India U-17’s Shubho Paul gets selected for Bayern Munich’s ‘World Squad’

Bayern Munich, in cooperation with partners Volkswagen, recently launched an online talent hunt programme to create a team of under-19 talents from 15 countries, known as ‘FC Bayern World Squad’.

The campaign has provided young guns across the globe a chance to fulfil their dreams of becoming an FC Bayern professional. Led by club legends Klaus Augenthaler and Giovane Élber, and International youth coach Christopher Loch, the club received over 1200 videos from a total of 654 applicants from 65 different countries (via fcbayern.com).

In what is certainly a proud moment for Indian football fans, 17-year-old Shubho Paul from West Bengal state is one of the players to have been selected for Bayern Munich’s final ‘World Squad’ of 15 players.

Paul, who captains I-league side Sudeva Delhi Football Club, will receive professional and personalized digital training from coaches at Bayern. Alongside his teammates, the teenager will also get the opportunity to train in Munich and play in a friendly match against Bayern’s U-19 team at the end of the project.

“My favorite players are Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski,” said Paul (as captured by sportsindiashow.com), who already has his eyes on the prize. “I want to play in the Champions League for Bayern. I want to play alongside my favorite footballer Lewandowski. I want to play for India as well as Sunil Chhetri.”

As per an official release by fcbayern.com, the whole campaign from the training of the youngsters via the selection process to the test match against Bayern U19 will be released as a six-part documentary on Youtube.

About Shubho Paul

Paul is one of the brightest footballing prospects produced by India, who comes from a modest family in Howrah city of West Bengal. He got into football at the age of six and after receiving training under East Bengal and Mohun Bagan legend Chima Okorie, Paul was signed by Sudeva’s U-13 team in 2017.

Primarily an out-and-out striker, Paul is a prolific goalscorer for his club and country. After netting 58 strikes in 14 matches in his first season with the Sudeva U-13, Paul went on to represent India in 2018/2019 AIFF U-15 Youth League, 2019/2020 AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers and AIFF U-18 Youth League. He is a member of India U-17 and at just 17 years of age, he has been handed captain’s armband by Sudeva coach Chencho Dorji in I-league, this season (per sports.ndtv.com).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to Twitter to congratulate India’s young hotshot after his selection.

A proud moment, indeed. Paul becomes second footballer after Sarpreet Singh of Indian-origin and first-ever Indian national team player to play for German giants Bayern Munich.

Congratulations and alles gute, Shubho!

For more information on Bayern Munich World Squad and Shubho Paul, check out the following links: