Raju Eknath Gaikwad (born 25 September 1990) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for I-League 3 club Diamond Harbour FC. Gaikwad primarily plays as a centre back, but can also play as a full back and is a long throw specialist.
Career Pailan Arrows After spending time at Tata Football Academy Gaikwad signed for Pailan Arrows (then AIFF XI) in the I-League. He made his league debut for the club on 3 December 2010 against Prayag United at the Salt Lake Stadium which was also Pailan Arrows's first ever game in the I-League; Pailan lost 2–1.
East Bengal In July 2011 Gaikwad signed for East Bengal after one season at Pailan and made his debut for the club on 4 February 2012 after missing the first few months of the season through injury.
Mohun Bagan A.C. In June 2015 Gaikwad signed for Mohun Bagan from rival club East Bengal.
Kerala Blasters Kerala Blasters signed Raju as a replacement for Sandesh Jhingan in the 2019–20 ISL season.
International Gaikwad made his debut for the India U23 on 23 February 2011 against Myanmar's U23s in the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers; India U23 won 2–1. He then made his senior debut for India on 21 March 2011 in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers against Chinese Tapei at the MBPJ Stadium in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia; India won 3–0. Gaikwad then won his first championship with India on 11 December 2011 when he helped India beat Afghanistan in the 2011 SAFF Cup. Gaikwad then went on to lead India to win the 2012 Nehru Cup when India managed to beat Cameroon's B team on 2 September 2012 at the Nehru Stadium in the Indian capital, Delhi.
Career statistics Club
ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueCupOtherAFCTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsPailan Arrows2010–11I-League14010——150East Bengal2011–12003020201202012–13902061302012013–141703090—2902014–1511020304090East Bengal total37010020190703Mumbai City (loan)2014Indian Super League3000——30Mohun Bagan2015–16I-League8000—601402016–176020—50130East Bengal total1402000110270Goa (loan)2014Indian Super League9000——90201514000——140Goa total230000000230Mumbai City 2017–18Indian Super League15020——170Jamshedpur 2018–195000——50Kerala Blasters 2019–2012000——120East Bengal 2020–217000——702021–2212000——120East Bengal total190000000190Churchill Brothers2022–23I-League1210000—121Delhi2023–24000000—00 Career total15411502012002092
National team statistics Statistics accurate as of 6 May 2015 India national teamYearAppsGoals201190201280201340201420Total230
Honours Tata Football Academy I-League U19: 2008
India SAFF Championship runner-up: 2013 Nehru Cup: 2012
East Bengal Federation Cup: 2012 Calcutta Football League: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 IFA Shield (1): 2012
Mohun Bagan Federation Cup: 2015–16
Churchill Brothers Baji Rout Cup runner-up: 2022
References