Gostho Behari Pal, better known as Gostho Pal, was born on 20th August, 1896. He started playing for Kumartuli only at the age of 11.

At the age of 16, he joined Mohun Bagan Club and soon became one of the most astounding players of the club’s history. Since then the legend never donned colours other than the prestigious Green & Maroon. By the age of 25 he became an icon and was compared with the Great Wall of China because of his defensive capabilities. Even today people remember with awe the barefooted man standing tall in the heart of the Mohun Bagan defense. Once he visited Shantiniketan, and found one of his fans there. Rabindranath Tagore astounded “Yes you truly are the Chinese wall!”

In 1921, Gostho Pal was honored with the captainship of Mohun Bagan football team, and he remained as Bagan captain for next 5 years.

In 1924, Indian football team for the first time went to play in foreign soil. Gostho Pal was selected as the captain of the Indian side.

In 1935, Gostho Pal left football amidst a historical incident. A match was going on in Mohun Bagan ground between Mohun Bagan and Calcutta Club. At that time Calcutta Club was considered to be the symbol of pride of the British Raj. Mr.Clayton was the match referee and was completely biased - whenever the Bagan players were entering opponent's penalty box, the referee was blowing the whistle. This went for a while until Gostho Pal and all players protested and lay down in the ground. The protest caused great impact but IFA was governed by the British who couldn’t digest the insult and wanted to take action against Gostho Pal. Gostho Pal, in protest left football for ever.

On 27th April 1962, he was honored with the prestigious PADMASREE AWARD.

The legend passed away on 8th April 1976.

One will find the Gostho Pal Sarani with the statue of the great man looking down at the football fraternity from high above, opposite Eden Gardens in Kolkata and, of course, the Mohun Bagan temple is just walking distance from the statue established in 1984. In 1998 the Post & Telegraph Department of Government of India honored the stalwart by issuing a postage stamp. He was also given "Mohun Bagan Ratna."

The legend was posthumously honored with the Mohun Bagan Ratna for 2004.

Trivia: In 1929, during a Durand cup match, a foreign player named Musa intentionally hurt Gostho Pal and broke his hand. In that year itself in Lucknow, Tulsi Das of Aryans Club hit Musa and reportedly told him that "Tumne Gostho Pal ko mara tha, maine us ka badla liya." (You’ve hit Goshto Pal, I’m taking the revenge). Such was the popularity of Goshto Pal.

He had told once "People know me because of this Mohun Bagan jersey. This jersey and club has taught me how to play. This is my most favorite possession. I respect this Green and Maroon jersey. I have told my sons that after I die, they must  lay the jersey on me during my last journey. This is my last wish." Such was the love for his man for Mohun Bagan.