Baoringdao Bodo

Baoringdao Bodo (born 17 October 1999) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for TRAU football club Manipur.[1]

Baoringdao Bodo
Bodo with Minerva Punjab in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-10-17) 17 October 1999 (age 24)
Place of birthHaflong, Assam, India
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)Winger
Team information
Current team
Arabian Falcons
Number11
Youth career
2011–2013SAI Guwahati
2013–2016AIFF Elite Academy
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2016–2019Chennaiyin2(0)
2017–2018Chennaiyin B1(0)
2016–2017Minerva Punjab (loan)10(1)
2018–2019Gokulam Kerala (loan)2(1)
2019–2020Kerala Blasters2(0)
2020Bengaluru United5(0)
2020–2022Odisha1(0)
2023–2024TRAU17(4)
2024–Arabian Falcons0(0)
International career
2014India U146(2)
2014–2016India U168(5)
2016–2019India U198(7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:18, 6 March 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 October 2017

He became India's youngest player in history to play, upon making his senior debut in January 2017. Born in Assam, Bodo represented the India under-19 team and captained the nation at under-17 level.

Early career

Born to a Dimasa Kachari family in the town of Haflong, Dima Hasao, Assam, Bodo started playing football at the age of 8 and then his father Mr. Jibon Bodo enrolled him at SAI Guwahati for better football training. In 2013, Bodo was selected for India camp for under 14. He joined AIFF Regional Academy in Kalyani, Kolkata under coach Gautam Ghosh. Bodo was the part of India U16 squad which has won the 2013 SAFF U-16 Championship and also AFC U16 Championship Qualifiers in 2014. Bodo improved a lot then he was promoted to AIFF Elite Academy in Goa. There he has represented India U19 in I-League U18, Subroto Cup and IFA Shield.

Club career

Chennaiyin

In May 2016, Bodo along with four AIFF Elite Academy boys signed with former ISL Champions Chennaiyin FC on a long-term contract. Bodo became the youngest player to ever contracted with any ISL club.[2]

Minerva Punjab (loan)

On 1 January 2017, Minerva signed Bodo on loan from Chennaiyin FC for 2016-17 I-League season. On 21 January 2017, Bodo made his league debut, coming-on as 46th-minute substitute for Kamalpreet Singh in an away match against Shillong Lajong at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong. He made his first start for the club against Mumbai FC at the Guru Nanak Stadium in Ludhiana where he also scored for the club and become the Youngest player to ever score in I-League.[3]

Kerala Blasters

On 23 January 2019, Bodo made a permanent transfer to Kerala Blasters FC on a long-term deal.[4]

Odisha FC

On 11 June 2020, Bodo signed a two–year deal with Odisha FC.[5]

Arabian Falcons

In January 2024, Bodo moved abroad, signing with UAE Third Division League club Arabian Falcons.[6]

International career

Bodo first represented India at the under-14 level.[7] He was part of the under-16 side that won the 2013 SAFF U-16 Championship and participated in the qualifiers for the AFC U-16 Championship. Bodo then went on to represent the under-19 side in the IFA Shield where he was adjudged MVP of the tournament and Top scorer of the tournament.

Style of play

Former AIFF Academy coach Gautam Ghosh has described Bodo as "a really talented player with a bright footballing brain" who has the versatility to play as a winger on either flank, as a playmaker or as a striker. Bodo has been praised for his aerial ability, creativity, and bursts of acceleration. He has been referred to as a Neymar and has also been called the Indian Neymar Jr. by mainly Indian media.

Career statistics

Club

As of 6 March 2023[8]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupAFCTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chennaiyin2017–18Indian Super League200020
Chennaiyin B2017–18I-League 2nd Division100010
Minerva Punjab
(loan)
2016–17I-League10100101
Gokulam Kerala
(loan)
2018–19210021
Kerala Blasters2018–19Indian Super League200020
Bengaluru United2020I-League 2nd Division500050
Odisha2020–21Indian Super League100010
2021–22000000
Odisha total10000010
TRAU2022–23I-League1333[a]1164
Career total3653100396

Honours

India U16

AIFF Elite Academy

Chennaiyin

Individual

See also

References