T. G. Purushothaman

Thekkathara Gopalakrishnan Purushothaman^[1] (born 6 June 1979), popularly known as T. G. Purushothaman, is an Indian football manager and a former professional player, who currently works as the interim manager of the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.^[2]

T. G. Purushothaman

Personal information
Full name	Thekkathara Gopalakrishnan Purushothaman
Date of birth	(1979-06-06) 6 June 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Kerala, India
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Kerala Blasters (Interim Manger)
Youth career
	Kerala Varma College
	Calicut University Club
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2001	SBI Kerala
2003–2004	Vasco SC
2004-2006	Mahindra United
2006–2008	Viva Kerala
Managerial career
2010–2014	Josco (assistant coach)
2014–2020	FC Kerala (manager)
2021–2022	Kerala Blasters B (manager)
2022	Kerala State Football Team (assistant coach)
2022	Kerala Blasters B (assistant coach)
2022–2023	Kerala Blasters U-18 (manager)
2023–	Kerala Blasters FC (assistant coach)
2024–	Kerala Blasters (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Born on 6 June 1979,^[3] Purushothaman spent his youth career by playing for Kerala Varma College and University of Calicut.^[4] In 2000, he signed his first senior contract with SBT.^[5] After an impressive performance with the side, he was included in the Kerala football team's squad for the 2001–02 Santosh Trophy tournament. His first achievement as a player also came in that tournament as the Kerala team won the championship.^[5][6] He later signed for the National Football League Vasco Goa in 2003 ahead of their new season. In 2004, Purushothaman was signed by T. K. Chatunni in the newly formed club Viva Kerala.^[7] In that year, he moved to Mahindra United F.C. ahead of the 2005–06 National Football League.^[8] The season gave positive results to Mahindra, as they rose to win the league title,^[9] and the 2005 Federation Cup,^[10] thus helping Purushothaman to win two major silverware in his career. In the same year, he won the Santosh Trophy for the second time in his career with Kerala.^[11] On 11 June 2007, it was announced that Purushothaman was signed by Viva Kerala for the 2007–08 I-League campaign.^[12][13] He spent his last years of playing career with the Kerala club, before retiring in 2008 to pursue his career in coaching.^[14]

Coaching career

Early coaching years

After retiring from professional football, he joined then Ernakulam Second Division and later I-League 2nd Division club Josco FC in 2010,^[15] as their assistant coach under T.K. Chathunni.^[16][17] He was their assistant manager for the 2011 and 2013 I-League 2nd Division seasons respectively. He spent four years with the club before joining FC Kerala in 2014.^[18] At FC Kerala, which was founded in 2014, he also served as one of their directors.^[19] Under his assistance, the club made their second division debut in the 2017–18 season.^[19] Purushothaman also served as the assistant coach of the Kerala football team for the 2019–20 Santosh Trophy tournament.^[20]

Kerala Blasters

On 6 February 2021, Kerala Blasters announced that they have roped in Purushothaman as the new head coach of their reserves team.^[21][22] While being the manager of the Blasters' reserve team, he was again chosen by KFA as the assistant manager of the Kerala football team for the 2021–22 Santosh Trophy,^[23][24] who eventually won the tournament.^[25] On 10 July 2023, Kerala Blasters announced the appointment of Purushothaman as the new assistant coach for their first team on a three-year contract, until 2026.^[26]

On 17 December 2024, in the wake of dismissal of Mikael Stahre from the head coach position due to club's poor performance in the league, Purushothaman along with the club's reserve team head coach and head of youth development Tomasz Tchórz was appointed as interim managers of the Blasters. Their first game as the interim managers at the club was against Mohammedan SC on 22 December, which the Blasters won 3–0.^[27] Purushothaman later made history, as the Blasters registered their first ever away win against southern rivals Chennaiyin FC in the league on 30 January 2025 under his helm.^[28]

Honours

As a player

• Santosh Trophy: 2001–02,^[29] 2004–05^[30]
• National Football League: 2005^[31]
• Federation Cup: 2005^[32]

As a manager

• Santosh Trophy: 2021–22 (assistant)^[25]

References

1. "2nd Division I-League: FC Kerala and Ozone FC register huge wins in Group B". goal.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
2. "Government of Kerala join hands with Kerala Blasters, Gokulam Kerala to set up football academies". Khel Now. 17 September 2021. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
3. "T.G. Purushothaman". worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
4. "TG Purushothaman | Blasters Reserve Coach". News8Plus. 7 February 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
5. "Kerala Blasters appoint TG Purushothaman as reserves team head coach". Khel Now. 10 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
6. "Past champions take a bow on the eve of Santosh Trophy final". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
7. "31 players selected for 'Viva Kerala'". rediff.com. Kochi: Rediff Mail. Press Trust of India. 8 April 2004. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
8. "Kerala Blasters appoint Tg Purushothaman as their reserve team head coach". Voice Of Indian Sports. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
9. Nayak, Nicolai. "Rise of a new champion: When Mahindra United became the first Mumbai team to win the NFL title". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
10. Stanislaus DSouza (31 October 2005). "Mahindra United lift Federation Cup". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
11. "Kerala win Santosh Trophy". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
12. "Viva Kerala recruit three Ghanaians". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
13. "News for the month of October 2007". www.indianfootball.de. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
14. "ONGC I - LEAGUE 2007 - 2008 :Kolkatafootball.com". www.kolkatafootball.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
15. "I-League 2: Josco FC | Team Profile". Football Kerala. 28 March 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
16. "Josco FC to build soccer city". newindianexpress.com. Kochi: The New Indian Express. 26 March 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
17. "Josco Football Club coach T.K. Chathunni and his deputy T.G. Purushothaman at a training session in Kochi". The Hindu Images. The Hindu. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
18. "Kerala Blasters hand long-term extension to Gotimayum Muktasana". Khel Now. 5 April 2021. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
19. "FC Kerala hope to still have a shot at I-League qualification". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
20. Rayan, Stan. "Santosh Trophy 2019-20: A dozen new faces in Kerala's team". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
21. "Kerala Blasters appoint TG Purushothaman as reserves team head coach". Khel Now. 10 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
22. "Kerala Blasters appoint Tg Purushothaman as their reserve team head coach". Voice Of Indian Sports. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
23. "Bino George to coach Kerala team for Santosh Trophy". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
24. "Santosh Trophy: Bino George named Kerala head coach". OnManorama. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
25. "Santosh Trophy Final Highlights: Kerala 1-1 West Bengal, Kerala wins 5-4 on penalties". Sportstar. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
26. "Kerala Blasters FC Announces T.G. Purushothaman as New Assistant Coach for First Team – Kerala Blasters FC". Retrieved 10 July 2023.
27. "Simple and effective: Kerala Blasters' interim coach Purushothaman after big win". www.onmanorama.com. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
28. "Report: Kerala Blasters FC romp to first-ever ISL win in Chennai". www.indiansuperleague.com. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
29. "Kerala beat Goa to lift Santosh Trophy". The Times of India. 17 November 2001. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
30. "59th Santosh Trophy 2004". www.indianfootball.de. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
31. Majumdar, Rounak (3 April 2020). "Reliving the title run of Mumbai's only national champions - Mahindra United 2005-06 season". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
32. Stanislaus DSouza (31 October 2005). "Mahindra United lift Federation Cup". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.

External links

• T. G. Purushothaman at WorldFootball.net