What Happened To Mohun Bagan Icon Uday Konar? The Former Star Player Spotted Selling Clothes On Mumbai Streets

Last Updated:March 11, 2026, 11:56 IST

The painstaking story of former India and Mohun Bagan footballer Uday Konar, who now runs a clothing shop on Colaba Causeway.

Poor administration of football in India continues to waste the talent at hand. So much so that a once leading representative of India and top clubs in Mumbai, Kolkata and Goa, Uday Konar, is being forced to make ends meet as a hawker on the streets of Colaba Causeway. Conar, aged 52, who was once an integral part of clubs like Mohun Bagan, is currently selling goods on the crowded streets and footpaths of South Mumbai.

A nightmare for opposition defenders in his heyday, Konar was most famously part of the Mohun Bagan side that won the 2001-02 National Football League, now the I-League. Based in the city of dreams, he has also represented Mumbai’s top clubs, including Air India and Mahindra & Mahindra. He has played for Goa’s Churchill Brothers, Salgaocar FC and Sesa Goa.

Former Footballer Turns Street Vendor

Having received no steady pension or institutional support as a once-successful footballer from the state or national authorities, Konar had to pursue his small business setup to make ends meet for his family. Once difficult to catch for the opponents on the ground, he now stands still for long hours to sell clothes to the passing locals and tourists.

Konar, who also won the gold medal in football at the 1999 National Games and the 2000 Santosh Trophy for Maharashtra, is keen to rejoin the football scene as a coach and train young players from the state.

“I am a trained footballer who has represented several top clubs. If the Maharashtra government grants me a dedicated ground under Project ‘Mahadeva’ — the state’s initiative to identify and nurture Under-13 boys and girls — I am ready to coach young, budding talent. Whatever skills and experience I have gained over the years, I want to pass them on to the next generation," the former footballer told Mumbai Mirror.

‘Internal Politics Also Affected My Earnings’

Despite being a prominent name in Indian football at his peak, Konar couldn’t manage enough savings to sustain his livelihood post-retirement. He says it is down to “internal politics". Even as he represented 27 clubs during his long career and saw his salary rise from Rs 8 thousand to Rs 5 lakh a month at one point, that didn’t safeguard his future.

“There was no transparency in those days. Some clubs did not pay my full salary and internal politics also affected my earnings," he revealed.

Konar shared the field with some of India’s finest players, including Atanu Bhattacharya, I.M. Vijayan, Carlton Chapman, Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri. He also represented India in the AFC Club Championship, wearing the national colours with pride and scoring goals in Japan, Sri Lanka and South Korea.

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