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Rahul Bheke

Date of Birth:
06 Dec 1990
Position:
Defender
Place of Birth:
Karnataka
Nationality:
INDIA
State Association:
Karnataka State Football Association
Current Club:
Bengaluru Football Club
Debut:
vs Curacao on 5 June 2019

Bio

Born in Mumbai in 1990, Rahul Bheke made his debut for the Blue Tigers under Igor Stimac in the King's Cup 2019 and has established himself as a key member of the squad. A dependable figure in the backline, Rahul Bheke turned pro in 2011 with Air India and has played for a number of top clubs in the country. 

The right-sided full-back, who can also double up in the centre of defence, is one of the most experienced players in the current Indian National Team setup. During the initial stages of his career, Bheke used to play for I-League team Mumbai FC. He then moved to SC East Bengal but it was at Bengaluru FC where he enjoyed one of the highlights of his career. In the final of the 2018-19 season against FC Goa, Bheke scored the winning goal for Bengaluru FC in the 117th minute, helping his team win their first Hero ISL title. He was also awarded the Man of the Match. The moment was made even sweeter as he scored the goal in Mumbai, his hometown.

It was these kind of performances which prompted India coach Igor Stimac to call Rahul Bheke to join the national team setup. Bheke made his Blue Tigers debut on 5th June 2019 against Curacao in the King's Cup. Bheke was also a part of the heroic 0-0 draw against continental champions Qatar. 

So far, 2021 has been a good year for Rahul Bheke as he successfully completed a transfer to his local team Mumbai City FC.