Shankar Sampingiraj (Kannada: ಶಂಕರ್ ಸಂಪಂಗಿರಾಜ್; born 14 December 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender or defensive midfielder for I-League club SC Bengaluru.
Born in Kolar, Karnataka, Sampingiraj started his professional career with HAL, then of I-League during the 2010–11 season.[1] 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,[2] eventually leading to surgery on his right knee and missing substantial game time.[2]
Sampingiraj signed for the Pailan Arrows then of I-League for the 2011-12 I-League season.[1] Shankar was loaned out to DSK Shivajians of the I-League 2nd Division for the 2013 I-League 2nd Division,[3] playing all six of DSK's group stage games, scoring once against Kohima Komets, but couldn't help his team reach the final round.[4]
In July 2013, it was announced that Sampingiraj had signed with new direct-entry I-League side Bengaluru FC.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]
In July 2015, Sampingiraj was drafted to play for Kerala Blasters FC in the 2015 Indian Super League.[11] On 13 August 2013, Bengaluru, his parent club, confirmed a 3-week training stint for Shankar with Italian 3rd division side Unione Sportiva Cremonese, prior to the 2015 ISL.[12][13][14]
In 2020, he moved to Chennai City on a one-year deal.[15]
Sampingiraj made his Indian U23 debut against Uzbekistan U23 on 27 March 2015 in a 2016 AFC U-23 qualifier in the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Bangladesh.[16] Shankar started and was sent-off against Syria U23 in the second match of the qualifiers in a 4-0 loss.[16]