Jo Paul Ancheri (born 2 August 1976) is an Indian football coach and former player, currently working with Super League Kerala club Forca Kochi FC. He also had captained the India national football team. He was named the AIFF Player of the Year by the All India Football Federation in 1994 and 2001. He recently worked as a Malayalam commentator and pundit on Star Sports Malayalam with the leading commentator Shaiju Damodaran.

Club career

Born in Thrissur, Kerala, Ancheri began his professional career in 1992 playing for State Bank of Travancore. He went on to play for many leading football clubs including Mohun Bagan, JCT Mills, FC Kochin, and East Bengal. He was a versatile player who could play in any position including defender, defensive midfielder, midfielder, and striker. With JCT Mills Phagwara, he won the 1996–97 National Football League.

International career

Ancheri made his senior international debut for India against Bangladesh on 14 September 1994 in a 4–2 win, when he scored a goal. Ancheri was also a member of the Indian team for the Nehru Gold Cup in Calcutta, and of the under-23 side, which took part in the pre-Olympic tournament. He later suffered a knee injury for the rest of the season and came back with the colours of FC Kochin in 1997. Ancheri played in a number of tournaments such as FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the SAFF Championship, and the South Asian Games, and helped the team win the South Asian Football Federation Cup in 1999. He was part of the Syed Naeemuddin-managed Indian team that participated in the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok and reached the second round. With India, he appeared in the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers, when India defeated teams like United Arab Emirates, Brunei and Yemen. India secured 11 points from 6 matches, the same as Yemen, but finished behind them due to an inferior goal difference. In that year, Ancheri was part of the Bhaichung Bhutia-led Indian team that won the LG Cup, defeating the host nation Vietnam 3–2. He later appeared in the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, when India finished as runners-up behind Uzbekistan.

International goals

Honours

JCT Mills FC Kochin Mohun Bagan East Bengal India India U-23 Maharashtra Individual