Passionate football player recalls the best moments of Kerala police squad, he will hang up police boots

IM Vijayan retired on Wednesday after 38 years of serving in Kerala police as deputy commander of Malabar Special Police. |Picture source: File Photo

The arrival of the 18-year-old Sinewy, the 18-year-old young man, was largely unnoticed when current Indian football player Im Vijayan first used Khaki as a police officer (then known as a civilian police position).

In stark contrast, when he hung up police boots on Wednesday (30 April 2025), he was promoted to deputy commander of the Malabar Special Police just one day ago in recognition of his contribution to Indian and Kerala football, his 38-year career lasted for 38 years with his celebrations, and he was once a member of the celebration with India’s best football players. His best performance on the football field in the Kerala Police Team jersey is in his Golden Age jersey.

Kerala Police Team

Shortly after winning the coveted Federal Cup for the second consecutive year since 1991, Mr. Vijayan played for many famous football clubs across the country (such as Mohun Bagan, East Bangladesh, JCT Mills Phagwara, FC Cochin and Churchill Brothers). But he never quite felt the friendship he loved in the Kerala police squad.

“In 1990, the Federal Cup against Salgokar Football Club against Kerala Police against Salgokar Football Club and then next year opposite Masindra and Masindra, Mr Vijayan Reclects recalled that “today, the fall of that legendary police team has hurt him. But he understands. He longs to say, “We no longer develop players of this quality.”

This historic duality that follows is the long vacation to pursue his football dream. After hanging up his football boots, he returned to the police force in 2010 as an assistant deputy inspector. After one promotion, he became a circle inspector, and after another round of promotion, he was appointed as assistant commander of the Malabar Special Police in 2021.

Film career

In between, he actively pursued a career in film in Malayalam and Tamil. Ironically, most real-life police officers have to play a hateful villain on screen.

Since becoming a policeman no longer ties his responsibilities, the football player with Aff turned into COP, he stared firmly at his first love football. He dreams of establishing a football academy one day and having a dialogue with the government. He is also keen to restore the fate of the Kerala police team, which now has some players who already represent the Santosh trophy in the state.