Legendary former India footballer and celebrated coach Subhash Bhowmick died after a prolonged illness in the early hours of Saturday in Kolkata.
The former India midfielder, who was part of the 1970 Asian Games bronze medal-winning team, was suffering from kidney and diabetes related ailments for a long time and breathed his last around 3.30 am, said a family source.
He was 72 years.
"He had to undergo dialysis regularly for about three and half months. He also underwent bypass surgery about 23 years ago. Recently, he was admitted to a private hospital in Ekbalpur with a chest infection," the source said.
After hanging up his boots, Bhowmick quickly switched to coaching, making his debut on the field as the coach of Mohun Bagan before joining East Bengal, who he guided to the ASEAN Cup title in 2003.
Bhowmick also coached East Bengal to successive National league titles and replicated the success with Churchill Brothers as its technical director.
A muscular right winger, he shook the opponent's defence with his powerful dribbling skills as he ruled the Maidan for almost a decade after making his debut at the tender age of 19 years representing Rajasthan Club.
After playing one season for East Bengal, Bhowmick joined Mohun Bagan, where he played for three years before returning to East Bengal.
For India, he was part of the Asian Games-bronze medal winning squad in 1970 and he also represented the country in the next edition in 1974.
He also scored a hat-trick against the Philippines in the Merdeka Cup in 1971.