V. Sundramoorthy

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Template:Indian nameVaradaraju Sundramoorthy (Template:Langx; born 6 October 1965) is a former Singaporean international 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 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 Under-23 team from 2011 to 2013 when he announced his plans to sign with the Malaysian Premier League team, Negeri Sembilan. 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

Sundramoorthy as coach of LionsXII

In 1988, Sundramoorthy became the second player from Singapore to play in Europe when he signed for Swiss club FC Basel. He played there during the second half of their 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 Bulle. He scored his first goal for the club in the same game as Basel won 0–2. He played solely five league games, in which scored three goals. He was released to Old Boys at the end of the season.

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 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. 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 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 1990 Asian Games when he scored a hat-trick against Pakistan.

Sundramoorthy also represented Singapore in several 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. His first game in charge was against 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 while Sundramoorthy was appointed as the head coach of the Singapore national under-23 football team for the 2013 SEA Games. Aide Iskandar was named as his assistant.

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 on a two-year contract from 1 November 2013. After finishing sixth in the 2014 Malaysia Premier League and failing to qualify for the Malaysia Cup, Sundramoorthy was relieved of his duties by Negeri Sembilan.

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.

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. He extended his contract as the Lions head coach for two more years in March 2017. However, one year later, he stepped down from his role by mutual consent on 9 April 2018.

Laos national team

On 15 October 2018, Sundramoorthy became the head coach of the Laos national team where he was also tasked to helms the Laos under-23 team. He was joined by compatriot V. Selvaraj who managed Laos' youth teams and also assisting him in the senior team.

In October 2021, Sundramoorthy became the technical director of the team while Selvaraj took over his head coach position.

Chanthabouly

On the same day Sundramoorthy agreed to become the head coach of Laos, he also agreed to join Lao Premier League club Chanthabouly as their technical director.

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	28 May 1983	Kallang, Singapore	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Malaysia	flag alias = Flag of Malaysia.svg	flag alias-1895 = Flag of the Federated Malay States (1895 - 1946).svg	flag alias-1948 = Flag of Malaya (1950–1963).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Malaysia.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Malaysian Navy	flag alias-air force = Royal Malaysian Air Force Flag.svg	link alias-air force = Royal Malaysian Air Force	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Malaysia.svg	link alias-civil = Malaysia	flag alias-army = Flag of the Malaysian Army.svg	link alias-army = Malaysian Army	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Malaysia.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Malaysian Navy	flag alias-military = Flag of the Malaysian Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Malaysian Armed Forces	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.svg	link alias-coast guard = Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency	flag alias-23px = Flag of Malaysia 23px.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center" |2–1 || align="center" | 2–1 || 1983 SEA Games
2.	9 December 1985	Bangkok, Thailand	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Indonesia	flag alias = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-naval = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-naval = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-navy = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Indonesian Navy.svg	link alias-marines= Indonesian Marine Corps	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Indonesian Marine Corps.png	link alias-air force = Indonesian Air Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Indonesian Air Force.svg	link alias-army = Indonesian Army	flag alias-army = Flag of the Indonesian Army.svg	flag alias-military = Flag of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Indonesian National Armed Forces	flag alias-sanctionedFB = Indonesia coat of arms with name.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center" |1–0 || align="center" | 1–0 || 1985 SEA Games
3.	24 August 1989	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	{{ 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" | 1–1 || rowspan="2" | 1989 SEA Games
4.	26 August 1989		{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Myanmar	shortname alias = Myanmar	flag alias = Flag of Myanmar.svg	flag alias-1937 = British Burma 1937 flag.svg	flag alias-1943 = Flag of Burma 1943.svg	flag alias-1948 = Flag of Burma (1948–1974).svg	flag alias-1974 = Flag of Myanmar (1974–2010).svg	flag alias-military = Flag of the Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) of Myanmar.svg	link alias-military = Tatmadaw	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Myanmar.svg	link alias-air force = Myanmar Air Force	flag alias-army = Army Flag of Myanmar.svg	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Myanmar.svg	link alias-army = Myanmar Army	link alias-naval = Myanmar Navy	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Myanmar.svg	link alias-navy = Myanmar Navy	flag alias-coast guard = Myanmar Coast Guard Ensign.svg	link alias-coast guard = Myanmar Coast Guard	flag alias-army 1948 = Former army flag of Myanmar.png	link alias-army 1948 = Myanmar Army	flag alias-navy 1948 = Naval Ensign of Burma (1948-1974).svg	link alias-navy 1948 = Myanmar Navy	flag alias-navy 1974 = Naval Ensign of Burma (1974–1994).svg	link alias-navy 1974 = Myanmar Navy	flag alias-air force 1948 = Air Force Ensign of Burma (1948-1974).svg	link alias-air force 1948 = Myanmar Air Force	flag alias-air force 1974 = Former Ensign of Myanmar Air Force.png	link alias-air force 1974 = Myanmar Air Firce	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = 1974 }} || align="center" |2–0 || align="center" | 4–0
5.	27 September 1990	Beijing, China	{{ 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" |3–0 || rowspan="3" align="center" | 6–1 || rowspan="3" | 1990 Asian Games
6.				4–1
7.				5–1
8.	11 April 1993	Doha, Qatar	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = North Korea	flag alias = Flag of North Korea.svg	flag alias-1948 = Flag of North Korea (1948–1992).svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of North Korea.svg	link alias-naval = Korean People's Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg	link alias-army = Korean People's Army Ground Force	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Korean People's Army Navy (Obverse).svg	link alias-navy = Korean People's Navy	flag alias-military = Flag of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army (Normal).svg	link alias-military = Korean People's Army	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force (Obverse).svg	link alias-air force = Korean People's Army Air Force	flag alias-strategic force = Flag of the Korean People's Army Strategic Force.svg	link alias-strategic force = Korean People's Army Strategic Force	flag alias-special forces = Flag of the Korean People's Army Special Operation Force.svg	link alias-special forces = Korean People's Army Special Operation Force	flag alias-special bureau = Flag of the Missile General Bureau (North Korea).svg	link alias-special bureau = Missile General Bureau	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align="center" |1–0 || align="center" | 1–2 || rowspan="4" | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
9.	13 April 1993		{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Vietnam	flag alias = Flag of Vietnam.svg	flag alias-1863 = Royal Flag of Vietnam (1802–1885).svg	flag alias-1885 = Flag of Central Vietnam (1885-1890).svg	flag alias-1890 = Standard of the Nguyen Dynasty (1890 - 1920).svg	flag alias-1920 = First flag of the Nguyen Dynasty.svg	flag alias-1945 = Flag of the Empire of Vietnam (1945).svg	flag alias-1945a = Flag of North Vietnam (1945-1955).svg	flag alias-naval = Ensign of Vietnam People's Navy.svg	link alias-naval = Vietnam People's Navy	flag alias-navy = Vietnam People's Navy flag.svg	link alias-navy = Vietnam People's Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the People's Army of Vietnam.svg	link alias-army = Vietnam People's Ground Force	flag alias-military = Flag of the People's Army of Vietnam.svg	link alias-military = People's Army of Vietnam	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Vietnam People's Air Force	flag alias-coast guard = Vietnam Coast Guard flag.svg	link alias-coast guard = Vietnam Coast Guard	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center" |3–1 || align="center" | 3–2
10.	18 April 1993	Kallang, Singapore	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Indonesia	flag alias = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-naval = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-naval = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-navy = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Indonesian Navy.svg	link alias-marines= Indonesian Marine Corps	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Indonesian Marine Corps.png	link alias-air force = Indonesian Air Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Indonesian Air Force.svg	link alias-army = Indonesian Army	flag alias-army = Flag of the Indonesian Army.svg	flag alias-military = Flag of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Indonesian National Armed Forces	flag alias-sanctionedFB = Indonesia coat of arms with name.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center" |2–0 || align="center" | 2–0
11.	2 May 1993		{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Indonesia	flag alias = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-naval = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-naval = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-navy = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Indonesian Navy.svg	link alias-marines= Indonesian Marine Corps	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Indonesian Marine Corps.png	link alias-air force = Indonesian Air Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Indonesian Air Force.svg	link alias-army = Indonesian Army	flag alias-army = Flag of the Indonesian Army.svg	flag alias-military = Flag of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Indonesian National Armed Forces	flag alias-sanctionedFB = Indonesia coat of arms with name.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center" |2–1 || align="center" | 2–1
12.	9 June 1993		{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Philippines	flag alias = Flag of the Philippines.svg	flag alias-1535 = Flag_of_Cross_of_Burgundy.svg	flag alias-1821 = Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg	flag alias-1873 = Flag of the First Spanish Republic.svg	flag alias-1875 = Flag of Spain (1785-1873 and 1875-1931).svg	flag alias-aguinaldo = Flag of the Philippines (1898–1901).svg	flag alias-1898 = Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg	flag alias-1908 = US flag 46 stars.svg	flag alias-1912 = US flag 48 stars.svg	flag alias-1919 = Flag of the Philippines (1919-1936).svg	flag alias-1936 = Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg	flag alias-1985 = Flag of the Philippines (light blue).svg	flag alias-1986 = Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Philippine Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Philippine Air Force	flag alias-army=Flag of the Philippine Army.svg	flag alias-marines=Flag of the Philippine Marine Corps.svg	link alias-marines=Philippine Marine Corps	flag alias-military=Flag of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.svg	link alias-military=Philippine Armed Forces	flag alias-navy=Flag of the Philippine Navy.svg	link alias-navy=Philippine Navy	link alias-army = Philippine Army	link alias-naval = Philippine Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || align="center" |6–0 || align="center" | 7–0 || rowspan="4" | 1993 SEA Games
13.	11 June 1993		{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Indonesia	flag alias = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-naval = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-naval = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-navy = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Indonesian Navy.svg	link alias-marines= Indonesian Marine Corps	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Indonesian Marine Corps.png	link alias-air force = Indonesian Air Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Indonesian Air Force.svg	link alias-army = Indonesian Army	flag alias-army = Flag of the Indonesian Army.svg	flag alias-military = Flag of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Indonesian National Armed Forces	flag alias-sanctionedFB = Indonesia coat of arms with name.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center" |1–1 || align="center" | 1–1
14.	15 June 1993		{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Vietnam	flag alias = Flag of Vietnam.svg	flag alias-1863 = Royal Flag of Vietnam (1802–1885).svg	flag alias-1885 = Flag of Central Vietnam (1885-1890).svg	flag alias-1890 = Standard of the Nguyen Dynasty (1890 - 1920).svg	flag alias-1920 = First flag of the Nguyen Dynasty.svg	flag alias-1945 = Flag of the Empire of Vietnam (1945).svg	flag alias-1945a = Flag of North Vietnam (1945-1955).svg	flag alias-naval = Ensign of Vietnam People's Navy.svg	link alias-naval = Vietnam People's Navy	flag alias-navy = Vietnam People's Navy flag.svg	link alias-navy = Vietnam People's Navy	flag alias-army = Flag of the People's Army of Vietnam.svg	link alias-army = Vietnam People's Ground Force	flag alias-military = Flag of the People's Army of Vietnam.svg	link alias-military = People's Army of Vietnam	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Vietnam People's Air Force	flag alias-coast guard = Vietnam Coast Guard flag.svg	link alias-coast guard = Vietnam Coast Guard	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center" |2–0 || align="center" | 2–0
15.	19 June 1993		{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Indonesia	flag alias = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-naval = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-naval = Flag of Indonesia.svg	link alias-navy = Indonesian Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Indonesian Navy.svg	link alias-marines= Indonesian Marine Corps	flag alias-marines = Flag of the Indonesian Marine Corps.png	link alias-air force = Indonesian Air Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Indonesian Air Force.svg	link alias-army = Indonesian Army	flag alias-army = Flag of the Indonesian Army.svg	flag alias-military = Flag of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Indonesian National Armed Forces	flag alias-sanctionedFB = Indonesia coat of arms with name.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || align="center" |3–1 || align="center" | 3–1

Honours

Player

Kedah

• Malaysia Cup: 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994

Manager

LionsXII

• Malaysia Super League: 2013

External links

• V. Sundramoorthy Interview