Mohammed Salim made history in 1936 when he became the first player from the Indian subcontinent to play for a European football club. Even more remarkable, he did it barefoot.
The winger from Calcutta joined Celtic F.C. for a trial, where he stunned Scottish crowds by playing with only bandages wrapped around his feet. At a time when football boots were considered essential, Salim’s dazzling ball control and effortless dribbling made him an instant sensation.
Scottish newspapers quickly dubbed him “The Indian Juggler” and “Twinkle Toes.” Thousands of spectators came to Celtic Park just to watch the barefoot footballer in the club’s famous green-and-white hoops. One newspaper wrote that his “ten twinkling toes” seemed to hypnotize the crowd.
Celtic wanted Salim to stay and even offered him a benefit match to persuade him, but after only a few months in Scotland, homesickness drew him back to India, where he rejoined Mohammedan Sporting Club. His time at Celtic was brief, but his story remains one of football’s most extraordinary: a barefoot footballer from Calcutta crossed the British Empire and captivated Scotland.
The last photo shows Rashid Ahmed, Mohammed Salim’s son, holding his dad’s green and white jersey.
