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{{Infobox person
| name = Shaji Prabhakaran
| image = Shaji Prabhakaran at the 2015 FA Cup Final.jpg
| caption = Shaji Prabhakaran pitchside at the 2015 FA Cup Final
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|05|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Mavelikara]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| nationality = [[India]]n
| citizenship = [[India]]n
| education = [[Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education]] (P.Ed, Ph.D)
| occupation = Football Consultant ([[FIFA]], [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]], [[International Cricket Council|ICC]])
}}
'''Shaji Prabhakaran''', is the former FIFA South Central Asia Development Officer and currently the president of Delhi Football Association, director of [[Delhi United SC]].

==Biography==
Shaji hails from Kerala. He began playing football at the age of 8, but did not have the opportunity to receive professional training or coaching. As football was not popular in his school at the time he played volleyball and cricket.<ref name="int">{{Cite news|last=Fernandes|first=Nitin|date=7 May 2014|title=CXOs in Sports: Interview with Dr Shaji Prabhakaran, Regional Development Officer for FIFA in South and Central Asia|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/cxos-in-sports-interview-dr-shaji-prabhakaran-regional-development-officer-fifa-south-central-asia|access-date=3 October 2020|work=[[Sportskeeda]]|language=en-us}}</ref>

At the age of 15, he started playing for a local teagarden club (Binnaguri) in the Dooars area of West Bengal. From that point football then became an integral part of Shaji's life.<ref name="int"/><ref name=iaff>{{Cite web|last=Kamboe|first=Harmit|date=2010-04-06|title=Interview with Dr Shaji Prabhakaran - ex AIFF|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/interview-with-dr-shaji-prabhakaran-ex-aiff|access-date=2020-10-11|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

Shaji Prabhakaran graduated from [[Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education]] (LNIPE), Gwalior in 1994. In 2000 he returned to LNIPE and completed his Doctorate (Ph.D) in Physical Education (football).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Interview with Dr Shaji Prabhakaran - ex AIFF|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/football/interview-with-dr-shaji-prabhakaran-ex-aiff}}</ref>

He was appointed as the president of the Football Delhi{{efn|It was Delhi Soccer Association earlier, and renamed to its new name Football Delhi in December 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Delhi Soccer Association to be renamed Football Delhi |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/delhi-soccer-association-to-be-renamed-football-delhi-117122900832_1.html#:~:text=The%20Delhi%20Soccer%20Association%20(DSA,the%20executive%20committee%20meeting%20here. |accessdate=10 October 2020 |work=[[Business Standard]] |date=29 December 2017}}</ref>}} on 19 November 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Shaji Prabhakaran: Shaji Prabhakaran is new DSA president {{!}} Football News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/shaji-prabhakaran-is-new-dsa-president/articleshow/61713854.cms|date=19 November 2017|access-date=9 October 2020|work=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Football Delhi to launch Capital Cup with ISL, I-League teams|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/football-delhi-to-launch-capital-cup-with-isl-ileague-teams/1849502|date=29 May 2020|access-date=3 October 2020 |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]}}</ref> He is also the director of Delhi United SC.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mullick|first=Sudipto|date=2017-09-11|title=Interview: Shaji Prabhakaran ventures into his latest project – Delhi United FC|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/interview-shaji-prabhakaran-ventures-latest-project-delhi-united-fc|access-date=2020-10-10|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

He started his career as a Senior Consultant at the [[Asian Football Confederation]] in 2017 following his long association with AIFF as Director of Vision & National Teams.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Interview with Dr Shaji Prabhakaran - ex AIFF|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/interview-with-dr-shaji-prabhakaran-ex-aiff|access-date=2020-10-12|website=validate.perfdrive.com}}</ref> Subsequently, Shaji got elected as the Delhi Soccer Association President, now known as Football Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-11|title=Ex-FIFA official Shaji Prabhakaran to contest for post of Delhi Soccer Association president|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/ex-fifa-official-shaji-prabhakaran-to-contest-for-delhi-soccer-association-president-4932744/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-19|title=Shaji Prabhakaran elected new president of Delhi Soccer Association|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/shaji-prabhakaran-elected-new-president-of-delhi-soccer-association/story-L7c3HuKv1q7CKGwKQGyfuK.html|access-date=2020-10-12|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

In April, 2017 he got appointed as the President and then as Director of the Delhi-based professional I-League level club, [[Delhi United SC]], which competes in the [[DSA Senior Division|2nd division]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Interview: Shaji Prabhakaran ventures into his latest project – Delhi United FC|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/interview-shaji-prabhakaran-ventures-latest-project-delhi-united-fc|access-date=2020-10-12|website=validate.perfdrive.com}}</ref>

He was the manager and coach at the CFA (Chandigarh Football Academy) for four years.<ref name="iaff" />

He is associated with Mumbai-based sports company, [[The Arena (Ahmedabad)|SE TransStadia]] Pvt Ltd as General Manager and then as Associate Vice President. Shaji is also the founder of football Khelo Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Indian Dream: Why A {{sic|Compet|etive|nolink=y}} League Is Fundamental To India's World Cup Dream? {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/3294/the-indian-dream/2010/07/06/2011634/the-indian-dream-why-a-competetive-league-is-fundamental-to|access-date=2020-10-12|website=www.goal.com}}</ref><ref name="iaff" />

==Literary works==
Prabhakaran has authored the book ''Back to the Roots: A Definitive Guide to Grassroots & Football Development''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lokapally|first=Vijay|date=7 November 2016|title=Dream with a deadline|language=en-IN|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Dream-with-a-deadline/article16439137.ece|access-date=8 October 2020|work=[[The Hindu]]|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://shajiprabhakaran.com/}}
* {{cite book |title=Back to the Roots: A Definitive Guide to Grassroots & Football Development |date=2016 |publisher=Showcase/Roli Books |isbn=9789351941859 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=buiqnQAACAAJ}}
{{Improve categories|date=October 2020}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prabhakaran, Shaji}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]

Shaji Prabhakaran - Revision history

imported>Ken Tony: Typo