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As far as football bastions go in the country, Kerala is perhaps right up there with Kolkata and Goa.
The small South-Western state has a penchant for the beautiful game that can at times be only described as feverish. The Santosh Trophy, the Kerala Police team of the 1980s and 1990s, FC Kochin during the late '90s, Viva Kerala in the noughties and now Kerala Blasters and Gokulam Kerala have all captured the imagination of the football-mad fans in the state.

It is only natural that the coastal state has produced its share of star footballers.

In this series, we take a look at some of the very finest to have emerged from Kerala.
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Indian Football: Legends from the 'football mad' state of Kerala

The Kasargod-born Rafi is yet another player who came through the ranks at SBT who used to field an all-Malayali squad during their time in the National Football League.
After SBT was relegated, Rafi was signed by Mahindra United in 2006 where he tasted much success. In fact, he scored 14 goals in the 2009-10 I-League which is a record for an Indian striker in the competition.

His impressive I-League form had seen him get a national team call up. Rafi scored his lone goal for the country against Kuwait in 2010.

He has played for various other I-League clubs before turning out for Indian Super League (ISL) clubs like Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC and ATK.

Mohammed Rafi

A stylish midfielder with a deadly left foot, NP Pradeep was the poster boy of Kerala football post Vijayan and Ancheri's retirement.
The Thodupuzha-born Pradeep also started his career at SBT, impressing for the Thiruvananthapuram-based team before being called up to the Indian squad for the 2005 SAFF Cup in Bangladesh. It was not long before Mahindra United signed him where he had a few impressive seasons. He often played as a left-back but found his groove in central midfield where he would often pop up with long rangers.

His best moment in the India shirt was in the 2007 Nehru Cup where he scored the team's opening goal in the tournament. But he would crown the tournament with a stunning long-range winner against Syria in the final in Delhi. He was also part of the India team which played in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

He has also turned out for the likes of Viva Kerala, Mohun Bagan and Mumbai Tigers (Dodsal FC).

NP Pradeep

Jo Paul Ancheri is yet another illustrious footballer from the state. The versatile player, who could play in defence, midfield and even attack, was known for his leadership skills on the pitch.
Hailing from Thrissur, Ancheri started his career with the State Bank of Travancore but would soon attract the big clubs with some stellar performances. He was selected for the India U19 team in 1992 and Mohun Bagan came swooping down for him soon after. Since then, there has been no looking back for him.

He debuted in the Santosh Trophy in 1994 and was invited to the national team in the same year. Often hailed for sacrificing himself for the betterment of the team, Ancheri formed a great bond with Vijayan and the duo could be seen playing for the same clubs in JCT, FC Kochin, East Bengal and more.

Despite being in Vijayan's shadow for most of his career, accolades did come for Ancheri. He was twice named the AIFF Player of the Year (in 1994 and 2001).

He played an instrumental role in Bengal winning the Santosh Trophy in 1998. His India career is decorated too, with him representing the country in many tournaments including the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

Jo Paul Ancheri 

The legendary IM Vijayan is probably Kerala's greatest footballer and according to many, the best striker India has ever seen. Such is the fanfare and adulation Vijayan gets even years after his retirement.
Hailing from Thrissur, Vijayan had truckloads of raw talent which catapulted him to stardom. He started off at the very bottom, selling soda and cigarettes during football games in Thrissur's Corporation stadium. But his talent on the field was soon spotted by Kerala Police at a very young age who recruited him in 1987. The rest, as they say, is history.

Highly aggressive mentality, dazzling array of skills and a lethal eye for goal meant Vijayan was the darling of the state and the country very soon. It was only natural that the big clubs like Mohun Bagan lured him away from Kerala. At one point, he was the highest paid footballer in the country. He led JCT Phagwara to the inaugural National Football League title and turned out for East Bengal, FC Kochin and Churchill Brothers as well in a decorated career that is laced with numerous trophies.

He had a distinguished India career as well, scoring around 40 goals for the Blue Tigers. He made his national team debut in 1989 and soon formed a deadly partnership with Bhaichung Bhutia. In the 1999 SAFF Cup, Vijayan scored one of the fastest international goals in history during the tournament, hitting the net against Bhutan after only 12 seconds. He retired from India duty in 2003 after the Afro Asian Games where he was the topscorer with four goals.

The Kalo Harin, as he is known in the Kolkata Maidan where his folklore is the stuff of legends, was the first player to win the AIFF Player of the Year multiple times. He has won the accolade thrice.

IM Vijayan

Thiruvalla-born Chacko was a member of the famed Kerala Police team from 1987 to 2002. He was a dependable custodian for the department team which won back-to-back Federation Cups in 1990 and 1991.
Chacko was also a permanent fixture in the Kerala team that dominated the Santosh Trophy during that period.

He has also played for India on many occasions, including in the President's Cup, Nehru Trophy, SAFF Cup and even in the Super Soccer Cup. In fact, he was in goal when India played PSV Eindhoven (coached by Bobby Robson) in the Super Soccer Cup in 1990.

KT Chacko

Hailing from Malappuram, Sharaf Ali was another permanent fixture in the Kerala Police team which captured the imagination of the football fans in Kerala.
The defender formed a fierce backline for the Police team and the Kerala teams alongside Kurikesh Mathew. He had a major role in Kerala winning back-to-back Santosh Trophies in 1992 and 1993.

His performances also saw him turn out for Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting for a brief while.

He has represented India in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers.

U Sharaf Ali

VP Sathyan is a legendary name in Kerala. Nicknamed 'Captain', Sathyan is considered one of the greatest defenders to have played for India, let alone Kerala.
Hailing from Kannur, he earned his nickname by captaining India from 1991 to 1995. A permanent fixture in the Indian teams at that point, Sathyan was named the AIFF Player of the Year in 1995. He led the&nbsp;Indian team&nbsp;to a gold medal in the 1995&nbsp;SAF Games&nbsp;in Chennai. The central defender made more than 80 appearances for India and scored four goals, two of them coming in World Cup qualifiers.

Sathyan made his name at Lucky Star Kannur under the tutelage of 'Olympian Rahman' before Kerala Police roped him in. He played for Mohammedan Sporting in 1991-92 and Mohun Bagan during 1992-93 season but soon returned to Kerala Police.

Sathyan tasted success with Bagan, helping them win the Federation Cup, Shibdas Bhaduri trophy and Scissors Cup. He scored the all important goal in the Federation Cup final when Mohun Bagan beaten Mahindra &amp; Mahindra by 1-0 margin in Kozhikode.

His exploits with Kerala in Santosh Trophy is also legendary. He led the state to their second ever Santosh Trophy win in 1992 at a time the state was yearning for success in the competition. He was the star of the Kerala team that reached the finals five consecutive times from 1989 to 1994.

He has coached Indian Bank in the National Football League (NFL) and he has also served as the assistant coach of India in 2002 under Stephen Constantine.

Tragically, Sathyan took his own life after jumping in front of a train in Chennai after falling into depression in 2006.

VP Sathyan 

A leader par excellence, Kurikesh Mathew is another star from the famed Kerala Police team of the 80s and 90s.
The defender from Kottarakkara (in Kollam district) attracted attention from the football-mad management of the Kerala Police team after his performances for Lucky Star Kannur and Keltron FC.

In fact, he was a teammate of the legendary VP Sathyan at Lucky Star. Once he got into the Kerala Police team, there was no looking back for Mathew. He was the captain of the Police team which won the Federation Cup in 1990. He also led Kerala to Santosh Trophy win in 1993 and was a regular fixture in the state team during that era.

Kurikesh Mathew

Pappachan is yet another celebrated name in Kerala football. The pillar of the famed Kerala Police team in the 80s and 90s had a stellar following in the state.
Born in Parappur in Thrissur, Pappachan was known as a lethal striker. Noticing his talent from inter-university tournaments, he was recruited by the Kerala Police team in the early 80s. He spent 16 years of his professional career at Kerala Police, helping them to several notable triumphs including back-to-back Federation Cup wins in 1990 and 1991. Pappachan, in fact, scored in the 1990 final held in Thrissur against Salgaocar.

He has also represented FC Kochin towards the end of his playing career. The stalwart has also had his moments representing India, in numerous tournaments including the Nehru Cup which was a rage back then.

He scored the lone goal for India in 1991 Nehru Cup when they played Hungary. He has also led Kerala with distinction in the Santosh Trophy, helping them win the tournament twice in 1992 and 1993 apart from reaching the final thrice.

CV Pappachan

Sethumadhavan was yet another goalkeeper from Kerala to have played for India. He was also part of the 1973 Santosh Trophy-winning Kerala team.
He was a contemporary of Victor Manjila and both goalkeepers, exemplary in their own right, played together for the better part of a decade. Apart from being a regular in the Santosh Trophy teams of Kerala, the Kozhikode-born Sethumadhavan represented India at the youth level. He made his debut for the senior national team in 1973-74 season.

He has even captained India in 1976. At club level too, he played alongside Manjila at Premier Tyres.

He took up coaching after retiring and has guided Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the Santosh Trophy. The AIFF appointed him as a national team selector in 1992 and he also doubled up as a national spotter (scout) in 1992 and 1995.

KP Sethumadhavan

Yet another member of that 1973 Santosh Trophy-winning Kerala team, Xavier Pius was considered one of the best strikers in the country during his time.
The Malayali forward was a huge hit in Kolkata when he moved to Mohun Bagan in the late 1970s after impressing with Kochi's Premier Tyres. His aesthetic playing style saw him become one of the biggest draws in Indian football at that time. He was Kerala Football Association's Player of the Year in 1978.

He represented India between 1975 and 1983, also captaining the country in 1982.

Xavier Pius 

Victor Manjila was a member of the famous 1973 Kerala team that won the state's first ever Santosh Trophy.
The Thrissur-born goalkeeper was a regular in Kerala's Santosh Trophy teams in the 1970s and has also captained the state on occasions. He was known for his acrobatics under the bar and has represented India in the 1976 and 1977 President’s Cup at South Korea and Kings Cup at Bangkok.

He was a celebrated figure in Kerala during his heydays, representing clubs like Premier Tyres. He has also coached Kerala in the Santosh Trophy after hanging up his boots and has trained the Calicut University football team for many years.

Victor Manjila 

For a state that had produced many a star footballer in the 1950s and 60s, the holy grail of Indian football - Santosh Trophy - had eluded them. That is until 1973 when a certain TK Subramanian decided to take matters into his own hands.
Up against three-time winners Railways who had a star-studded team at the Maharajas ground in Kochi, Mani would head Kerala into the lead with an expectant crowd roaring them on. But Railways hit back twice, only for Mani to score two more and spark wild celebrations across the state.

That match catapulted him into stardom in the state, with the fans coining the nickname 'Captain Mani' for leading them to their first ever Santosh Trophy win.

It is interesting to note that Mani benched Xavier Pius, who was a big name at that time, midway through the tournament.

There was even a phase where the fans called him the Pele of Kerala football. His Santosh Trophy heroics also earned him a place in the national team, with Mani once captaining India against Germany.

The Kannur-native spent much of his club career with FACT in Kochi where he was an employee. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 77.

Captain Mani

O Chandrasekhar Menon is yet another footballer from Kerala to have represented India in the Olympics. Born in Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district, Chandrasekhar was an integral part of the Caltex India team in Bombay.
The ace defender also played for the State Bank of India team. He was part of India's 1960 Rome Olympics team apart from the 1962 Asian Games&nbsp;(gold medal) and the 1964 AFC Asian Cup (silver medal) winning teams.

He also represented India in multiple Merdeka tournaments.

O Chandrasekhar Menon

Shankar Subramaniam Narayan, or Babu Narayan, was one of the best goalkeepers India has produced in the past. While he is mostly remembered for his stellar career in Bombay, Babu Narayan was born in Ottapalam which presently is part of the Palakkad district in Kerala.
He made his bones in Bombay though, playing for Matunga Students and the Indian Gymkhana FC at a very young age before representing the famed Caltex team. After three years at Caltex, he played for 12 seasons with Tata Sports Club.

Babu Narayan was one of those rare Indian footballers who represented the country in two Olympics (in 1956 and 1960). He played a crucial role as India finished fourth in 1956, stunning the likes of Australia in the process. Babu Narayan played in both the semifinal against Yugoslavia and the third-place play-off against Bulgaria.

He was also part of the Indian team which took part in the 1964 Asia Cup.

Babu Narayan

PB Abdul Saleh, popularly known as Kottayam Saleh, was yet another star player to emerge from Kerala in the 1940s. Though he was from Kerala, he scripted his legend in the maidans of Kolkata after East Bengal spotted him at a local tournament in Kerala in 1944. They went on to coax him to take up an offer and thereby making him the first Malayali footballer to move to Kolkata.
He went on to become a permanent fixture on the left wing for East Bengal and was one of the legendary 'Pancha Pandavas' that was known as the fiercest attack in India at that time. Saleh was widely considered the best left winger in the country at that time and was nicknamed 'Mr. Independent'.

He spent nine seasons at East Bengal, winning a host of major tournaments. He was known for scoring crucial goals in significant games.

Though he was controversially omitted from the Indian team for the 1948 London Olympics, he did play in the 1951 Asian Games and the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Kottayam Saleh

T Abdul Rahman, fondly called Olympian Rahman, is a behemoth in Kerala football. A stalwart in defence of the Indian team that reached the semifinals of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Rahman was an in-demand footballer during that period. In fact, he debuted for India at a tender age of 19.
The Kozhikode-born player turned out for some of the biggest clubs in India at that time including Rajasthan Club and Mohun Bagan. He was an integral part of the Mariners in the '50s and '60s and has even captained the Kolkata-based club.

He represented Bengal in the Santosh Trophy nine times and won it on four occasions. He also captained Bangalore to the title in 1962. He has coached the likes of Mohammedan Sporting, Premier Tyres and Titanium. He passed away in 2002.

Olympian Rahman

Thenmadathil Mathew Varghese, more popularly known as Thiruvalla Pappan, has a special place in the annals of Kerala football. The defender from Thiruvalla town in Kottayam district was the first Malayali footballer to play in the Olympics (in 1948 London).
Known to be a resolute defender, Pappan started his career at Thiruvalla Town Club and Travancore State Police teams before moving to Bombay to play for Tata Sports Club. He would burgeon his legend at Tata SC and represented Bombay with distinction in the Santosh Trophy in the 1940s and 50s.

Naturally, he was an important part of the Indian defence in the 1948 Olympics and the 1951 Asian Games. He passed away in 1979 at the age of 59.

Thiruvalla Pappan

Indian Football: Legends from the 'football mad' state of Kerala | Goal.com India

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