Mirza Najeeb Ullah Najmi (10 October 1958 – 1 September 2021) was a Pakistani footballer and manager. A former captain, Najeeb represented the Pakistan national team in the 1980s. He also led Pakistan Air Force to their first National Football Championship title in 1986.

Najeeb Ullah Najmi
Najeeb during the 1999 South Asian Games
Personal information
Full name Mirza Najeeb Ullah Najmi[1]
Date of birth (1958-10-10)10 October 1958
Place of birth Peshawar, Pakistan
Date of death 1 September 2021(2021-09-01) (aged 62)
Place of death Peshawar, Pakistan
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980s Pakistan Air Force
International career
1980s Pakistan
Managerial career
2010–2014 Zarai Taraqiati
2018–2019 Ashraf Sugar Mills
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Najeeb represented the Pakistan Air Force departmental team at the National Football Championship, where he led the club to win the title in the 1986 edition.[2]

International career

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Najeeb represented the youth national side under the name of Pakistan Blues at the 1982 Quaid-e-Azam International Cup.[3]

Najeeb later represented the senior Pakistan national football team in the 1980s. He captained the national side at the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification held in Calcutta, during a match against North Yemen.[4][5]

Managerial career

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Najeeb was member of the coaching staff of the Pakistan national team at the 1999 South Asian Games held in Kathmandu. In 2010, Najeeb was appointed head coach of Zarai Taraqiati, which he led to its promotion to the top-tier from the 2011 PFF League.[2][6] In 2012, he was also appointed manager of the Pakistan under-14 team.[7] In 2014, Najeeb attended the an Asian Football Confederation Licence A coaching course in Bahrain.[8][9] In 2015, he was appointed as assistant to the Iranian instructor Ardeshir Pournemat Noudehi for the AFC License A coaching course held in Pakistan for the first time.[10][11][12][13]

In 2018, he led the Ashraf Sugar Mills departmental team at the 2018–19 Pakistan Premier League. The team, owned by former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf, eventually withdrew from the league due to financial issues.[14]

Death

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Najeeb died on 1 September 2021.[15]

Honours

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Pakistan Air Force

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Brazilian coach finds Pak soccer on right track". 2013-06-25. Archived from the original on 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  2. ^ a b "ZTBL football squad announced; face Railways today". Brecorder. 2010-12-03. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  3. ^ "Quaid-E-Azam International Cup (Pakistan)". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  4. ^ "Falcon FC win PAF 8-A Side Football trophy". Brecorder. 2016-08-10. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  5. ^ Ahmed, Ali (2017-10-13). "International football stars arrive in Pakistan, after FIFA ban". Brecorder. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  6. ^ "ZTBL boost survival hopes with win". The Express Tribune. 2012-12-25. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  7. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (2012-10-07). "U-14 football team leaves for Japan". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  8. ^ "Akhtar not being sent for Licence A course - thenews.com.pk". 2014-03-28. Archived from the original on 2014-03-28. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  9. ^ "Akhtar leaves to attend AFC course - thenews.com.pk". 2014-04-01. Archived from the original on 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  10. ^ "Nasir Ismail questions Najeebullah's appointment". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  11. ^ Wasim, Umaid (2015-05-02). "'Pakistan football suffering due to lack of investment on coaches'". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  12. ^ "AFC Licence A course concludes". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  13. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (2016-02-23). "KRL edge past NBP to lift PFF Cup". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  14. ^ Wasim, Umaid (2018-05-04). "Three years of football turmoil have levelled the playing field in Pakistan". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 2024-05-31. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  15. ^ "PFF president condoles death of Najeeb Ullah Najmi". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
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