Vigneshwaran Baskaran
 Indian professional footballer with stellar experience in I-League teams | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vigneshwaran Baskaran | ||
| Date of birth | 11 April 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, India | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Delhi | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Fateh Hyderabad | |||
| Sudeva Delhi | |||
| Punjab FC | |||
| 2017–2018 | Chennai City | 1 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Churchill Brothers | 6 | (0) |
| 2019 | Southern Samity | ||
| 2019–2023 | Gokulam Kerala | ||
| 2023– | Delhi | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Vigneshwaran Baskaran (born 11 April 1990) is an Indian professional footballer hailing from Tamil Nadu, India. Vigneshwaran primarily plays for regional clubs representing the sport at national and international forums, where he distinguishes himself as a reliable goalkeeper. He began his professional senior career with Chennai City FC. In 2018, he joined Churchill Brothers SC, where he rose to prominence. Later half of 2019, he signed for Gokulam Kerala Football Club.
Vigneshwaran won the prestigious Durand Cup in 2018-2019 and won his first Indian Super League title in 2021-2022. His landmark and illustrious accomplishment is winning three consecutive national championships at I-League – a feat unprecedented in Indian football history.
Club career
[edit]Vigneshwaran began his professional journey in Indian football with lower-division clubs, initially playing for Fateh Hyderabad and Sudeva Delhi before securing a move to Punjab FC[1]. His breakthrough into the I-League came when he signed with Chennai City for the 2017–18 season. Vignesh made his professional debut on 20 January 2018 in a 0–1[2] defeat against Gokulam Kerala.
Following his stint at Chennai City, he transferred to Churchill Brothers ahead of the 2018–19 season. His debut for Churchill Brothers came on 15 November 2018 in a 4–2 victory[3] over Shillong Lajong. In 2019, Vigneshwaran had a brief spell with Southern Samity[4] in the Calcutta Football League before securing a move to I-League side Gokulam Kerala[1] on 2 August 2019.
He made his first appearance for Gokulam Kerala on 4 January 2020 in a 1–1 draw against Aizawl[5].
Early life and Youth Career
[edit]Vigneshwaran Baskaran was born in Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu, India) into a modest family background. Throughout his youth, while he displayed natural athletic abilities across various sports at district level, his specific passion for football emerged during his tenth standard of schooling.
His first significant achievement came when he led his team to victory in the Inter-district Championship at Avadi—a historic win that marked the district's first triumph in the competition in 50 years. This foundational period of his career was significantly influenced by his mentor, the late Coach Kanagaraj, who introduced him to the fundamentals of goalkeeping through both technical training and stories of legendary goalkeepers. This early guidance proved instrumental in shaping Vigneshwaran's career trajectory.
During his college years, this initial success catalyzed a series of achievements at both district and state levels, establishing him as a promising talent in Tamil Nadu's football circuit. These formative experiences laid the groundwork for his later professional career in Indian football.
Style of play
[edit]Vigneshwaran Baskaran is a talented, fiercely-driven, and often instinctive goalkeeper, who is recognized for his lightning-fast reflexes, impeccable positioning, and anticipation when coming off his line in one-on-one situations. Vignesh’s heroics as Churchill Brothers’ goalkeeper in the 2019 I-league match against East Bengal, where he thwarted the Spaniard’s strike from close range, proves his composure under pressure and made him a nightmare for opposition strikers.
His quiet confidence, his ability to command his area and challenge the ball with his feet have made him an invaluable asset to every team he has represented. His ability to blend technical expertise with a science-driven approach has made him a fan favorite.
Career statistics
[edit]- As of 10 March 2023 - Matches played[6]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chennai City | 2017–18 | I-League | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Churchill Brothers | 2018–19 | I-League | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Gokulam Kerala | 2019–20 | I-League | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Delhi FC | 2022–23 | I-League 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
Honors
[edit]
Gokulam Kerala
Achievements
[edit]National Success
[edit]- Three-time National Championship winner (First player in Indian football to achieve this consecutively)
- Winner of the prestigious Durand Cup Heritage Championship
- Asian Football Cup Championship victor
- Three-time representative for Tamil Nadu in the Santosh Trophy
International Representation
[edit]- In his international career, Vigneshwaran earned caps for the Indian national team, with his most significant appearance in the Sheikh Hasina Tournament hosted in Bangladesh. This tournament served as a platform for him to demonstrate his goalkeeping prowess at the international level, representing India in competitive matches against other Asian nations.
Professional Certifications and Coaching
[edit]- Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Certified Coach
- Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Licensed Coach
Team Achievements
[edit]- Multiple clean sheets in I-League appearances across various clubs
- Crucial role in several successful domestic campaign runs with Chennai City FC, Churchill Brothers, and Gokulam Kerala FC
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Gokulam Kerala signs two new goalkeepers". The Hindu. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Chennai City 0–1 Gokulam Kerala". Soccerway.
- ^ "Churchill Brothers 4–2 Shillong Lajong". Soccerway.
- ^ "Southern Samity". Picuki.
- ^ "Gokulam Kerala 1–1 Aizawl". Soccerway.
- ^ Vigneshwaran Baskaran at Soccerway
- ^ "Durand Cup: Gokulam Kerala beats Mohun Bagan 2-1 to win title". Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- ^ TEAM SPORTSTAR, 21:22 IST (14 May 2022). "Gokulam Kerala 2-1 Mohammedan SC Highlights: GKFC becomes 1st club in 15 years to defend the I-League". sportstar.thehindu.com. Kolkata, West Bengal: Sportstar. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
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