U. Sharaf Ali is a former Indian professional football player who mainly played as a defender and midfielder. He played most of his professional football career with Kerala Police and two seasons with Kolkata. He has captained the Indian national football team and the Kerala football team in many competitions. While playing for Kerala Police FC, U. Sharaf and VP Satyan formed one of the best defensive partnerships in the domestic league and helped make Kerala Police the best football club in the country one.
Wiki/Biography
U. Sharaf Ali was born on Saturday, May 30, 1964 in Arekode, Malappuram, Kerala (age 58 years as of 2022). He attended Christian College, Iringalakuda. Sharaf Ali was selected by the Kerala Police to play in the 1984 Santosh Trophy but decided not to play as he was preparing for his pre-degree examinations. In 2021, Sharaf Ali was approached by the Left Democratic Front to contest the Kerala Assembly elections from his home constituency of Elanad as an independent candidate supported by the Left Democratic Front.
appearance
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
U. Sharaf Ali comes from a Malayali family in Malappuram, 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
Sharaf Ali started playing football during his school days. He played for the Calicut University team and made his debut with the Kerala Police Football Club. He started his career at fullback and was later moved to defensive center. Sharaf Ali also played as a midfielder during his career. His defensive awareness, tackling ability, positional awareness and physical strength make him an indispensable player.
domestic football
He spent his entire career in India, representing clubs such as Kerala Police Club, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sports Club. He played one season each with Bagan and Sporting Lisbon.
kerala police football club
Sharaf Ali’s career is closely associated with Kerala Police Football Club, where he played for a long time during his career. He played for the Kerala Police for almost 12 years and was an important player in helping the team develop into one of the dominant forces in the domestic league. Sharaf Ali, IM Vijayan, Jo Paul Ancheri and CV Pappachan were crucial to the dominance of the Kerala Police Club in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He enjoyed a fruitful time at the club and even remained in touch with the club after announcing his retirement from professional football.
mohun bagan
He was approached by Mohun Bagan officials during the 1991 Santosh Trophy tournament. Sharaf Ali is not willing to leave Kerala, he is demanding a hefty salary and wants the officials not to sign him. He was signed by the club the next day for an undisclosed fee. In the 1991-1992 season, he left Kerala Police Club to join Mohun Bagan and played for the Kolkata club for one season. His first season with Mohun Bagan was very successful as they won six titles, including the Federation Cup (1991) against arch-rivals East Bengal. He left the club at the end of the season and rejoined the Kerala Police Club.
international football
Sharaf Ali made his international debut on 20 January 1986 in a Nehru Trophy match against South Korea in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was a member of the Indian national football team from 1985 to 1995 and represented the country more than 50 times. He has captained the Indian national team on several occasions. His outstanding performance with the Kerala Police and the Kerala State team earned him the opportunity to represent the country in international competitions. His international career lasted for over a decade, making him one of the best players the Indian national football team has ever produced.
after retirement
He ended his career as a player with Kerala Police Football Club. He subsequently joined them as their manager and mentored them during his time with the Kerala Police. In 2022, he announced his dream project – the Novus Football Academy, a hugely expensive project that will be executed in different phases. Sharaf Ali, chief academy coordinator, rejoins many of his former teammates, including IM Vijayan, who served in various capacities in the academy.
Kerala Police (Law Enforcement Agency)
Sharaf Ali served in the Kerala Police for 36 years and served as the commander of the Kottakkal Rapid Reaction and Rescue Force.
Indian Football: Kerala Police’s U Sharaf Ali takes active part in fight against coronavirus https://t.co/SZ3kXsJF8e pic.twitter.com/Is6qy8D1Tl
— Goal Africa (@GOALAfrica) May 10, 2020
Sharaf Ali retired from the Kerala Police on May 30, 2020, along with KT Chacko and M Baburajan, who played with him in the Kerala Police Club and the Indian national team. IM Vijayan termed the retirement of these three Kerala Police officials as the end of an era.
Awards
- GV Raja Award to the Best Athlete of Kerala State by the Kerala Sports Commission: 1993
- GV Raja Award awarded to the best senior football player in Kerala by the Kerala Sports Commission: 1994
Facts/Trivia
- He supports Brazil’s participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In an interview, he predicted that the championship would be between Brazil, France and Spain; he emphasized that France is likely to become the world champion.
- Sharaf Ali was the liaison officer for the Brazil U-17 team when they came to India to participate in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He was responsible for managing the security of the Brazilian team during their stay in India.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education