Kalyan Chaubey is an Indian politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and he is the former goalkeeper of the Indian football team. On 4 August 2022, he was appointed as the President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Wiki/Biography
Kalyan Chaubey was born on Thursday, 16 December 1976 (age 45 years; as of 2021) in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. After completing his schooling at Tata Workers Union HS Kadma in Bihar, in 1990, Kalyan Chaubey enrolled at the Tata Football Academy and graduated from the academy with a master’s degree in football in 1996; however, some sources claim that he is 10th pass.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Weight (approx.): 65 kg
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Laxmi Narayan Chaubey.
A photo of Kalyan Chaubey’s father
His mother’s name is Sandhya Chaubey.
A photo of Sandhya Chaubey with her daughter Bulbuli
His younger sister, Bulbuli Panja, is an actress.
Kalyan Chaubey with his sister
Wife & Children
His wife, Sohini Chaubey, is one of the directors of Mohun Bagan Football Club. The couple got married to each other in 2004.
A photo of Kalyan Chaubey with his wife Sohini
His daughter’s name is Rusha Chaubey.
A photo of Kalyan Chaubey with his daughter
Kalyan Chaubey with his wife and daughter
Religion
Kalyan Chaubey follows Hinduism.
Kalyan Chaubey outside a temple
Address
He resides at Flat No. 10 N, 82, Ultadanga Main Road, Kolkata 700067, West Bengal.
Career
Football
While Kalyan Chaubey was training at the Tata Football Academy, he was drafted into the u-17 Indian football team, where he played as a goalkeeper and represented India at the Asian Youth Championship, which took place in Iran in 1994. After completing his training at Tata Football Academy, in 1996, Kalyan Chaubey joined the Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, where he played football till 1997. In 1996, Kalyan Chaubey played for the u-20 Indian football team and represented the country at the Asian Youth Championship, held in South Korea. From 1997 to 1999, Kalyan Chaubey played football for the East Bengal Football Club. In 1999, he left the East Bengal Football Club and rejoined the Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, where he played as a goalkeeper till the end of 2000. In 1999, Kalyan Chaubey was drafted into the Indian Senior National team, where he played as a goalkeeper till the end of 2006. From 1999 to 2006, Kalyan Chaubey was a part of the Indian team that won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship thrice. In 1999, Kalyan Chaubey represented India at the South Asian Games, which took place in Kathmandu, Nepal. There, the Indian football team secured a bronze medal. From 2001 to 2003, Kalyan Chaubey played football for the Goa-based football club named Salgaocar FC. In 2002, Kalyan Chaubey went to Germany to attend the trials for German football clubs like German Club 2. Bundesliga side Karlsruher SC, and Verbandsliga Württemberg outfit VfR Heilbronn. In 2003, he left Salgaocar FC and joined the Mahindra United Football Club, where he played till 2005. In 2005, Kalyan left Mahindra United FC to join Punjab-based Jagatjit Cotton & Textile (JCT) Football Club. He represented JCT at several national-level tournaments till 2007. From 2007 to 2009, Kalyan Chaubey played for the Mumbai Football Club. Throughout his footballing career, Kalyan Chaubey has represented Jharkhand, West Bengal, Goa, Punjab, and Maharashtra at the Santosh Trophy. After retiring from playing football, in 2010, Kalyan Chaubey worked with Aspire Sports World Pvt Ltd as a director. He worked as a director till 2011. From March 2011 to June 2014, Kalyan Chaubey worked at the Mohun Bagan Football School as a chief executive, where he looked after the branding, promotion, and administration of the school. In 2012, Kalyan Chaubey worked as a coordinator for the GOALZ project, which was a joint initiative of the Kolkata police and the British Council to support underprivileged kids who had no money but wanted to pursue a career in football. In 2015, after leaving Mohun Bagan Football School, Kalyan Chaubey founded Ekalavya Sports & Skill Development Foundation. On 4 September 2022, Kalyan Chaubey was selected by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as its President after he defeated Baichung Bhutia by a margin of 33-1 votes. After taking over as the president, Kalyan, during an interview, said,
We will not come before you to sell dreams. We will not say that we have established so many academies and we will play in the World Cup in eight years. In my life I have taken part in the inauguration of more than 100 academies and in all these academies it has been said that the kids will play in the World Cup in eight years. But in reality it does not happen like this. We are not making any sort of lucid promise but we will say that we will take Indian football forward from the current condition and how much we will go forward will be worked out. We are not going to sell dreams. I want to involve all eminent footballers of India so as to work on the different challenges Indian football is facing today, and to realise the dreams of the respective states. After 100 days, we plan to unveil the roadmap for Indian Football and take the next step accordingly.”
Kalyan Chaubey after his selection as the President of AIFF
Politics
In 2015, Kalyan Chaubey joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Kalyan Chaubey with the former minister of finance Arun Jaitley during his BJP joining ceremony
In 2019, Kalyan Chaubey contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Krishnanagar constituency, where he was defeated by a margin of 60,000 votes by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Mahua Moitra.
Kalyan Chaubey with Amit Shah during his campaigning for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections
In 2021, he was selected by the BJP as its West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections candidate from the Maniktala constituency. There, he was defeated by Sadhan Pande, a TMC candidate.
Kalyan Chaubey during the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly’s election campaign
Awards & Medals
- In 1998, Kalyan Chaubey was awarded the Best Goalkeeper of the Year award by the All India Football Federation.
- In 1999, Kalyan Chaubey bagged gold medal at the South Asian Games.
- In the same year, Kalyan Chaubey clinched gold medal at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.
- In 2001, Kalyan Chaubey was once again awarded the Best Goalkeeper of the Year award by the All India Football Federation.
Assets & Properties
Movable assets
- Cash: Rs 1,07,710
- Deposits in Banks, Financial Institutions, and Non-Banking Financial Companies: Rs 12,58,797
- LIC Premium: Rs 50,103
- Advance for Flat: Rs 1,01,87,711
- Motor Vehicles (Bajaj Discover, Swift Dezire, and Renault Duster): Rs 18,30,000
- Jewellery: Rs 9,90,000
- Laptop, Mobile, Phone, Furniture and Fixtures: Rs 5,35,000
Immovable Assets
- Non-Agricultural Land: Rs 14,00,000
- Residential Buildings: Rs 1,75,00,000
Note: The given estimates of moveable and immovable assets are according to the year 2021.
Net Worth
Kalyan Chaubey’s net worth as of 2021 is Rs 33,859,321.
Facts/Trivia
- Since his retirement, Kalyan Chaubey has also done commentary for several football events like Hero Indian Super League (ISL), the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I League, and Calcutta Football League (CFL).
Kalyan Chaubey (left) during the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) Football League commentary
- Kalyan Chaubey is also a qualified football coach and has been certified by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
- In 2019, Kalyan Chaubey published a book titled Immature, based on Indian football.
Kalyan Chaubey during the publishing of his book titled Immature
- In September 2022, Kalyan Chaubey became the first former Indian football player to have been selected by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as its President since India’s independence.
- Kalyan Chaubey also drinks alcohol.
A photo of Kalyan Chaubey during an outing with his friends