I have grown a lot in stature

Over the last 10 years,Indian football has stagnated. Our FIFA world ranking106 a decade backis now 134.

Baichung Bhutia 33 Captain,Indian Football team

Over the last 10 years,Indian football has stagnated. Our FIFA world ranking106 a decade backis now 134. But there are many moments to cherish individually. At the start of the decade,I signed a three-year contract with FC Burya club in Englandand became the first Indian footballer to play professionally in Europe.
Then I signed up for Malaysian championship club Perak. We won the national league in 2003 and reached the Malaysia Cup semifinals . I also had successful stints with East Bengalwhere I started my careerand Mohun Bagan. But while East Bengal won the National Football League title once,Bagan didnt do too well during my four years there.

I consider myself lucky to have gotten the opportunity to lead India. Our win in the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 was,for me,the high point of the last decade,as we qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with that victory. Sharing the dressing-room with some of the biggest stars in the game during the Goal4Africa game last year was another high. To score two goals while playing besides the likes of Clarence Seedorf was the icing on the cake.
Winning my 100th cap for India earlier this year during the Nehru Cup was a dream come true. It has been a very long career and to be the first Indian to reach that milestone is indeed very special.

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I have grown a lot in stature over the last 10 years,but Sikkim is a very small place,where everybody knows everybody else and I dont receive star treatment there. To have a stadium named after meBaichung stadium in Namchiin my hometown is quite humbling.
Getting married in 2004 was one of the greatest moments of my life. Marriage has made me a calmer person. Participating in Jhalak Dikhla Jaa was one of the most difficult challenges I have faced. I had no dance background and facing those judges was more intimidating than facing a goalkeeper during a penalty shootout. I never expected to win. The legal ruckus that I was dragged into soon after with Mohun Bagan though was disappointing.

My decision to not carry the Olympic torch last year was personal. It came in for a lot of criticism. I sympathise with the Tibetan cause and still stand by my decision.
I take life on a match-to-match and day-to-day basis and refrain from making long-term plans. I still have a few good years left in me as a player but though I havent made any plans,I would be very happy to be involved with football for a long time.