Mohammad Rafi is a former Indian professional footballer. Rafi has primarily played as a center or forward during his career and has the ability to be used anywhere along the forward line. He is known for his aerial prowess and has scored some of the best goals in the I-League and Indian Premier League. Lafite’s nickname “Head Master” is a perfect fit for the veteran striker with his excellent aerial ability.
Wiki/Biography
Mohammed Rafi Madambilath was born on Monday, May 24, 1982 in Trikaripur, Kasargod (age 41; as of 2023). He completed his education from Government Vocational High School (GVHSS), Trikaripur, Kerala. He then enrolled in Calicut University. When Rafi was 14 years old, he participated in a football trial match held by the school and fell in love with the sport. According to Rafi, Ramakrishnan Master and Najib Sir were the ones who introduced him to professional football. Ramakrishnan Master was his school team coach who noticed his ability and talent and encouraged him to participate in football trials while Najeeb was the head coach of SBT club who trained him as a professional football player. This was the beginning of Rafi’s journey as a professional footballer. Rafi worked hard and graduated from Travancore National Bank Football Club. He made headlines in 2004 when he scored 4 goals for Travancore State Bank in the National Football League. His last appearance as a professional footballer was in the Indian Super League (ISL) for Kerala Blasters.
Mohammad Rafi trains with Kerala Blasters
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′ 9″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
Mohammad Rafi was born into a Muslim family in Karipur, Kasargodtri, Kerala.
Parents and siblings
Muhammad Rafi’s father’s name is KKP Abdulla and his mother’s name is Zubaida.
Mohammed Rafi and his parents
He has a sister and two brothers. His twin brothers, Mohammad Shafi and Mohammad Rafi, followed in Mohammad Rafi’s footsteps and became professional football players. Rasi played for KSEB (Kerala Electricity Board); Shafi followed in Rafi’s footsteps and played for State Bank Travancore Football Club (SBT).
Mohamed Rafi with his sister and her family
Mohammad Rafi plays with his brothers Shafi (left) and Rasi (right)
wife and children
He married Shifa Rafi on June 2, 2013. They have a son, Hamdan, and a daughter, Hadimolu.
Mohamed Rafi and his family
Signature/Autograph
Signature of Mohamed Rafi
Profession
football
His journey as a professional footballer started with the youth team of State Bank Travancore Football Club (SBT). Rafi went on to become one of the best Indian footballers to have played in the National Football League and the Indian Professional League. His professional football career as a player lasted over 18 years, making his debut with Travancore National Bank FC and his last appearance with Kochi-based Indian Premier League club Kerala Blasters. He participated in the first season of the Indian Premier League and continued to compete until the 2019-2020 season. He has lifted the Indian Super League trophy twice, with Atlético de Kolkata in 2014 and with Chennaiyin FC in 2017; he has played in three ISL finals.
domestic league
travancore national bank football club
Mohammad Rafi started his career in the youth team of Travancore National Bank Football Club. He began his journey with the club and slowly established himself in the first eleven. In the 2004-2005 season, SBT was promoted to the National Football League. Rafi performed well during the season and received praise from all over the country for his scoring ability. In the 2005-2006 season, SBT was relegated from the National Football League and Mahindra United managed to convince Mohammad Rafi to join them at the end of the season.
Mohamed Rafi and SBT Football Team
Mahindra United
Rafi joined Mahindra United in the 2006-2007 season after his former club was relegated from the National League. He is known for scoring goals and being a deadly player in the final third. After playing a key role in important games for the club, Rafi’s game improved and he became a key player for the team. He became a fan favorite of Mahindra United and enjoys a huge fan base in Mumbai and Kerala. The 2009-2010 season became a personal milestone for Mohammad Rafi. He entered the list of Indian football players who scored more than 10 goals in the I-League season. He scored 14 goals for Mahindra United and was named Mahindra United Player of the Year for his outstanding season. Mahindra United management announced in 2010 that the club would be disbanded at the end of the 2009-2010 season. After five successful seasons with the club that saw him emerge as a key player in the side, it was time for a change of colours. He expressed sadness at the management’s decision to dissolve the club after leaving them.
churchill brothers
Mohammed Rafi joined Churchill Brothers in 2010 after a stellar season with his former club Mahindra United in 2009-2010. As a result of this deal, Mohammad Rafi and the Churchill brothers became a hot topic in transfer news across India. Many other clubs tried to sign the Indian forward, but he joined Churchill Brothers in the 2010-2011 season and continued to play for them until the end of the 2011-2012 season.
mumbai tigers
Mohammed Rafi returned to Mumbai with Mumbai Tigers in the 2012-2013 season. The newly formed club was expected to be the next big thing, but a week before the start of the 2013-2014 I-League season, the club withdrew from the competition.
mumbai football club
Rafi joined Mumbai Football Club in the 2013-2014 season. On 2 December 2013, he made his debut in the team’s 3-2 victory over East Bengal Football Club. In 2014, he was loaned to Atletico de Kolkata from Mumbai FC to play in the Indian Premier League.
Atlético de Kolkata
In 2014, India witnessed the birth of the Indian Premier League. In his first season in the ISL, Mohammad Rafi played for Atlético de Kolkata. Rafi won the inaugural title with Atlético de Kolkata after beating Kerala Blasters in the final. Rafi left Atlético de Kolkata at the end of his first season in the Indian Premier League to join Kerala Blasters.
Mohammad Rafi and ISL Trophy
kerala blasters
He received a hero’s welcome from the Kerala Blasters fans when his move to join the club was announced. He scored in his first game for his new club in the 2015-2016 season, which ended in second place after losing on penalties to his former club Atletico de Kolkata. In 2016, he became the third Indian to score in the ISL final. He left Kerala Blasters after the 2016 season. He returned to Kerala Blasters in the 2019-2020 Indian Premier League season. However, a series of injuries limited his playing time and he had to watch from the sidelines. Mohamed Rafi’s last season as a professional player is also the 2019-2020 season. The veteran striker was released at the end of the season and has not played for any other club since.
Muhammad Rafi plays for Kerala Blasters
DSK Shivagian
Rafi’s stellar season with Kerala Blasters attracted I-League club DSK Shivajians to complete his signing. After winning the Indian Premier League title with Kerala Blasters, he played for the Pune-based team in the 2015-2016 season.
chennai yin football club
After playing for Kerala Blasters, Rafi joined Chennaiyin FC in the 2017-2018 Indian Premier League season. His performance in his first season earned him a contract extension with the club for next season. In his first season with Chennaiyin FC, Rafi won his second Indian Premier League title. He failed to replicate his form from the title-winning season and was sacked by the club at the end of the 2018-2019 season.
Mohammed Rafi plays for Chennaiyin FC in the ISL
international career
Mohammed Rafi received his first international call after a forgettable 2009-2010 I-League season. The striker is at the peak of his career and has been selected to represent his country. He joins fellow Keralites such as IM Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri, who represent the Indian national football team. Rafi’s national team career was short, and he could only represent the national team in a few games. He made his debut in an international friendly match against Thailand on 9 April 2010, and all of his appearances for the Indian national football team came between 2010 and 2011.
dispute
Mohammad Rafi has been heavily criticized by Brazilian fans and Neymar fans alike after the former India international commented that Neymar overacted when an opponent fouled him. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he narrated Brazil’s match against Croatia along with his friend and India international Rino Anto. The story went viral and Brazilian football team supporters and Neymar fans from Kerala were outraged and expressed their displeasure. He later apologized and insisted that he had not intended to insult the Brazilian and that it was just friendly banter between him and Rino Anto.
car collection
He owns a Toyota Innova Crysta and an Audi Q5.
Mohamed Rafi and his Innova
Mohammed Rafi and his Audi
Facts/Trivia
- Rafi made 51 appearances in the Indian Premier League and never received a yellow card.
- In 2010, he was named Mahindra United’s Player of the Season.
- He scored 14 goals in the I-League in the 2009-2010 season, setting a record for an Indian player.
- He supports Argentina’s participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and hopes Messi wins the World Cup.
- Mohammed Rafi wore the following jersey numbers as a professional football player; 9, 11, 12, 14, 33 and 20. From the 2014/2015 season, he wore the No. 20 jersey until his retirement.
- ViaCom18 has announced that he will be a member of the regional commentary team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He was joined by former teammates such as Rino Anto and Jo Paul Ancheri.
- In an interview, he revealed the name of his favorite football player Lionel Messi.
- Mohammed Rafi is the Director of Al Amaan Build Mart Private Limited. The company was established on May 18, 2017. The headquarter is located at Eripuram, Pazhayangadi, Kannur, Kerala.
Al Oman Construction Market Private Limited
- He follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Mohammed Rafi eats chicken.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education