Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 25, 2026

Football Players' Association of India

The Football Players' Association of India or (FPAI) is an association for Indian association footballers. Created in 2006, it aims to "look after the welfare of players and educate and advice them by engaging professionals". It was created by former Indian national team captain Bhaichung Bhutia. In 2007, it got affiliated to FIFPro.

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Football Players' Association of India
AbbreviationFPAI
Founded13 August 2006 (2006-08-13)
TypeProfessional football player organisation
Location
Region served
 India
Official language
English
President
Renedy Singh
AffiliationsFIFPro (since 2007)
Websitewww.thefpai.net

The Football Players' Association of India or (FPAI) is an association for Indian association footballers.1 Created in 2006, it aims to "look after the welfare of players and educate and advice them by engaging professionals".23 It was created by former Indian national team captain Bhaichung Bhutia. In 2007, it got affiliated to FIFPro.4

History

The FPAI was formed on 13 August 2006 as a brainchild of India national football team's then captain Bhaichung Bhutia. He said that the body would "function as the parent body of the players" and added that it would "work with the national and state associations for the game's development" and ensure "fair treatment for footballers".5 Membership was opened to players, both Indian and foreign.

FPAI became an affiliate of FIFPRO on 18 November 2009 at the FIFPro Congress in Budapest.

Beyond player representation, the FPAI has also focused on issues involving contract stability, delayed salaries, medical support and post-retirement planning for footballers in India. The organisation has worked alongside FIFPRO and domestic football authorities to raise awareness about player welfare standards in Indian football, particularly during the expansion of the Indian Super League and other professional competitions.67

The association has also organised the annual FPAI Indian Football Awards, where professional footballers vote for players, coaches and emerging talents across Indian football. The awards are considered among the few peer-recognised honours in the country's football system.8

FPAI Awards

In 2009, the FPAI announced annual awards in four categories.9 In 2022, awards in women's category were introduced. Current FPAI awards are the following:

  • FPAI Indian Player of the Year (Men's and Women's)
  • FPAI Foreign Player of the Year (Men's)
  • FPAI Young Player of the Year (Men's and Women's)
  • FPAI Coach of the Year (Men's)

Winners

2009–2021
Year Indian Player
of the Year		 Foreign Player
of the Year		 Young Player
of the Year		 Coach of the Year Ref
2008–09 Sunil Chhetri Nigeria Odafa Okolie Baljit Sahni England Dave Booth 10
2009–10 Mohammed Rafi Nigeria Odafa Okolie Joaquim Abranches India Armando Colaco 11
2010–11 Mehtab Hussain Brazil Beto Jeje Lalpekhlua Morocco Karim Bencherifa 12
2011–12 Syed Rahim Nabi Nigeria Ranti Martins Manandeep Singh England Trevor Morgan 13
2012–13 Lenny Rodrigues Nigeria Ranti Martins Alwyn George India Derrick Pereira 14
2013–14 Balwant Singh Scotland Darryl Duffy Alwyn George England Ashley Westwood 15
2014–15 Eugeneson Lyngdoh Haiti Sony Nordé Thongkhosiem Haokip India Santosh Kashyap 16
2015–16 Jeje Lalpekhlua Nigeria Ranti Martins Udanta Singh Kumam England Ashley Westwood 17
2016–17 Anas Edathodika Liberia Alfred Jaryan Udanta Singh Kumam India Khalid Jamil 18
2017–18 Sunil Chhetri Colombia Miku Jerry Mawihmingthanga Spain Albert Roca 19
2018–19 Sunil Chhetri Spain Coro Lallianzuala Chhangte Netherlands Eelco Schattorie 20
2019–20 Sunil Chhetri Fiji Roy Krishna Jerry Mawihmingthanga Spain Sergio Lobera 21
2020–21 Arindam Bhattacharya Spain Igor Angulo Lalengmawia Ralte India Khalid Jamil 21
2022–present
Year Indian Player
of the Year
(Men's)		 Indian Player
of the Year
(Women's)		 Foreign Player
of the Year		 Young Player
of the Year
(Men's)		 Young Player
of the Year
(Women's)		 Coach of the Year Ref
2021–22 Liston Colaco Anju Tamang Nigeria Bartholomew Ogbeche Akash Mishra Manisha Kalyan Spain Manolo Márquez 22
2022–23 Lallianzuala Chhangte Grace Dangmei Scotland Greg Stewart Sivasakthi Narayanan Naketa Bishnoi England Des Buckingham 23

Key personnel

Management committee

Past Presidents

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Chatterjee, Triyasha (13 May 2023). "FPAI Awards 2023: Bengaluru FC's Sivasakthi Narayanan wins Young Player of year, Mumbai City FC SWOOP numerous awards – Check Out". insidesport.in. Gangtok: Inside Sport India. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. "Football Players' Association of India formed". rediff.com. 13 August 2006. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  3. "Westwood bags FPAI best coach award, PK lifetime achievement". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Kolkata: The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 29 April 2014. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  4. "Indian footballer's body gets FIFPro membership". news.webindia123.com. 28 November 2007. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  5. "Bhaichung launches players association". Rediff.com. 13 August 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  6. "Football Players' Association of India". FIFPRO. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  7. "FIFPro writes to FIFA: Use your power to protect ISL players". The Times of India. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  8. "FPAI Awards 2023: Bengaluru FC's Sivasakthi Narayanan wins Young Player of year". InsideSport. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  9. "FPAI plans awards function". The Telegraph (Calcutta). 15 November 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  10. "FPAI Awards: A Night To Remember!". goal.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  11. "FPAI Awards: Mohammed Rafi Bags The Best Indian Player, While Subrata Is Still The Fan's Favourite". goal.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  12. "Mehtab Hussain named "Indian Player of the Year"". blog.cpdfootball.de. 26 September 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023.
  13. "Syed Rahim Nabi named FPAI Indian Player of the Year". blog.cpdfootball.de. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023.
  14. Arunava Chaudhuri (24 May 2013). "FPAI Indian Football Awards 2013 in Mumbai - A recap!". sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023.
  15. "Balwant Singh named Indian Player of the Year and more from the FPAI Indian Football Awards". goal.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  16. "Indian football's best performers honoured at FPAI Indian Football Awards 2015". blog.cpdfootball.de. 25 September 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023.
  17. "Mohun Bagan's Lalpekhlua named FPAI Indian Player of Year". sportstar.thehindu.com. 25 April 2016. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022.
  18. "FPAI Awards 2017: Anas Edathodika, Khalid Jamil, CK Vineeth, Alfred Jaryan Win Aawards". india.com. 2 July 2017. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017.
  19. "Sunil Chhetri awarded FPAI Indian player of the year | Goal.com". Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  20. "FPAI Indian Football Awards 2019 successfully held in Gangtok". blog.cpdfootball.de. 22 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023.
  21. "Arindam, Angulo win FPAI award". timesofindia.com. 1 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023.
  22. "Liston Colaco Wins FPAI Indian Player of the Year Award, Akash Mishra Adjudged Young Player of the Year". news18.com. 17 June 2022. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022.
  23. ISL Media Team (14 May 2023). "Hero ISL players win big at the Indian Football Awards 2023". indiansuperleague.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023.
  24. "Renedy Singh elected president of FPAI". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Kolkata: The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
External links