V. Sundramoorthy

Varadaraju Sundramoorthy (born 6 October 1965) is a former Singapore international footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, is widely touted as one of the country's most skilful and talented footballers ever. He is the current football manager for Laos.

V. Sundramoorthy
Personal information
Full name Varadaraju Sundramoorthy
Date of birth (1965-10-06) 6 October 1965
Place of birth Singapore
Position(s) Midfielder/Striker
Club information
Current team
 Laos (coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1987 Singapore 50 (45)
1987–1988 FC Basel 5 (3)
1988–1989 BSC Old Boys
1989–1990 Kedah
1991–1992 Pahang
1992–1993 Singapore
1994 Kelantan
1995–1997 Woodlands Wellington
1998–2003 Jurong
National team
1983–1995 Singapore
Teams managed
1999–2003 Jurong (player-coach)
2004–2007 NFA U-18[1]
2007–2010 Young Lions
2012–2013 LionsXII
2013 Singapore (caretaker coach)
2014 Negeri Sembilan
2014–2016 Tampines Rovers
2016–2018 Singapore
2018– Laos
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He coached the LionsXII, a Singapore-based team playing in the Malaysia Super League, and held a dual appointment as the head coach of the Under-23 team[2] from 2011 to 2013 when he announced his plans to sign with the Malaysian Premier League team, Negeri Sembilan.[3] After coaching Negeri Sembilan for half a season in 2014, he returned to Singapore to take the helm at Tampines Rovers for almost 2 years, then a 2-year stint as head coach of Singapore.

Football career

Sundramoorthy broke into the Singapore Malaysia Cup team during the 1980s, as he was just 18 years of age, and in the following season he became top scorer in the tournament. Sundramoorthy left Singapore to play in Switzerland for FC Basel. He played there during the second half of their 1987–88 season (the season that Basel suffered relegation) under head coach Urs Siegenthaler. After playing in eight test games, he played his domestic league debut for his new club in the away game on 20 March 1988 as Basel played against Bulle. He scored his first goal for the club in the same game as Basel won 2–0.[4] He played solely five league games, in which scored three goals.[5] At the end of the season Sundramoorthy, also known in Switzerland as Varadaraju Sundra Moorthy, then moved on to play for local rivals Old Boys.[6]

He then joined Kedah FA for the Malaysia Cup tournament as he returned in 1989. During his playing days in Alor Setar playing his trade for Kedah FA, Sundramoorthy helped Kedah to defeat Singapore 3–1 in the final of the 1990 Malaysia Cup, scoring Kedah's opening goal.

During Singapore's run-up to the 1993 Malaysia Cup Final appearance, Sundramoorthy was one of the most influential players in the team. He was a player well known for his dribbling skills and his finishing.

One of Sundramoorthy's most famous goals was a bicycle kick scored against Brunei in a 1993 FAM Division II League tie at the National Stadium. He also scored a spectacular backheel during his days with Jurong FC. In a match against Pahang at the National Stadium in the same year, Sundram audaciously faked a backheel that fooled the Pahang defenders before crossing for Fandi Ahmad to score the winner late in the game.

Sundramoorthy made several appearances for the Singapore national football team, including participating at the 1990 Asian Games football tournament.,[7] scoring a hattrick against Pakistan. Sundram also scored 2 goals in a friendly match against Nagoya Grampus Eight (from the J-league), which had Gary Lineker in the team, when Singapore won 4–3. Sundram also represented Singapore in several S.E.A games tournament, and helped Singapore reached the Finals in the 1989 Games when his last-minute through ball led to Fandi Ahmad's winner against Indonesia. He was one of the most feared striker in ASEAN in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Sundramoorthy moved on to the domestic S.League, first turning out for Woodlands Wellington FC in the league's inaugural year in 1996 before moving on to become the first-ever player/coach in S.League's history for Jurong Football Club.

Sundramoorthy was nicknamed 'The Dazzler' at the height of his prowess and 'King Cobra' when he was the player-coach of Jurong FC. Sundram also had a biography titled 'The Dazzler'.

Playing in Europe
Sundramoorthy as coach of LionsXII

In 1988, V.Sundramoorthy became the second player from Singapore to play in Europe when he signed for Swiss club FC Basel.

V.Sundramoorthy only survived a season for FC Basel before moving to play for Kedah FA in Malaysia.

Coaching career

Since 2012 Sundramoorthy has been the head coach of the LionsXII, who played in the Malaysian Super League. In his first season in charge he led the LionsXII to 2nd place in the Malaysia Super League and the semi-finals of the Malaysia Cup.

On 21 January 2013, it was announced that Sundram would be appointed caretaker coach of the Singapore national football team while the Football Association of Singapore searched for a replacement for former coach Raddy Avramovic.[8] His first game in charge was against Jordan on 6 February 2013 at Singapore's Jalan Besar Stadium.

On 15 May 2013, German coach Bernd Stange was announced as the new manager of the Singapore national football team[9] while Sundram was appointed as the head coach of the Singapore national under-23 football team for the 2013 SEA Games with present Courts Young Lions coach, Aide Iskandar, was named as his assistant.[10]

On 7 October 2013, Sundram announced that he would not be renewing his contract with the Football Association of Singapore to coach the Lions XII Malaysian Super League Outfit. He took over as head coach at Malaysian Premier League side Negeri Sembilan on a two-year contract from 1 November 2013.[3] After finishing sixth in the 2014 Malaysia Premier League and failing to qualify for the Malaysia Cup, Sundram was relieved of his duties by Negeri Sembilan.[11]

In December 2014, Sundramoorthy was confirmed as the new head coach of Tampines Rovers. This is the first time after 5 years that Sundram held the head coach post in the S.League.[12][13]

He was unveiled as the head coach of the Singapore national football team in May 2016, on a one-year contract.[14] He extended his contract as the Lions head coach for two more years in March 2017.[15] However, one year later, he stepped down from his role by mutual consent on 9 April 2018.[16] In October 2018, he officially signed a contract with Laos.[17]

Honours

Player

Kedah

Manager

LionsXII

References
  1. Raymond, Jose (17 December 2003). "Back among familiar faces". Today. p. 55.
  2. "Bernd Stange unveiled as new Singapore coach". Goal.com Singapore.
  3. "Sundram resigns as LionsXII coach after 2 years in charge and winning MSL title". The Straits Times.
  4. "FC Bulle - FC Basel 0:2 (0:0)". Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  5. Zindel, Josef (2015). Rotblau: Jahrbuch Saison 2015/2016. FC Basel Marketing AG. ISBN 978-3-7245-2050-4.
  6. "Varadaraju Sundram Moorthy". Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  7. Courtney, Barrie (2 February 2005). "International matches 1990 – Asia". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  8. "FAS APPOINTS CARETAKER NATIONAL TEAM COACH". Archived from the original on 18 April 2013.
  9. "Football: FAS to unveil Bernd Stange as new national coach, replacing Raddy Avramovic". The Straits Times.
  10. "Sundram to lead SEA Games squad". Goal.com Singapore.
  11. Leong, Kelvin (5 November 2014). "Sundramoorthy leaves Negeri Sembilan after one season". ESPN FC. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  12. "Football: Sundram will lead Tampines". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  13. "Sundramoorthy: 'Feels good to be home'". AsiaOne. 28 December 2014.
  14. "Football: Sundramoorthy is national football coach on 1-year deal, sets semi-final target for AFF Cup". The Straits Times. 27 May 2016.
  15. "Football: FAS extends contracts of national coach Sundram and technical director Sablon". The Straits Times. 13 March 2017.
  16. "Football: Sundram steps down as Lions head coach". Channel NewsAsia. 9 April 2018.
  17. Ooi Kin Fai (10 October 2018). "Sundramoorthy leads Laos fight in AFF Championship". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
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