Pappachen Pradeep

Naduparambil Pappachen Pradeep (born 28 April 1983), commonly known as NP Pradeep, is an Indian retired professional footballer who played as a attacking midfielder. He is India's all-time most goalscoring midfielder. Pradeep hails from Moolamattom in Kerala. He was also the captain of India's U23 team. He is currently working as a Malayalam co-commentator and pundit on Star Sports network.

Club career

File:RemusGomes Salgaocar 1.jpg

Pradeep (in red) in action during an I-League match between Salgaocar and Mahindra United

Pradeep used to play as a striker during his youth career and represented his state, Kerala, at Under-17 and Under-21 levels. At the age of 17 he signed for SBT and soon was transformed into a midfielder. He represented India at various age group levels, including the Under-20 team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 AFC Under-20 Championships. Pradeep continued to impress at SBT, helping them to win four Kerala League titles.

His first call up to the senior team was during the 2005 SAFF Cup in Bangladesh, which India went on to win. In 2006, Pradeep made his first big move at club level as he joined National League champions Mahindra United. There Pradeep developed a quality of being very versatile as he also at times played as a fullback. The man from Kerala also captained the India Under-20 side that reached the last eight of the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup.

He won the IFA Shield and reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup with Mahindra and caught the eye of newly appointed India coach Bob Houghton. Initially he was used as a left back by the English tactician but by the start of the 2007 Nehru Cup, Pradeep was in the India squad as a goal scoring midfielder. India's first goal in that competition was scored by the man from Kerala but his best moment came in the final. In 2016, he worked as a player scout for ISL side Kerala Blasters.

Viva Kerala FC

For the 2010–11 I-League season Pradeep signed with Viva Kerala and scored two goals in four games. He scored his third goal against Dempo for Viva on 8 April 2011.

Mohun Bagan AC

During the off season after the I-League 2010-11 season Pradeep signed for I-League club Mohun Bagan A.C.

Dodsal Football Club

The Indian international did not have a 2011–12 I-League season to remember as he was on the fringes of the first team at Mohun Bagan. NP Pradeep signed for Dodsal F.C. in 2012, along with the likes of Surkumar Singh and Mohammed Rafi. It is also said that head coach Bimal Ghosh and his liking for the city of Mumbai were the two main reasons for him choosing to sign up with the second-tier I-League side.

On 6 April 2013, he scored a 2nd-minute goal at Bangalore against Rangdajied United F.C., though the Tigers lost the match 1–3.

Mumbai FC

On 24 November 2013 it was announced that Pradeep has signed for Mumbai on loan from IMG Reliance with three other players Khelemba Singh, Mohammed Rafi and Peter Costa. He made his debut on 2 December 2013 against East Bengal F.C. at the Balewadi Sports Complex in which he scored a goal in 65th minute and played till the 76th minute before being replaced by Sandjar Ahmadi as Mumbai won the match 3–2.

International career

Pradeep played in multiple roles throughout his career. He is all time top goalscoring midfielder for India who as an attacking midfielder and has often scored scorching long rangers. He has played for India in the AFC Asia Cup 2007 qualifiers and scored a goal against Yemen. Pradeep has also represented India in the Vancouver Whitecaps Invitational in 2006 scoring a goal there as well. He played extremely well in India's exposure trip to Portugal in 2007 where they played Portuguese club sides. His most memorable performance was perhaps in the Nehru Cup 2007 where he scored two stunning goals, including the goal in the finals versus Syria which won India the cup. Incidentally he opened and also closed the scoring in the Nehru Cup 2007. Since then Pradeep has been a regular in the first eleven of the senior national team, helping them to win two more trophies. In the Asian Cup 2011 Pradeep played a vital defensive role for India. Despite his efforts India crashed out of the Asian Cup after three defeats in the group stage.

International goals

Scores and results list India's goal tally first.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	15 November 2006	Ali Mohsen Stadium, Sana'a, Yemen	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Yemen	flag alias = Flag of Yemen.svg	flag alias-1918 = Flag of Yemen 1918.svg	flag alias-1923 = Flag of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen (1918-1927).svg	flag alias-1927 = Flag of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen.svg	flag alias-1962 = Flag of the Yemen Arab Republic.svg	link alias-army = Yemeni Land Forces	flag alias-army = Flag of the Yemeni Army.svg	flag alias-naval = Flag of the Yemeni Navy.svg	link alias-naval = Yemeni Navy	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Yemeni Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Yemeni Air Force	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Yemeni Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Yemeni Navy	flag alias-military = Flag of the Yemen Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Yemeni Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| align=center | 1–0|| align=center | 1–2|| 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2	17 August 2007	Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Cambodia	flag alias = Flag of Cambodia.svg	flag alias-1863 = Flag of Cambodia (1863–1948).svg	flag alias-1942 = Flag of Cambodia under Japanese occupation.svg	flag alias-1970 = Flag of the Khmer Republic.svg	flag alias-1975 = Flag of Democratic Kampuchea.svg	flag alias-1979 = Flag of the People's Republic of Kampuchea.svg	flag alias-1989 = Flag of the State of Cambodia.svg	flag alias-1992 = Flag of Cambodia under UNTAC.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Cambodian Navy	link alias-air force = Royal Cambodian Air Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Royal Cambodian Air Force.svg	link alias-army = Royal Cambodian Army	link alias-navy = Royal Cambodian Navy	link alias-military = Royal Cambodian Armed Forces	flag alias-military = Flag of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 6–0 || 2007 Nehru Cup
3	29 August 2007	Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Syria	flag alias = Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg	flag alias-1932 = Flag of Syria (1932-1958; 1961-1963).svg	flag alias-1963 = Flag of Syria (1963–1972).svg	flag alias-1972 = Flag of Syria (1972-1980).svg	flag alias-1980 = Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958–1971), Flag of Syria (1980–2024).svg	flag alias-revolution = Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Syrian Arab Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Syrian Navy	flag alias-naval = Flag of the Syrian Arab Navy.svg	link alias-naval = Syrian Navy	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Syrian Arab Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Syrian Air Force	flag alias-army= Flag of the Syrian Arab Army.svg	link alias-army= Syrian Army	flag alias-military = Flag of the Syrian Arab Armed Forces (1980–2024).svg	link alias-military = Syrian Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}|| align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 1–0 || 2007 Nehru Cup
4	24 May 2008	Fatorda Stadium, Goa, India	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Chinese Taipei	flag alias = Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg	flag alias-Paralympic = Chinese Taipei Paralympic Flag.svg	flag alias-univ = Flag of Chinese Taipei for Universiade.svg	flag alias-football = Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986–2010).svg	flag alias-beach soccer = Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986–2010).svg	flag alias-futsal = Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986–2010).svg	flag alias-football-old = Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg	flag alias-blizzard-esports = Chinese Taipei esports flag.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}|| align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 3–0 || Friendly
5	27 May 2008	Nehru Stadium, Chennai, India	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Chinese Taipei	flag alias = Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg	flag alias-Paralympic = Chinese Taipei Paralympic Flag.svg	flag alias-univ = Flag of Chinese Taipei for Universiade.svg	flag alias-football = Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986–2010).svg	flag alias-beach soccer = Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986–2010).svg	flag alias-futsal = Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986–2010).svg	flag alias-football-old = Former Chinese Taipei Football Flag.svg	flag alias-blizzard-esports = Chinese Taipei esports flag.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}|| align=center | 1–1 || rowspan=2 align=center | 2–2 || rowspan=2 | Friendly
6				2–2
7	3 June 2008	Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé, Maldives	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Nepal	flag alias = Flag of Nepal.svg	flag alias-old = Flag of Nepal (1775–1962).svg	flag alias-1930 = Flag of Nepal (1775–1962).svg	flag alias-1768 = Flag of Nepal (19th century).svg	flag alias-1856 = Flag of Nepal (1856-c.1930).svg	link alias-army = Nepali Army	border =	size =	size flag alias = 24x20px	size flag alias-old = 24x20px	size flag alias-1930 = 24x20px	size flag alias-1768 = 24px	size flag alias-1856 = 24x20px	sizebig flag alias = x27px	sizebig flag alias-old = x27px	sizebig flag alias-1930 = x27px	sizebig flag alias-1768 = x30px	sizebig flag alias-1856 = x27px	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 4–0 || 2008 SAFF Cup
8	5 June 2008	Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé, Maldives	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Pakistan	flag alias = Flag of Pakistan.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Pakistan.svg	flag alias-navy=Naval Standard of Pakistan.svg	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg	flag alias-military = Armed Forces of Pakistan Flag.svg	link alias-military = Pakistan Armed Forces	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Pakistan.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }}|| align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 2–1 || 2008 SAFF Cup
9	8 September 2010	Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Thailand	shortname alias = Thailand	flag alias = Flag of Thailand.svg	flag alias-1767 = Flag of Thailand (Ayutthaya period).svg	flag alias-1782 = Flag of Thailand (1782).svg	flag alias-1817 = Flag of Thailand (1817).svg	flag alias-1855 = Flag of Thailand 1855.svg	flag alias-1893 = State Flag of Thailand (1916).svg	flag alias-1916 = Flag of Siam (1916).svg	flag alias-marines=Flag of the Royal Thai Marine Corps.svg	link alias-marines=Royal Thai Marine Corps	border-marines=	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Thailand.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Thai Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Royal Thai Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Thai Navy	flag alias-military=Flag of the Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ.svg	link alias-military=Royal Thai Armed Forces	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Royal Thai Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Royal Thai Air Force	flag alias-army= Flag of the Royal Thai Army.svg	link alias-army=Royal Thai Army	flag alias-sanctionedFB = THA AFF 2020.png	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }}|| align=center | 1–1 || align=center | 1–2 || Friendly

Honours

India

• AFC Challenge Cup: 2008
• SAFF Championship: 2005; runner-up: 2008
• Nehru Cup: 2007, 2009

India U20

• South Asian Games Silver medal: 2004

Personal life

After retiring from football, Pradeep worked as a scout for Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC).

External links

• Interview in Mohun Bagan Official Website
• Pradeep's scorcher in the Nehru Cup 2007 final
• India winning Nehru Cup Template:Webarchive
• N. Pappachen Pradeep – FIFA competition record (archived)Template:EditAtWikidataTemplate:WikidataCheck