Anil Gurung

Anil Gurung (अनिल गुरुङ; born 17 September 1986) is a Nepali footballer who plays as a striker for Brigade Boys Club in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.

Anil Gurung helped Lajong FC to garner a point when he scored the equalizer in the 90th minute of the match against Viva Kerala in their latest I-League encounter.

In the 3rd E.K. Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup he scored the only goal to send Shillong Lajong FC into the semifinal at the expense of Pune FC.

He started his career from Sahara club, Pokhara in 2001.

Anil's parents believed that sports can't help earn a living and urged him to join the army.

Although his family opposed him, he kept playing.

He made headlines when he was selected for a trial for Chelsea reserve team and Woking F.C in England.

Sahara Club, Nepal and Sahara Football Club, UK jointly initiated the trial-selection process.

Sahara Club (Pokhara), a local football Club in Pokhara, which has branches in the UK, had applied for Anil's trial.

In England, Gurung went through a four-month-long trial, where he put his footballing skills to the test.

Chelsea F.C. took care of all his footballing expenses during the trial period.

In his domestic league, Anil previously played for Brigade Club, Three Star Club, New Road Team (NRT) and Manang Marshyangdi Club.

Anil proved himself in Nepali football by scoring 32 goals and becoming the highest scorer in the 2009 edition of Martyrs Memorial A Division Football League for this achievement he won a Yamaha motorcycle.

On October 30, 2009, Anil signed a three-year contract with Indian I-League club Shillong Lajong FC for an amount of Nrs.6.3 million.

Anil made his debut for Lajong in a scoreless draw against Salgoacar SC on 2 November 2009.

His contract with Lajong made him the highest paid Nepali footballer.

He was also in the squad of Shillong Lajong, that finished runners-up in the 2009–10 Indian Federation Cup.

The relegation of Shillong Lajong FC led the need for Anil Gurung to find top-tier football.

He terminated the contract with the Indian outfit.

It was revealed that he had joined the former club Manang Marshyandi Club for an undisclosed fee assumed to make him the highest paid player in Nepal.

The club cited the need for such contract as the player is highly rated and can gain interest of several foreign league clubs.

He endured a sweet return assisting and scoring in the first match against Friends Club.

He won a cash prize of Rupees fifty thousand in one of the matches of the 10th edition of SAFF games for having an outstanding performance.

In one of the matches in Itahari Gold Cup 2063 BS he was tagged as man of the match.

In the 10th Buddha Subba Gold Cup, he was the highest scorer and was duly selected as the best player of the tournament.

He was also chosen as best player during a match in the 2064 BS edition of Governor Gold Cup.

He was selected as the best player in the yearly match organized by the Nepal Khel Khud Patrakar Manch.

Likewise, in the yearly match held in Kaski district, he received a cash prize of Rs.

30,000. Thus, his career was bombarded with trophy and prizes.

Due to his success, he is also regarded as one of the most successful and highly paid player of Nepal.

Anil Scored first Head goal against Bangladesh on SAFF Championship held in Kathmandu August, 2013.

Anil Gurung is the player from Nepal UK jointly were engaged in lobbying for his selection for the trial phase.

Anil, during a farewell Programme hosted by Sahara club, Pokhara said, "Opportunities don't come very often and I am going to the make the best of it."

During the event, he expressed his love for football and a dream to popularise the name of the country by football.

Before leaving, Anil Gurung said, "I am very happy to represent Nepal. I don't mind if I am not selected there. It is my honor that I am called by them. I will try my best to show Nepalis' talents abroad. I also want to prove that Nepali players are capable of performing well if they are provided with opportunities".

Although he didn't find success in Chelsea and Woking, he was welcomed home as a hero.

Previously, Anil was called by Shillong Lajong FC but as he had to go UK for the trial, he refused to play for that club.

He took retirement from the national team duty after 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification – third round match against the Philippines on 14 November 2017, which was his 50th cap for the national team.

Anil Gurung was born to late Mr. Bil Bahadur Gurung and Mrs. Laxmi Kumari Gurung who is an inhabitant of Malepatan, Pokhara.

He completed his school education from Barahi Secondary School, during then, he started playing football from the age of thirteen.