Dutch football great Ruud Gullit; Babul Supriyo’s sketch of the new Mohun Bagan jersey; Jose Ramirez Barreto in the team’s outfit last season

Supporters of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club may expect a twin treat this Sunday evening when they converge at Netaji Indoor Stadium to celebrate Mohun Bagan Day. Dutch football great Ruud Gullit will unveil the team’s new jersey, designed by singer Babul Supriyo, described by club officials as “a Mohun Bagan fan”.

“We are inviting Gullit to do the honours since he would be in town,” club general secretary Anjan Mitra told Metro on Thursday.

The captain of the 1988 Euro Cup-winning team, remembered as much for playing total football alongside Marco Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard as for his matted dreadlocks, will reach Calcutta on Saturday on a two-day visit. On Sunday, he will also attend the final of a community football tournament at Gitanjali stadium in Kasba around midday.

Gullit will join a string of soccer icons to visit Mohun Bagan — Pele in 1977, Roger Milla in 1990 and Diego Maradona in 2008. Add to that illustrious list Oliver Kahn, who played against Mohun Bagan in his farewell match at Salt Lake stadium in 2008. “But Gullit will be the first international star to attend Mohun Bagan Day,” said Mitra.

July 29 commemorates the club’s historic victory against the East York Regiment in the IFA Shield final in 1911.

Babul Supriyo, the voice of Hrithik Roshan in his debut film Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, sounded ecstatic over the phone from Mumbai. “I am grateful to Mohun Bagan for considering a design by a non-designer,” said the singer, who has earlier composed a song for his favourite Indian team.

The design, he said, was the result of a moment’s inspiration. “About a year ago, I was watching an English Premier League match at night when I chanced upon my daughter’s crayons on the table and started sketching. I was so happy with the result that I mailed it to Tutuda (club president Swapan Sadhan Basu).”

“We could not use the design earlier as the season was under way. Babul is close to us. He even plays the friendly matches held on Mohun Bagan Day,” said Mitra.

The club, the first in India to use a logo on its jersey in 1989, registered another first when a designer, Agnimitra Paul, was enlisted to fashion the jersey of its football school earlier this year. “She submitted a design for the senior team as well but Babul’s design required less modifications. So we will use it for the upcoming Airlines Cup and at least the start of the League. After that, we will sit with our new kit sponsors. If they like this design, we will continue with it. Agnimitra’s design may be used later,” said finance secretary Debashis Dutta.

As for Gullit, he has announced his India visit on Twitter. “Trying to get a visa for India. Not easy. Have to make... effort today,” read his tweet on July 10. One hopes all is sorted out and he is headed for Calcutta from the Netherlands.