KOLKATA: Sunil Chhetri is at peace with himself now. A day after announcing his retirement from international football, he woke up on Friday with 688 missed calls on his cell phone.
“It isn’t easy,” he said with a smile.
It was a decision driven by instinct. It was a decision taken in consultation with Indian cricket star and his friend, Virat Kohli.
“I discussed with him (Kohli) because we both understand the ups and downs of a career and take the step of calling time on it,” Chhetri said during a virtual interaction with media persons from Bhubaneswar, where Igor Stimac’s India are preparing for the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
As Chhetri gets ready for his swansong in the Blue Tigers’ jersey with the clash against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium on June 6, the legendary Indian with 94 goals and 150 matches opened up on his 19-year journey and more.
On when and what prompted him to bring down the curtain on his international career
I don’t know the exact date, but probably 10 to 15 days after the Afghanistan game (which India lost 1-2 in Guwahati in the World Cup qualifiers on March 26) I started thinking about retirement. I was fighting with myself, trying to think holistically. Eventually it came with an instinct and when it came it was so individualistic, so narrow that I was taking time and it wasn’t easy. But now I am at peace with my decision.
On the next Indian striker par excellence
I’m very optimistic about the future of Indian football. There is a lot of fight for different positions. When you talk about the No. 9 one, there are a lot of candidates doing well. Unfortunately, they don’t play enough games in that position in the ISL. And in due time, I hope that changes. If you take this season’s two finalists (Mumbai City and Mohun Bagan SG), Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh or Bipin Singh, Vikram Pratap (Singh) and Chhangte or (Anirudh) Thapa playing as No. 10 or Sahal (Abdul Samad)...all these attacking players are really doing well. I do understand that No. 9 is a specific one, but I’m pretty sure that with the talent we have and the structure we have, we’ll get one.
On possibly missing the chance of reaching the 100-goal peak in international football
I don’t feel hollow, not reaching a hundred doesn’t bother me at all. 150 games — that’s the number that I really love. Playing 150 matches will be on top of everything if I have to tell my son what I had achieved as a footballer.
On his legacy
I’ve never paid any heed to such things earlier. But now I may be thinking more about it. A very good-looking and hard-working player — this is how I would like to be remembered as.
On the possibility of becoming a coach
I’ll probably do coaching licenses just to be more knowledgeable (about the game). You see all these coaches who are handsome and in one year they lose hair and everything. I don’t want to lose my hair and grow older! I’ll think (about my future role) during my sabbatical but coaching is not very higher on my agenda right now.
On continuing in domestic football
One or two years maximum. I am with Bengaluru FC for another year. I don’t know when I will end this journey.
