Mohammedan SC (Dhaka)

History

The club began in Hazaribagh. Members of the famed Nawab family of Dhaka wanted to establish a local club for the youth. As a result, Muslim Sports Club came into being in 1927. Nine years later, with Khwaja Ajmal as its president, it was renamed Mohammedan Sporting Club, after its more renowned predecessor the Kolkata Mohammedan.

Though it was established to create enthusiasm for sports amongst the local Muslim community, the club later broke the race, class and ethnicity barriers and became a crowd favorite.

In the late 1940s, MSC started to flourish with Mohammad Shahjahan at the helm. Shahjahan left Kolkata Mohammedan and came to Bangladesh after the partition of India. The 1950s was a time when Dhaka Wanderers were the top dog in the sporting arena. In 1956, some of their star players and senior officials joined MSC and started restructuring the club. The results were evident as MSC secured their first league title in 1957. The same year they won the Independence Cup, thus ensuring their domestic double. The trophies kept coming over the next two decades.

Before independence, Mohammedan also clinched the First Division title in the year of 1959, '61, '63, '66 and '69. It was not easy to find success against teams like Dhaka Wanderers and Victoria SC. Yet, Mohammedan did not yield to failure, they pursued their way. Mohammedan won the Aga Khan Gold Cup for the first time in 1959. They repeated the feat twice, in 1964 and 1968.

On 11 May 1972, Mohammedan played against Indian club Mohun Bagan under captaincy of Zakaria Pintoo, which was the first visit of a foreign team in independent Bangladesh. Dhaka Abahani adds a new dimension to domestic football in the post-independent era. And it begins a new rivalry involving Dhaka Abahani and Dhaka Mohammedan termed Dhaka Derby which took no time to spread the passion and madness throughout the country. Abahani won the league in 1974 and 1977 but the decade, however, belonged to Mohammedan as they got the better of their hardcore rival to win the league in 1975, 1976, 1978 and 1980.

They were unbeaten in the first division league from 8 September 1985 to 15 March 1990. They played 76 league games during those one thousand six hundred and fifty days winning 63 of them and drawing 13 times. They scored 160 and conceded 24 goals. The Black and Whites took the league title three times in a row from 1986 to 1988. They continued their success in the next decade by winning titles in 1993, 1996 & 1999. Mohammedan last won the league in 2002, yet despite the intervening years, they still hold the record for the most league titles in Bangladesh with 19 wins. In the 2024-25 season, Mohammedan finally broke their 22-year league title drought by winning the BPL, securing their first BPL title and their 20th first-tier title overall.

Mohammedan won the Federation Cup eleven times, beating Abahani seven times in the final. They won their last Federation Cup title back in 2023. Mohammedan also won the most expensive domestic football tournament of the country, Super Cup twice by taking the inaugural edition in 2009 and then the one in 2013. Their record attendance for a football game is nearly 45,000 which took place in 2009.

They had their touch on Independence Cup title three times in 1972, 1991 and 2014 with being runners up in 1990 and 2023.

Dhaka Mohammedan was the most dominating force in continental competitions among Bangladeshi clubs as well. They made it to the Asian Club Championship (the then Asian Champions League) semi-final round in 1988 thus becoming the first-ever Bangladeshi club to do so. They participated in this tournament a record six times making it to the finals thrice, a record yet to be matched by any South Asian club.

Rivalries

Dhaka Derby

Main article: Dhaka Derby

The Dhaka Derby is a football rivalry between Abahani and Dhaka Mohammedan, although the rivalry was bigger in the past. Dhaka Mohammedan and Dhaka Abahani first met each other during 1973 First Division League. Before Abahani's arrival, Mohammedan were the most dominant force in the country, and overthrew their previous rivals Dhaka Wanderers Club, by becoming the team with most league titles won.

Dhaka Wanderers

Prior independence, the club's main local rival was Dhaka Wanderers. The rivalry dates back to 1956 when Mohammedan acquired numerous players from Dhaka Wanderers, who had left due to internal conflicts within their club. Despite this, Wanderers were crowned champions that year. Both clubs were tied on points, and Mohammedan's refusal to play a playoff final resulted in the league title being awarded to Wanderers. Following their final First Division title in 1960, the rest of the decade saw Mohammedan's dominance. Notably, Wanderers lost the All-Pakistan Mohammad Ali Bogra Memorial Tournament final in 1966, contested by the two Dhaka-based teams in Rawalpindi.

Supporters

The fanbase of Dhaka Mohammedan SC is organized into various supporter groups, most notably MSC Ultras, the ultras group of Dhaka Mohammedan. MSC Ultras play a key role in organizing events and creating a vibrant atmosphere during matches. This group often displays banners, leads chants, and creates coordinated displays, ensuring the team feels supported at every game.{{cite web|url=https://www.khoborsangjog.com/sports/football/71693/diabat-s-magic-gives-mohammedan-victory-kings|title=দিয়াবাতের ম্যাজিকে মোহামেডানের জয়, কিংসের শিরোপা স্বপ্নে ধাক্কা|website=www.khoborsangjog.com|publisher= Khobor Sangjog|language=bn}}

Crest and colours

Official logo of Dhaka Mohammedan SC.png|Club crest, with Bengali alphabet

Stadium

From the 2019–2020 season the club started playing their matches at the 18,000 capacity Bhasha Shoinik Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium. On 7 March 2020, Mohammedan Sporting Club hogging the spotlight with a 1–0 win over defending champions Bashundhara Kings in their home debut.

Currently the club is using Bhasha Shoinik Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium as its home venue.

Shirt sponsors

Current squad

Personnel

Current technical staff

Board of directors

• BAN Amanuddin Chowdhury (1972–1973)
• BAN Ashraf Chowdhury (1975–1976)
• BAN Zakaria Pintoo (1977)
• BAN Ashraf Chowdhury (1978–1979)
• BAN Golam Sarwar Tipu (1980–1984)
• BAN Enayetur Rahman (1985)
• BAN Ali Imam (1986)
• BAN Pratap Shankar Hazra (1987)
• IRN Nasser Hejazi (1987–1992)
• BAN Mohammed Kaikobad (1992)
• BAN Golam Sarwar Tipu (1993–1994)
• BAN Abu Yusuf (1995)
• NGR Kadiri Ikhana (1995)
• BAN Abu Yusuf (1995, interim)
• KOR Kang Man-young (1996, interim)
• IRQ Samir Shaker (1997–1998)
• BAN Abul Hossain (1998, interim)
• BAN Hasanuzzaman Bablu (1999–2000)
• SRI Pakir Ali (2001)
• BAN Abul Hossain (2001–2004)
• KOR Kang Man-young (2004–2005)
• BAN Saiful Bari Titu and BAN Mohammed Ponir (2005, interim)
• BAN Jasimuddin Ahmed Joshi (2005)
• BAN Shafiqul Islam Manik (2005–2008)
• BAN Maruful Haque (2008–2010)
• BAN Mohammed Ponir (2010, interim)
• BAN Shafiqul Islam Manik (2010–2011)
• NGR Emeka Ezeugo (2011–2012)
• BAN Saiful Bari Titu (2012–2013)
• POR Rui Capela (2013–2014)
• BAN Alfaz Ahmed (2014, interim)
• BAN Mohammed Jewel Rana (2014, interim)
• BAN Jasimuddin Ahmed Joshi (2014–2016)
• BAN Mizanur Rahman Dawn (2016, interim)
• BAN Abdul Qaium Sentu (2017)
• IND Syed Nayeemuddin (2017)
• BAN Rashed Ahmed Pappu (2017–2018)
• WAL Christopher Evans (2018–2019)
• BAN Ali Asgar Nasir (2019, interim)
• BAN Shahidul Islam Jewel (2019, interim)
• ENG Sean Lane (2019–2022)
• BAN Shafiqul Islam Manik (2022–2023)
• BAN Alfaz Ahmed (2023–present)

Managerial statistics

P – Total of played matches W – Won matches D – Drawn matches L – Lost matches GS – Goal scored GA – Goals against

%W – Percentage of matches won}}

Season by season record

Professional league (2007–present)

Honours

Invitational

• Bangladesh Ma-O-Moni Gold Cup
  • Winners (1): 1990
• [[File:Flag_of_Pakistan.svg|link=Pakistan|alt=Pakistan|class=mw-file-element|23x23px]] All-Pakistan Mohammad Ali Bogra Memorial Tournament
  • Winners (1): 1966
  • Runners-up (1): 1967
• IND All Airlines Gold Cup
  • Winners (1): 1999
• IND Ashis-Jabbar Shield Tournament
  • Winners (1): 1982
• IND Bordoloi Trophy
  • Runners-up (1): 1989
• IND J.C. Guha Memorial Trophy
  • Runners-up (1): 1988
• IND IFA Shield
  • Runners-up (1): 1995

Continental

• Bangladesh Aga Khan Gold CupThe competition is widely regarded as the predecessor of AFC Champions League (held for the first time in 1967), since it was the first organized international competition that involved club teams around Asia, organized by the football authorities of East Pakistan, in collaboration with Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
  • Winners (3): 1959, 1964 (shared), 1968

Performance in AFC competitions

Main article: Bangladeshi football clubs in Asian competitions

: Asian Club Championship/AFC Champions League: 6 appearances

• 1987 : Qualifying Round
• 1988–89 : Semi Final League
• 1989–90 : Qualifying Round
• 1990–91 : Quarter-finals
• 1991 : Group Stage
• 1997–98 : First Round : Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 4 appearances
• 1990–91 : Second Round
• 1992–93 : Intermediate Round
• 1993–94 : Second Round
• 1996–97 : Second Round

: AFC Cup: 1 appearance

• 2006 : Group Stage

Notable players

• The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players listed represented their countries before or after playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka).

Asia

• Pakistan Sheikh Shaheb Ali (1938)
• Pakistan Ashraf Chowdhury (1950; 1956–63)
• Pakistan Amir Jang Ghaznavi (1956–63)
• PAK Fazlur Rahman Arzu (1956–1958)
• Pakistan Kabir Ahmed (1956–58; 1960–66)
• Pakistan Mari Chowdhury (1957–58; 1961–62)
• Pakistan Nabi Chowdhury (1958)
• Pakistan Debinash Sangma (1958–59; 1961–65; 1968–69)
• PAK Abid Hussain Ghazi (1959–66)
• Pakistan Muhammad Irshad (1960)
• Pakistan Zahirul Haque (1960–76)
• PAK Abdullah Rahi (1960–61; 1964–70)
• Pakistan Turab Ali (1965–68)
• Pakistan Ghulam Abbas Baloch (1961)
• Pakistan Abdul Ghafoor (1961; 1965–68; 1977)
• PAK Moosa Ghazi (1962–68)
• PAK IND Balai Dey (1962; 1963–64)
• PAK Qayyum Changezi (1963)
• PAK Muhammad Amin (1964)
• PAK Khandoker Mohammad Nurunnabi (1965–70)
• PAK Qadir Bakhsh (1967)
• PAK Hafizuddin Ahmed (1967–78)
• PAK Abdul Jabbar (1967–68)
• PAK Maula Bakhsh (1968)
• PAK Golam Sarwar Tipu (1968–72; 1975–79)
• Pakistan Ali Nawaz Baloch (1969)
• PAK Ayub Dar (1970)
• IND Mohammed Rahmatullah (1963–64)
• BHU Khare Basnet (1980)
• NEP Ganesh Thapa (1981–82; 1985–86)
• IRN Nasser Hejazi (1987)
• IRN Morteza Yekkeh (1987)
• IRN Bijan Taheri (1988–89)
• IRN Reza Naalchegar (1987–89)
• THA Ronnachai Sayomchai (1988)
• UZB Azamat Abduraimov (1991–92)
• BHU Wangay Dorji (2000)

Africa

• NGR Emeka Ezeugo (1987–89)
• MLI Ousmane Berthé (2019–20)
• CAR Yassan Ouatching (2021)
• NGR Sunday Emmanuel (2023–2025)

Notes

References

References

1. Alam, Dhrubo. (16 July 2018). "Kick, Score, Scream! The History of Football in Dhaka". Ice Today.
2. "Bangladesh - List of Champions".
3. (29 April 2021). "সুদিন ফিরবেই মোহামেডান স্পোর্টিং ক্লাবের (In Bengali)". Daily Sports BD.
4. (12 April 2023). "দিয়াবাতে খেলতে চান বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় দলে". Bangladesh Pratidin.
5. [https://www.tbsnews.net/sports/how-good-were-mohammedan-sporting-club-back-1980s-204847 How good were Mohammedan Sporting Club back in the 1980s?] {{Webarchive. link. (30 July 2021 ''The Business Standard News''. Retrieved 1 September 2021)
6. [https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Nawab_Family_of_Dhaka Nawab Family of Dhaka] {{Webarchive. link. (1 September 2021 ''Banglapedia''. Retrieved 1 September 2021.)
7. (10 April 2021). "আকাশি-নীলের উত্থান". Utpal Shuvro.
8. (14 July 2025). "৯০ বছরের দ্বারপ্রান্তে ঢাকা মোহামেডান".
9. T Islam. Tariq. link. Janakantha. (13 November 2019)
10. "Great Footballer "Arzu"".
11. "Mohammedan Sporting Club: The fall that hurt the most". The Business Standard.
12. Tom Lewis. (2003). "Aga Khan Gold Cup (Dhaka, Bangladesh)".
13. Alam, Masud. (19 April 2022). "৭ কোটি মানুষের জন্য ভালোবাসা নিয়ে ঢাকায় এসেছিল মোহনবাগান". [[Prothom Alo.
14. link. [[Krirajagat]]. (2 May 2023)
15. Masud. Alam. link. [[Prothom Alo]]. (14 January 2020)
16. "Mohammedan win first dhaka derby final in 14 years". The Financial Express.
17. "Bangladesh: Mohammedan SC Clinch CityCell Super Cup - Goal.com".
18. link. bdnews24.com
19. link
20. "Pakistan Observer 1966.07.07 — South Asian Newspapers".
21. (12 April 2025). "কিংসকে প্রায় ছিটকে দিয়ে মোহামেডানের শিরোপা স্বপ্ন উজ্জ্বল করলেন দিয়াবাতে". [[Prothom Alo.
22. "Mohammedan celebrate coronation in style". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh).
23. link. (6 March 2020). Comillar Kagoj
24. "Ex-Army chief Mubeen elected MSC president".
25. (22 April 2005). "The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 5 Num 321". archive.thedailystar.net.
26. (11 October 2005). "Manik appointed Mohammedan football coach". bdnews24.com.
27. link. banglanews24.com. (23 August 2010)
28. (18 November 2011). "MSC rope in Emeka as coach". The Daily Star.
29. link. banglanews24.com. (2 January 2012)
30. (22 July 2008). "Promise modern football". The Daily Star.
31. link. The Daily Sangram. (13 May 2010)
32. (1 January 2014). "Capela takes over at MSC". The Daily Star.
33. (25 November 2014). "Joshi appointed as MSC coach". New Age.
34. (14 October 2016). "কোচ ছাড়াই খেলতে নামলো মোহামেডান".
35. link. Kaler Kantho. (20 January 2017)
36. [https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/nayeemuddin-wants-revive-msc-1402717 Nayeemuddin wants to revive MSC] {{Webarchive. link. (25 August 2021 ''The Daily Star''. Retrieved 25 August 2021)
37. (19 September 2018). "Evans takes charge of Mohammedan". The Daily Star.
38. (3 January 2019). "MSC replace Evans with Nasir". The Daily Star.
39. (19 February 2019). "Trouble-hit MSC win a point". The Daily Star.
40. (5 April 2019). "Mohammedan fly in new coach". The Daily Star.
41. (4 June 2022). "মোহামেডানে ফিরলেন সফিকুল ইসলাম মানিক". Daily Football Bangladesh.
42. (7 March 2023). "মানিক অধ্যায় শেষ, মোহামেডানের কোচ আলফাজ".
43. [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bangchamp.html Bangladesh - List of Champions: Dhaka League] {{Webarchive. link. (15 December 2017 ''Rsssf''. Retrieved 12 August 2021)
44. Zubaear, Arafat. (13 June 2023). "আবাহনী-মোহামেডানের এত ট্রফি গেল কই?".
45. "Pakistan Observer 1966.07.07 — South Asian Newspapers".
46. "Pakistan Observer 1967.08.10 — South Asian Newspapers".
47. Arunava Chaudhary. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Airlines Gold Cup". Indian Football Network.
48. Chaudhuri, Arunava. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Bordoloi Trophy".
49. [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india-ifahist.html India – List of IFA Shield Finals]. {{Webarchive. link. (31 October 2012 . ''rsssf.com''. [[RSSSF]]. Retrieved 16 December 2021.)
50. Dulal. Mahmud. Bengali players in the Pakistan national team). Bishhoshahitto Bhobon. (2014)
51. "Organisers wake up".
52. Tipu, Shah Mateen. (23 August 2020). "ভোলার কিংবদন্তি ফুটবলার গজনবীর কথা".
53. (10 July 2024). "মোহাম্মদ ফজলুর রহমান আরজু: এক কিংবদন্তি ফুটবলার".
54. "চলে গেলেন পঞ্চাশ দশকের ফুটবলার কবির আহমেদ".
55. (10 May 2012). "Legendary Mari breathes his last".
56. Kabir, Iqbal. (2 July 2022). "পঞ্চাশের দশকে ঢাকার ফুটবলে রক্ষণ ভাগের দুই প্রহরীর গল্প".
57. (7 August 2005). "Footballer Debinash passes away".
58. "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Wednesday 09 May 1962".
59. (19 July 1960). "NO IMPROVEMENT IN FOOTBALL STANDARD". [[The Bangladesh Observer.
60. (6 January 2024). "চলে গেলেন ফুটবলার জহিরুল হক".
61. "Pakistan Observer, 1970.06.05 — South Asian Newspapers".
62. link. Kaler Kantho
63. "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) — Thursday 13 July 1961".
64. (7 September 2012). "'Pakistani Pele' Abdul Ghafoor dead at 71".
65. (9 September 2012). "Kala Ghafoor no more".
66. (2024-06-07). "The story of Karachi's KMC football stadium".
67. Hoque, Shishir. (4 March 2018). "Football before the birth of Bangladesh". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
68. (17 July 2022). "Balai Dey: খেলেছিলেন পাকিস্তানের জার্সিতেও, ফুটবলের সঙ্গে ক্রিকেটেও সেরা বলাই দে". [[Aaj Tak.
69. Chakraborty, Sruti. (24 February 2023). "Balai Dey: The man who connects India, Pakistan and the Hero Santosh Trophy". All India Football Federation.
70. (1 January 2002). "মাকরানি একাদশ". [[Krirajagat]].
71. "Pakistan Observer, 1964.05.04".
72. (16 December 2013). "'ঢাকা স্টেডিয়াম থেকে সেক্টর আট'".
73. Hasan, Shazia. (2023-03-05). "REVIVING FOOTBALL IN LYARI".
74. (16 June 2016). "শুধু ফুটবল খেললে আমার ধারেকাছে কেউ থাকত না".
75. (2014-05-10). "فٹبالر عبدالجبار اورکیپٹن عباس کی یادیں".
76. "Pakistan Observer 1968.11.08 — South Asian Newspapers".
77. (17 October 2014). "ফুটবলের জন্যই এক জীবনে এত সম্মান".
78. (2008-12-22). "Kick-off from Lyari".
79. (12 March 2014). "Mohammed Rahmatullah to undergo heart surgery in the USA".
80. (2024-09-10). "ফুটবলের সর্বনাশ, বাসনাতের সেই কথা!". Bangladesh Pratidin.
81. (29 March 2021). "আমি ফুটবল রাজনীতির শিকার".
82. link. Prothom Alo. (17 March 2020)
83. (1 July 2022). "‌۵۰‌خاطره از تاریخ فوتبال در‌ داکا‌ اتفاق‌ افتاد".
84. Islam, Rashedul. "বাংলাদেশে যা করেছি আমার পরে কেউ তা করতে পারেনি".
85. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Wangay Dorji".
86. Duggal, Saurabh. (16 July 2018). "From Chandigarh to FIFA World Cup, Nigerian Emeka Ezeugo traces his journey".
87. (19 November 2019). "Dhaka Mohammedan confirms 30 footballers for the BPL season".