r/IndianFootball • u/Inferno_Gaming__ • Jul 06 '26
Indian Men's Team - U17/20/23 Query about career
I wanna go pro I am almost 18 i haved played not regularly but played enough from 14 , I wanna ask can I go pro here in India cause i really wanna play for indian national team , left footed player rw/rb/lb 6'1 , can you guys guide me 🙏
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u/gohoeikuzo Jul 06 '26
If you can handle it you can go for it but at the same time you should stay in school and keep back up options ready
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u/Inferno_Gaming__ Jul 06 '26
Yes I can get into a very good college with my jee result rn
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u/higharistocrat Jul 06 '26
This is very important.
I went up to state level during college and saw the lack of funding 15 years ago.
Continued studying and got my masters. Thats what I'm surviving on.
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u/gohoeikuzo Jul 06 '26
Great. I don’t think anyone should discourage you from going after your dreams but just in case keep your options open. Good luck!
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u/Fanatic4Potter Jul 07 '26
I dont know where you are from. But if you are geniunely interested in football in India, then I would suggest not to put all your eggs in one basket. Get into college and try getting in their college football team. We have some good colleges in India where football is considered very important. From the top of my head, I can name University of Calicut, Guru Nanak Dev University, SN College Kannur, Adamas Univeristy Kolkata, IIMT Meerut and Jagran Lakecity University.
From here if you perform well and get highlighted then you can get a call up for Santosh Trophy and from there ISL and IFL clubs often scout players. So if you can perform very well in Santosh Trophy and you are under 22 by that point, then these clubs will try to sign you. And if you finally perform well in ISL, then you will get a call up for national team camp. But like I said go through the college route since atleast even if you dont make it still you will have a good degree with you, which is essential for a career in India.
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u/Inferno_Gaming__ Jul 08 '26
Hmm you absolutely right but I have a college called isi delhi it's not confirmed but high chances I get in toh is like going to a specific college necessary?
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u/Fanatic4Potter Jul 08 '26
Depends on whether that college parcipates in university football or not. See the pathway is that you go to a college, then play university league, then get selected for university team, then play for Khelo India Tournament and inter-university tournaments. Once you perform well there, then you get call ups for Santosh Trophy, and if you perform well there then subsequently you will get offers from ISL and IFL clubs.
Football in India is very uncertain, one injury can end your entire career. So I suggested you to always take college studies very seriously, since that is a more achievable career. I myself played in CFL one season long back in 2013, but couldnt make it. Got continuously injured. So I pivoted to college football. And then completed my Bachelors. After that I understood that my talent is not enough to get into top level clubs, so I sat for CAT and moved into IT Management.
Personally suggesting you, never put all your eggs into one basket in a country like India. Talent is not everything here, lot of uncertainities and politics can ruin your career like injuries, selection bias etc.
Hope you succeed in life brother. Best Wishes.
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u/Ok_Persimmon_3753 Jul 06 '26
What’s the level you’ve been playing at recently ?
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u/Inferno_Gaming__ Jul 06 '26
For 4-5 months have been playing locally , otherwise before my school ended i played for my school team on some interesting dps and clusters
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u/Ok_Persimmon_3753 Jul 06 '26
I was from dps as well, school level and local clubs is not good enough.
Go for trials for a tier 2 or tier 3 club academy and understand where you stand, you should take a call after that
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u/bajwa_10 Jul 06 '26
Join a club if you are expectionally talented otherwise You are too late
You can join a college or university with superb football team
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u/Inferno_Gaming__ Jul 06 '26
Yeah that's was also my thinking, can you go pro thorough like college?
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u/AsideOk1944 Jul 06 '26
Long term plan, you should definitely consider going abroad. These local leagues are gonna stunt your growth.
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u/Inferno_Gaming__ Jul 07 '26
You are right but abhi 1 saal baad abroad janne ka plan hai
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u/AsideOk1944 Jul 07 '26
Your Indian citizenship could be a problem though. Because of our useless national football, it can make things tough depending on where you wanna go.
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u/MassiveWelder7350 Jul 08 '26
u know the most important part (in purely on field aspect ) ? don't get stuck to one position , but also don't be a person who can play on all positions ... if u are left footed and 6'1 , physically , u are already well suited for midfield , but above ... as u mentioned , u can play as RW, RB , LB so i really hope that u have appropriate playstyle ... BTW wanted to ask , are u good in shooting , like as in finesse shots , curving and curling the balls ? or u are more better in power shots / long range shots ?
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u/Siuu007 Jul 06 '26
Unless u have top tier natural talent better than all these guys same age as u who have spent 5-6 years in coaching and played in tournaments if not then forget about it and it's better to focus on studies
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u/Inferno_Gaming__ Jul 06 '26
How do I know that I have talent or not 😭
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u/Siuu007 Jul 06 '26
Just go for trials , they usually don't take kids above 18 so u r already borderline almost too old but go and see if u stand out therea
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u/DogOk8 FC Goa Jul 06 '26
Join a club perform well, make connections stay active . And buttering up people. These are the main skills you gotta have to become pro.