Ranjan Bhattacharya, Bengal’s Santosh Trophy runner-up former coach has silently earned a rare achievement this season in Bengal’s football history. 

Under his observation and guidance, three football teams have graduated to their respective upper divisions. Jyotirmoy Football Club has graduated to the Second Division from Third Division. They bought the opportunity to participate in the third division through the IFA’s corporate bidding rule. Adamas United got promoted to First Division, securing highest points in the Second Division and Suruchi Sangha ensured a berth in the Premier Division for the next season. 

Significantly, Ranjan’s coaching also helped Southern Samity to beat Mohun Bagan in the CFL Premier Division this season for the first time. Mohun Bagan seemed to have lost its rhythm in the CFL following that defeat. 

One can mention Raghu Nandy's name in this perspective, before Ranjan Bhattacharya. But Nandy used to train the Aryan Club mainly. Rather he was popular in helping many clubs participating in CFL's different divisions to build up teams. 

Ranjan Bhattacharya can be called a 'nucleus of energy'. He roams around the state throughout the year. His passion is to explore and scout potential youngsters and convert them into professional footballers by nurturing them gradually. Along with guiding the boys who are countless in numbers and participating in the CFL, Ranjan’s insistence has also helped local football-passionate people in Coochbehar launch a coaching center Bhanu Dayal Mission a couple of years ago and Ranjan brings potential footballers from there to the main-steam football. 

Along with nurturing footballers, Ranjan has another part. That is to inspire and inject my coaching philosophy into the coaches who have been working as Ranjan's assistants in all three teams. They are Amit Ghosh, the coach of Adamas United under whose guidance under-17 Bengal reached the final of the national championship after a long time, Sukanta Banerjee, assistant coach of Adamas United, Amit Saha, the goalkeeping coach of Adamas United, Jayanta Banerjee, the coach of Jyotirmoy FC, Palash Sarkar, the physiotherapist and goalkeeping coach of Suruchi Sangha, Sushanta Bhattacharjee. 

Ranjan who has already completed his A-license and is set to acquire Pro-License next year, revealed that he is mostly delighted with the success of Adamas United's promotion to First Division this season. He said, "Adamas United has not graduated to the First Division, it has been unbeaten in 27 matches and I should say, we had to fight against at least three to four stronger teams and we had to become consistent while playing on the worst conditioned grounds at Maidan. Despite the constraints Adamas scored 26 goals.” 

Ranjan also mentioned, “I should also say about Adamas University’s exceptional performance by winning the Khelo India University Games which did not happen in last four decades.”

Commenting on his coaching philosophy, Ranjan divulged, “I try to induce my philosophy among the coaches who work with me in these three teams and they get the result also.” Ranjan’s professional coaching career started in 2006 with Aikya Sammilani. 

Wthether asked about his coaching philosophy, Ranjan expressed deep gratitude to Indian football’s former technical director and PSV Eindhoven’s former assistant manager Rob Baan. 

Ranjan explained, "I am highly inspired by his coaching style and the advice he used to give us. We were eight coaches from all over the country, appointed for the training of grass route and youth development program conducted by the AIFF. The program was developed by Rob Baan and Scott O'Donnell. During that phase, I learned a lot from Rob Baan, especially his advice on technique, and understanding footballers' ability, and strategy. I was highly inspired and still now I try to follow his guidance. I had communication with him even before the Covid-19 pandemic. Then also he used to send advice." 

Ranjan Bhattacharya has now the only purpose which is to care for the footballers and coaches he has brought them into the mainstream of the game in Bengal and India. He wants to run the 'football family' already groomed in the last 10 years, more constructively.