Thangaraj played domestic club football for both theCalcutta Football League clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. He earned fame during his days with the "red and gold brigade" from 1965 to 1971, and captained the team in 1969–70.[9][10][11] He was the first choice goalkeeper for the club over the years.[12][13][14]
Thangraj was born in 1935 inHyderabad State. He began his football career with Morning Star Club, and then moved to Friends Union Club of Secunderabad.[15] He joined the Indian Army in 1953 and began representing the Madras Regimental Centre where he played as a centre forward, but took to goalkeeping subsequently with great success.[16] Madras Regimental Centre won theDurand Cup in 1955 and 1958.[15] Thangaraj captained the Services team for its first-ever triumph in theSantosh Trophy in 1960.[15]
As a goalkeeper, he was simply unbeatable. He had a little weakness with ground shots but in the air, he was superb. He used to pluck the ball in the air from attacks or corner kicks. Even from penalties, at point-blank range, he would pull off miraculous saves.
— Gautam Roy, football historian, on Peter Thangaraj to theOlympic Channel.[17]
After leaving Services, Thangaraj played for Kolkata giantsMohammedan Sporting (1960–63, 1971–72),Mohun Bagan[18] (1963–65), andEast Bengal (1965–71) and was a huge fan favorite at the time. He was part of theBengal team, which won theSantosh Trophy in 1963. Later, he led the Railways in 1965 and won the Santosh Trophy for them. Along with the likes ofChuni Goswami andP. K. Banerjee, Thangaraj was one of the mainstays of the Indian team in 1960s and 70s.
He represented India at theMerdeka Cup tournament held atKuala Lumpur from 1958 to 1966. He also represented India at the 1964 and 1966Asian Cup held in Israel and Burma respectively.[21][22] He was named the Best Goalkeeper of Asia in 1958, and awarded theArjuna Award in 1967. Recognizing his contribution to Indian football, he was awarded theArjuna Award by thegovernment of India in 1997.[23] He twice played for the Asian All-Star team and was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper in 1967. Thangaraj retired from active football in 1971 and then took to coaching.[24][25]
Thangaraj was a devoted follower ofLev Yashin, and was later appointed as advisor of the football department/division ofBokaro Steel Plant.[15] He died in Bokaro (now in Jharkhand), on 24 November 2008 after a heart-attack.[15]
Legendary strikers of India,Chuni Goswami andP. K. Banerjee often credited his long kicks as source of some of their best goals in career.[15]
^Bhattacharya, Ayan (10 September 2023)."বাংলা ভাগের ক্ষত কিভাবে বিষিয়ে দিল মোহনবাগান আর ইস্টবেঙ্গলকে?" [How did the wound of the partition of Bengal poisoned both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal?].inscript.me (in Bengali). Kolkata: ইনস্ক্রিপ্ট বাংলা নিউজ. Archived fromthe original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved7 November 2023.
^"Asian All Stars".Gov.sg. The Straits Times. 26 May 1967. Archived fromthe original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved7 September 2020.
^Roy, Gautam; Ball, Swapan (2007)."East Bengal Football Club – Famous Players".www.eastbengalfootballclub.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved25 February 2009.
^abGhoshal, Amoy (23 November 2016)."All time Indian XI".sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. Archived fromthe original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved21 June 2021.
