Mohammed Habib: Iconic footballer and former India captain, Mohammed Habib sadly breathed his last on Tuesday in Hyderabad, following an extended period of illness. He was 74 years old and is survived by his wife, four daughters, and a son.
Mohammed Habib Passes Away
Having carved out his reputation in Kolkata and having called the city his home for numerous decades, Habib relocated to Hyderabad a few years ago. Unfortunately, his health had been deteriorating, and he had been confined to his bed for the past year due to dementia and Parkinson’s Syndrome. On Tuesday, around 4 pm, he peacefully passed away at his residence in Toli Chowki, Hyderabad.
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Life and Triumphs of Mohammed Habib
Born in Hyderabad, when it was a part of undivided Andhra Pradesh, on July 17, 1949, Habib proudly represented India for a span of ten years, spanning from 1965 to 1975. He was a valued member of the golden-era squad that achieved a bronze medal victory in the 1970 Asian Games held in Bangkok. During this time, the team was captained by fellow state native Syed Nayeemuddin, with the managerial prowess of another legendary figure, P. K. Banerjee.
Habib also contributed to the team’s accomplishments, including securing the third position in the Merdeka Tournament in 1970 and performing commendably in the Pesta Sukan Cup in Singapore in 1971.
Terrific records of Mohammed Habib
His international journey encompassed 35 matches, during which he netted a total of 11 goals. His inaugural appearance for the national team took place against Thailand in the Merdeka Cup held in Kuala Lumpur in 1967. A revered figure on the Kolkata football grounds, Habib’s reputation was built upon his agile footwork. Over his extensive 17-year domestic career, he adorned the jerseys of all three major Kolkata clubs. He had multiple spells with East Bengal (1966-68, 1970-74, and 1980-81), donned the Mohun Bagan colors (1968-69, 1976-78, and 1982-84), and made appearances for the Mohammedan Sporting Club (1975 and 1979).
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In recognition of his exceptional contributions, he was honored with the East Bengal Bharat Gaurav Award in 2016. Additionally, the West Bengal government acknowledged his trailblazing status by conferring upon him the Bangabibhushan award in 2018, designating him as the ‘First Professional Football player’ of the region.
Endowed with extraordinary skills and a commanding presence on the field, Habib is acclaimed as the nation’s ‘First Professional Football player’. His move to Kolkata and his tenure with the city’s renowned clubs underline this distinction. His achievements include clinching the IFA Shield with East Bengal in 1970 and 1974, along with securing the Federation Cup titles with both East Bengal (1980-81) and Mohun Bagan (1978-79).
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