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List of Sikh footballers

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This is a list of Sikh footballers (soccer).

Introduction

Sikh footballer, Manprit Sarkaria who plays for Austria national football team and SK Sturm Graz

Sikh footballers have been part of the football community for many years, with players contributing to the sport both on and off the field.[1] While historical records are limited, notable players like Roger Verdi, Jarnail Singh and Inder Singh paved the way for modern-day players such as Manprit Sarkaria, Danny Batth and Harmeet Singh.[2][3][4]

There has also been various football clubs founded by Sikhs such as Panjab football team, Punjab United, Balestier Khalsa and Sporting Khalsa.[5][6][7][8][9] In 2016, Sporting Khalsa reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The movie Bend It Like Beckham which was based on a Sikh girl who wanted to play professional football, grossed $76.6 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing football sports film.[10]

List

The majority of Sikhs belong to the Punjabi ethnic group which origins can be traced in both Pakistan and India.

The list includes players with at least one game of professional experience outside of India.

More information Nat., Name ...
Sikh Football players
Nat. Name Birthplace Position Years Active International Caps Current Team Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
Austria Manprit Sarkaria Austria Winger 2017–Present 1 Sturm Graz FK Austria Wien, Sturm Graz Punjabi [11]
Canada Shaan Hundal Brampton, Ontario Forward 2017–Present None Valour FC Vancouver FC, Inter Miami, Valour FC, Ottawa Fury, Toronto FC II Punjabi [12]
England Arjan Raikhy Wolverhampton Midfielder 2021–Present None Leicester City F.C. Leicester City F.C.,Aston Villa, Stockport County F.C., Grimsby Town F.C. Punjabi [1]
Norway Harmeet Singh Oslo, Norway Defensive Midfielder 2007–2024 5 Retired Sandefjord Fotball, HJK, Sarpsborg 08 FF, Kalmar FF, Wisła Płock, Molde FK, FC Midtjylland, Feyenoord, Vålerenga Fotball Punjabi [13]
England Kam Kandola Wolverhampton Centre Back 2020–Present None Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy Punjabi [14]
England Danny Batth Brierley Hill, United Kingdom Centre Back 2009–Present None Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers, Norwich City F.C.,

Sunderland A.F.C., Stoke City F.C., Middlesbrough F.C., Sheffield Wednesday F.C., Sheffield United F.C., Colchester United F.C., Wolverhampton Wanderers

 Punjabi & English [15]
England Mal Benning West Bromwich, United Kingdom Left Back 2011–Present None Shrewsbury Town F.C. Port Vale F.C., Mansfield Town F.C., York City F.C., Evesham United F.C., Walsall F.C., Shrewsbury Town F.C. Punjabi [16]
England Harpal Singh Bradford, United Kingdom Left Winger 2000-2009 None Retired Leeds United, Bury F.C., Bristol City F.C., Bradford City A.F.C., Stockport County F.C., Sligo Rovers F.C., Bohemian F.C., Dundalk F.C. Punjabi [17]
England Roger Verdi Nairobi, Kenya Defender 1972-1981 None Retired Phoenix Inferno, Phoenix Fire (soccer), Columbus Magic, Cleveland Cobras, San Jose Earthquakes, St. Louis Stars (soccer), Miami Toros, Montreal Olympique Punjabi [2]
India Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Mohali, India Goalkeeper 2009–Present 75 Bengaluru FC Stabæk Fotball, Bengaluru FC, East Bengal Club, Indian Arrows Punjabi [18]
England Yan Dhanda Tipton, England Attacking Midfielder, Winger 2018–Present None Heart of Midlothian F.C. Heart of Midlothian, Ross County F.C., Swansea City A.F.C. Punjabi & English [19]
Norway Karanveer Singh Grewal Lambha, India Defender 2012–Present None Åskollen Åskollen,Asker Fotball, Mjøndalen IF, Strømsgodset IF Punjabi
Denmark Jagvir Singh Greve Strand, Denmark Winger 2019–Present None Hvidovre IF Hvidovre IF, FC Fredericia, Brøndby IF, HIK Punjabi
Malaysia Santokh Singh Setapak, Selangor, British Malaya Defender 1972-1985 119 Retired Selangor F.C. Punjabi [20]
Malaysia Shebby Singh Johor, Malaya Defender 1978-1996 Yes but international appearances unknown. Retired Perak F.C., Negeri Sembilan FC, Kuala Lumpur City F.C., Sri Pahang FC, Johor F.C. Punjabi [20]
United States Raspreet Sandhu California, USA Forward, Winger 2017- 2017 None Retired Tampines Rovers FC Punjabi [21]
Greece Gurjinder Singh Piraeus, Greece Forward 2018–Present None Proodeftiki F.C. Proodeftiki F.C., P.A.E. G.S. Diagoras, Ionikos F.C., AE Ergazomenon Kritis SYN.KA F.C., Platanias F.C. Punjabi
Singapore Delwinder Singh Singapore Defender 2011–Present 5 Without Club Angkor Tiger FC, Balestier Khalsa FC Punjabi [22]
England Simranjit Singh Thandi Leicester, United Kingdom Defender 2018–Present None Doxa Katokopias FC Doxa Katokopias FC, Karmiotissa Polemidion FC, AEK Larnaca FC, Stafford Rangers F.C., Stoke City F.C. Punjabi [23]
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