Bijoy Varghese

Bijoy Varghese (born 14 March 2000) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for I-League club Inter Kashi, on loan from Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.

In this Indian name, the name Varghese is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Bijoy.

Bijoy Varghese
Personal information
Full name Bijoy Varghese
Date of birth (2000-03-14) 14 March 2000
Place of birth Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala, India
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Inter Kashi, (on loan from Kerala Blasters)
Number 21
Youth career
2017–2018 Kovalam FC
2018–2020 SAI Thiruvananthapuram
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Kerala Blasters B 15 (0)
2021– Kerala Blasters 6 (0)
2023– → Inter Kashi (loan) 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:43, 26 February 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Early life and youth career

Bijoy was born in Pulluvila, a coastal village located in the Thirivananthapuram district, Kerala. Bijoy started playing football during his school days and was a member of his school football team.[1] He initially played as a striker and later switched into central defensive position. At his 15, Bijoy joined Kovalam Football Club and played for their youth team. In 2018, he became part of the Kerala team who reached in the finals of the International School Championship, where he won the best defender of the tournament award. After his performance for the Kerala team, Bijoy was selected into the Indian team for Asian school Championship. He was later selected into the SAI football team that participated in the youth league held at Shillong. Bijoy was included in the final squad of Kerala team for the 2019–20 Santosh Trophy. However the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in India.[2]

Kerala Blasters

In 2021, he was signed by the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters to his first ever professional contract and were put into their reserve side. After an impressive performance in the 2020–21 season of Kerala Premier League, Bijoy was promoted to the club's senior side in that year itself to participate in the 2021–22 ISL season.[3] He made his debut for the Blasters against Delhi FC in the 2021 Durand Cup match on 21 September 2021.[4] which they lost 1–0 at full-time.[5] Bijoy made his Indian Super League debut on 19 November 2021 against ATK Mohun Bagan FC, which they lost 4–2.[6]

On 21 April 2022, the Blasters announced that they have extended the contract of Bijoy until 2025.[7] He was given a new jersey number 21, which the club had retired after Sandesh Jhingan's departure in 2020.[8][9] He made his first appearance in the 2022–23 Indian Super League season against Hyderabad FC on 26 February 2023 as a substitute for Hormipam Ruivah in the 85th minute but the Blasters lost the match 0–1 at full-time.[10] Bijoy made his first appearance of the season in the 2023 Indian Super Cup match against reigning I-League champions RoundGlass Punjab FC, where he made it to the first team,[11] and the Blasters won the match 3–1 at full-time.[12]

After making just two appearance in the previous season, Bijoy played his first match of the 2023–24 season in the 2023 Durand Cup group stage match against Gokulam Kerala FC on 13 August 2023, which they lost 3–4.[13]

On 1 September, Kerala Blasters announced that Bijoy has been loaned out to Inter Kashi on a season long deal.[14]

Career statistics
As of matches played till 16 August 2023[15]

Club
Club Season League Super Cup Durand Cup AFC Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kerala Blasters 2021–22 Indian Super League 5 0 – – 1 0 – – 6 0
2022–23 1 0 1 0 0 0 – – 2 0
2023–24 – – – – 1 0 – – 1 0
Total 6 0 1 0 2 0 – – 9 0

Honours

Kerala Blasters

References
  1. "First Talk with Bijoy Varghese | Kerala Blasters". YouTube (in Malayalam). Kerala Blasters FC. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  2. "Final round of Santosh Trophy postponed over coronavirus concerns". Sportstar. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  3. KeralaBlastersFC [@KeralaBlasters] (3 November 2021). "ഉയരങ്ങൾ തേടി മുന്നോട്ട് 💪🔝" [Climbing up the ranks 💪🔝] (Tweet). Retrieved 19 November 2021 – via Twitter.
  4. "Durand Cup 2021 Live Commentary: Delhi FC vs Kerala Blasters". Khel Now. 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  5. "Delhi FC reach Durand Cup quarterfinals with 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters". The Indian Express. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  6. "ISL 2021-22 Highlights ATK Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters: ATKMB opens campaign with 4-2 win; Boumous scores brace on debut". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  7. "Bijoy Varghese extends contract with Kerala Blasters". Khel Now. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  8. "Bijoy Varghese extends contract with Kerala Blasters till 2025". Kerala Blasters FC. 21 April 2022. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  9. "Bijoy Varghese inherits Sandesh Jhingan's retired No. 21 shirt at Kerala Blasters". The Times of India. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  10. "Kerala Blasters FC vs. Hyderabad - Football Match Summary - February 26, 2023 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  11. "Kerala Blasters starts Hero Super Cup campaign with 3-1 win against RoundGlass Punjab". English.Mathrubhumi. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  12. Kumar, P. K. Ajith (8 April 2023). "Super Cup 2023: Kerala beats Punjab 3-1; Bengaluru held 1-1 by Deccan". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  13. "Kerala Blasters 3-4 Gokulam Kerala Highlights: GKFC beats KBFC to win Kerala Derby in Durand Cup 2023". Sportstar. 13 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  14. "KBFC CONFIRM MULTIPLE LOANS". Kerala Blasters. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  15. "India - B. Varghese - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  16. "ISL final: Hyderabad give Kerala the blues". The Indian Express. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
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