Sandesh Jhingan: List of all trophies and individual honours

The veteran centre-back belongs to the distinctive batch of players who have won both the AIFF Emerging Player and AIFF Player of the Year Awards.

Sandesh Jhingan remains one of the most successful defenders in Indian football history despite injury and other setbacks.

The centre-back proved his mettle early on in his career, as he was only 18 when he helped United Sikkim to clinch the I-League 2 in 2012.

Jhingan was 21 when he was nominated the AIFF Emerging Player in 2014 after a brilliant season with Mumbai FC in the I-League.

He also helped India’s U23 squad two years later to secure silver at the South Asian Games.

The rough-tackling centre-half has had a memorable time with Bengaluru FC and even had a European stint at Croatian club HNK Sibenik but didn’t make any appearances for them. 

However, the defensive powerhouse has an extraordinary CV filled with individual and team honours to back his potential.

Trophies with India

Quite like India and later Bengaluru FC teammate Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan has been the most successful in Indian colours. 

While he might have won five championships, his performances have always been a testament to his immense potential.

The tough vigilant defender earned high praise in multiple outings with the Blue Tigers, like when he captained them to a clean sheet against the mighty Chinese national team in 2018.

Needless to say, his most successful year was under Igor Stimac in 2023 as India won the Intercontinental Cup, Tri-Nation Series, and the SAFF Championship. 

• SAFF Championship – 2023
• Tri-Nation Series – 2017, 2023
• Intercontinental Cup – 2018, 2023

Trophies with India U23

The defender is prodigiously talented and it reflected as early as 2012 in his career. Four years later he helped the Indian U23 side make a mark in football after ages with a run to the finals.

Although they didn’t persevere eventually, he managed to help them to a runner-up finish with an outstanding performance.

• South Asian Games Silver Medal – 2016

United Sikkim 

At only 18 years of age, Sandesh Jhingan started showing maturity beyond his years as he won the I-League 2nd Division with United Sikkim. While he would still take a few years to play for the Indian national team, due to injuries, he received his first call-up in 2013.

• I-League 2nd Division – 2012

Bengaluru FC

The defender was loaned to Bengaluru by Kerala Blasters in 2017 when the former were still in the I-League. He won the 2016-17 Federation Cup the same year by helping his side keep a clean sheet against Mohun Bagan in the final.

Jhingan returned to the club permanently in 2022 and helped them to another trophy as they beat the formidable Mumbai City in the Durand Cup finals.

• Federation Cup – 2017
• Durand Cup – 2022

Individual honours for Sandesh Jhingan

Sandesh Jhingan is one of the few defenders to have won the AIFF Player of the Year award and it only makes sense why he is one of the best to have played in and for India in that position. 

He is also the only recipient of the AIFF Emerging Player of the Year award who is a defender.

In 2020, he was awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sports.

• Indian Super League Emerging Player of the Season – 2014
• AIFF Emerging Player of the Year – 2014
• AIFF Player of the Year – 2020–21
• Intercontinental Cup Hero of The Tournament Award – 2023
• Arjuna Award – 2020

What hasn’t the centre-half achieved so far in his career?

Despite having an almost full trophy cabinet Sandesh Jhingan is yet to win the ISL trophy and the League Winners’ Shield.

The defender has also not had any success in the Super Cup or with India’s senior team in the Asian Games.

Although he is in the twilight of his career, Jhingan still has some time before he calls time on his playing days and may yet be able to achieve those milestones.  

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