AlfonzoGuess50 at 11:28, 10 April 2026

2026-04-10T11:28:31Z

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{{Short description|British Indian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mahbub Khan
| image = File:Saboo with Kolkata Mohammedan in 1940 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Saboo with Kolkata Mohammedan in 1940
| fullname = Mahbub Khan
| birth_date = {{circa}} 1917
| birth_place = Unknown{{efn|name=birthplace|Some sources state he was from [[North-West Frontier Province]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2014-10-24 |title=How Mohammedan Sporting's glorious past is linked to its uncertain future |url=https://qz.com/india/286516/how-its-glorious-past-is-linked-to-the-uncertain-future-of-mohammedan-sporting |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref> while others state he was from [[Bangalore]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Ronojoy |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Nation_at_Play/O5mACgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Saboo+,+Masoom+,+and+Rahim%22&pg=PA124&printsec=frontcover |title=Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India |date=2015-10-27 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-53993-7 |pages=124 |language=en}}</ref>}}
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17480679|title=INDIAN SOCCER TEAM|page=15|publisher=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|via=trove.nla.gov.au|date=12 August 1938|access-date=29 January 2026|archive-date=29 January 2026|archive-url=https://archive.today/20260129141416/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17480679|url-status=live}}</ref>
| death_date = {{death date and given age|1980|6|6|df=y|64–65}}<ref name="death">{{cite news|title=স্বস্মৃতির আখরে আর একটি নাম আব্বাস মীর্জা|trans-title=Another name at the end of the memory is Abbas Mirza|page=6|date=1 October 1980|language=bn|publisher=[[Krirajagat]]|quote=কলিকাতা মোহামেডানের কৃতী খেলোয়াড় মাহবুব খান ওরফে সাবু, মারা যান গত ৬ই জুন-ভারতের বাঙ্গালোরে, তাঁর নিজ শহরে।|trans-quote=Mahbub Khan, alias Saboo, a veteran player of Kolkata Mohammedan, died on 6th June in his hometown of Bangalore, India.}}</ref>
| death_place = [[Bengaluru]], [[India]]
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Inside left]]
| years1 = 19??–19??
| clubs1 = Crescent Club Bangalore
| years2 = 1930s–1940s
| clubs2 = [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]]
| caps2 =
| goals2 = 45+
| years3 = 1942
| clubs3 = → Bata SC Calcutta (loan)
| nationalyears1 = 1938–1946
| nationalteam1 = [[India national football team|India XI]]
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
}}

'''Mahbub Khan''' ({{circa}} 1917 – 6 June 1980),<ref name="death"/> commonly known as, '''Saboo''', was a [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Forward (association football)|Inside left]]. He was one of the most well-known players of [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Kolkata Mohammedan]] throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

== Club career ==
Saboo played for the Crescent Club of [[Bangalore]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ray |first=Rishav |url=https://books.google.com.qa/books?id=58gUEQAAQBAJ&pg=PA80&dq=Masum+was+considered+a+gem+of+a&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwih2amPotqTAxU6k_0HHbV_C-YQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=Masum%20was%20considered%20a%20gem%20of%20a&f=false |title=A Game of Two Halves: The Story of the Golden Era of Indian Club Football |date=2024-07-19 |publisher=Exceller Books |language=en}}</ref> before joining [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan Sporting Club]] of [[Calcutta]], where he played for throughout the 1930s as well as the 1940s.

In 1936, Saboo was instrumental in Mohammedan's 1936 [[IFA Shield]] triumph, notably scoring a [[hat-trick]] in the semi-finals against [[Howrah Union]] to win the match 4–0.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8sA-AAAAIBAJ&dq=Jumma+Khan+Jr.&pg=PA20&article_id=6479,1585799 |title=The Indian Express |publisher=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

In 1940, After an early goal by Noor Mohammad in the 24th minute, Saboo would score the winning goal in the historic [[1940 Durand Cup final]] against the [[Royal Warwickshire Regiment]], securing a 2–1 victory.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Faizan |date=2025-08-28 |title=Mohammedan SC's Iconic 1940 Durand Cup Victory |url=https://tacklefrombehind.com/football/mohammedan-sc-1940-durand-cup/ |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=TFB |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Aniket |date=2015-08-29 |title=Looking back at Mohammedan Sporting's historic Durand Cup triumph |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/looking-back-mohammedan-sportings-historic-durand-cup-triumph |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=sportskeeda.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 1940 |title=Amrita Bazar Patrika |url=http://ndl.iitkgp.ac.in/nw_document/csssc_abp/abp/21078}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kc0-AAAAIBAJ&dq=Durand+Cup+Final&pg=PA3&article_id=4263,764990 |title=The Indian Express |publisher=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He also helped the club become the first ever Indian club to win the [[Durand Cup]]. He would also finish as the league's top goal-scorer with 11 goals the same year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Ray |first=Rishav |url=https://books.google.com.qa/books?id=58gUEQAAQBAJ&pg=PA104&dq=Hafiz+Rashid&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjB9YiagOaSAxWWY6QEHXnwG6YQ6AF6BAgOEAM#v=onepage&q=Hafiz%20Rashid&f=false |title=A Game of Two Halves: The Story of the Golden Era of Indian Club Football |date=2024-07-19 |publisher=Exceller Books |language=en}}</ref> The following year, In the [[IFA Shield]], he scored seven goals in a ten to nil win for [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thursday, 31 July 1941, Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003221/19410731/190/0013}}</ref> He also played a key role in helping the team win the tournament the very same year, scoring in the final alongside teammate [[Rashid Khan (footballer)|Rashid Khan]].<ref name=":1" /> As well as netting in 16 goals in the league, becoming the league's top goal-scorer back-to-back.<ref name=":1" />

In 1942, Saboo, along with a few fellow teammates of [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan Sporting]] were loaned to Bata SC for their participation in the [[Rovers Cup]] that year. Players like Noor Mohammed Jr., Taher, [[Sirajuddin (footballer)|Sirajuddin]], [[Hafiz Rashid]] joined the team, that year, the team managed to reach the final of the tournament. Winning the final match 3–1 against Bombay Champions, W.I.A.A. Staff.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 1942 |title=Amrita Bazar Patrika |url=http://www.ndl.gov.in/nw_document/csssc_abp/abp/28147}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 1942 |title=Amrita Bazar Patrika |url=http://www.ndl.gov.in/nw_document/csssc_abp/abp/28231}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 1942 |title=Amrita Bazar Patrika |url=http://www.ndl.gov.in/nw_document/csssc_abp/abp/28255}}</ref>

== International career ==
In 1938, Saboo was selected to represent an [[India national football team|Indian XI]] for their tour to [[Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=I.F.A. TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA|date=2 August 1938|access-date=29 January 2026|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003221/19380802/192/0013|url-access=subscription|work=[[The Civil and Military Gazette]]|via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> He was also selected to represent the team for their tour of [[South Africa]] in 1946.<ref>{{Cite web |title=INDIAN FOOTBALL TEAM FOR SOUTH AFRICA|date=19 June 1946|access-date=29 January 2026|url-access=subscription|url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003221/19460619/139/0008|work=[[The Civil and Military Gazette]]|via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>

== Death ==
Saboo died on 6 June 1980 in [[Bengaluru]], [[India]].<ref name="death"/>

== Honours ==
===Mohammedan Sporting===
* [[Calcutta Football League]]:
** Winners (7): 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941
* [[Durand Cup]]:
** Winners (1): [[1940 Durand Cup final|1940]]
*[[IFA Shield]]:
** Winners (3): 1936, 1941, 1942

===Bata SC===
* [[Rovers Cup]]:
** Winners (1): 1942

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Indian men's footballers]]
[[Category:India men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Mohammedan SC (Kolkata) players]]
[[Category:Calcutta Football League players]]
[[Category:Men's association football inside forwards]]
[[Category:1910s births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]

Saboo (footballer) - Revision history

AlfonzoGuess50 at 11:28, 10 April 2026