{{short description|Singaporean footballer (born 1994)}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Indian name|Anumanthan|Mohan Kumar}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Anumanthan Kumar | image = File:Anumanthan_kumar_lcs.jpg | image_size = | caption = Anu in action with [[Lion City Sailors]] during the [[2023–24 AFC Champions League]] match. | fullname = Anumanthan Mohan Kumar<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.fas.org.sg/newsroom/press-release/courts-young-lions-reveals-squad-2014-sleague-season-and-renewal-sponsorship-| archive-url=https://archive.today/20140311113245/http://www.fas.org.sg/newsroom/press-release/courts-young-lions-reveals-squad-2014-sleague-season-and-renewal-sponsorship-| url-status=dead| archive-date=11 March 2014| title=Courts Young Lions reveals squad for 2014 S.League season and renewal of sponsorship from Courts for fourth year| website=Football Association of Singapore| access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|7|14|df=y}} | birth_place = Singapore | height = {{height|m=1.81}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/yglions/app_657903684284766|title=Courts Young Lions – players' profile|access-date=26 November 2014}} on Facebook</ref> | position = [[Midfielder|Defensive-midfielder]] | currentclub = [[Kanchanaburi Power F.C.|Kanchanaburi Power]] | clubnumber = 6 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = [[National Football Academy (Singapore)|National Football Academy]] | years1 = 2012–2015 | clubs1 = [[Young Lions (football team)|Young Lions]] | caps1 = 63 | goals1 = 2 | years2 = 2016–2017 | clubs2 = [[Hougang United FC|Hougang United]] | caps2 = 27 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2017–2018 | clubs3 = [[Home United]] | caps3 = 24 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2019–2020 | clubs4 = [[Hougang United FC|Hougang United]] | caps4 = 23 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2021 | clubs5 = [[Kedah Darul Aman F.C.|Kedah Darul Aman]] | caps5 = 21 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2022–2025 | clubs6 = [[Lion City Sailors FC|Lion City Sailors]] | caps6 = 64 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2025– | clubs7 = [[Kanchanaburi Power F.C.|Kanchanaburi Power]] | caps7 = 13 | goals7 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2013– | nationalteam1 = [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]] | nationalcaps1 = 41 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | club-update = 11:21, 13 June 2025 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 24 December 2022 | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}} {{MedalCountry|{{fb|SIN}}}} {{MedalCompetition|[[Sea Games]]}} {{Medal|Bronze|[[2013 Southeast Asian Games|Naypyidaw 2013]]|[[Football at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games|Football]]}} }}
'''Anumanthan Mohan Kumar''' (born 14 July 1994), nicknamed '''Anu''',<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Meet The Hotties Of The Lions, Singapore’s National Football Team |url=https://www.8days.sg/entertainment/local/lions-singapore-national-football-team-hotties-828296 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=8days |language=en}}</ref> is a Singaporean professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[defensive midfielder|defensive-midfielder]] for [[Thai League 1]] club [[Kanchanaburi Power F.C.|Kanchanaburi Power]] and the [[Singapore national football team|Singapore national team]]. Mainly a [[defensive midfielder|defensive-midfielder]], Anu also been deployed as a [[Central Midfielder|central-midfielder]] and [[Centre Back|centre-back]].
==Club career== ===Young Lions=== Anumanthan began his professional football career with the [[Young Lions (football team)|Young Lions]] in 2012. With the team short on numbers, the [[National Football Academy (Singapore)|National Football Academy]] trainee was called up to the squad. He played his first game in a 1–1 draw against [[Balestier Khalsa]] on 1 April 2012.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sleague.com/match-report/s-league/2012/april/2012-04-01/courts-young-lions| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422124246/http://www.sleague.com/match-report/s-league/2012/april/2012-04-01/courts-young-lions| url-status=usurped| archive-date=22 April 2012| title=Baslestier frustrated as late goals cancel out| website=S.League| access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref>
Anumanthan was one of five youth players shortlisted for the inaugural [[Dollah Kassim|Dollah Kassim Award]] in 2010, which was eventually won by future Young Lions teammate [[Ammirul Emmran Mazlan|Ammirul Emmran]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sph.com.sg/media_releases/1120| title=Five talented youngsters to vie for inaugural Dollah Kassim Award| website=Singapore Press Holdings| date=20 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.singaporepools.com.sg/en/corp/pa/au/ms/Pages/milestones_10s_passporttoexcellence.aspx| title=Singapore Pools passport to excellence presented to the winner of the inaugural Dollah Kassim Award| website=Singapore Pools| access-date=11 March 2014}}</ref>
Anumanthan ended his Young Lions career on a high receiving offers from almost every club in the S.League vouching for his signature.
===Hougang United=== In January 2016, Anumanthan later went on to sign for [[Hougang United FC|Hougang United]] for the [[2016 S.League]] campaign. In a stand-out breakthrough season, he won the '[[Singapore Premier League Awards Night|Young Player of the Year]]' award and become the first Singaporean to win this award in 6 years after [[Hariss Harun]] won it in 2010.
Anumanthan was a vital member in the 2016 squad which almost made history by qualifying for their first ever [[AFC Cup]], after a solid campaign for the club that year.
===Home United=== [[File:Anu in action for kedah 2021.jpg|thumb|223x223px|Anu playing for [[Kedah Darul Aman F.C.|Kedah Darul Aman]] in 2021]] Anumanthan signed for [[Home United]] in mid 2017 due to [[National service in Singapore|National Service]] commitments and featured his first game for the club against his former club Hougang United in October later that year. He went on to score his first goal for the club against rivals Warriors FC in a 2–1 lost. He ended the year by clinching 3rd placing in both the S.league and the Singapore Cup in 2017.
In 2018, Anumanthan went on to lead Home United to their first ever AFC Asian Cup Asean Zonal Championship title. He played a vital role in their successful campaign finishing 2nd in the Singapore Premier League.
=== Returned to Hougang United === After Anumanthan is done with his National Service commitments, in January 2019 he returned to his former club, Hougang United ahead for the [[2019 Singapore Premier League]] season.
===Kedah Darul Aman===
On 18 January 2021, Anumanthan signed for [[Malaysia Super League]] club [[Kedah Darul Aman F.C.|Kedah Darul Aman]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Karnageran|first=Narendaren|date=2020-12-31|title=M. Anumanthan eyes silverware with new team Kedah|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/m-anumanthan-eyes-silverware-new-team-kedah|access-date=2021-04-25|website=The New Paper|language=en}}</ref> On 13 August, Anumanthan scored his first goal for Kedah with a header against [[Selangor F.C.|Selangor]] at the [[Darul Aman Stadium]]. Kedah went on to lose the match 2–4.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kedah Darul Aman FC longlai berdepan Selangor|url=https://www.kosmo.com.my/2021/08/14/kedah-darul-aman-fc-longlai-berdepan-selangor/|access-date=2021-08-14|website=Kosmo|language=ms}}</ref> He led Kedah to a 2nd place finish in the [[2021 Malaysia Super League|2021 Malaysian Super League]] and finished the season with offers from other clubs.
=== Lions City Sailors === Anumanthan went on to sign a 3 year contract for [[Lion City Sailors FC|Lion City Sailors]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-02-08 |title=Football: Sailors add European pedigree with signing of Belgian winger Lestienne {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-sailors-add-european-pedigree-with-signing-of-belgian-winger-lestienne |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}</ref> He helped his team to win the [[Singapore Community Shield|2022 Singapore Community Shield]] that year and a Runner's-up finish to the league. Notably, he had put on a strong display of performance in the club's first match of the [[2022 AFC Champions League]] to eventual champions, [[Urawa Red Diamonds]]. On 26 July 2023, Anu captained the Sailors against English giants, [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspurs]] in a friendly match at the [[Singapore National Stadium]]. On 9 December 2023, Anu guided the team to win the [[2023 Singapore Cup]].
Despite [[Maxime Lestienne]]'s equaliser in the 91st minute of the [[2025 AFC Champions League Two final]] against [[Sharjah FC|Sharjah]], the Sailors finished as a runner-up after conceding in the 97th minute to finish the game in a 1–2 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|title= Sharjah edge Sailors to savour glory |url= https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/news/sharjah-edge-sailors-to-savour-glory|accessdate=19 May 2025|date=18 May 2025|work=AFC.com}}</ref>
On 10 June 2025, it was announced that Anumanthan would be leaving the club following the expiry of this contract.
===Kanchanaburi Power=== On 23 June 2025, it was announced that Anu would be joining newly promoted [[Thai League 1]] side [[Kanchanaburi Power F.C.|Kanchanaburi Power]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.khaosod.co.th/sports/news_9817508|title= พลังกาญจน์ เดินหน้าเสริมแกร่งสู้ศึกลีกสูงสุดหนแรก ดึงแนวรับสิงคโปร์ร่วมทีม|access-date=23 June 2025|date=23 June 2025|website=Khaosod|lang=th}}</ref> He make his debut coming on as a substitution for Malaysian [[Sergio Agüero (footballer, born 1994)|Sergio Agüero]] in a 3–3 draw to Bangkok United on 24 August.
==International career== Anumanthan was part of the [[Singapore national under-23 football team|Singapore national under-23 team]] that won the bronze medal at the [[Football at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games|2013 Southeast Asian Games]].<ref name=":0" />
Anumanthan was called up to the [[Singapore national football team|senior team]] in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Sports/Story/A1Story20130715-437273.html| title=Football: Birthday surprise for Anumanthan| newspaper=The New Paper| date=16 July 2013| access-date=8 March 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308191625/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Sports/Story/A1Story20130715-437273.html| archive-date=8 March 2014| url-status=live}}</ref> He made his senior debut for Singapore in a [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifying match]] against [[Oman national football team|Oman]] on 14 August 2013, coming on for striker [[Indra Shahdan Daud]] in the 70th minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/en/gamecast/statistics/id/365044/statistics.html?soccernet=true&cc=4716 |title=Singapore 0-2 Oman - match stats |website=ESPN FC |access-date=8 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330033602/http://espnfc.com/en/gamecast/statistics/id/365044/statistics.html?soccernet=true&cc=4716 |archive-date=30 March 2014 }}</ref> He followed it up with his first start in a friendly match against [[China national football team|China]] on 6 September 2013.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/match/122868/china-vs-singapore/report| title=China put six past hapless Lions| website=Goal| access-date=13 March 2014}}</ref>
In 2022, Anumanthan was included in the team for the [[2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series]] and the [[2022 AFF Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-03-17 |title=Football: Four uncapped players called up for Singapore's March friendlies {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-four-uncapped-players-called-up-for-singapores-march-friendlies |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Amanda |date=2022-12-20 |title=Five players in Singapore squad to take part in AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 for the first time |url=https://youthopia.sg/read/five-players-in-singapore-squad-to-take-part-in-aff-mitsubishi-electric-cup-2022-for-the-first-time/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=youthopia.sg |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Style of play == A quick, aggressive, physically strong, aerial ability and tenacious defensive-midfielder, Anu is known for his work-rate and hard-tackling style of play.
==Career statistics==
===Club===
{{updated|match played 7 Nov 2025}}<ref>{{Soccerway|anumanthan-mohan-kumar/234754}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=5|[[Young Lions FC|Young Lions]] |[[2012 S.League|2012]] |rowspan=4|[[S.League]] |4||0||colspan=2|—||colspan='2'|—{{efn|Young Lions withdrew from the 2012 Singapore League Cup due to participation in the [[2013 AFC U-22 Championship qualification|2013 AFC U-22 Championship qualifiers]].}}|| colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||4||0 |- |[[2013 S.League|2013]] |16||0||1||0||4||0||colspan='2'|—|| colspan=2|—||21||0 |- |[[2014 S.League|2014]] |23||1||0||0||0||0||colspan='2'|—|| colspan=2|— ||23||1 |- |[[2015 S.League|2015]] |20||1||0||0||0||0||colspan='2'|—|| colspan=2|— ||20||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !63!!2!!1!!0!!4!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!68!!2 |- | rowspan="3" |[[Hougang United FC|Hougang United]] |[[2016 S.League|2016]] |rowspan=2|S.League |22||0||1||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan=2|— ||23||0 |- |[[2017 S.League|2017]] |5||0||0||0||0||0||colspan='2'|—|| colspan=2|— ||5||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !27!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!28!!0 |- | rowspan="3" |[[Home United]] |[[2017 S.League|2017]] |rowspan=2|S.League |6||1||1||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan=2|— ||7||1 |- |[[2018 S.League|2018]] |18||1||4||0||0||0||11{{efn|name=AFC|Appearance(s) in [[AFC Cup]]}}||2|| colspan=2|— ||33||3 |- !colspan=2|Total !24!!2!!5!!0!!0!!0!!11!!2!!0!!0!!40!!4 |- | rowspan="3" |[[Hougang United FC|Hougang United]] |[[2019 Singapore Premier League|2019]] |rowspan=2|[[Singapore Premier League]] |16||1||1||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan=2|— ||17||1 |- |[[2020 Singapore Premier League|2020]] |7||0||0||0||0||0||2{{efn|name=AFC}}||0|| colspan=2|— ||9||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !23!!1!!1!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!0!!0!!26!!1 |- |rowspan="1"|[[Kedah Darul Aman F.C.|Kedah Darul Aman]] |[[2021 Kedah FA season|2021]] |[[Malaysia Super League]] |21||1||0||0||2||0||0||0|| colspan=2|— ||23||1 |- | rowspan="4" |[[Lion City Sailors FC|Lion City Sailors]] |[[2022 Singapore Premier League|2022]] | rowspan="3" | Singapore Premier League |22||1||3||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=ACL|Appearance(s) in [[AFC Champions League Elite]]}}||0||1||0||27||1 |- |[[2023 Singapore Premier League|2023]] |21||0||6||1||0||0||5{{efn|name=ACL}}||0||colspan=2|— ||32||1 |- |[[2024–25 Singapore Premier League|2024–25]] |21||0||3||0||0||0||6{{efn|name=ACL2|Appearance(s) in [[AFC Champions League Two]]}}||0||5{{efn|Four appearances in [[ASEAN Club Championship]], one appearance in [[Singapore Community Shield]]}} ||0||35||0 |- !colspan=2| Total !64!!1!!12!!1!!0!!0!!12!!0!!6!!0!!94!!2 |- | [[Kanchanaburi Power F.C.|Kanchanaburi Power]] |[[2025–26 Thai League 1|2025–26]] | [[Thai League 1]] |5||0||0||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||5||0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !227!!7!!20!!1!!6!!0!!25!!2!!6!!0!!284!!10 |- |} {{notelist}}
* Young Lions are ineligible for qualification to [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] competitions.
===International===
==== U19 International caps==== {| class="wikitable" ! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition |- | align=center|1 || 31 October 2011 || [[Petaling Jaya Stadium]], [[Selangor]], Malaysia|| {{fbu|19|MAC}} || align=center|0-0 (draw)|| [[2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification]] |- | align=center|2 || 2 November 2011 || Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia|| {{fbu|19|AUS}} || align=center|0-1 (lost)|| [[2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification]] |- | align=center|3 || 4 November 2011 || Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia|| {{fbu|19|CHN}} || align=center|0-11 (lost)|| [[2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification]] |- | align=center|4 || 8 November 2011 || Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia|| {{fbu|19|IDN}} || align=center|0-3 (lost)|| [[2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification]] |}
{{Updated|December 2016}}<ref>{{NFT player|id=53395}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !colspan=3|[[Singapore national football team|Singapore national team]] |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |2013||3||0 |- |2014||3||0 |- |2016||6||0 |- !Total||12||0 |}
==Honours==
=== Club ===
==== Kedah Darul Aman ==== * [[Malaysia Super League]]: Runners-up: [[2021 Malaysia Super League|2021]]
'''Lion City Sailors''' * [[AFC Champions League Two]] runner-up: [[2024–25 AFC Champions League Two|2024–25]] * [[Singapore Premier League]]: [[2024–25 Singapore Premier League|2024–25]] * [[Singapore Cup]]: [[2023 Singapore Cup|2023]], [[2024–25 Singapore Cup|2024–25]] * [[Singapore Community Shield]]: 2022, 2024
===International=== '''Singapore''' *[[Southeast Asian Games]]: bronze medal 2013
=== Individual === *[[S.League#Young Player of the Year|S.League Young Player of the Year]]: 2016<ref>{{cite web| title= Anu is the first local since Hariss to win S.League YPOTY award| url= http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/anu-first-local-hariss-win-sleague-ypoty-award| publisher= [[fourfourtwo]]| date= 1 November 2016| access-date= 1 November 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161103215642/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/anu-first-local-hariss-win-sleague-ypoty-award| archive-date= 3 November 2016| url-status= dead}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:1994 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Singaporean men's footballers]] [[Category:Singapore men's international footballers]] [[Category:Singapore Premier League players]] [[Category:Malaysia Super League players]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:Singaporean people of Tamil descent]] [[Category:Singaporean people of Indian descent]] [[Category:Sportspeople of Indian descent]] [[Category:Young Lions FC players]] [[Category:Hougang United FC players]] [[Category:Lion City Sailors FC players]] [[Category:Kedah Darul Aman F.C. players]] [[Category:Thai League 1 players]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand]] [[Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Thailand]] [[Category:Singaporean expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia]] [[Category:Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia]] [[Category:21st-century Singaporean sportsmen]] [[Category:Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games]] [[Category:SEA Games bronze medalists for Singapore]] [[Category:SEA Games bronze medalists in football]] [[Category:Footballers at the 2013 SEA Games]] [[Category:Medalists at the 2013 SEA Games]] [[Category:Asian Games footballers for Singapore]]