Celtic were not only the first British club to win the European Cup, they were also the first European club to play an Indian and, what is more, he performed in bare feet.
The extraordinary story of how Mohammed Salim, an Indian from Calcutta,came to play for Celtic in the 1936-37 season has been unearthed by a Rhodes scholar.
Boria Majumdar, deputy editor of the International Journal of the History of Sport says: "It shows how in the days of the Empire Celtic broke barriers, living up to the ideal of the civilising mission and how this Indian in bare feet enchanted one half of Glasgow."

This story is about a footballer who started his career at the age of nine playing for Chittaranjan Football Academy in Baghnan. He came to spotlight while playing for Greer Sporting Club in the second division, the club which recruited only British Army officials in 1924.

Mohammed Salim soon joined Mohammedan Sporting after donning the Sporting Union jersey for a few seasons. Salim soon became an integral part of the Mohammedan team and helped them clinch the historic Calcutta Football league for three consecutive seasons from 1934-1936.

Young Salim was invited along with the Mohammedan team to play a friendly against the Chinese Olympic team but the player boarded a ship for Southampton via Cairo. This was on the insistence of his English cousin Hashim who wanted him to play his trade in Europe.

Salim asked his cousin to speak to the manager of Celtic FC Mr. Willie Maley for trials. The only problem they had to face was the fact that the Scots were not willing to offer him a trial since he played barefooted. But after much negotiation Salim was asked to demonstrate his skills in front of 100 club members and three licensed coaches. His skill astonished everyone and he was asked to represent Celtic for a few pre-season friendlies.

Source: Goal

Further Reading::Indian Football Hall of Fame