View source for V. Sundramoorthy

{{short description|Singaporean footballer and manager}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = V. Sundramoorthy
| image = Sundramoorthy2.JPG
| image_size = 300
| fullname = Varadaraju Sundramoorthy
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|10|6}}
| birth_place = [[Singapore]]
| death_date = 
| height = 1.70 m
| position = [[Midfielder]]/[[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = [[Laos national football team|Laos]] (technical director)
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 1983–1987
| clubs1 = [[Singapore FA|Singapore]]
| caps1 = 50
| goals1 = 45
| years2 = 1987–1988
| clubs2 = [[FC Basel]]
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 1988–1989
| clubs3 = [[BSC Old Boys]]
| caps3 = 
| goals3 = 
| years4 = 1989–1990
| clubs4 = [[Kedah FA|Kedah]]
| years5 = 1991–1992
| clubs5 = [[Pahang FA|Pahang]]
| years6 = 1992–1993
| clubs6 = [[Singapore FA|Singapore]]
| years7 = 1994
| clubs7 = [[Kelantan FA|Kelantan]]
| years8 = 1995–1997
| clubs8 = [[Woodlands Wellington]]
| years9 = 1998–2003
| clubs9 = [[Jurong FC|Jurong]]
| nationalyears1 = 1983–1995
| nationalteam1 = [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]]
| nationalcaps1 = 48
| nationalgoals1 = 20
| manageryears1 = 1999–2003
| managerclubs1 = [[Jurong FC|Jurong]] (player-coach)
| manageryears2 = 2004–2007
| managerclubs2 = [[National Football Academy (Singapore)#NFA Under-18|NFA U18]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=Back among familiar faces|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20031217-1.2.65.13|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|p=55|date=17 December 2003|access-date=26 June 2023|archive-date=11 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211161308/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20031217-1.2.65.13|url-status=live}}</ref>
| manageryears3 = 2007–2010
| managerclubs3 = [[Young Lions (Singapore football team)|Young Lions]]
| manageryears4 = 2012–2013
| managerclubs4 = [[LionsXII]]
| manageryears5 = 2013
| managerclubs5 = [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]] (caretaker coach)
| manageryears6 = 
| managerclubs6 = 
| manageryears7 = 2014
| managerclubs7 = [[Negeri Sembilan FA|Negeri Sembilan]]
| manageryears8 = 2014–2016
| managerclubs8 = [[Tampines Rovers]]
| manageryears9 = 
| managerclubs9 = 
| manageryears10 = 2016–2018
| managerclubs10 = [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]]
| manageryears11 = 2018–2021
| managerclubs11 = [[Laos national under-23 football team|Laos U23]]
| manageryears12 = 2018–2021
| managerclubs12 = [[F.C. Chanthabouly|Chanthabouly]] (technical director)
| manageryears13 = 2021–
| managerclubs13 = [[Laos national football team|Laos]] (technical director)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry | {{SIN}} }}
{{MedalSport  | Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Southeast Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1983 Southeast Asian Games|1983 Singapore]]|[[Football at the 1983 Southeast Asian Games|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1985 Southeast Asian Games|1985 Bangkok]]|[[Football at the 1985 Southeast Asian Games|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1989 Southeast Asian Games|1989 Kuala Lumpur]]|[[Football at the 1989 Southeast Asian Games|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1991 Southeast Asian Games|1991 Manila]]|[[Football at the 1991 Southeast Asian Games|Team]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1993 Southeast Asian Games|1993 Singapore]]|[[Football at the 1993 Southeast Asian Games|Team]]}}
}}
{{Indian name|Sundramoorthy|Varadaraju}}'''Varadaraju Sundramoorthy''' ({{langx|ta|வரதராஜு சுந்தரமூர்த்தி}}; born 6 October 1965) is a former [[Singapore]]an [[Singapore national football team|international]] [[association football|footballer]] who played in the 1980s and 1990s. Widely touted as one of the country's most talented footballers ever, Sundramoorthy is the currently the technical director of the [[Laos national football team|Laos national team]].

He coached the [[LionsXII]], a Singapore-based team playing in the [[Malaysia Super League]], and held a dual appointment as the head coach of the [[Singapore national under-23 football team|Under-23 team]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2013/05/15/3980251/bernd-stange-unveiled-as-new-singapore-coach?ICID=OP|title=Bernd Stange unveiled as new Singapore coach|publisher=Goal.com Singapore|access-date=15 May 2013|archive-date=20 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220163326/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2013/05/15/3980251/bernd-stange-unveiled-as-new-singapore-coach?ICID=OP|url-status=live}}</ref> from 2011 to 2013 when he announced his plans to sign with the Malaysian Premier League team, Negeri Sembilan.<ref name="The Straits Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/sports/story/football-sundram-resigns-lionsxii-coach-after-2-years-charge-and-winning-|title=Sundram resigns as LionsXII coach after 2 years in charge and winning MSL title|publisher=The Straits Times|access-date=7 October 2013|archive-date=8 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008171241/http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/sports/story/football-sundram-resigns-lionsxii-coach-after-2-years-charge-and-winning-|url-status=live}}</ref> After coaching Negeri Sembilan for half a season in 2014, he returned to Singapore to take the helm at Tampines Rovers for almost 2 years, then a 2-year stint as head coach of Singapore.

==Playing career==
Sundramoorthy broke into the Singapore-Malaysia Cup team in 1983 at 18 years of age and in the following season became the top scorer in the tournament.

===Playing in Europe===
[[File:V Sundramoorthy and Kadir Yahaya, LionsXII match against Kelantan FA during the Malaysian Super League, Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore - 20120110.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Sundramoorthy as coach of [[LionsXII]]]]
In 1988, Sundramoorthy became the second player from Singapore to play in Europe when he signed for [[Switzerland|Swiss]] club [[FC Basel]]. He played there during the second half of their [[1987–88 FC Basel season|1987–88 season]] (the season that Basel suffered relegation) under head coach [[Urs Siegenthaler]]. After playing in eight test games, he played his first match in the [[Swiss Super League]] in an away game on 20 March 1988 against [[FC Bulle|Bulle]]. He scored his first goal for the club in the same game as Basel won 0–2.<ref name="fcb-achiv-bulle-fcb-1987/88">{{cite web | url=https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=21054 | title=FC Bulle - FC Basel 0:2 (0:0) | access-date=2019-11-16 | archive-date=4 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104214143/https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=21054 | url-status=live }}</ref> He played solely five league games, in which scored three goals.<ref name="Rotblau Jahrbuch Nr.02">{{Cite book  | last1 = Zindel | first1 = Josef | title = Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2015/2016 | publisher = FC Basel Marketing AG | year = 2015 | isbn = 978-3-7245-2050-4}}</ref> He was released to [[BSC Old Boys|Old Boys]] at the end of the season.<ref name="fcb-achiv-Varadaraju Sundram Moorthy">{{cite web | url=https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=7626 | title=Varadaraju Sundram Moorthy | access-date=2019-11-16 | archive-date=8 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108205440/https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=7626 | url-status=live }}</ref>

He then joined [[Kedah FA]] for the [[Malaysia Cup]] tournament as he returned in 1989. During his playing days in [[Alor Setar]] playing his trade for [[Kedah FA]], Sundramoorthy helped Kedah to defeat [[Singapore Lions|Singapore]] 3–1 in the final of the 1990 Malaysia Cup, scoring Kedah's opening goal.

During Singapore's run-up to the 1993 Malaysia Cup Final appearance, Sundramoorthy was one of the most influential players in the team. He was a player well known for his dribbling skills and his finishing.

One of Sundramoorthy's most famous goals was a [[bicycle kick]] scored against Brunei in a 1993 [[FAM Division II League]] tie at the [[National Stadium (Singapore)|National Stadium]]. He also scored a spectacular backheel during his days with [[Jurong FC]]. In a match against Pahang that same year, Sundramoorthy audaciously faked a backheel that fooled the Pahang defenders before crossing for [[Fandi Ahmad]] to score the winner late in the game.

In his later days, Sundramoorthy played domestically, first turning out for [[Woodlands Wellington FC|Woodlands Wellington]] in the league's inaugural year in 1996 before moving on to become the first-ever player-coach in S.League history for [[Jurong FC]].

Sundramoorthy was nicknamed 'The Dazzler', which was also the name of his autobiography, at the height of his prowess and 'King Cobra' when he was at Jurong.

==International career==
Sundramoorthy made several appearances for the [[Singapore national football team]], including at the [[Football at the 1990 Asian Games|1990 Asian Games]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Courtney, Barrie|title=International matches 1990 – Asia|url=https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/1990as.html|date=2 February 2005|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=21 August 2009|archive-date=28 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128123446/https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/1990as.html|url-status=live}}</ref> when he scored a hat-trick against Pakistan.  

Sundramoorthy also represented Singapore in several [[Southeast Asian Games|SEA Games]] and helped the Lions reach the final in 1989 when his last-minute through ball led to Fandi Ahmad's winner against Indonesia. He was one of the most feared Southeast Asian strikers the 1980s and early 1990s.

==Coaching career==
=== LionsXII ===
Since 2012 Sundramoorthy has been the head coach of the [[LionsXII]], who played in the [[Malaysian Super League]]. In his first season in charge he led the [[LionsXII]] to 2nd place in the Malaysia Super League and the semi-finals of the [[Malaysia Cup]].

=== Singapore national team ===
On 21 January 2013, it was announced that Sundramoorthy would be appointed caretaker coach of the [[Singapore national football team]] while the [[Football Association of Singapore]] searched for a replacement for former coach [[Radojko Avramović]].<ref>{{cite web | title= FAS APPOINTS CARETAKER NATIONAL TEAM COACH | url= http://www.fas.org.sg/news/fas-appoints-caretaker-national-team-coach | archive-url= https://archive.today/20130418135721/http://www.fas.org.sg/news/fas-appoints-caretaker-national-team-coach | url-status= dead | archive-date= 2013-04-18 }}</ref> His first game in charge was against [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] on 6 February 2013 at Singapore's [[Jalan Besar Stadium]].

On 15 May 2013, German coach [[Bernd Stange]] was announced as the new manager of the [[Singapore national football team]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Football: FAS to unveil Bernd Stange as new national coach, replacing Raddy Avramovic|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/sports/story/football-fas-unveil-bernd-stange-new-national-coach-replacing-raddy-avram|publisher=The Straits Times}}</ref> while Sundramoorthy was appointed as the head coach of the [[Singapore national under-23 football team]] for the [[2013 Southeast Asian Games|2013 SEA Games]]. [[Aide Iskandar]] was named as his assistant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2013/05/15/3980828/sundram-to-lead-sea-games-squad|title=Sundram to lead SEA Games squad|publisher=Goal.com Singapore|access-date=15 May 2013|archive-date=1 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801092120/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3880/singapore/2013/05/15/3980828/sundram-to-lead-sea-games-squad|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Negeri Sembilan ===
On 7 October 2013, Sundramoorthy announced that he would not be renewing his contract with the [[Football Association of Singapore]] to coach the Malaysian Super League side LionsXII. He took over as head coach at second tier [[Malaysian Premier League]] side [[Negeri Sembilan FA|Negeri Sembilan]] on a two-year contract from 1 November 2013.<ref name="The Straits Times" /> After finishing sixth in the [[2014 Malaysia Premier League]] and failing to qualify for the [[2014 Malaysia Cup|Malaysia Cup]], Sundramoorthy was relieved of his duties by Negeri Sembilan.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Leong|first1=Kelvin|title=Sundramoorthy leaves Negeri Sembilan after one season|url=http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/2128841/sundramoorthy-leaves-negeri-sembilan-after-one-season|publisher=ESPN FC|access-date=5 November 2014|date=5 November 2014|archive-date=5 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105121004/http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/2128841/sundramoorthy-leaves-negeri-sembilan-after-one-season|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Tampines Rovers ===
In December 2014, Sundramoorthy was confirmed as the new head coach of the [[Tampines Rovers]]. This was the first time after 5 years that he held the head coach post in the S.League.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/football-sundram-will-lead-tampines?page=0%2C0 | title=Football: Sundram will lead Tampines | access-date=2015-11-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208234138/http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/football-sundram-will-lead-tampines?page=0%2C0 | archive-date=8 December 2015 | df=dmy-all | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/sundramoorthy-feels-good-be-home|title=Sundramoorthy: 'Feels good to be home'|publisher=AsiaOne|date=28 December 2014|access-date=5 January 2015|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208143707/http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/sundramoorthy-feels-good-be-home|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Second stint with the Singapore national team ===
Sundramoorthy was unveiled as the head coach of the Singapore national football team in May 2016, on a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-v-sundramoorthy-is-national-football-coach-on-one-year-deal-sets-semi-final|title=Football: Sundramoorthy is national football coach on 1-year deal, sets semi-final target for AFF Cup|publisher=The Straits Times|date=27 May 2016|access-date=28 July 2016|archive-date=15 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915014202/http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-v-sundramoorthy-is-national-football-coach-on-one-year-deal-sets-semi-final|url-status=live}}</ref> He extended his contract as the Lions head coach for two more years in March 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-fas-extends-contracts-of-national-coach-sundram-and-technical-director|title=Football: FAS extends contracts of national coach Sundram and technical director Sablon|publisher=The Straits Times|date=13 March 2017|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412002512/http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-fas-extends-contracts-of-national-coach-sundram-and-technical-director|url-status=live}}</ref> However, one year later, he stepped down from his role by mutual consent on 9 April 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-v-sundramoorthy-steps-down-as-lions-head-coach-10120046|title=Football: Sundram steps down as Lions head coach|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=9 April 2018|access-date=11 April 2018|archive-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412001035/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-v-sundramoorthy-steps-down-as-lions-head-coach-10120046|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Laos national team ===
On 15 October 2018, Sundramoorthy became the head coach of the [[Laos national football team|Laos national team]] where he was also tasked to helms the [[Laos national under-23 football team|Laos under-23]] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/sundramoorthy-leads-laos-fight-aff-championship/1fdp9cb44rzkh1a3yhjqzqtokx|title=Sundramoorthy leads Laos fight in AFF Championship|author=Ooi Kin Fai|publisher=Goal.com|date=10 October 2018|access-date=1 November 2018|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011142854/https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/sundramoorthy-leads-laos-fight-aff-championship/1fdp9cb44rzkh1a3yhjqzqtokx|url-status=live}}</ref> He was joined by compatriot [[V. Selvaraj]] who managed Laos' youth teams and also assisting him in the senior team.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Aziz|first=Sazali Abdul|date=2021-12-05|title=Suzuki Cup: Laos coach V. Selvaraj aiming to mark 'happy' homecoming with Vietnam upset|language=en|work=The Straits Times|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/suzuki-cup-laos-coach-v-selvaraj-aiming-to-mark-happy-homecoming-with-vietnam-upset|access-date=2021-12-06|issn=0585-3923|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206100505/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/suzuki-cup-laos-coach-v-selvaraj-aiming-to-mark-happy-homecoming-with-vietnam-upset|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In October 2021, Sundramoorthy became the technical director of the team while Selvaraj took over his head coach position.<ref name=":0" />

=== Chanthabouly ===
On the same day Sundramoorthy agreed to become the head coach of Laos, he also agreed to join [[Lao League|Lao Premier League]] club [[F.C. Chanthabouly|Chanthabouly]] as their technical director.
==International goals==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 28 May 1983 || [[Kallang]], [[Singapore]] || {{fb|MAS}} || align="center" |'''2'''–1 || align="center" | 2–1 || [[Football at the 1983 SEA Games|1983 SEA Games]]
|-
| 2. || 9 December 1985 || [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] || {{fb|IDN}} || align="center" |'''1'''–0 || align="center" | 1–0 || [[Football at the 1985 SEA Games|1985 SEA Games]]
|-
| 3. || 24 August 1989 || rowspan="2" | [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Malaysia]] || {{fb|THA}} || align="center" |'''1'''–1 || align="center" | 1–1 || rowspan="2" | [[Football at the 1989 SEA Games|1989 SEA Games]]
|-
| 4. || 26 August 1989 || {{fb|MYA|1974}} || align="center" |'''2'''–0 || align="center" | 4–0
|-
| 5. || rowspan="3" | 27 September 1990 || rowspan="3" | [[Beijing]], [[China]] || rowspan="3" | {{fb|PAK}} || align="center" |'''3'''–0 || rowspan="3" align="center" | 6–1 || rowspan="3" | [[Football at the 1990 Asian Games – Men's tournament|1990 Asian Games]]
|-
| 6. || align="center" |'''4'''–1
|-
| 7. || align="center" |'''5'''–1
|-
| 8. || 11 April 1993 || rowspan="2" | [[Doha]], [[Qatar]] || {{fb|PRK}} || align="center" |'''1'''–0 || align="center" | 1–2 || rowspan="4" | [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| 9. || 13 April 1993 || {{fb|VIE}} || align="center" |'''3'''–1 || align="center" | 3–2
|-
| 10. || 18 April 1993 || rowspan="6" | Kallang, Singapore || {{fb|IDN}} || align="center" |'''2'''–0 || align="center" | 2–0
|-
| 11. || 2 May 1993 || {{fb|IDN}} || align="center" |'''2'''–1 || align="center" | 2–1
|-
| 12. || 9 June 1993 || {{fb|PHI}} || align="center" |'''6'''–0 || align="center" | 7–0 || rowspan="4" | [[Football at the 1993 SEA Games|1993 SEA Games]]
|-
| 13. || 11 June 1993 || {{fb|IDN}} || align="center" |'''1'''–1 || align="center" | 1–1
|-
| 14. || 15 June 1993 || {{fb|VIE}} || align="center" |'''2'''–0 || align="center" | 2–0
|-
| 15. || 19 June 1993 || {{fb|IDN}} || align="center" |'''3'''–1 || align="center" | 3–1
|-
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Kedah'''
*[[Malaysia Cup]]: 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994

===Manager===
'''LionsXII'''
*[[Malaysia Super League]]: 2013

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/it-all-boils-down-results-says-sundram V. Sundramoorthy Interview]

{{Tampines Rovers F.C. managers}}
{{Singapore national football team managers}}
{{Laos national football team managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sundramoorthy, V}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Singaporean people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Singaporean men's footballers]]
[[Category:Singaporean sportspeople of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Singaporean expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Singapore men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:FC Basel players]]
[[Category:BSC Old Boys players]]
[[Category:Kelantan F.C. players]]
[[Category:Singapore FA players]]
[[Category:Kedah Darul Aman F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sri Pahang FC players]]
[[Category:Jurong FC players]]
[[Category:Singaporean Hindus]]
[[Category:Singaporean people of Tamil descent]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:LionsXII managers]]
[[Category:Singapore Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Jurong FC managers]]
[[Category:Singapore Premier League players]]
[[Category:Young Lions FC managers]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1990 Asian Games]]
[[Category:SEA Games silver medalists for Singapore]]
[[Category:SEA Games bronze medalists for Singapore]]
[[Category:SEA Games medalists in football]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1983 SEA Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1985 SEA Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1989 SEA Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1991 SEA Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1993 SEA Games]]
[[Category:Asian Games footballers for Singapore]]
[[Category:Singaporean football managers]]
[[Category:Singaporean expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Laos]]
[[Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Laos national football team managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Laos]]
[[Category:Association football technical directors]]