Pappachen Pradeep

Naduparambil Pappachen Pradeep (born 28 April 1983), commonly known as NP Pradeep, is a retired Indian professional footballer who played as a defender. Pradeep hails from Moolamattom in Kerala. He was also the captain of India's U23 team. He is currently working as a Malayalam co-commentator and pundit on Star Sports network.

N. P. Pradeep

Personal information
Full name	Naduparambil Pappachen Pradeep
Date of birth	(1983-04-28) 28 April 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Moolamattom, Idukki, Kerala, India
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder / Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2006	SBT	??	(??)
2006–2010	Mahindra United	??	(??)
2010–2011	Viva Kerala	6	(4)
2011–2012	Mohun Bagan	10	(0)
2012–2013	Mumbai Tigers	10	(3)
2013–2015	Mumbai	12	(2)
2014	Chennaiyin (loan)	1	(0)
2014–2016	Mumbai	6	(0)
International career‡
2004	India U20
2006	India U23
2005–2011	India	42	(9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2011 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 April 2017

Club career

Pradeep (in red) in action during an I-League match between Salgaocar and Mahindra United

Pradeep used to play as a striker during his youth career and represented his state, Kerala, at Under-17 and Under-21 levels. At the age of 17 he signed for SBT and soon was transformed into a midfielder. He represented India at various age group levels, including the Under-20 team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 AFC Under-20 Championships. Pradeep continued to impress at SBT, helping them to win four Kerala League titles.

His first call up to the senior team was during the 2005 SAFF Cup in Bangladesh, which India went on to win. In 2006, Pradeep made his first big move at club level as he joined National League champions Mahindra United. There Pradeep developed a quality of being very versatile as he also at times played as a fullback. The man from Kerala also captained the India Under-20 side that reached the last eight of the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup.

He won the IFA Shield and reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup with Mahindra and caught the eye of newly appointed India coach Bob Houghton. Initially he was used as a left back by the English tactician but by the start of the 2007 Nehru Cup, Pradeep was in the India squad as a goal scoring midfielder. India's first goal in that competition was scored by the man from Kerala but his best moment came in the final. In 2016, he worked as a player scout for ISL side Kerala Blasters.^[1]

Viva Kerala FC

For the 2010–11 I-League season Pradeep signed with Viva Kerala and scored two goals in four games. He scored his third goal against Dempo for Viva on 8 April 2011.

Mohun Bagan AC

During the off season after the I-League 2010-11 season Pradeep signed for I-League club Mohun Bagan A.C.

Dodsal Football Club

The Indian international did not have a 2011–12 I-League season to remember as he was on the fringes of the first team at Mohun Bagan. NP Pradeep signed for Dodsal F.C. in 2012, along with the likes of Surkumar Singh & Mohammed Rafi. It is also said that head coach Bimal Ghosh and his liking for the city of Mumbai were the two main reasons for him choosing to sign up with the 2nd-tier I-League side.

On 6 April 2013, he scored a 2nd-minute goal at Bangalore against Rangdajied United F.C., though the Tigers lost the match 1–3.

Mumbai FC

On 24 November 2013 it was announced that Pradeep has signed for Mumbai on loan from IMG RELIANCE with three other players Khelemba Singh, Mohammed Rafi and Peter Costa.^[2] He made his debut on 2 December 2013 against East Bengal F.C. at the Balewadi Sports Complex in which he scored a goal in 65th minute and played till the 76th minutes before being replaced by Sandjar Ahmadi as Mumbai won the match 3–2.^[3]

International career

Pradeep played as an attacking midfielder and has often scored scorching long rangers. He has played for India in the AFC Asia Cup 2007 qualifiers and scored a goal against Yemen. Pradeep has also represented India in the Vancouver Whitecaps Invitational in 2006 scoring a goal there as well. He played extremely well in India's exposure trip to Portugal in 2007 where they played Portuguese club sides. His most memorable performance was perhaps in the Nehru Cup 2007 where he scored 2 stunning goals, including the goal in the finals versus Syria which won India the cup. Incidentally he opened and also closed the scoring in the Nehru Cup 2007. Since then Pradeep has been a regular in the first eleven of the senior national team, helping them to win two more trophies. In the Asian Cup 2011 Pradeep played a vital defensive role for India. Despite his efforts India crashed out of the Asian Cup after three defeats in the group stage.

International goals

Scores and results list India's goal tally first.^[4]

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	15 November 2006	Ali Mohsen Stadium, Sana'a, Yemen	Yemen	1–0	1–2	2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2	17 August 2007	Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India	Cambodia	1–0	6–0	2007 Nehru Cup
3	29 August 2007	Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India	Syria	1–0	1–0	2007 Nehru Cup
4	24 May 2008	Fatorda Stadium, Goa, India	Chinese Taipei	1–0	3–0	Friendly
5	27 May 2008	Nehru Stadium, Chennai, India	Chinese Taipei	1–1	2–2	Friendly
6				2–2
7	3 June 2008	Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé, Maldives	Nepal	1–0	4–0	2008 SAFF Cup
8	5 June 2008	Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé, Maldives	Pakistan	1–0	2–1	2008 SAFF Cup
9	8 September 2010	Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India	Thailand	1–1	1–2	Friendly

Honours

India

• AFC Challenge Cup: 2008
• SAFF Championship: 2005; runner-up: 2008
• Nehru Cup: 2007,^[5] 2009

India U20

• South Asian Games Silver medal: 2004

Personal life

After retiring from football, Pradeep worked as a scout for Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC).^[6]

References

1. "Kerala Blasters: Former India international NP Pradeep trusts youth to shine | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
2. "Mumbai FC sign four IMG-Reliance contracted players on loan". Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
3. "Mumbai vs. East Bengal 3–2". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
4. "Pradeep, N.P." National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
5. Media Team, AIFF (15 August 2022). "Indian Football Down the Years: Looking back at the glorious moments". www.the-aiff.com. New Delhi: All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
6. Nisanth V Easwar (6 March 2018). "AFC Asian Cup 2019: Former India midfielder NP Pradeep hopeful of progress from the group stage". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.

External links

• Interview in Mohun Bagan Official Website^{[permanent dead link]}
• Pradeep's scorcher in the Nehru Cup 2007 final
• India winning Nehru Cup
• N. Pappachen Pradeep – FIFA competition record (archived)