Chekiyot Kizhakkeveettill Vineeth (born 20 May 1988), commonly known as C. K. Vineeth, is an Indian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

C.K.Vineeth
Vineeth with Kerala Blasters in 2017
Personal information
Full name Chekiyot Kizhakkeveettill Vineeth
Date of birth (1988-05-20) 20 May 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth Kannur, Kerala, India
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Position(s) Striker / Winger
Youth career
Chennai Customs
KSEB Football Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Chirag United 21 (8)
2012–2014 Prayag United 37 (13)
2014Bengaluru (loan) 7 (0)
2014–2017 Bengaluru 84 (21)
2015Kerala Blasters (loan) 19 (0)
2016Kerala Blasters (loan) 19 (5)
2017–2019 Kerala Blasters 15 (4)
2019Chennaiyin (loan) 18 (4)
2019–2020 Jamshedpur 10 (1)
2020–2021 East Bengal 2 (0)
2021–2022 RoundGlass Punjab 12 (10)
International career
2013–2017 India 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:57, 15 March 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 August 2022

Personal life edit

Born in Kannur district in the state of Kerala, he studied in JNV Kasaragod and the S. N. College, Kannur.

Club career edit

Chirag United Kerala edit

Vineeth made his debut for Chirag United Kerala in the I-League during the 2010–11 season after starting his amateur career with Chennai Customs and Kerala State Electricity.[1] He scored his first professional goal of his career during his debut.[1] During the 2011–12 season, Vineeth scored eight goals for Chirag Kerala.[2]

United Sports Club edit

Before the 2012–13 season, Vineeth signed for United SC (then Prayag United) of the I-League. Vineeth made his debut for the club on 7 October 2012 against Air India. He played 82 minutes and scored a goal as United SC won, 5–1.[3] Vineeth scored a hat-trick later that season against Air India on 2 February 2013 as United SC won 4–1.[4] Vineeth went on to score seven goals that season, the most among all Indian players.[1]

Bengaluru FC edit

On 30 January 2014, it was announced that Vineeth had been released by United SC due to financial difficulties and then signed for Bengaluru FC, the new direct-entry I-League side, for the remainder of the season.[1] In his debut season with the club, he won the I-League, as the club was declared winner after defeating Dempo.

Bengaluru would extend his contract after an impressive half season. He signed a two-year contract with Bengaluru at the end of the season 2014–15 season, which would keep him at the club until the end of the 2016–17 I-League season.[5] He was with the team when the team won their maiden Federation Cup title.

In 2015-16 I-League season, he scored 4 times in the league, thus helping his team win the league title for the second time in 3 years.

His brace against Mohun Bagan in the finals of 2016-17 Federation Cup final won his team their second title in 4 years.

Kerala Blasters edit

In July 2015 Vineeth was drafted to play for Kerala Blasters FC in the 2015 Indian Super League.[6] However, he had a poor season as he was hardly chosen, and Kerala Blasters ended up last in the table. In 2016, Vineeth could only start playing for the Blasters in the eighth game as he was playing the AFC Cup with Bengaluru FC. He had his first appearance as an 85th-minute substitute against FC Goa, where he scored a 95th-minute winner to help the team record a 2–1 win against FC Goa. In his next match, he scored 2 goals in the 85th and 87th minute respectively to help Blasters win against Chennaiyin FC 3–1. Vineeth scored several crucial goals to guide his team to the finals, where they were defeated by Atletico de Kolkata on penalties. He ended the campaign as the top Indian goalscorer with 5 goals from 9 matches.

2017–2018 edit

On 5 July 2017 it was announced that Vineeth had been retained by the Kerala Blasters for the 2017–18 ISL season.[7] He made his first appearance for the club during the first match of the season against ATK on 17 November 2017. Vineeth started and played 80 minutes as the match ended 0–0.[8] On 3 December 2017, in the team's third match of the season against Mumbai City, Vineeth was sent off after being issued two yellow cards within nine minutes.[9] On his return from suspension, Vineeth scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory for the Kerala Blasters over NorthEast United.[10]

Chennaiyin FC (loan) edit

Vineeth later moved to Chennaiyin FC on loan from Kerala Blasters and also participated in the AFC Cup 2019.[11] Vineeth made 13 appearances for Chennayin, including 7 in the AFC Cup 2019. He also played in the Hero Super Cup 2019 final against FC Goa, which he lost 2–1.[12]

East Bengal edit

In May 2020, Vineeth shifted his base from Jamshedpur to East Bengal.[13]

International edit

Vineeth made his international debut for India on 6 February 2013 against Palestine in an international friendly, coming on as an 85th-minute substitute for Clifford Miranda as India lost 4–2.[14]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of 15 March 2022[15]
Club Season League Federation Cup/Super Cup Durand Cup AFC Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chirag Kerala 2011-12 I-League 21 8 0 0 21 8
Prayag United 2012–13 I-League 23 7 0 0 23 7
2013–14 14 2 0 0 14 2
Prayag United total 37 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 9
Bengaluru (loan) 2013–14 I-League 7 0 0 0 7 0
Bengaluru 2014–15 18 3 3 0 3 0 5 1 29 4
2015–16 14 4 2 1 4 2 20 7
2016–17 15 7 3 2 10 1 28 10
Bengaluru total 54 14 8 3 3 0 19 4 84 21
Kerala Blasters (loan) 2015 Indian Super League 9 0 9 0
2016 9 5 9 5
Kerala Blasters 2017–18 14 4 1 0 15 4
2018–19 10 2 0 0 10 2
Kerala Blasters total 42 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 43 11
Chennaiyin (loan) 2018–19 Indian Super League 6 1 5 2 7 1 18 4
Jamshedpur 2019–20 10 1 0 0 10 1
East Bengal 2020–21 2 0 0 0 2 0
RoundGlass Punjab 2021–22 I-League 2 1 0 0 2 1
Career total 174 45 14 5 3 0 26 5 218 55

International stats edit

India national team
Year Apps Goals
2013 3 0
2015 3 0
2017 1 0
Total 7 0

Statistics accurate as of match played 17 February 2014

Honours edit

Club edit

Bengaluru FC
Kerala Blasters FC
Chennaiyin FC

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Bengaluru FC complete CK Vineeth swoop from United Sports Club". Goal.com. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  2. ^ "CK Vineeth". Soccerway.
  3. ^ "UNITED VS. AIR INDIA 5 – 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  4. ^ "AIR INDIA VS. UNITED 1 – 4". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Lyngdoh, Walker pen new Bengaluru FC deals". Bengaluru FC. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015.
  6. ^ Noronha, Anselm (10 July 2015). "Cavin Lobo to Kerala, Keegan Pereira to Mumbai and the comprehensive Indian Super League Draft". Goal.com. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  7. ^ Tennyson, Rayson (5 July 2017). "Kerala Blasters retain CK Vineeth". Times of India. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Kerala Blasters 0-0 ATK". Soccerway.
  9. ^ "Kerala Blasters 1-1 Mumbai City". Soccerway.
  10. ^ "Kerala Blasters 1-0 NorthEast United". Soccerway.
  11. ^ "Vineeth, Narzary join Chennaiyin on loan from Kerala Blasters". ESPN.com. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Super Cup final: FC Goa wins first trophy after beating Chennaiyin 2-1". SPORTSTAR. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Kolkata giants East Bengal rope in CK Vineeth, Rino Anto". The Bridge. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  14. ^ Noronha, Anselm. "India 2–4 Palestine: The Blue Tigers capitulate in second half to hand second string Al-Fursan a vital win". Goal.com. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  15. ^ C. K. Vineeth at Soccerway
  16. ^ "Bengaluru FC crowned champions on I-League debut - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  17. ^ "Bengaluru FC are the champions of I-League 2015-16, claim their second title in three years - Goal.com". Goal.com. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  18. ^ "News18.com: CNN News18 Latest News, Breaking News India, Current News Headlines". News18. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  19. ^ "As it happened: Bengaluru FC win Federation Cup". ESPN. Retrieved 28 August 2017.

External links edit