India's Manisha Kalyan signs for Greek top-division club PAOK FC

Manisha Kalyan has made her mark in the Indian football circuit and abroad.

India’s first-ever footballer to play in the UEFA Champions League, Manisha Kalyan, has joined top division Greek club PAOK Thessaloniki. Kalyan, who in 2022 scripted history by joining Cyprus club Apollon Ladies, has now signed a contract with the Greek heavyweight club, who have won the domestic league a record 19 times including last season.

The 22-year-old forward played for Sethu FC and Gokulam Kerala and made a historic move to Cyprus to play for Apollon. She has played 36 matches for Indian Women’s National Team and scored nine goals. Manisha also played for India U-17, U-18 and U-19 as well. She won the 2020-21 AIFF Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year and 2022-23 AIFF Women’s Player of the Year.

Career and Playing Style

Manisha played 24 matches for Gokulam Kerala and netted 21 times; she was the best player for her club as well as in the league as well.

She became the first women player from India to score in a top-flight Asian Competition when she scored in the 2021 AFC Women’s Club Competition against FC Bunyodkor, Manisha helped Gokulam Kerala to win the IWL twice in the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons. She also created history after scoring a goal against Brazil in a friendly match.

She is known for her creativity and physicality, she is a versatile player who can attack and operate on the wings and even plays as a number nine. Due to all these qualities, she is one the best in the country and is always consistent with her performances.

Transfer to PAOK FC

In July 2022, Manisha Kalyan joined Apollon Ladies, she also made her debut in the Champions League for the same club and scored 14 goals in 36 appearances for them. She helped the team win the Cypriot first division twice in the 2022-23 season as well as in the 2023-24 season, Women’s Cup and the Women’s Super Cup, but now the Indian forward will join PAOK FC which plays in the first tier of Greek women football.

They are currently the champions of the Greek A Division, this is a historic transfer for an Indian football player. PAOK FC are currently the leading women’s team in Greece having represented the country in the UEFA Women’s Champions League for the last seven years.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.