Jhingan first Indian footballer to play in Croatia top-tier league

Mohali-based defender Sandesh Jhingan will become the first Indian international footballer to play in the Croatian top-tier league, Prva HNL, as he makes a move from ATK Mohun Bagan to professional football club HNK Sibenik

Mohali-based defender Sandesh Jhingan will become the first Indian international footballer to play in the Croatian top-tier league, Prva HNL, as he makes a move from ATK Mohun Bagan to professional football club HNK Sibenik.

Named India’s footballer of the year last month, defender Sandesh Jhingan is already in Croatia and watched Sunday’s home win against Hrvatski Dragovoljac. (HT PHOTO)

The 28-year-old will be the flag-bearer of India’s top division league, Indian Super League (ISL), to have made the transition to a European top division league. “We are very happy to have Sandesh with us. We expect good things from him as we have followed him on different platforms where we were able to see his past performances,” said Francisco Cardona, CEO of HNK Sibenik.

Named India’s Footballer of the year last month, Jhingan is already in Croatia and watched Sunday’s home win against Hrvatski Dragovoljac.

Jhingan was excited to have the opportunity to move to HNK Sibenik in the Prva HNL in Croatia. “I think I am at a stage of my career where I really want to test myself in the highest-level possible and I think this is the perfect platform for me. As I have said, it has been my desire to play in Europe and I have taken up this challenge upon myself. I cannot wait to get going and look forward to giving 100 percent at every given opportunity,” said Jhingan, who started his youth career at St Stephen’s Football Academy in Chandigarh and got a break in the top division with United Sikkim in 2011.