V. Sundramoorthy
| File:Sundramoorthy2.JPG | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Varadaraju Sundramoorthy | ||
| Date of birth | 6 October 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Singapore | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Laos (technical director) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1987 | Singapore | 50 | (45) |
| 1987–1988 | FC Basel | 5 | (3) |
| 1988–1989 | BSC Old Boys | ||
| 1989–1990 | Kedah | 48 | (14) |
| 1991–1992 | Pahang | ||
| 1992–1993 | Singapore | ||
| 1994 | Kelantan | ||
| 1995–1997 | Woodlands Wellington | ||
| 1998–2003 | Jurong | ||
| International career | |||
| 1983–1995 | Singapore | 48 | (20) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1999–2003 | Jurong (player-coach) | ||
| 2004–2007 | NFA U18[1] | ||
| 2007–2010 | Young Lions | ||
| 2012–2013 | LionsXII | ||
| 2013 | Singapore (caretaker coach) | ||
| 2014 | Negeri Sembilan | ||
| 2014–2016 | Tampines Rovers | ||
| 2016–2018 | Singapore | ||
| 2018–2021 | Laos U23 | ||
| 2018–2021 | Chanthabouly (technical director) | ||
| 2021– | Laos (technical director) | ||
Medal record | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Varadaraju Sundramoorthy (Tamil: வரதராஜு சுந்தரமூர்த்தி; 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[2] from 2011 to 2013 when he announced his plans to sign with the Malaysian Premier League team, Negeri Sembilan.[3] 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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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.[4] He played solely five league games, in which scored three goals.[5] He was released to Old Boys at the end of the season.[6]
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
[edit | edit source]Sundramoorthy made several appearances for the Singapore national football team, including at the 1990 Asian Games[7] 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
[edit | edit source]LionsXII
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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.[8] 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[9] 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.[10]
Negeri Sembilan
[edit | edit source]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.[3] 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.[11]
Tampines Rovers
[edit | edit source]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.[12][13]
Second stint with the Singapore national team
[edit | edit source]Sundramoorthy was unveiled as the head coach of the Singapore national football team in May 2016, on a one-year contract.[14] He extended his contract as the Lions head coach for two more years in March 2017.[15] However, one year later, he stepped down from his role by mutual consent on 9 April 2018.[16]
Laos national team
[edit | edit source]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.[17] He was joined by compatriot V. Selvaraj who managed Laos' youth teams and also assisting him in the senior team.[18]
In October 2021, Sundramoorthy became the technical director of the team while Selvaraj took over his head coach position.[18]
Chanthabouly
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Honours
[edit | edit source]Player
[edit | edit source]Kedah
- Malaysia Cup: 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994
Manager
[edit | edit source]LionsXII
- Malaysia Super League: 2013
References
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External links
[edit | edit source]- 1965 births
- Singaporean people of Indian descent
- Living people
- Singaporean men's footballers
- Sportspeople of Indian descent
- Singaporean expatriate men's footballers
- Singapore men's international footballers
- Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia
- Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia
- Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland
- FC Basel players
- BSC Old Boys players
- Kelantan F.C. players
- Singapore FA players
- Kedah Darul Aman F.C. players
- Sri Pahang FC players
- Jurong FC players
- Singaporean Hindus
- Singaporean people of Tamil descent
- Men's association football midfielders
- Men's association football forwards
- LionsXII managers
- Singapore Premier League managers
- Jurong FC managers
- Singapore Premier League players
- Young Lions FC managers
- Footballers at the 1990 Asian Games
- SEA Games silver medalists for Singapore
- SEA Games bronze medalists for Singapore
- SEA Games medalists in football
- Competitors at the 1983 SEA Games
- Competitors at the 1985 SEA Games
- Competitors at the 1989 SEA Games
- Competitors at the 1991 SEA Games
- Competitors at the 1993 SEA Games
- Asian Games footballers for Singapore
- Singaporean football managers
- Singaporean expatriate football managers
- Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Laos
- Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland
- Laos national football team managers
- Expatriate football managers in Laos
- Association football technical directors