Former India defender Subrata Bhattacharya will get this year's Mohun Bagan Ratna award.
The club chose Bhattacharya for the honour at a meeting here on Friday.
A well-known defender of his times, Bhattachrya, 64, played for Bagan from 1974 to 1990. Apart from bolstering the Green and Maroon back line, Bhattacharya scored 41 goals in 189 appearances. Under his captaincy, Bagan became the first club to win the triple crown -- the Durand Cup, the Rovers Cup and the IFA Shield — in 1977.
A Bagan loyalist throughout his playing days, Bhattacharya also captained the Mariners against the Cosmos team, which consisted of many star players including the legendary Pele in 1977. The match had ended in a 2-2 draw.
He donned the India colours in 41 matches from 1976 to 1988 and scored three goals.
Bhattacharya, who got the Arjuna award in 1989, also managed Bagan and helped the club win the National Football League twice in 1999-2000 and 2001-02.
Bhattacharya coached other national league sides such as East Bengal and United Sports Club. At present he is coaching city-based Bhawanipore FC.
Meanwhile, club sources said that the resignation of its long-serving president Swapan Sadhan Bose had not been accepted yet and Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra had been entrusted with the task of speaking to Bose in this regard.
The club is also planning to make use of the Rs 50 lakh grant from the West Bengal Government to upgrade its own ground and make it Bagan’s home venue.
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