Mohammed Habib, the playmaker of the 1970s who scored in Mohun Bagan colors against Pele’s New York Cosmos and convinced the legendary footballer to take notice of his ability, passed away on Tuesday. The 74-year-old was a former football player for India. Scroll down to read more details about football legend Mohammed Habib dies at 74.
Football Legend Mohammed Habib Dies At 74
Habib passed away after a few years of suffering from dementia and Parkinson’s illness in Hyderabad, where he was born. His wife and three daughters are left behind to bury Habib.
Under the leadership of fellow Hyderabadi Syed Nayeemuddin and manager PK Banerjee, Habib won a bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok. In his prime, he played for the big three of Kolkata Maidan, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and Mohammedan Sporting, who dominated the Mecca of Indian football for a considerable amount of time in the late 1960s through the 1970s.
The former India captain, who was born on July 17, 1949, made his international debut against Thailand in the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 1967. He went on to play 35 times for his nation, scoring 11 goals in the process.
Mohammad Habib Career
Habib began coaching at the Tata Football Academy (TFA) after a great playing career that earned him legendary status and the title of the nation’s first “true professional” footballer for his unwillingness to accept countless employment offers that came his way as a result of his on-field exploits.
Later, he served as the head coach of the Haldia-based Indian Football Association academy. He was unfazed and maintained his professionalism throughout his career at a time when clubs were paying their best players minimal salaries because he saw football as his true and only profession.
One of Habib’s career high points came in 1977, during a friendly match at Eden Gardens against the visiting Cosmos Club, which also included the legendary Pele.
Mohun Bagan held their own in a respectable 2-2 tie with a visiting club that had a star-studded lineup with famous names like Pele, Carlos Alberto, Georgio Chinaglia, and others in its ranks. Midfield stalwart Habib scored one of the goals.
When he played a crucial role in the Blue Tigers’ journey to the Asian Games bronze medal, Habib cemented his place in Indian football mythology in 1970. After that, he assisted India in sharing the Pesta Sukan Cup victory with South Vietnam in 1971. Habib represented his country in football until 1975. He received the Arjuna Award for his contributions to the sport.
When Habib joined East Bengal in 1966, he relocated from Hyderabad to Kolkata on the home front. He played with distinction for all three of Kolkata’s main clubs for the ensuing 18 seasons, quickly developing into an Indian football icon. His tenacity, perseverance, and never-give-up mentality on the pitch served as an example for generations of football players as well as his contemporaries.
Habib was consistently regarded as a big-game football player who always delivered when it counted. In three Durand Cup finals throughout seven seasons for East Bengal, he earned the exceptional distinction of scoring the game-winning goal.
Habib was one of the very few players who played for East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in 1972 and 1977, respectively. He won the Triple Crown (IFA Shield, Durand Cup, and Rovers Cup) in the same season.
May his soul rest in peace.
