UpdateBot at 09:56, 17 April 2022

2022-04-17T09:56:39Z

imported>Normal Name: Adding local short description: "Indian football coach", overriding Wikidata description "Manager of the India national football team, 1950 to 1963" (Shortdesc helper)

2021-08-17T08:25:39Z

Adding local short description: "Indian football coach", overriding Wikidata description "Manager of the India national football team, 1950 to 1963" (Shortdesc helper)

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{{Short description|Indian football coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name =Syed Abdul Rahim
| image = Syed_Abdul_Rahim,_India_Football_Coach.jpg
| alt = 
| caption =
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1909|08|17|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Hyderabad State]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1963|06|11|1909|08|17|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Hyderabad]]
| other_names =
| fullname =
| position =
| youthyears1 = 1927–1931
| youthclubs1 = [[Osmania University]]
| years1 = 1943
| years2 = 1950
| clubs1 = Qamar Club
| clubs2 = [[HSV Hoek]]
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| manageryears1 = 1943–1950
| manageryears2 = 1950–1963
| managerclubs1 = [[Hyderabad City Police]] (head coach & secretary)
| managerclubs2 = [[India national football team|India]]
}}
'''Syed Abdul Rahim''' (17 August 1909 – 11 June 1963) was an [[Football in India|Indian football]] coach and manager of the [[India national football team|Indian national team]] from 1950 until his death in 1963 and was a former player.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=History in Timeline of Indian Football|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/history|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308124507/http://www.the-aiff.com/history|archive-date=8 March 2020|access-date=2021-02-15|website=All India Football Federation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Syed Abdul Rahim {{!}} The Architect of Modern Indian Football|url=https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Indian-Football/Syed-Abdul-Rahim/1651|access-date=2021-02-14|website=Chase Your Sport|language=en|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131458/https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Indian-Football/Syed-Abdul-Rahim/1651|url-status=live}}</ref> He is regarded as the architect of modern Indian football.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Forgotten on birth centenary - Legendary coach rahim - SAAB yet to get the honour and respect he deserves|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/forgotten-on-birth-centenary-legendary-coach-rahim-saab-yet-to-get-the-honour-and-respect-he-deserves/cid/604641|access-date=2021-02-14|website=www.telegraphindia.com|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131519/https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/forgotten-on-birth-centenary-legendary-coach-rahim-saab-yet-to-get-the-honour-and-respect-he-deserves/cid/604641|url-status=live}}</ref> Basically a teacher by profession,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Basu|first=Jaydeep|title=In unbearable pain but with football on his mind: The last nine months of Syed Abdul Rahim's life|url=https://scroll.in/field/973215/in-unbearable-pain-but-with-football-on-his-mind-the-last-nine-months-of-syed-abdul-rahims-life|access-date=2021-02-14|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|archive-date=8 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108094109/https://scroll.in/field/973215/in-unbearable-pain-but-with-football-on-his-mind-the-last-nine-months-of-syed-abdul-rahims-life|url-status=live}}</ref> he was a good motivator<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-13|title=Who is Syed Abdul Rahim? Know about the Indian football coach set to be played by Ajay Devgn|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/entertainment/who-is-syed-abdul-rahim-know-about-the-indian-football-coach-set-to-be-played-by-ajay-devgn/1243281/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131459/https://www.financialexpress.com/entertainment/who-is-syed-abdul-rahim-know-about-the-indian-football-coach-set-to-be-played-by-ajay-devgn/1243281/|url-status=live}}</ref> and his tenure as a coach is regarded as a "golden age" of football in India.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Venkatesan|first=Sudarshan|date=2019-01-06|title=The Golden Age of Indian Football under Syed Abdul Rahim|url=https://thesportsrush.com/the-golden-age-of-indian-football-under-syed-abdul-rahim/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=The SportsRush|language=en-US|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611181331/https://thesportsrush.com/the-golden-age-of-indian-football-under-syed-abdul-rahim/|url-status=live}}</ref> He led the Indian team to the semi-finals of the [[Association football at the 1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne Olympic Football tournament]] making India the first ever Asian country to achieve this place.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Melbourne 1956: When India became the first Asian team to play in Olympic semi-finals|url=https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Football/Indian-football-team-in-1956-Melbourne-Olympics/441|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Chase Your Sport|language=en|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131459/https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Football/Indian-football-team-in-1956-Melbourne-Olympics/441|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Remembering Syed Abdul Rahim|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/2009/oct/10/remembering-syed-abdul-rahim-91378.html|access-date=2021-02-14|website=The New Indian Express|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427101351/https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/2009/oct/10/remembering-syed-abdul-rahim-91378.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==
Rahim was born on 17 August 1909 in [[Hyderabad, India]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Ayushi|title='Maidan' has the Story of Syed Abdul Rahim who Battled Cancer & Won Gold|url=https://www.sinceindependence.com/maidan-has-the-story-of-syed-abdul-rahim-who-battled-cancer-won-gold/|access-date=2021-02-14|language=en-US|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131514/https://www.sinceindependence.com/maidan-has-the-story-of-syed-abdul-rahim-who-battled-cancer-won-gold/|url-status=live}}</ref> In his early years, he represented the football team of [[Osmania University]], from where he did his graduation<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-04|title=Architect Of Modern Indian Football {{!}} Syed Abdul Rahim {{!}} Maidaan Movie|url=https://therealgems.com/architect-of-modern-indian-football-syed-abdul-rahim/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=The Real Gems|language=en-US|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131538/https://therealgems.com/architect-of-modern-indian-football-syed-abdul-rahim/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Remembering Rahim Saab, the man who put India on the world football map|url=http://www.catchnews.com/football-news/syed-abdul-rahim-the-story-of-india-s-greatest-football-coach-1439791142.html|access-date=2021-02-14|website=CatchNews.com|language=en|archive-date=28 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928082937/http://www.catchnews.com/football-news/syed-abdul-rahim-the-story-of-india-s-greatest-football-coach-1439791142.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and played for a team "Eleven Hunters" that was made up of current and former students of the college.<ref name=SP/>

After his journey as a teacher, Rahim returned to the college to complete his arts degree. Thereafter, he worked as the teacher successively in Kachiguda Middle School, Urdu Sharif School, Darul-ul-Uloom High School and Chaderghat High School.<ref name=SP/> He then took a diploma in physical education and took charge of sports activities in the last two schools he served as teacher.<ref name=SP/>

Rahim was a professional footballer for a while, as he had represented Qamar Club, which was then considered to be one of the best teams in the local league.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-23|title=Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"|url=https://footballpink.net/2018-11-22-syed-abdul-rahim-the-architect-of-indian-footballs-golden-age/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=The Football Pink|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116054319/https://footballpink.net/2018-11-22-syed-abdul-rahim-the-architect-of-indian-footballs-golden-age/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rahim also played for the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] club [[HSV Hoek]], before going on to become a manager.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hyderabad FC - reigniting the footballing spark in the City of Nizams|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/features/hyderabad-fc---reigniting-the-footballing-spark-in-the-city-of-nizams|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Indian Super League|language=en|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427101357/https://www.indiansuperleague.com/features/hyderabad-fc---reigniting-the-footballing-spark-in-the-city-of-nizams|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1943, Rahim was elected as the Secretary of the Hyderabad Football Association.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-23|title=Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"|url=https://footballpink.net/2018-11-22-syed-abdul-rahim-the-architect-of-indian-footballs-golden-age/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=The Football Pink|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116054319/https://footballpink.net/2018-11-22-syed-abdul-rahim-the-architect-of-indian-footballs-golden-age/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also became the coach of the [[Hyderabad City Police]] from 1943 until 1963.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Down the memory lane - The fascinating story of Hyderabad City Police club {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/indian-football-down-the-memory-lane-hyderabad-city-police/16efj51rt5fzr1ez72zudmm4wf|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.goal.com|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131536/https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/indian-football-down-the-memory-lane-hyderabad-city-police/16efj51rt5fzr1ez72zudmm4wf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-23|title=Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"|url=https://footballpink.net/2018-11-22-syed-abdul-rahim-the-architect-of-indian-footballs-golden-age/|access-date=2021-02-14|website=The Football Pink|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116054319/https://footballpink.net/2018-11-22-syed-abdul-rahim-the-architect-of-indian-footballs-golden-age/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rahim's first assignment as the coach of India was to train the team that toured [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] in 1949.<ref name="SP">N. Ganesan, "Loss to Indian Soccer", Sport & Pastime, p.14, 27 July 1963.</ref> Two years later, India won the gold in their first [[1951 Asian Games|Asian Games in 1951]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ghoshal|first=Amoy|date=2014-08-15|title=Indian football team at the Asian Games: 1951 New Delhi|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1951-new-delhi|access-date=2021-02-15|website=www.sportskeeda.com|language=en-us|archive-date=22 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322112033/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-team-at-the-asian-games-1951-new-delhi|url-status=live}}</ref>

During Rahim's tenure, the Indian football team enjoyed a great deal of success. Apart from winning the Asian games in [[1951 Asian Games|1951]] and [[1962 Asian Games|1962]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khanna|first=Ashish|date=2018-07-14|title=Ajay Devgan to play lead in legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim biopic|url=https://www.insidesport.co/ajay-devgan-to-play-lead-in-legendary-football-coach-syed-abdul-rahim-biopic/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=InsideSport|language=en-gb|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131502/https://www.insidesport.co/ajay-devgan-to-play-lead-in-legendary-football-coach-syed-abdul-rahim-biopic/|url-status=live}}</ref> India also reached the semi-finals of the [[1956 Melbourne Olympics]] which is still considered India's greatest ever achievement in football.<ref name="TOI1">{{cite news| title=Olympians want Padma Bhushan for Rahim| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Olympians-want-Padma-Bhushan-for-Rahim/articleshow/11518024.cms| publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com| date=17 January 2012| access-date=3 April 2012| archive-date=15 April 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415151703/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Olympians-want-Padma-Bhushan-for-Rahim/articleshow/11518024.cms| url-status=live}}</ref>

Rahim's last success was at the [[1962 Asian Games|1962 Asian games]] in [[Jakarta]], where India went on to win gold, beating [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] in the finals in front of a crowd of 100,000.<ref>{{Cite web|last=PTI|title=On this day: India wins football gold in 1962 Asian Games|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/on-this-day-indian-football-team-asian-games-1962-gold-arun-ghosh-south-korea-jakarta/article32523326.ece|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Sportstar|language=en|archive-date=16 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216175227/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/on-this-day-indian-football-team-asian-games-1962-gold-arun-ghosh-south-korea-jakarta/article32523326.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Rahim's son, [[Syed Shahid Hakim]] was a former professional football player, and had represented India in the [[1960 Summer Olympics]] tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=6 March 2013|title=Hakim's tribute to his father|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/hakims-tribute-to-his-father|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320232438/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/hakims-tribute-to-his-father|archive-date=20 March 2021|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Sportskeeda}}</ref>

==Death==
Rahim died from cancer on 11 June 1963 after being bed-ridden for six months.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shukla|first=Kaushal|title=Indian Football: Visionary coach and master tactician, Syed Abdul Rahim's genius stands test of time|url=https://scroll.in/field/959400/indian-football-visionary-coach-and-master-tactician-syed-abdul-rahims-genius-stands-test-of-time|access-date=2021-02-15|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109151030/https://scroll.in/field/959400/indian-football-visionary-coach-and-master-tactician-syed-abdul-rahims-genius-stands-test-of-time|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=SP>N. Ganesan, "Loss to Indian Soccer", Sport & Pastime, p.14, 27 July 1963.</ref>

==Legacy==

When Indian national coach Alberto Fernando had gone to a workshop in [[Brazil]] in 1964, he said:

<blockquote>''What I learnt from Rahim in 1956 is being taught now in Brazil. Verily, he was a football prophet.''<ref name="IE">{{cite news|title=The wonder that was Rahim|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/article557718.ece|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=4 July 2012|access-date=4 April 2013|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131504/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2012/jul/04/the-wonder-that-was-rahim-383284.html|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

==In popular culture==
A biopic on Rahim named [[Maidaan]] is going to release on 15 October 2021 with [[Ajay Devgn]] in lead role.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-30|title=First look of Syed Abdul Rahim's biopic "Maidaan" released|url=https://thebridge.in/football/first-look-of-former-india-football-coach-syed-abdul-rahims-biopic-maidaan-released/|access-date=2021-02-15|website=The Bridge|language=en-GB|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410151949/https://thebridge.in/football/first-look-of-former-india-football-coach-syed-abdul-rahims-biopic-maidaan-released/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thehardtackle.com/index.php/legends-of-indian-football-rahim-saab/ Legends Of Indian Football: Rahim Saab]

{{Asian Games men's football winning managers}}
{{Navboxes colour
| title = India squads
| bg = #1C39BC
| fg = #FFFFFF
| list1 =
{{India men's football squad 1952 Summer Olympics}}
{{India men's football squad 1956 Summer Olympics}}
{{India men's football squad 1960 Summer Olympics}}
}}
{{India national football team managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahim, Abdul}}
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Telangana]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:India national football team managers]]
[[Category:Indian footballers]]
[[Category:Indian expatriate footballers]]
[[Category:Indian football coaches]]
[[Category:Footballers from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1956 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Asian Games competitors for India]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers of India]]
[[Category:Association footballers not categorized by position]]

Syed Abdul Rahim - Revision history

UpdateBot at 09:56, 17 April 2022

imported>Normal Name: Adding local short description: "Indian football coach", overriding Wikidata description "Manager of the India national football team, 1950 to 1963" (Shortdesc helper)