Syed Abdul Rahim

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Syed Abdul Rahim
Rahim Saab as manager of India during their golden era
Personal information
Full name Syed Abdul Rahim[1]
Date of birth (1909-08-17)17 August 1909
Place of birth Hyderabad, Hyderabad State
Date of death 11 June 1963(1963-06-11) (aged 53)
Place of death Hyderabad
Youth career
1927–1931 Osmania University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1943 Qamar Club
1950 HSV Hoek
Teams managed
1943–1950 Hyderabad City Police (head coach & secretary)
1950–1963 India
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Syed Abdul Rahim (17 August 1909 – 11 June 1963), popularly known as Rahim Saab, was an Indian football coach and manager of the Indian national team from 1950 until his death in 1963, and a former player.[2][3][4] He is regarded as the architect of modern Indian football.[5] Basically a teacher by profession,[6] he was a good motivator[7] and his tenure as a coach is regarded as a "golden age" of football in India,[8] and under his stewardship he led the Indian Football team to win Gold medals in Asian Games of—(1951-Delhi and 1962-Jakarta), play semi-finals of the Summer Olympics—(1956-Melbourne) making India the first ever Asian country to achieve this place,[9] win the titles of Colombo Cup for the years of—(1952-Colombo and 1954-Calcutta and came runners-up in Pestabola Merdeka—(1959 KualaLumpur).[10]

Career[edit | edit source]

Rahim was born on 17 August 1909 in Hyderabad, India.[11][12] In his early years, he represented the football team of Osmania University, from where he did his graduation[13][14] and played for a team "Eleven Hunters" that was made up of current and former students of the college.[15]

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.[15] He then took a diploma in physical education and took charge of sports activities in the last two schools he served as teacher.[15]

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.[16] Rahim also played for the Dutch club HSV Hoek,[17] before going on to become a manager.[18]

In 1943, Rahim was elected as the Secretary of the Hyderabad Football Association.[19] He also became the coach of the Hyderabad City Police FC from 1943 until 1963.[20][21] Rahim's first assignment as the coach of India was to train the team that toured Ceylon in 1949.[15] Two years later, India won the gold in their first Asian Games in 1951.[22]

During Rahim's tenure, the Indian football team enjoyed a great deal of success.[23] Apart from winning the Asian games in 1951 and 1962,[24] India also reached the semi-finals of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics which is still considered India's greatest ever achievement in football.[25]

Rahim's last success was at the 1962 Asian games in Jakarta, where India went on to win gold, beating South Korea in the finals in front of a crowd of 100,000.[26]

Tactics and style[edit | edit source]

Rahim is considered to be the greatest coach India has ever produced, His tenure is considered as a "Golden age" of Indian football.[27] Rahim was a teacher in his early career and coached Hyderabad City Police FC,[28] which made him a strict disciplinarian and a good tactician, utilizing the available resources he make best out of it, in the process to improve one-touch play he conducted non-dribbling and weaker leg-(the players supposedly play with their weaker foot) tournaments. Rahim introduced the classic 4-2-4 formation in Indian football team much before Brazil popularised it in the 1958 World Cup.[29]

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

What I learnt from Rahim in 1956 is being taught now in Brazil. Verily, he was a football prophet.[30]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Rahim's son, Syed Shahid Hakim was a former professional football player, and had represented India in the 1960 Summer Olympics tournament.[31][32]

Death[edit | edit source]

Rahim died from cancer on 11 June 1963 after being bed-ridden for six months.[33][15]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

A former Indian football player Fortunato Franco said about "Rahim Saab";

With him he took Indian Football to the grave.[34]

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

A biopic on Rahim named Maidaan, directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, is going to be released on 15 June 2022 with Ajay Devgn in lead role.[35][36]

Honours[edit | edit source]

Manager[edit | edit source]

India

Gold Medal: 1951, 1962
Winners: 1952, 1954
Runners-up: 1959

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Rahim, Amal Dutta, P.K. and Nayeem: The Coaches Who Shaped Indian Football" (PDF). la84foundation.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2007.
  2. ↑ "History in Timeline of Indian Football". All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Syed Abdul Rahim | The Architect of Modern Indian Football". Chase Your Sport. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  4. ↑ Morrison, Neil (12 February 2015). "1955 USSR and India reciprocal tours". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Forgotten on birth centenary - Legendary coach rahim - SAAB yet to get the honour and respect he deserves". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  6. ↑ Basu, Jaydeep. "In unbearable pain but with football on his mind: The last nine months of Syed Abdul Rahim's life". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Who is Syed Abdul Rahim? Know about the Indian football coach set to be played by Ajay Devgn". The Financial Express. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Venkatesan, Sudarshan (6 January 2019). "The Golden Age of Indian Football under Syed Abdul Rahim". The SportsRush. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Home Sport Remembering 'the best football coach India'". New Indian Express. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  10. ↑ Coutinho, Austin (9 February 2019). "Syed Abdul Rahim: Remembering Indian football's hero as Ajay Devgn-starrer pays homage to legendary coach". FirstPost. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "This Forgotten Coach Was the Architect of Indian Football's 'Golden Age'". The Better India. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Football coach Abdul Rahim, a forgotten hero". The New Indian Express. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  13. ↑ "Architect Of Modern Indian Football | Syed Abdul Rahim | Maidaan Movie". The Real Gems. 4 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Remembering Rahim Saab, the man who put India on the world football map". CatchNews.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 N. Ganesan, "Loss to Indian Soccer", Sport & Pastime, p.14, 27 July 1963.
  16. ↑ "Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"". The Football Pink. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  17. ↑ Dixit, Puranjay. Ranked: All male Indian footballers to play outside Asia Sportskeeda. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "Hyderabad FC - reigniting the footballing spark in the City of Nizams". Indian Super League. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"". The Football Pink. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  20. ↑ "Down the memory lane - The fascinating story of Hyderabad City Police club | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  21. ↑ "Syed Abdul Rahim: The architect of Indian football's "Golden age"". The Football Pink. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  22. ↑ Ghoshal, Amoy (15 August 2014). "Indian football team at the Asian Games: 1951 New Delhi". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  23. ↑ Old-timers recollect past glory of city football The Hans India. Retrieved 5 September 2021
  24. ↑ Khanna, Ashish (14 July 2018). "Ajay Devgan to play lead in legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim biopic". InsideSport. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  25. ↑ "Olympians want Padma Bhushan for Rahim". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
  26. ↑ PTI. "On this day: India wins football gold in 1962 Asian Games". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  27. ↑ Majumdar, Boria, Bandyopadhyay, Kausik (1 February 2006). Goalless: The Story of a Unique Footballing Nation. New Delhi: Penguin India. ISBN 9780670058747. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ Banerjee, Ritabrata (25 April 2020). "Down the memory lane - The fascinating story of Hyderabad City Police club". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  29. ↑ Prasad, Ashin (4 April 2020). "Home-grown trailblazers: The greatest Indian coaches in football". Sportstar. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  30. ↑ "The wonder that was Rahim". The New Indian Express. 4 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  31. ↑ Das, N Jagannath (10 October 2009). "Remembering Syed Abdul Rahim". www.newindianexpress.com. The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  32. ↑ "Hakim's tribute to his father". Sportskeeda. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  33. ↑ Shukla, Kaushal. "Indian Football: Visionary coach and master tactician, Syed Abdul Rahim's genius stands test of time". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  34. ↑ Banerjee, P.K; Chatterjee, Anirban (2019). BEYOND 90 MINUTES: An Autobiography. Notion Press. p. 106. ISBN 9781684662623. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  35. ↑ "First look of Syed Abdul Rahim's biopic "Maidaan" released". The Bridge. 30 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  36. ↑ Dixit, Ayush Mohan (19 August 2019). "[First look] Ajay Devgn, Keerthy Suresh's Maidaan, based on football coach Syed Abdul Rahim, goes on floors". Times Now News 18. Retrieved 19 August 2019.

External links[edit | edit source]

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