birth | July 21, 1993 |
| Place of Birth | Chandigarh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Position | Center-back |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lbs (84 kg) |
| Sport | Football |
| Sandesh Jhingan Age | 29 years |
| Previous Clubs | Kerala Blasters FC, ATK Mohun Bagan FC, Sporting Clube de Goa |
| Debut | September 4, 2015, against Nepal (International) |
| Goals (Club/International) | 5/5 |
| Achievements | AIFF Emerging Player of the Year 2014, Arjuna Award 2020 |
| Twitter/Instagram | @SandeshJhingan/@sandesh21jhingan |
Early Life
Born and brought up in Chandigarh, Sandesh Jhingan learned the tricks of his trade at the St. Stephen's Academy in Chandigarh. He was fortunate to receive training from the very best in the field. His superior talent was prominent right from the beginning. He went on to represent the Chandigarh state team soon.
The Football Journey
In 2011, Jhingan started his senior career with the club United Sikkim. In 2013, he was signed by Mumbai FC. Later he played for Sporting Goa, DSK Shivajians, and Bengaluru FC.
Jhingan is known for his focus and aggression on the field. In an interview with Goal, he explained the reason behind this attitude,
“When I was a kid, I was always into history. I liked those history characters. I liked reading about Genghis Khan. And I was interested in wars. That was one thing that got me as a young boy. Maybe that got carried on into my game. Honestly, I don’t think about going into a game like that but it comes naturally.”
Indian Football Team
Sandesh Jhingan made his Indian debut in March 2015 against Nepal. Head coach Stephen Constantine gave him the opportunity. In 2017, Jhingan captained the Indian team for the Hero Tri-Nation Football Series.
Image Source: BBCIndian Super League played a major role in bringing Jhingan's talent to the forefront. He holds the record of being the most featured Indian player in the league.
On 18th August 2017, he was honoured with the captaincy of the Indian squad.
Top 20 Famous Football Players in India of All Time
Kerala Blasters
Being one of the best players in the country, Jhingan is in great demand from various clubs. However, he has decided to stay with Kerala Blasters for the latest edition of the league. Nelo Vingada, the new coach of Kerala Blasters was very keen that Jhingan continued his association with the team.
Overall, Jhingan has played 71 games in ISI, all with Kerala Blasters. He also captained the side in the 2017 season.
His association with the club was renewed again in the next season till the year 2020. The club paid a whopping Rs. 3.8 crores to retain him for the period, making him one of the most expensive players in the league.
“That is football, everybody wants to win. We want to win as well. But sometimes things don’t go according to the plan. One thing I am proud of with this batch of players is that even when the bad times came, we never stopped working.”
“We kept working hard, we always stick together. It is the friendliest squad that I have been part of during my Kerala Blasters career. When the bad results come, a lot of ego clashes and blame games tend to happen but this group, we all support each other," he told Goal in an interview.
Net Worth
Image Source: The WeekIn 2017, Jhingan was earning a smooth INR 1.2 crores as a defender for Kerala Blasters. He was retained by the squad till the year 2020 for a stunning amount of Rs. 3.8 crores. In 2023, Sandesh Jhingan’s net worth is $5 Millions.
Achievements of Sandesh Jhingan
Clubs
United Sikkim
- I-League- 2012
Kerala Blasters FC
- Indian Super League: 2014, 2016 (Runner-up)
Individual
- Indian Super League: Emerging Player of the Season- 2014
- All India Football Federation: Emerging Player of the Year- 2014
Image Source: OlympicsTalent Unlimited
Along with being one of the best footballers in the country, Jhingan is a terrific writer. He is always brimming with ideas and can start writing as soon as he is presented with a paper and pen. We are sharing some of Jhingam's works from Instagram here-
Interesting Facts about Sandesh Jhingan
- Very different from youngsters of his age, Jhingan doesn't fancy the fast life. Instead of spending his free time partying or clubbing, Jhingan would prefer a quiet evening at the beach.
- He doesn't mind some soothing music and good conversations though. An avid reader, Jhingan is a big fan of Paulo Coelho's inspirational writing.
- Sandesh Jhingan has a very unique secret desire as well. He wants to know every language in the world so that he can read and write in each one of them. Now that is something we would never expect from a footballer!
With every achievement on and off the field as well, Sandesh Jhingan has proven how special he is. His writings are inspirational and his future as a footballer is bright. We cannot wait to see him attain greater heights in his personal and professional life!
Social Media
Jhingan’s humility is very prominent from his message for the youngsters. In an interview with India Today, he was quoted as-
“They are too smart man, they really don’t need my advice, to be honest. They are doing all the right things, they work hard, eat well, rest well and that’s the good thing in India now. Not only these boys but others, in my club, and the boys I meet, they are really understanding that it’s not just about giving it all on the field but also about how you treat yourself and keep off the field and a lot of boys have understood the importance of it. So everyone’s professional.”
FAQs
When was Sandesh Jhingan born and what is his age?Sandesh Jhingan was born on July 21, 1993 and his age is 29 years in June, 2023.
What is Sandesh Jhingan’s position in football?Sandesh Jhingan plays as a center-back in football.
Which Indian football clubs has Sandesh Jhingan played for?Sandesh Jhingan has played for clubs such as Kerala Blasters FC, ATK Mohun Bagan FC, and Sporting Clube de Goa.