Manisha Kalyan’s Personal Details
Name: Manisha Kalyan
Date of Birth: 27 November 2001
Place of Birth: Muggowal, Hoshiarpur District, Punjab, India
Position: Forward / Winger
Manisha Kalyan is widely regarded as one of the most talented footballers to emerge from India in recent years. Known for her speed, creativity, and versatility in attack, she has become a key figure for the Indian women’s national team and a pioneer for Indian players competing in international club football.
She has received major recognition for her performances, including the AIFF Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year (2020–21) and AIFF Women’s Player of the Year (2022–23) awards. Kalyan also made history by becoming the first Indian footballer to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, marking an important milestone for Indian women’s football on the global stage.
Manisha Kalyan was born on 27 November 2001 in the village of Muggowal in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab. She grew up in a supportive family environment; her father Narinder Pal is a businessman, while her mother Rajkumari Pal is a homemaker.
Her journey into football began relatively late compared to many professional players, as she started playing the sport at the age of 13. Her potential was first identified by Brahmjit Singh, a physical education teacher at a government school in her village. Recognising her natural speed and athletic ability, he encouraged her to pursue football seriously and helped her develop the foundational skills that would shape her future career.
Manisha Kalyan began her professional journey in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) with Gokulam Kerala FC Women in 2018. During the 2019–20 Indian Women’s League season, she played an important role in the club’s campaign and quickly established herself as a promising attacking player. Her performances in the tournament earned her the Emerging Player of the Tournament award, highlighting her potential as one of India’s brightest young talents.
In 2021, she achieved another historic milestone when she scored against FC Bunyodkor Women in the AFC Women’s Club Championship, becoming the first Indian woman footballer to score in a top-tier Asian club competition.
During the 2021–22 Indian Women’s League season, Kalyan delivered an exceptional campaign, scoring 14 goals and providing several assists, helping Gokulam Kerala win the league title. In July 2022, Manisha Kalyan made history when she signed for Apollon Ladies FC in Cyprus.
This move made her one of the few Indian women footballers to sign a professional contract with a European club. She made her debut in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying rounds against Rīgas FS Women, becoming the first Indian footballer to appear in the prestigious competition.
During her time in Cyprus, she helped Apollon Ladies win the Cypriot First Division title in the 2022–23 season, becoming the first Indian woman to win a European domestic league title. Her performances also earned her a place in the Pancyprian Footballers Association Women’s Team of the Season.
During the 2024-25 season, she made 23 appearances, scoring 8 goals and providing 5 assists as the club finished fifth in the league and reached the Greek Cup semifinals. Her performances in Greece further strengthened her reputation as one of the most accomplished Indian players competing abroad.
In 2026, Kalyan joined Alianza Lima Femenino, competing in the Peruvian Primera División Femenina. The move represented another major step in her international career and expanded the global presence of Indian footballers.
Manisha Kalyan has represented India across multiple age groups before becoming a regular member of the senior national team. She first gained attention during the BRICS U-17 Football Cup in 2018, where she scored against China. Her performances earned her promotion to the India U-19 national team, where she continued to shine.
One of her most memorable youth performances came in the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship qualifiers, where she scored a hat-trick against Pakistan in an 18–0 victory. Kalyan made her senior debut for India in 2019 against Indonesia women’s national football team. Later that year, she scored her first international goal against Bangladesh during the 2019 SAFF Women’s Championship.
In 2021, she achieved another historic moment by scoring against Brazil women’s national football team at the International Women’s Football Tournament of Manaus, becoming one of the few Indian players to score against a top global football nation.
As of March 2026, Manisha has made 50 appearances for India and scored 14 goals, cementing her role as one of the key attackers in the national team setup.
Honours & Achievements:
International
SAFF Women’s Championship: 2019
South Asian Games Gold Medal: 2019
Turkish Women’s Cup Runner-up: 2024
Club
Indian Women’s League: 2019–20, 2021–22 (Gokulam Kerala)
Cypriot First Division: 2022–23, 2023–24 (Apollon Ladies)
Cypriot Women’s Cup: 2022–23
Cypriot Women’s Super Cup: 2023
Individual Awards
AIFF Women’s Player of the Year: 2022–23
AIFF Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year: 2020–21
Indian Women’s League Hero of the League: 2021–22
Indian Women’s League Emerging Player: 2019–20
PASP Women’s Team of the Season: 2022–23
