I. M. Vijayan Wiki, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More 2024

Some Lesser Known Facts About I. M. Vijayan

• I. M. Vijayan is a former Indian footballer-turned-actor and member of the technical committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

• He confronted excessive poverty throughout his childhood. Vijayan was late for his lessons as he went to play soccer matches each morning. He excelled in soccer from a younger age and adopted the soccer video games, which have been held on the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium, close to his dwelling.
  

  A photograph of Vijayan taken throughout his younger days

• He used to promote soda at 10 paise per bottle throughout soccer matches on the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium to help his family.

• According to Vijayan, he failed 5 instances within the fifth commonplace whereas finding out on the Church Mission Society High School. In an interview, he identified that he was at all times late for lessons as he by no means skipped his morning soccer practices on the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium. He additional mentioned that since he was the eldest in his class, the brand new college students, who got here into class fifth every year, referred to him as Vijayan Chetta (elder brother).
  

  {A photograph} of I. M. Vijayan from a pre-match coaching session

• Vijayan turned part of his college’s soccer crew and took part in numerous college competitions. During an interview, he admitted to having restricted proficiency in spoken Hindi. He additionally talked about that when he was chosen to characterize the varsity in a soccer match in Kashmir, his Hindi instructor assisted him by educating him a couple of Hindi phrases in order that he may converse. He talked about it and mentioned,
  

  He additionally warned me by no means to ask for “chor” (rice in Malayalam and thief in Hindi) and suggested me to ask for “chaval” as a substitute.”

• He misplaced his father on the age of twelve and began serving to his mom who used to gather scraps and waste papers to help the family.

• At the age of 17, he was in a position to impress the then-coach of the Kerala Police soccer membership A. M. Sreedharan and was chosen for the crew. He performed for the membership for 5 seasons and scored 33 objectives for them.

• The 1989 Quilon Nationals, turned a milestone in his skilled profession. He was in a position to impress the nationwide soccer choice committee along with his performances within the competitors.

• He made his debut for the Indian nationwide soccer crew in 1989 and scored 32 objectives in 77 matches throughout his worldwide profession. He additionally captained the crew.

• In 1991, he left the Kerala Police soccer membership to hitch Mohun Bagan. This transfer helped him obtain his dream of constructing a home and supplied him with monetary safety.
  

  {A photograph} of I. M. Vijayan from his days as a Mohun Bagan participant

• However, in 1992, he returned to Kerala within the subsequent season and performed with them earlier than making his return to Mohun Bagan in 1993.

• Vijayan joined the JCT Mills Phagwara in 1994 and performed for them until 1997. JCT received the primary version of the National Football League (NFL) in 1996-1997

• In 1997, he joined FC Kochin of their debut season and received the Durand Cup.
  

  I. M. Vijayan and Chapman receiving the Durand Cup

• In an interview, the previous Indian nationwide soccer crew coach Sukhwinder Singh said that he was fortunate to have coached Vijayan, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Sunil Chhetri.
  

  I. M. Vijayan with Chhetri and Bhutia

• The documentary movie titled ‘Kalo Harin’ directed by Cherian Joseph is predicated on the lifetime of Vijayan.

• He made his return to Mohun Bagan in 1998. This was his third and ultimate stint for the membership and he left the membership on the finish of the season. He scored 51 objectives for Mohun Bagan throughout three seasons.

• In the identical yr, a documentary titled Kalo Harin, based mostly on his life, was launched.

• In 2001, he made his debut within the Malayalam movie business with Jayaraj’s directorial Shantham, and he debuted within the Tamil movie business with Thimiru (2006) directed by Tarun Gopi.
  

  {A photograph} of I. M. Vijayan from the movie Shantam

• Vijayan rejoined FC Kochin in 1999, however the membership did not emulate their earlier glory, and he left the membership on the finish of 2002.

• In 2002, he signed a two-year contract with JCT Mills Phagwara, and he scored 29 objectives throughout his stint with the membership.

• He performed for Churchill Brothers S.C. between 2004 and 2005 and left them to hitch East Bengal in 2005. This was his ultimate season as knowledgeable soccer participant, and he bid farewell on the finish of the season.

• Vijayan and his spouse, Raji, have been featured on the quilt of Mangalam Weekly journal
  

  I. M. Vijayan appeared on the quilt web page of Mangalam Weekly journal along with his spouse

• On 17 July 2010, he joined Southern Samity as their head coach.

• Vijayan was an ardent supporter of the Sevens soccer format, which is common in Kerala, India. He was usually seen taking part within the sevens soccer tournaments after saying his retirement as knowledgeable soccer participant. He owns the Sevens soccer membership, Usha FC Thrissur, which was named after his mom.
  

  I. M. Vijayan taking part in in a match in 2010

• Vijayan was a Brazil supporter throughout his early days, he later began supporting Argentina after he fell in love with Diego Maradona. In 2012, he met with Maradona in Kannur, Kerala, India. Vijayan has even acquired inked Maradona’s identify and his Jersey quantity, 10, on his leg.

• In 2013, as an armed police inspector, Vijayan earned a month-to-month wage of Rs. 33,357.

• In 2015, Vijayan’s mom, Kochammu, handed away. It was she who raised each Vijayan and his brother after the dying of his father. In 2018, his brother, Biju, met with an accident in Thrissur, Kerala. His situation was essential, and he handed away shortly.

• In the identical yr, Vijayan was invited to a actuality TV present named Comedy Super Nite as a visitor. The present was aired on Flowers Channel. On the present, he revealed that as a footballer, he made two data in his college.

• In 2017, he was named the nationwide observer of soccer by the Government of India, and in 2022, he turned a member of the technical committee of the AIFF.

• In 2019, he expressed his need to not contest Lok Sabha elections on an INC ticket. Reportedly, he was approached to contest elections by Anil Akkara, an INC MLA in Kerala.

• AIFF beneficial his identify for the Padma Shri Award in 2020.

• He performed the lead function within the Malayalam movie ‘Mmmmm,’ which received the Best Film (function) award on the 2021 Paris Film Festival. Prior to the movie Mmmmm, he appeared in lots of South Indian movies together with Quotation (2004), Asuravithu (2012), Abrahaminte Santhathikal (2018), and Muddy (2021).
  

  I. M. Vijayan on the set of the movie ‘Mmmm’

• In 2021, he was promoted to the rank of assistant commandant.

• I. M. Vijayan was a spectator in all of the FIFA World Cup tournaments from 2002 (Japan and South Korea) to 2022 (Qatar). In 2022, he witnessed his favorite crew, Argentina, lifting the trophy.

• According to Raji, she and Vijayan dated one another for ten years, throughout which they spent solely ten days collectively.