Sagar Thapa
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sagar Thapa | ||
| Date of birth | January 19, 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Machhegaun, Kathmandu District[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft (152 cm) 9' | ||
| Playing position | Defender RB/CD | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Three Star Club | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| -2012 | Himalayan Sherpa Club | ||
| 2012-2013 | Friends Club | 12 | (-) |
| 2014-2015 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | ||
| 2015- | Three Star Club | ||
| National team | |||
| 2003- | Nepal | 50 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Sagar Thapa (born 19 January 1984)[2] is a footballer from Nepal and currently captains the national team. He made his first appearance for the Nepal national football team in 2003.[3] Since then, Thapa has represented his country in 50 international matches which puts him behind only Bal Gopal Maharjan and Upendra Man Singh.[4] As a Defender, he is a commanding figure in the field and has a good judgement and anticipation. His best moment for Nepal was probably the 94th minute winner against Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship 2011. The goal was reminiscent of the goal that Ronaldinho scored against England in the 2002 World Cup. Sagar is one of the best player of Nepal in defense line. He is also a player of the year 2012 and he was awarded big gift for that.
Early life
Thapa was born in the village of Machhegaun in Kathmandu District, although he spent most of childhood in Dharan and Biratnagar. When he was in eight grade Thapa was offered a scholarship by the Daffodil School of Kathmandu. In 2001 at the age of 17 Thapa joined Friends Club. Initially he played as a Forward and Midfielder but after a being offered a vacant spot in central defense Thapa made the position his own.[1]
Career
Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club
Thapa started his career at the Himalayan Sherpa Club. His contract expired in 2012, but his decision to leave his club was heavily scrutinized in the media.[5] The main reason why he left was because he felt that the salary of 50,000 rupees per month wasn't good enough, demanding that he and other prominent Nepali footballers should be paid 1 Lakh (or 100,000 rupees) per month.[6]
Manang Marshyangdi Club
Thapa captained and played for Manang Marshyangdi Club in the domestic league. He also helped Manang Marshyangdi Club clinch A Division Legue in 2014. He was previously playing for Friends Club. He took the role of interim coach for Friends Club after their coach Dilkaji Gurung resigned.[7]
Nepali National Football team captain Sagar Thapa has been declared player of the year. All Nepal Football Association ( ANFA ) made such declaration amid a press conference in the Capital on Friday. On the occasion, ANFA awarded an apartment to Thapa. Receiving the award, Thapa said such honor for players have bestowed more responsibility upon them.
In January 2015 Thapa announced that he was leaving Manang Marshyangdi after a dispute over his salary.[8]
Three Star Club
Latter that month it was announced that Thapa had signed with Three Star Club for the upcoming 2014–15 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.[9][10]
International career
Thapa made his international debut in a 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Vietnam in 2003.[11] Thapa became the permanent captain for his country during the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup.[11] He is one of the most capped Nepalese footballers of all time with more than 50 appearances to his name.[4] Perhaps his most famous moment for the national team was the last minute goal he scored from a free-kick during the 2011 SAFF Championship against Bangladesh that reminded many of Ronaldinho's memorial strikes.[1][11][12][13]
International goals
- Scores and results list Nepal's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 4 December 2011 | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi |  Bangladesh | | | 2011 SAFF Championship | [1] |
Personal life
Thapa is a strong supporter of the England national football team.[14] He is married and the father of two.[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ankit Shakya (30 September 2013). "Our Very Own Captain Fantastic". Retrieved 30 October 2014.
- ↑ "Sagar Thapa profile". Goal.com.
- ↑ Sagar Thapa at National-Football-Teams.com
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Nepal Skipper Sagar Thapa To Score Half Century On Sauterday!". GoalNepal.com. 8 February 2013.
- ↑ "Sagar Thapa: I Am A Professional Player; I Play Football & My Move To Other Club Should Be Normal". goalnepal.com. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ↑ "Nepal National Team Skipper, Sagar Thapa: We Have Just Demanded Our Worth". goalnepal.com. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ↑ http://givemegoal.com/np/2012/12/16/friends-club-coach-resigns-sagar-thapa-to-be-coach-cum-captain/
- ↑ "Sagar Thapa Clarifies That It Was Him Who Decided To Leave MMC After Salary Dispute". GoalNepal.com. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ↑ "Lalitpur: Three Star Club Unveils Star Studded Squad For RedBull National League". GoalNepal.com. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ "Three Star Defender Sagar Thapa: I Always Wanted To Play For Three Star Club". GoalNepal.com. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Sushil Thapa (27 February 2014). "Sagar Thapa, Astute Footballer". goalnepal.com. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ↑ "Nepal Skipper Sagar Thapa's Free Kick Goal Listed In 20 Greatest Free Kick Goals". goalnepal.com. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ↑ "Sagar Thapa Listed In World Player Of The Week; Listed Along With Ribery, Yakubu". goalnepal.com. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ↑ "Sagar Thapa backs England". My Republica. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
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