Shankar Sampingiraj
Shankar Sampingiraj is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender or defensive midfielder for I-League club SC Bengaluru.
Career
HAL
Born in Kolar, Karnataka, Sampingiraj started his professional career with HAL, then of I-League during the 2010–11 season. However, during a match against Pune the very same season, Sampingiraj suffered a ligament tear which was not properly diagnosed by his club, but was noticed and dealt with at the camp for the Indian national youth team, eventually leading to surgery on his right knee and missing substantial game time.Pailan Arrows and DSK Shivajians
Sampingiraj signed for the Pailan Arrows then of I-League for the 2011-12 I-League season. Shankar was loaned out to DSK Shivajians of the I-League 2nd Division for the 2013 I-League 2nd Division, playing all six of DSK's group stage games, scoring once against Kohima Komets, but couldn't help his team reach the final round.Bengaluru
In July 2013, it was announced that Sampingiraj had signed with new direct-entry I-League side Bengaluru FC. However, the All India Football Federation stopped Sampingiraj from joining the team as they said that he was still contracted with them to play for Pailan Arrows. Then, on 13 December 2013, it was announced than Sampingiraj had eventually signed with Bengaluru FC but on loan from IMG-Reliance for the rest of the season.Sampingiraj scored his first goal for Bengaluru FC in an AFC Cup game on 24 February 2015, against Maziya of the Maldives in a 2–1 away, in added-time. Shankar scored his first goal in the I-League for Bengaluru on 3 April 2015, heading in a free-kick into the box from Eugeneson Lyngdoh in a 3–3 draw with Royal Wahingdoh. He signed a 3-year contract with Bengaluru at the end of the season; this deal will take keep him with the club until the end of the 2017-18 I-League season.