"When You Are 37": Sunil Chhetri Shares Emotional Message On Completing 17 Years In Indian Football Team

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri shared a heartwarming message on social media after completing 17 years of service as a player for his country, saying that it has been an honour to don the national side shirt all these years. Chhetri took to Instagram to share the message with his fans. The Indian legend made his debut against Pakistan in June 2005.

"When you are 37, you do not bring in special days on the stroke of midnight. You almost never make it until then. Body clock, and all that. And so, the team and every single person who was at the Salt Lake last night - decided to mark my 17th year of playing for the country, in the most special way possible.

“The coaching staff and medical team, got in early like always to set the 'party' up. Everyone's best clothes were on hangers. Gurpreet and Sandesh had no intention of giving the dressing rooms its quiet, till we took the little get together to the pitch. In walked the youngsters - Aakash, Roshan, Suresh, Anwar and Jeakson. Liston danced, Ashique sang, Manvir brought the music along. And just when it looked like celebration had done its time, Brandon, Udanta and Sahal announced that they were now in charge, and that we'd only just got started,” Chhetri wrote on Instagram.

A post shared by Sunil Chhetri (@chetri_sunil11)

"It has been an honour that I cannot explain in words, to have worn the national team shirt for 17 years. I would commit to doing it for 17 more in a heartbeat. Till then, I will be grateful for nights like these, even if it means doing the whole 'midnight' thing a little early," he added.

Chhetri is regarded as one of the greatest Indian footballers of all time. Chhetri is the most capped player and also the highest goalscorer for the Blue Tigers.