The All India Football Federation (AIFF) recommends IM Vijayan for the country's fourth-highest civilian award – the Padma Shri.
Hailing from Thrissur, Vijayan was a gifted striker which catapulted him to stardom. He started off at the very bottom, selling soda and cigarettes during football games in Thrissur's Corporation stadium.
The former striker started his career at the age of 17 with the Kerala Police Football Club. He went on to play for clubs like Mohun Bagan, FC Kochin, JCT Phagwara, Churchill Brothers, and East Bengal. At one point, he was the highest-paid footballer in the country.