Malappuram, Apr 26 (UNI) Former Indian Football captain and legendary striker I.M Vijayan retired from Kerala police service after concluding a distinguished 38 years of long career in the force along with the valuable contributions to football field.
IM Vijayan, who held the post of Assistant Commandant in the Malabar Special Police (MSP), had retired from the service on Saturday.
Vijayan retired from the service after receiving a salute from fellow officers at the farewell parade held at MSP ground, which was inaugurated by MSP Commandant A. S. Raju.
After the farewell parade, the Football legend expressed his happiness and revealed his plans post-retirement.
He announced the launch of a professional football academy in his hometown, Thrissur, aiming at nurturing young talent with the support of Kerala government. "After retirement, my focus will remain on football and I want to stay connected to the sport for the rest of my life,".
The former Indian Captain also mentioned that financial support for the academy would come from well-wishers and football enthusiasts.
He also said "I am truly happy to retire from MSP on the final Friday parade, especially as it marks my 56th birthday. However, I am not retiring from football, he added with a smile.'
Vijayan's journey with Kerala police began as a guest player at the age of 17, when he was selected by the then DGO of Kerala, M K Joseph, due to his evident passion for the sport. He officially joined the Kerala police force in 1987 as a constable (civil police officer) and played until 1991.
He briefly left the service in 1991 to play for Mohun Bagan Super Giant football club in Kolkata. However, in 1992, he rejoined the police force.
He left again the police service in 1993 to represent professional clubs such as JCT Mills Phagwara, FC Kochin, East Bengal and Churchill Brothers . The legendary striker concluded his professional football career in 2006 with East Bengal before rejoining Kerala Police as Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of Police , eventually rising to the rank of Assistant Commandant at MSP in 2021.
Vijayan was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2002 and honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025 for his outstanding contributions to Indian football.
Popularly known as Kalo Harin (black Pearl) and donning jersey number 10, Vijayan played 88 international matches between 1991 and 2003, scoring 39 goals. He famously holds the record for the fastest international goal by an Indian-scoring in just 12 seconds in a match against Bhutan in the 1999 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) games.
Vijayan along with fellow legend Bhaiching Bhutia, formed one of the most memorable forward lines in Indian football history. Beyond the football field, Vijayan also appeared in several Malayalam films, showcasing his versatility and enduring popularity.
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