Gurpreet becomes first Indian to start in Europa League

The former East Bengal goalkeeper has represented the Norwegian side in many games this year and also became the first Indian footballer to captain an European football team recently.

Gurpreet is the fifth Indian to play in European Leagues after Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Mohammed Salim and goalkeeper Subrata Paul.

In another landmark moment for Indian football, national team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the first Indian player to take part in the prestigious Europa League when he started in his club Stabaek's qualifier match against Welsh side Connah's Quay Town on Thursday.

>Flying to Wales today, looking forward to tomorrow's game #EuropaLeague #indianfootball

A photo posted by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (@gkgurpreet) on Jun 29, 2016 at 12:32am PDT

The former East Bengal goalkeeper has represented the Norwegian side in many games this year and also became the first Indian footballer to captain an European football team recently.

Sandhu joined Stabæk in the summer of 2014 and made his senior debut for the club in a friendly match against second-tier side Follo in a 4-1 win in January the following year.

Gurpreet is the fifth Indian to play in European Leagues after Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Mohammed Salim and goalkeeper Subrata Paul. But the 24-year-old is the only Indian to have played a professional senior game for a top division football club in Europe.

More to follow...