Rahul Bheke

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Rahul Bheke
Personal information
Full name Rahul Shankar Bheke
Date of birth (1990-12-06) 6 December 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Mumbai, India
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Right-back, centre-back
Team information
Current team
Mumbai City
Number 2
Youth career
Mahindra United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Air India 23 (0)
2013 Mumbai Tigers 0 (0)
2014–2015 Mumbai 20 (1)
2016–2017 East Bengal 36 (4)
2015Kerala Blasters (loan) 12 (0)
2016Pune City (loan) 10 (0)
2017–2021 Bengaluru 70 (5)
2021– Mumbai City 45 (2)
International career
2019– India 26 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  India
SAFF Championship
Winner 2021 Maldives
Winner 2023 India
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:43, 29 December 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:00, 13 January 2024 (UTC)

Rahul Shankar Bheke (Marathi: राहुल शंकर भेके; born 6 December 1990) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Indian Super League club Mumbai City, whom he captains, and the India national team.[1]

Club career

Early career and Air India

Born in

Mumbai Tigers. He played for them in small cup competitions before leaving the club.[4]

Mumbai

In January 2014, Bheke returned to the

Mohun Bagan in the Federation Cup. He came on as a substitute for Pappachen Pradeep as Mumbai lost 1–0.[5] He went on to make eight appearances for the club that season and was signed a contract extension which will keep him till next season.[6]

Bheke scored his first professional goal on 7 April 2015 against Bengaluru at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. His 67th-minute goal put Mumbai in the lead but Robin Singh managed to equalize two minutes before stoppage time to end the game 1–1.[7]

East Bengal

After two seasons with

Aizawl FC.[12] Bheke played his last match with East Bengal against his former club Mumbai FC, which they came out winning on a big margin of 0–4.[13]

Kerala Blasters (loan)

After a good performance for

East Bengal.[16][17] Bheke made his debut for the club during their opening fixture against NorthEast United on 6 October 2015. He started and played 90 minutes as Kerala Blasters won 3–1.[18] He played his last match on 18 October in a 0–1 defeat against Delhi Dynamos (present Odisha FC).[19]

Pune City (loan)

Bheke was loaned to former Indian Super League side FC Pune City from East Bengal after his loan term with Kerala Blasters.[20] He played his first match for the club against ATK on 6 November 2016 which they rose to win 2–1.[21] Bheke lost his first match with Pune on 25 November against his former club Kerala Blasters, which they lost 2–1.[22] He played his last match against ATK in the return leg at road which ended in a 0–0 draw.[23]

Bengaluru

Bheke was picked by

2020–21 ISL campaign, Bheke left Bengaluru after spending four seasons at the club.[45]

Mumbai City

On 19 August 2021, Bheke joined Mumbai City on a two-year deal with an option to extend for a further season.[46]

"It's a surreal feeling, to have joined Mumbai City. This is my hometown club and of course, the defending champions. I'm ready to start this new journey with my new family and make memories with our fans."

— Bheke, after signing with Mumbai City.[47]

On 22 November, Bheke made his debut for the club in the Indian Super League against Goa, in a resounding 3–0 win.[48][49] He scored his first and the winning goal against Chennaiyin, on 15 December in a 1–0 win.[50][51] On 17 February, he scored his second goal of the season, against Jamshedpur in a 3–2 defeat.[52][53]

He was later included in the club's 2022 AFC Champions League squad.[54] On 11 April, he scored the winning header from a corner in the 75th minute, in a historic 2–1 win against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, as Mumbai City became the first Indian club to win an AFC Champions League game. He in turn became the first Indian player to score in the competition.[55][56]

International career

Bheke got his call-up for the senior national team under the head coach Igor Štimac after his excellent performance in the 2018–19 Indian Super League season along with five other rookies.[57] Bheke made his international debut against Curaçao in 2019 King's Cup on 5 June 2019 which turned out to be a 3–1 loss to India.[58] After the King's Cup, Bheke was called up for the Indian squad to take part in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[59] He played his first of the qualifiers on 5 September 2019 against Oman, which India lost 1–2.[60] He also played in India's match against Qatar on 10 September, where India put on an excellent show, as they drew against the continental champions 0–0.[61] Bheke also appeared in the second qualifying match against Qatar on 3 June 2021, where he was booked twice, resulting in a red card in the early 17th minute of the game.[62] India ended up losing the match 0–1 at full-time.[63] He scored his first international goal against Bahrain on 23 March 2022 in their 2–1 defeat.

Personal life

He married his longtime sweetheart Shraddha Waingankar in 2019.

Career statistics

Club

As of matches played till 13 March 2023[64]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Air India 2012–13 I-League 23 0 0 0 23 0
Mumbai
2013–14 6 0 3[a] 0 9 0
2014–15 14 1 4[a] 0 18 1
East Bengal 2015–16 10 0 2[a] 0 12 0
2016–17 15 0 4[a] 0 19 0
Kerala Blasters (loan) 2015 Indian Super League 12 0 0 0 12 0
Pune City (loan)
2016
10 0 0 0 10 0
Bengaluru 2017–18 19 0 3[b] 1 4[c] 1 26 2
2018–19 20 3 1[b] 0 8[c] 3 29 6
2019–20 16 1 0 0 1[c] 0 17 1
2020–21 15 1 0 0 1[c] 2 16 3
Bengaluru total 70 5 4 1 14 6 88 12
Mumbai City 2021–22 Indian Super League 18 2 0 0 6[d] 1 24 3
2022–23 17 0 2[e] 0 0 0 19 0
Mumbai City total 35 2 2 0 6 1 44 3
Career total 195 8 19 1 20 7 235 16
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in Federation Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Super Cup
  3. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in AFC Cup
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League
  5. ^ Appearance (s) in Durand Cup

International

As of 23 January 2024[65]
Appearances and Goals by year
Year Apps Goals
2019 10 0
2021 8 0
2022 1 1
2023 5 0
2024 3 0
Total 27 1

International goals

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 23 March 2022 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain  Bahrain 1–1 1–2
Friendly

Honours

East Bengal

  • 2016–17

Bengaluru FC

Mumbai City

India

References

  1. ^ "Senior Men". All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  2. ^ Shukla, Kaushal (1 December 2015). "From rejection to record-breaking, the story of Rahul Bheke, the most featured Indian player in ISL 2". SportsKeeda. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Rahul Bheke". worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Air India beat Mumbai Tigers in tie-breaker to lift the 1st Kalina MLA Cup". Afternoon DC. 24 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Rahul Bheke pens contract extension at Mumbai FC". Goal.com. 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Rahul Bheke pens contract extension at Mumbai FC". IndiaFooty.com. 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Bengaluru v Mumbai Starting XIs, 07/04/15, I-League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  8. ^ Qadiri, Faizan (25 June 2015). "East Bengal sign Rahul Bheke and Bikash Jairu as Biswajit Bhattacharya begins new era". SportsKeed. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Mohun Bagan v East Bengal Live Commentary & Result, 23/01/16, I-League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Bengaluru v East Bengal Starting XIs, 10/04/16, I-League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  11. ^ "East Bengal FC – Squad 2016/2017". worldfootball.net. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. ^ "East Bengal v Aizawl Starting XIs, 07/01/17, I-League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  13. ^ "I-League 2017: Mumbai FC 0–4 East Bengal: Yellow Brigade end dismal season with Red and Gold thrashing". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Hero ISL 2015 Player Auction and Draft List" (PDF). Indian Super League. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  15. ^ Shukla, Kaushal (1 December 2015). "From rejection to record-breaking, the story of Rahul Bheke, the most featured Indian player in ISL 2". SportsKeeda. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Kerala Blasters Make Late Signing, Loan Rahul Bheke From East Bengal | The Fan Garage (TFG)". thefangarage.com. 14 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  17. ^ Mitra, Atanu. "East Bengal's Rahul Bheke joins Kerala Blasters' pre-season training". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Kerala Blasters v NorthEast United Starting XIs, 06/10/15, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  19. ^ "Delhi beat Kerala 1–0 | Live Score Updates Kerala Blasters vs Delhi Dynamos, Indian Super League (ISL) 2015 Match 15". 18 October 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  20. ^ "FC Pune City: FC Pune City sign up Rahul Bheke | Football News – Times of India". The Times of India. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Pune City v ATK Starting XIs, 06/11/16, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  22. ^ "Kerala Blasters v Pune City Starting XIs, 25/11/16, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  23. ^ "ATK v Pune City Starting XIs, 02/12/16, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  24. ^ "ISL Player Draft 2017" (PDF). Indian Super League. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  25. ^ "Bengaluru FC: ISL expanded to 10 teams, Bengaluru FC one of them | Football News – Times of India". The Times of India. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  26. ^ "Bengaluru v April 25 Starting XIs, 23/08/17, AFC Cup | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  27. ^ "ISL 2017: Bengaluru FC 2–0 Mumbai City FC – Blues down Islanders in comfortable debut win". www.goal.com. 19 November 2017. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  28. ^ "ISL: Sunil Chhetri hat-trick takes debutants Bengaluru FC to final". India Today. 12 March 2018. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  29. ^ "Bengaluru vs. Chennaiyin – 17 March 2018 – Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  30. ^ "Alves' headers and Augusto's strike give Chennaiyin their second title". Indian Super League. 17 June 2018. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  31. ^ "TC Sports Club v Bengaluru Match Report, 13/02/18, AFC Cup | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Bengaluru FC extends 'standout performer' Rahul Bheke's contract by three years". Firstpost. 22 February 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  33. ^ "BFC extends Rahul Bheke's contract by three years". 22 February 2018. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  34. ^ "Bengaluru v Chennaiyin Match Report, 30/09/18, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  35. ^ "Bengaluru break NorthEast hearts to secure their spot in the final". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Bheke's late header earns Bengaluru the Hero ISL 2018–19 crown". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  37. ^ Scroll Staff (17 March 2019). "ISL final, BFC v Goa as it happened: Rahul Bheke's extra time goal hands Bengaluru FC first title". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  38. ^ "ISL 2018–19 Final: Rahul Bheke – The goal will be a memorable moment for me | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  39. ^ "Bengaluru v NorthEast United Match Report, 21/10/19, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  40. ^ "Bengaluru v Odisha Match Report, 22/01/20, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  41. ^ "ISL 2019–20 ATK vs Bengaluru FC: The real Kolkata finally stand up to script sensational turnaround, book spot in final". Firstpost. 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  42. ^ "Play-off – 2nd Leg: JSW Bengaluru FC 3–2 Maziya S&R (Agg 4–4, Maziya win 4–3 on penalties) | Football | News | AFC Cup 2020". the-AFC. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  43. ^ "Goa v Bengaluru Match Report, 22/11/20, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  44. ^ "NorthEast United v Bengaluru Live Commentary & Result, 12/01/21, Indian Super League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  45. ^ Sportstar, Team (31 May 2021). "ISL: Bengaluru FC announces Rahul Bheke departure". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  46. ^ "Mumbai City FC confirm signing of defender Rahul Bheke". KhelNow. 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  47. ^ "Mumbai City FC confirm arrival of defender Rahul Bheke". mumbaicityfc.com. 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  48. ^ "Igor Angulo nets brace as Mumbai City FC ease past FC Goa". KhelNow. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  49. ^ "Mumbai City 3 – 0 Goa". Soccerway. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  50. ^ "Rahul Bheke's late goal help Mumbai City edge Chennaiyin FC". KhelNow. 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  51. ^ "Mumbai City 1 – 0 Chennaiyin". Soccerway. 15 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  52. ^ "Greg Stewart late penalty takes Jamshedpur FC past Mumbai City". KhelNow. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  53. ^ "Jamshedpur 3 – 2 Mumbai City". Soccerway. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  54. ^ "Mumbai City FC announce squad for AFC Champions League 2022". KhelNow. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  55. ^ "Mumbai City edge Air Force Club, become first Indian club to win ACL game". KhelNow. 12 April 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  56. ^ "Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1 – 2 Mumbai City". Soccerway. 11 April 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  57. ^ Sportstar, Team (6 June 2019). "Debutants revel in King's Cup outing". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  58. ^ "Curaçao v India Match Report, 05/06/19, King's Cup | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  59. ^ "Stimac names 26-member squad for FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan and Oman". All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  60. ^ "India vs Oman, FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifier: As it happened..." www.timesnownews.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  61. ^ Scroll Staff (10 September 2019). "World Cup qualifiers, Qatar vs India, as it happened: Blue Tigers hold Asian champions in Doha". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  62. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Highlights: 10-men India lose 1–0 to Qatar". The Indian Express. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  63. ^ "India vs Qatar Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifier Football Match: 10-man India Lose 1–0 to Qatar". www.news18.com. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  64. ^ Rahul Bheke at Soccerway
  65. ^ "Rahul Bheke". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 5 June 2019.

External links