Mohammed Aimen

Mohammed Aimen (born 20 January 2003) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters. Aimen is the twin brother of Mohammed Azhar.[1]

Mohammed Aimen
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-01-20) 20 January 2003
Place of birth Lakshadweep, India
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Winger, Forward
Team information
Current team
 Kerala Blasters
Number 19
Youth career
Don Bosco FA
2018–2022 Kerala Blasters
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Kerala Blasters B 11 (2)
2022– Kerala Blasters 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:30, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Youth and early career

Aimen, along with his twin brother Azhar joined the Kerala Blasters Academy in 2018 at the age of fifteen, after a short spell in the Don Bosco football academy. The twins had moved to Kerala from Lakshadweep for their schooling and attended the Kerala Blasters U-15 trials, getting selected in the process. Aimen then rose through the ranks along with his brother and played for the under-15 and under-18 teams of the Blasters.[2] Aimen eventually made it to Kerala Blasters reserves and played for them in the 2022 RFDL. He played 7 games in the tournament, which was held from 2022 April to May, where the team emerged as the runners-up and qualified for the Next Gen Cup. Aimen then played for the side in the Next Gen Cup held in United Kingdom in July 2022.[3]

2022–2023: Rise to the first team

In August 2022, with the first team preparing for the 2022–23 Indian Super League season in UAE, Kerala Blasters fielded their reserves for the 2022 Durand Cup, where Aimen was included in the squad.[4] He scored three goals, including a brace against NorthEast United and registered one assist, from five appearances during the tournament.[5] Aimen was then promoted to the club's senior team ahead of the 2022–23 season along with Azhar, to train with them on a developmental role for the 2022–23 Indian Super League season. During the season, he played for the reserve team in the 2022–23 Kerala Premier League and the 2023 RFDL. In November 2022, Aimen and Azhar were sent to Poland for a three week training stint with the Polish top tier club Rakow Czestochowa.[6]

In April 2023, Aimen was included in the Kerala Blasters squad for the 2023 Super Cup.[7] He finally made his official first team debut for Kerala Blasters on 16 April 2023 in the group stage match against Bengaluru FC, by coming as a substitute in the 77th minute for Rahul K.P, where the match ended in a draw.[8]

2023–present: Contract extension and league debut

On 9 May 2023, Kerala Blasters announced that Aimen has signed a three-year contract extension with the club, that would keep him with them until 2026.[9] Aimen was included in the Blasters' starting eleven for the first time against on 13 August 2023 in the first game of 2023 Durand Cup against Gokulam Kerala, which the Blasters lost 3–4, where he played for the entire 90 minutes.[10] In the match, he provided an assist for Prabir Das' goal.[11] Aimen scored his first official goal for Kerala Blasters senior team on 18 August against Bengaluru reserves, after coming as a substitute in the 67th minute.[12] On 21 August, he scored his second goal of the tournament against Indian Air Force, which was also his fifth goal in Durand cup overall.[13]

Aimen made his Indian Super League debut for the club on 21 September in the season opener at home, against Bengaluru FC, which the Blasters won 2–1. He also became the first player from Lakshadweep to play in the Indian Super League.[14]

Personal life

Aimen's twin brother Azhar is also a professional footballer; both twins joined Kerala Blasters academy at the same time in 2018. Born in Lakshadweep, the twins later grew up in Kochi, Kerala, as their father worked at the Lakshadweep Communication in Kochi.[15]

References
  1. "Kerala Blasters academy graduates Aimen & Azhar to join Polish club Rakow Czestochowa for training". Khel Now. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  2. Santhosh, Aswathy (19 November 2022). "Kerala Blasters twins set to fly to Poland for three-week training". thebridge.in. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  3. he was a good player to have this team as his carrier. "Kerala Blasters announce squad for Next Gen Cup 2022". Khel Now. Retrieved 21 August 2023. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  4. "Kerala Blasters announces 21-man squad for Durand Cup". sportstar.thehindu.com. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  5. "Aimen's brace blasts Kerala past NorthEast United". The Hindu. 27 August 2022. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  6. "കേരള ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്സിന് ആവേശം സമ്മാനിക്കുന്ന വാർത്ത, രണ്ട് താരങ്ങൾ പരിശീലനത്തിനായി പോളണ്ടിലേക്ക്‌". Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  7. "Super Cup 2023: Kerala Blasters announces 29-men squad". sportstar.thehindu.com. 3 April 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  8. "Bengaluru FC 1-1 Kerala Blasters Highlights: Diamantakos, Roy Krishna score, BFC through to Super Cup 2023 semis". Sportstar. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  9. "ISL: Kerala Blasters extend contracts of youngsters Azhar, Aiman and Saheef". Khel Now. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  10. Desk, The Bridge (13 August 2023). "Twin brothers Aimen, Azhar among 5 locals in Kerala Blasters XI vs Gokulam". thebridge.in. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  11. Guha, Sayantan (13 August 2023). "Kerala Blasters FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC: Player ratings for the Yellow Army as they fall prey to their arch-rivals in Durand Cup 2023". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  12. Chatterjee, Triyasha (18 August 2023). "Bengaluru FC 2-2 Kerala Blasters: Aimen rescues Blasters with late goal vs Blues". Inside Sport India. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  13. "Durand Cup 2023: Bidyashagar hat-trick powers Kerala Blasters to 5-0 win over Indian Air Force FT". Sportstar. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  14. "Kerala Blasters beat Bengaluru FC 2-1 in ISL opener". The Week. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  15. "Santosh Trophy: A bunch of fighters from Lakshadweep". sportstar.thehindu.com. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
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