Lallianzuala Chhangte named FPAI Men's Player of the Year; Dalima Chhibber bags Women's Player of the Year award for 2023-24 season
The Indian Football Awards for the 2023-24 season organized by the Football Players’ Association of India (FPAI) have been announced, with Mumbai City FC’s Lallianzuala Chhangte having won the Men’s Footballer of the Year. Kickstart FC’s Dalima Chhibber has been named the Women’s Footballer of the Year, according to the Times of India journalist Marcus Mergulhao.
This is Chhangte’s second consecutive Footballer of the Year award, following his outstanding 2022-23 season. He scored 10 goals and six assists in the ISL and played a pivotal role in helping India win three trophies.
Although he had a slow start this season, the 26-year-old picked up momentum in the second part and finished the campaign with 11 goals and seven assists across all competitions. He also made significant contributions to the Indian national team, including a crucial goal against Qatar in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Dalima Chhibber, meanwhile, was arguably India’s most consistent defender throughout the season and had an impressive campaign in the Indian Women’s League for Kickstart FC, helping the team finish third in the standings.
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez wins FPAI Coach of the Year award
FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez, who joined the club at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, has been named Coach of the Year. Although the Gaurs did not win any trophies, they showed marked improvement compared to recent seasons, ultimately finishing third, just four points behind the eventual champions, Mohun Bagan SG.
Marquez’s 2023-24 season was certainly memorable. At the halfway point, FC Goa were top of the table with an unbeaten record in the first 10 games, while conceding only five goals during that period. Additionally, they reached the Durand Cup semi-finals but were narrowly defeated by Mohun Bagan with a scoreline of 1-2.
Meanwhile, Odisha FC’s dynamic winger Isak Vanlalruatfela won the Young Men’s Player of the Year. They also had a winner in the women’s category, with 19-year-old forward Lynda Kom securing the Young Women’s Player of the Year.
Vanlalruatfela’s breakout season under Sergio Lobera saw him become a key player both in the ISL and in Odisha’s historic run to the knockout stages of the AFC Cup. Lynda Kom, on the other hand, scored seven goals for Odisha, leading them to a title-winning campaign in the IWL.