Mohammad Habib, a former forward for India, died on Tuesday at his home in Hyderabad. He had been sick for a long time.
During his playing days, he was known as the “Bade Miya” of Kolkata football. His wife and three girls are the only people he left behind.
The former captain of India was born on July 17, 1949. He led India in 35 international games and made 11 goals. His first game was against Thailand in the Merdeka Cup at Kuala Lumpur in 1967. Habib wrote his name into the history of Indian football in 1970, when the Blue Tigers won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. He was an important part of that team.
He then helped India win the Pesta Sukan Cup with South Vietnam in 1971. Habib played football for his country until 1975. He got the Arjuna Award because of what he did for the game.
Mr. Kalyan Chaubey, the president of the AIFF, sent his sympathies by saying, “I am very sad to hear that Mohammed Habib has died. My teacher and guide at TFA and Mohun Bagan was the “Bade Miya” of Kolkata football. He will always be known for what he did to help India win a bronze medal at the Asian Games in 1970. May his spirit rest in peace.”
AIFF Secretary General Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran said, “Mohammed Habib was one of the best football players of his time and stayed committed to the game his whole life.” His death makes me feel very sad.”
When he joined East Bengal in 1966, Habib moved his family from Hyderabad to Kolkata. Over the next 18 seasons, he played well for the top three teams in Kolkata: East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting. He quickly became a hero in Indian football. His toughness, drive, and “never say die” attitude on the field were an example for players of his time and for many years after. He loved football so much that when he was playing, he turned down every job offer so he could focus on football. In a way, he was the first professional football player in the country.
Habib was always thought of as a big-game football player, and he always did his best when it mattered most. In the Santosh Trophy final in 1969, he helped Bengal beat Services 6-1. He made five goals in that game, which is still a record.
In the seven years he played for East Bengal, he scored the winning goal in three Durand Cup games. This is a very rare accomplishment.
When Pele’s Cosmos Club played against the Green and Maroon troops in a practice game in Kolkata, he was the best player for Mohun Bagan. Habib not only scored a goal in the 2-2 tie, but his amazing performance at the Eden Garden that night also earned him praise from King Pele. Habib was one of the few players to win the Triple Crown (the IFA Shield, Durand Cup, and Rovers Cup in the same season) for both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in 1972 and 1977, respectively.
Once Habib chose to give up his famous number 10 jersey in 1982, he was able to do well as a teacher. When he became the coach at the Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur, he helped train a number of football players who went on to play for the Indian National Team. He also led Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting in the future.
Habib won the Santosh Trophy five times, with Andhra Pradesh in 1965, Bengal in 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1975. He also won the Calcutta Football League 10 times (1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, and 1982), the Durand Cup five times (1967, 1970, 1972, 1977, and 1982), the Rovers Cup seven times (1967, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, and 1981), the IFA Shield four times (1970, 1972, 1973, and 1974), and the Federation Cup twice (1978 and 1981) with clubs like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.