Syed Abdul Rahim
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Syed Abdul Rahim[1] | ||
Date of birth | 17 August 1909 | ||
Place of birth | Hyderabad, Hyderabad State | ||
Date of death | 11 June 1963 | (aged 53)||
Place of death | Hyderabad | ||
Youth career | |||
1927–1931 | Osmania University | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1943 | Qamar Club | ||
1950 | HSV Hoek | ||
Teams managed | |||
1943–1950 | Hyderabad City Police (head coach & secretary) | ||
1950–1963 | India | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Syed Abdul Rahim (17 August 1909 – 11 June 1963) also known as Rahim Saab was an Indian football coach and manager of the Indian national team from 1950 until his death in 1963 and was a former player.[2][3] He is regarded as the architect of modern Indian football.[4] Basically a teacher by profession,[5] he was a good motivator[6] and his tenure as a coach is regarded as a "golden age" of football in India,[7] and under his stewardship he led the Indian Football team to win Gold medals in Asian Games of—(1951-Delhi and 1962-Jakarta), play semi-finals of the Summer Olympics—(1956-Melbourne) making India the first ever Asian country to achieve this place,[8] win the titles of Colombo Cup for the years of—(1952-Colombo, 1953-Rangoon, 1954-Calcutta and 1954-Dacca) and came runners-up in Pestabola Merdeka—(1959 KualaLumpur).[9]
Career[]
Rahim was born on 17 August 1909 in Hyderabad, India.[10] In his early years, he represented the football team of Osmania University, from where he did his graduation[11][12] and played for a team "Eleven Hunters" that was made up of current and former students of the college.[13]
After his journey as a teacher, Rahim returned to the college to complete his arts degree. Thereafter, he worked as the teacher successively in Kachiguda Middle School, Urdu Sharif School, Darul-ul-Uloom High School and Chaderghat High School.[13] He then took a diploma in physical education and took charge of sports activities in the last two schools he served as teacher.[13]
Rahim was a professional footballer for a while, as he had represented Qamar Club, which was then considered to be one of the best teams in the local league.[14] Rahim also played for the Dutch club HSV Hoek,[15] before going on to become a manager.[16]
In 1943, Rahim was elected as the Secretary of the Hyderabad Football Association.[17] He also became the coach of the Hyderabad City Police (football club) from 1943 until 1963.[18][19] Rahim's first assignment as the coach of India was to train the team that toured Ceylon in 1949.[13] Two years later, India won the gold in their first Asian Games in 1951.[20]
During Rahim's tenure, the Indian football team enjoyed a great deal of success.[21] Apart from winning the Asian games in 1951 and 1962,[22] India also reached the semi-finals of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics which is still considered India's greatest ever achievement in football.[23]
Rahim's last success was at the 1962 Asian games in Jakarta, where India went on to win gold, beating South Korea in the finals in front of a crowd of 100,000.[24]
Tactics and style[]
Rahim is considered to be the greatest coach India has ever produced, His tenure is considered as a "Golden age" of Indian football. Rahim was a teacher in his early career and coached Hyderabad City Police (football club) which made him a strict disciplinarian and a good tactician, utilizing the available resources he make best out of it, in the process to improve one-touch play he conducted non-dribbling and weaker leg-(the players supposedly play with their weaker foot) tournaments. Rahim introduced the classic 4-2-4 formation in Indian football team much before Brazil popularised it in the 1958 World Cup.[25]
When Indian national coach Alberto Fernando had gone to a workshop in Brazil in 1964, he said:
What I learnt from Rahim in 1956 is being taught now in Brazil. Verily, he was a football prophet.[26]
Personal life[]
Rahim's son, Syed Shahid Hakim was a former professional football player, and had represented India in the 1960 Summer Olympics tournament.[27]
Death[]
Rahim died from cancer on 11 June 1963 after being bed-ridden for six months.[28][13]
Legacy[]
A former Indian football player Fortunato Franco said about "Rahim Saab";
With him he took Indian Football to the grave.[29]
In popular culture[]
A biopic on Rahim named Maidaan is going to release on 15 June 2022 with Ajay Devgn 03 lead role.[30]
Honours[]
Manager[]
India
- Asian Games Gold Medal: 1951, 1962
- AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 1964
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Rahim, Amal Dutta, P.K. and Nayeem: The Coaches Who Shaped Indian Football" (PDF). la84foundation.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
- ^ "History in Timeline of Indian Football". All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Syed Abdul Rahim | The Architect of Modern Indian Football". Chase Your Sport. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Forgotten on birth centenary - Legendary coach rahim - SAAB yet to get the honour and respect he deserves". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Basu, Jaydeep. "In unbearable pain but with football on his mind: The last nine months of Syed Abdul Rahim's life". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Who is Syed Abdul Rahim? Know about the Indian football coach set to be played by Ajay Devgn". The Financial Express. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Venkatesan, Sudarshan (6 January 2019). "The Golden Age of Indian Football under Syed Abdul Rahim". The SportsRush. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Home Sport Remembering 'the best football coach India'". New Indian Express. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ Coutinho, Austin (9 February 2019). "Syed Abdul Rahim: Remembering Indian football's hero as Ajay Devgn-starrer pays homage to legendary coach". FirstPost. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ Sharma, Ayushi. "'Maidan' has the Story of Syed Abdul Rahim who Battled Cancer & Won Gold". Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Architect Of Modern Indian Football | Syed Abdul Rahim | Maidaan Movie". The Real Gems. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Remembering Rahim Saab, the man who put India on the world football map". CatchNews.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e N. Ganesan, "Loss to Indian Soccer", Sport & Pastime, p.14, 27 July 1963.
- ^ "Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"". The Football Pink. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Dixit, Puranjay. Ranked: All male Indian footballers to play outside Asia Sportskeeda. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "Hyderabad FC - reigniting the footballing spark in the City of Nizams". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"". The Football Pink. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Down the memory lane - The fascinating story of Hyderabad City Police club | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"". The Football Pink. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Ghoshal, Amoy (15 August 2014). "Indian football team at the Asian Games: 1951 New Delhi". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Old-timers recollect past glory of city football The Hans India. Retrieved 5 September 2021
- ^ Khanna, Ashish (14 July 2018). "Ajay Devgan to play lead in legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim biopic". InsideSport. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Olympians want Padma Bhushan for Rahim". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ PTI. "On this day: India wins football gold in 1962 Asian Games". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Prasad, Ashin (4 April 2020). "Home-grown trailblazers: The greatest Indian coaches in football". Sportstar. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ "The wonder that was Rahim". The New Indian Express. 4 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ^ "Hakim's tribute to his father". Sportskeeda. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Shukla, Kaushal. "Indian Football: Visionary coach and master tactician, Syed Abdul Rahim's genius stands test of time". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Banerjee, P.K; Chatterjee, Anirban (2019). BEYOND 90 MINUTES: An Autobiography. Notion Press. p. 106. ISBN 9781684662623. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ "First look of Syed Abdul Rahim's biopic "Maidaan" released". The Bridge. 2020-01-30. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-03. Check date values in:
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External links[]
- 1909 births
- 1963 deaths
- Footballers from Telangana
- Indian Muslims
- India national football team managers
- Indian footballers
- Indian expatriate footballers
- Indian football coaches
- Footballers from Hyderabad, India
- Footballers at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Asian Games competitors for India
- Olympic footballers of India