T. Abdul Rahman (1934-2002) was an Indian Olympic football player and coach. He was a member of the Indian national football team that reached the semi-finals of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He died on December 15, 2002, at the age of 68.
Wiki/Biography
T. Abdul Rahman, fondly known as Olympian Rahman, was born on Saturday, January 20, 1934 in Kozhikode, Kerala (aged 68 years; at the time of death). He showed an extraordinary passion for football from an early age. He started playing football with local clubs in Kozhikode and eventually played for some of the best clubs in India. After announcing his retirement, he became a football coach. In a career that spanned 17 years, he cemented his place in the history of Indian football and its fans.
appearance
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
T. Abdul Rahman was born into a Malayali family in Kozhikode, Kerala State, India.
Parents and siblings
There is not much information about his parents and siblings.
wife and children
Not much information is available about his wife and children.
Profession
football
domestic
He started his career in the 1950s, playing for a few clubs in his hometown of Kozhikode. It didn’t take long for him to become the star of Malabar football of the time, playing for clubs like Kozhikode Independent Sports Club and Universal Club. In 1954, he reached the semi-finals of the Wanderers Cup with Malabar. Between 1955 and 1966, he represented Bangladesh in the Santosh Cup National Football Championship nine times and played a major role in the team’s four wins. He also captained Bangalore to the Santosh Trophy National Football Championship in 1962. After his move to the northern club, people outside of Kerala witnessed his emergence as a world-class player. After his playing career ended, Rahman became a professional football coach. He has worked as a coach at top Indian clubs such as Mohammedan Sporting, Premier Tyres and Travancore Titanium.
rajasthan club
Rahman has become a well-known figure in Malabar football circles after delivering top-notch performances every time he takes the field. His efforts did not go unnoticed when he soon received his first international call. After becoming an international, his value as a player increased and he subsequently received a dream offer from a Rajasthan club. In 1955, he made headlines when he joined Rajasthan Club, one of the prestigious clubs of the time. He continued to play with them for the next four years and left the Rajasthan club to try his luck in Kolkata football.
mohun bagan
In 1959, he completed his transfer from the Rajasthan club to Mohun Bagan. He enjoyed a fruitful time at Mohun Bagan, where he was the focal point of the defence, and was soon named club captain. His leadership and defensive abilities made him a locker room leader and fan favorite. He decided to end his career as a football player at the end of the 1967 season.
International
At the age of 19, he received his first call-up to the national team. At that time, Rahman was already a household name in the domestic league. In 1955, he made his debut for the Indian national football team against Russia in Thiruvananthapuram. He has been a regular in the Indian national team since his debut and he enjoyed huge success with clubs like Rajasthan FC and Mohun Bagan, two of the most popular names in Indian club football at that time . In 1956, he reached the semi-finals of the Melbourne Olympics with the Indian national football team. The Indian team created a historic record and even defeated the hosts 4-2 in the semi-finals. Rahman was forced to miss the 1960 Rome Olympics due to injury. In 1967, he announced his retirement from football.
die
T. Abdul Rahman died on 15 December 2002 in Kozhikode, Kerala (age 68). Thousands of people paid their last respects to the footballer.
Facts/Trivia
- The Kozhikode District Football Association (KDFA) established the Olympic Rahman Memorial Football Academy in 2005 to commemorate the legacy of T. Abdul Rahman.
- He started playing football at a very young age and dropped out of school after fourth level to focus more on football.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education