Gurpreet Singh Sandhu created history by becoming the first Indian player to play a match for a top division football club in Europe. Goalkeeper Sandhu started and kept a clean sheet in a 6-0 win for his club Stabaek FC against IL Runar on Wednesday in a Norwegian Cup game.
The Punjab and former East Bengal goalkeeper had secured a contract with the Norwegian outfit on August 15 2014 but had spent time on bench since then.
He has been the first Indian custodian to take part in competitive matches for the reserve side, but this was his first appearance for the senior team.
With this achievement, Gurpreet becomes the First Indian ever to play a competitive fixture for the senior side of a top division European team. While Bhaichung Bhutia and Anupam Sarkar had played for second division clubs, Mohammad Salim never made an official appearance for Celtic.
With Sayouba Mande, a member of the AFCON winning squad of Ivory Coast being the first choice goalkeeper of the side, it was never going to be easy for the former East Bengal shot-stopper to make it to the first team.
However, Bob Bradley, the manager of the team finally decided to hand Gurpreet a long-awaited chance to play in a competitive match for the senior team.
#ProudIndian pic.twitter.com/O5NzJXbHH1
— Gurpreet Singh (@GurpreetGK) April 22, 2015
Happy to get a clean sheet on my debut for @Stabaek tonight – thanks coach! #HitForSix #ProudIndian
— Gurpreet Singh (@GurpreetGK) April 22, 2015
Just on my way to the stadium – making my competitive debut for Stabaek in the Cup tonight #TimeToDeliver @Stabaek pic.twitter.com/2LAjzBNnfu
— Gurpreet Singh (@GurpreetGK) April 22, 2015