Amal Dutta

Amal Dutta (4 May 1930 – 10 July 2016) was a former Indian footballer and football manager. He was born in Bengal Presidency, British India.

Playing career

Amal Dutta made his debut in the early 1950s. He played for East Bengal club in 1953, 1955 & 1956 seasons. He was part of the East Bengal team that toured Soviet Union and Europe in the '53 season. On 25 October 1953, Dutta made his national team debut against Pakistan in Rangoon during the quadrangular series, which was his only appearance for India. He was also a member of Indian squad in the 1954 Asian Games in Manila.

Coaching career

After retirement as a player he went to England for a one-year FA coaching course paid for from his own finances, where he was taught by the renowned Walter Winterbottom. On returning to India, Dutta started a coaching camp in Bally, Howrah. His first major assignment was to coach Railways in 1960 for the Santosh trophy. His first assignment with a big club was in 1963 with East Bengal midway through the Calcutta league. He remained as coach with East Bengal in 1964 but a year later, he took the first of several bold steps in his chequered career. He quit the security of his job in the Indian Railways and opted to become a full-time football coach, the first-ever in India and a feat for which he has received little recognition.

In the early 1960s he retired from the Indian Railways to become a full-time coach, a bold step in the amateur football scene of that time in India. Thus he is known as the first professional coach of India . In his long coaching career he was associated with premier football clubs of India, and also became coach of India.

Dutta coached all the 3 big clubs of the Kolkata maidan. With East Bengal, he won the CFL (twice), IFA shield (twice), Rovers Cup, Durand Cup, Darjeeling Gold Cup, Bordolui Trophy, Airlines Gold Cup, Sanjay Gandhi Gold Cup and ATP Shield. He had more success with Mohun Bagan whom he coached to 4 CFL titles, 4 IFA Shield titles, 3 Federation Cups, 2 Durand Cups and also wins in DCM Trophy, Airlines Gold Cup, Sikkim Governors Gold Cup and Nehru Trophy. In a single season with Mohameddan Sporting in 1980, Dutta won Rovers, DCM and Sikkim Governors Gold Cup titles.

He was renowned for his bold and innovative tactics and formation, Diamond system. He was called as Diamond Coach.

Death

Dutta died on 10 July 2016 at the age of 86. He is survived by a son and a daughter.