Syed Nayeemuddin

Nayeemuddin began his club football career in 1962 with Hyderabad City Police (now known as "Andhra Pradesh Police"),[15][16] which was then a renowned side in Indian club football.[17][18][19] In an interview to Scroll.in, Balai Dey (one of few footballers represented both India and Pakistan in international football) said that he was most impressed by players like Chuni Goswami and Syed Nayeemuddin during his playing days with Kolkata clubs.[20][21] In 1968, he joined Mohun Bagan and played under "diamond coach" Amal Dutta, and won the 1969 IFA Shield with a 3–1 victory against East Bengal in the final.[22] Nayeemuddin later joined Mohun Bagan and was part of the team that went to newly independent Bangladesh in May 1972, where they defeated Dhaka Mohammedan in their first match, but lost to Shadhin Bangla football team later.[23]

He made his senior international debut for Syed Abdul Rahim managed India in 1964. In that year, he was part of the Indian team[24] that finished as runners-up at the 1964 AFC Asian Cup, losing to Israel.[25][26][27] He captained the India national team that won a bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok,[28][29][30] and was also a member of the team that won Pesta Sukan Cup in 1971 in Singapore. With India, he also appeared in 1968 Merdeka Cup under coaching of Sailen Manna,[31] and in 1969 Merdeka Cup managed by Jarnail Singh.[32]

Nayeemuddin represented Bengal in Santosh Trophy in 1970–71, in which they were eliminated from semi-final after defeat to Punjab.[33] As one of the best Indian defenders during his playing days, Nayeemuddin was one of country's solid defensive trio in the 1960s, along with Jarnail Singh and Arun Ghosh.[34]

Nayeemuddin being felicitated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at the grand opening of 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in New Delhi.

After managing Mohammedan Sporting from 1982 to 1985, Nayeemuddin was appointed head coach of India U17 team and guided the team in 1985 AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers. They failed to qualify the main round but managed to win 13–0 against Macau, which is still the biggest win of India.[35] In 1987, Nayeemuddin became assistant coach of Amal Dutta managed India, and guided the team clinching gold medal at the Calcutta South Asian Games.[36] The next year, he became head coach and Dutta became technical director.[37]

In 1990, he was appointed as head coach of East Bengal.[38] In his first season, he led the club to their second Triple-crown of Indian football (IFA Shield, Durand Cup, and Rovers Cup).[39] He helped East Bengal winning six trophies in two seasons in his first stint with the club. He was again appointed as the head coach in 1994 when he again led the team to seven trophies in two seasons. He had one more stint as the head coach in 2000 and holds the record of winning eighteen trophies as the head coach of the club, only second to P. K. Banerjee.[40][41] In East Bengal, he nurtured Indian talents including Babu Mani, Bikash Panji, Krishanu Dey,[42] and transformed Bhaichung Bhutia from a midfielder to striker.[43]

From 1992 to 1994, he managed Mohun Bagan. The club defended their Rovers Cup title and won Federation Cup in 1992.[44][45] Under his coaching, Mohun Bagan defeated Croatian First Football League club Varteks in 1994 DCM Trophy. At that time, his team participated in 1993–94 Asian Club Championship, won against Maldivian side Club Valencia and Sri Lankan club Ratnam in preliminary stages, but lost 4–0 to Thai Farmers' Bank in the first leg of second round, and refused to play the 2nd leg in Malaysia.[46]

Nayeemuddin was appointed coach of India national team in 1997.[47] He won the South Asian Football Federation Cup by beating the Maldives 5–1 and reached the semi-finals of the Nehru Cup for the first time.[48] His time in charge of the national team was blighted with no practice matches between September 1997 and November 1998 before the 1998 Asian Games. He managed the team in 1998 Asian Games held at Bangkok, where they reached second round.[49][50]

Nayeemuddin (in right) showing his skills with Iranian footballer Jamshid Nassiri at a football workshop in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, February 2016.

His tenure with India ended after the games in December 1998. Nayeemuddin in 1999, guided Mohun Bagan at the 1999–2000 Asian Club Championship.[51] His second role with India began when he succeeded Sukhwinder Singh as India coach in 2005,[52] but left in 2006 after poor performances against Japan and Yemen when qualifying for the 2007 Asian Cup.[9] He helped Bangladeshi club Brothers Union win their first ever Premier Division League title during the 2003–04 season and after coaching in India for a couple of years, he returned to Brothers Union, where he remained from 2007 to 2016.[4][53] He has previously managed Bengal Mumbai in the Mumbai Football League.[54]

In July 2007, he was appointed as head coach of Bangladesh ahead of the 2008 SAFF Championship in Malé and Colombo.[55] He stayed at the post until 2008.

I don't have any idea about the current Mohammedan squad, but I'm sure those who are going to play have the talent to represent Mohammedan. I believe in hard work. I just need one percent of talent and 99 percent of hard work to get success. I will build players through hard work. I have to do something as I have taken the responsibility. My first target is the Federation Cup and then I want to go step by step.

— Syed Naeemuddin, after his appointment as head coach of Mohammedan Sporting (Dhaka).[56]

Nayeemuddin last managed Dhaka Mohammedan, a Bangladeshi club, from May to October 2017.

In April 2022 on the occasion of Dawat-e-Iftar (transl. Iftar Dinner), Nayeemuddin was awarded the Shaan-e-Mohammedan (transl. 'Pride of Mohammedan') by Mohammedan Sporting, which is the lifetime achievement award presented by the club annually since 2015, to respect and laud footballing personalities for their indispensable contribution to the club during their career.[57]

• List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports
• List of India national football team captains
• List of India national football team managers
• List of East Bengal Club coaches
• History of the India national football team

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• Syed Nayeemuddin at Soccerway
• Syed Nayeemuddin profile and biography at The Mohun Bagan AC
• Chaudhuri, Arunava (21 December 2002). "NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF December 2002 - Syed Nayeemuddin". www.indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 22 February 2002. Retrieved 13 November 2021.