Anil Kumar (footballer)

Anil Kumar (footballer) Biography

Anil Kumar is an Indian professional footballer from Kerala. He is associated with professional matches since 2011, and has played league matches for several Indian football clubs such as Viva Kerala, Salgaocar, Kerala State Electricity Board, Viva Kerala, Dempo, Chirag United Kerala and Mohun Bagan. He plays as a striker and forward for his team. He scored a hat-trick in the I-League for Viva Kerala against Air India in 2011, and it took more than 16 months to see another Indian score a hat-trick in the I-League.

Anil Kumar was born on 14 September 1986 in Kerala. He started his professional career playing for Viva Kerala in 2007 and then joined Salgaocar in 2009. He played for both these teams in the I-League 2nd Division. He is a government employee at Kerala State Electricity Board, and he played for KSEB in the year 2009-2010. He scored couple of hat tricks in Dronacharya trophy. Anil was a late starter in the professional game as prior to the 2010-11 season, because of his job constraints with KSEB. He then joined Viva Kerala during 2010-2011 season, and in the first season itself displayed an outstanding performance. Anil finished as the second highest Indian scorer with 11 goals, with a hat-trick performance, was one of his best displays of the season.

His outstanding performance for Viva Kerala gave him an invitation from Dempo, as well as a call from a national team. But injuries prompted him for a short break. P. K. Anil Kumar was one of the main reasons of Viva Kerala and Salgaocar getting promoted to I league in 2007 and 2009 respectively. He has also played for Kerala in Santosh trophy.

Published: October 15, 2018

Updated: October 15, 2018