Mohammedan SC (Dhaka)

For other uses, see Mohammedan SC (disambiguation).

Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited is a Bangladeshi professional football club based in Dhaka. Founded in 1936, it is one of the oldest and the most successful football club in the country, with a support base in all parts of the country.^[1] The club currently competes in the Bangladesh Premier League.^[2][3][4]

Mohammedan Sporting Club
মোহামেডান স্পোর্টিং ক্লাব

Full name	Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited
Nickname(s)	The Black & Whites
Short name	MSC
Founded	1936; 89 years ago (1936)
Ground	Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium, Comilla
Capacity	18,000
President	Md Abdul Mubeen
Head Coach	Alfaz Ahmed
League	Bangladesh Premier League
2024–25	1st of 10
Home colours Away colours
Current season

The football section of Mohammedan Sporting Club began soon after the club's establishment in 1936. In its early years, the team quickly established itself as one of the top clubs in the country. During the 1940s and 1950s, Mohammedan's football team enjoyed a golden era, winning numerous local championships and establishing a dominant presence in domestic football.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the club achieved significant success in national tournaments, including the First Division and various regional competitions, becoming a symbol of football excellence in Bangladesh. The club's passionate fanbase, known for their unwavering support, has played an essential role in Mohammedan’s success over the years.

Throughout the decades, Mohammedan Sporting Club has been one of the top contenders in the Bangladesh Premier League, regularly competing for titles and enjoying memorable victories. The team has also been a major force in the historic Dhaka Derby, the intense rivalry with Abahani Limited Dhaka, which remains one of the most anticipated football matches in the country.

Today, Mohammedan Sporting Club continues to be one of the most respected football clubs in Bangladesh, with a rich legacy and a strong competitive spirit.

History

Members of the unbeaten league champions Mohammedan SC in 1969

Headquarter of Mohammedan SC

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.^[5][6][7]

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

Mohammedan SC players in 1956

In the late 40s, MSC started to flourish with Mohammad Shahjahan at the helm. Shahjahan left Kolkata Mohammedan and came to Bangladesh after the partition. The 1950s was a time for Dhaka Wanderers. They 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.^[8]

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.^[9]

Mohammedan SC players in 1963

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.^[10] 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.

Mohammedan SC players pictured before the 1966 Aga Khan Gold Cup final.

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.^[11] The Black and Whites took the league title three times in a row from 1986 to 1988.^[12] 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.^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15] 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.^[16]

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

Ayub Khan, standing eighth from the left, with Dhaka Wanderers and Mohammedan players after the 1966 Mohammad Ali Bogra Shield final.

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 prestigious Mohammad Ali Bogra Shield final in 1966, contested by the two Dhaka-based teams in Rawalpindi.^[17]

Supporters

Flag of MSC Ultras is displayed by their members in an away match in Kings Arena!

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.^{[18][19] [20]}

Crest and colours

• 
  Club crest, with Bengali alphabet

Stadium

From the 2019–2020 season the club started playing their matches at the 18,000 capacity Shaheed Dhirendranath 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 Shaheed Dhirendranath Stadium as its home venue.

Shirt sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
2005	None	Tibet
2008	None	Fresh Cement
2009–10	None	NTV
2011–17	None	Orion Group
2018–19	Cosco	K–Sports
2020–2021		Orion Group
2022	Sports Apparel Design	Fresh Drinking Water
2022–2023		Max Group
2023–2024	Wings Sportswear	Max Group
2024–2025

Current squad

Mohammedan SC in 1936 with its first president Khawaja Ajmal

As of 22 August 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  BAN Sujon Hossain 2 DF  BAN Sazal Hasan Kalin 3 DF  BFA Mounzir Coulidiati 4 DF  BAN Mehedi Hasan Mithu 5 DF  NGA Emmanuel Tony Agbaji 6 DF  BAN Jahid Hasan Shanto 7 MF  BAN Minhajul Abedin Ballu 8 MF  BAN Sanowar Hossain Lal 10 FW  MLI Souleymane Diabate (Captain) 11 FW  BAN Arif Hossain 12 FW  BAN Jewel Rana 14 MF  GHA Ernest Boateng 15 MF  BAN Alamgir Kabir Rana 16 MF  BAN Md Jewel 17 MF  UZB Muzaffar Muzaffarov 18 FW  BAN Sourav Dewan 19 FW  BAN Emtiyaz Raihan 20 MF  BAN Moinul Islam Moin 21 MF  BAN Omar Faruk Babu

No. Pos. Nation Player 22 GK  BAN Shakib Al Hasan 23 MF  BAN Md Rakibul Islam 24 MF  BAN Ashraful Haque Asif 25 DF  BAN Apu Ahmed 26 DF  BAN Azizul Haque Ananto 27 DF  BAN Joynal Abedin Dipu 28 DF  BAN Hafizur Rahman Babu 29 DF  BAN Shakil Ahad Topu 30 GK  BAN Md Alamgir Hossen 31 DF  BAN Mahbub Alam 32 DF  BAN Rajib Hossain 33 GK  BAN Md Ismail Hossain Mahin 37 FW  NGA Sunday Emmanuel 38 MF  BAN Raju Ahmed Zisan 39 MF  BAN Rahim Uddin 40 GK  BAN Maksudur Rahman Mostak 44 GK  BAN Md Ibrahim Hossain 55 DF  BAN Riyadul Hasan Rafi

Personnel

Current technical staff

As of 29 November 2024

Role	Name
Head coach	Alfaz Ahmed
Assistant coach	Abdul Kayum Sentu
Goalkeeping coach	Sayeed Hassan Kanan
Team Manager	Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib
Assistant manager	Sayed Mohammad Abdul Kahhar Siddique
Physiotherapist	Md Nurul Islam
Masseur	Md Ubadullah
	Md Arman Hosen

Board of directors

As of March 2023^[21][22].

Role	Name
President	Md Abdul Mubeen
Director in charge	Kazi Firoz Rashid
Chairman	Ghulam Mohammed Alamgir
Head of Technical Committee	Imtiaz Sultan Johnny
Technical Committee	Hasanuzzaman Khan Bablu
	Rumman Bin Wali Sabbir
	Elias Hossain
	Jasimuddin Ahmed Joshi
	Fazlur Rahman Babul

Coaching records

Managerial history

• Ashraf Chowdhury (1975–1977)
• Ashraf Chowdhury (1978–1979)
• Golam Sarwar Tipu (1980–1984)
• Enayetur Rahman (1985)
• Ali Imam (1986)
• Pratap Shankar Hazra (1987)
• Nasser Hejazi (1987–1992)
• Mohammed Kaikobad (1992)
• Golam Sarwar Tipu (1993–1994)
• Abu Yusuf (1995)
• Kadiri Ikhana (1995)
• Abu Yusuf (1995, interim)
• Kang Man-young (1996, interim)
• Samir Shaker (1997–1998)
• Abul Hossain (1998, interim)
• Hasanuzzaman Bablu (1999–2000)
• Pakir Ali (2001)
• Abul Hossain (2001–2004)
• Kang Man-young (2004–2005)
• Saiful Bari Titu and Mohammed Ponir (2005, interim)^[23]
• Jasimuddin Ahmed Joshi (2005)
• Shafiqul Islam Manik (2005–2008)^[24]
• Maruful Haque (2008–2010)
• Mohammed Ponir (2010, interim)
• Shafiqul Islam Manik (2010–2011)^[25]
• Emeka Ezeugo (2011–2012)^[26][27]
• Saiful Bari Titu (2012–2013)
• Rui Capela (2013–2014)
• Alfaz Ahmed (2014, interim)
• Mohammed Jewel Rana (2014, interim)
• Jasimuddin Ahmed Joshi (2014–2016)
• Mizanur Rahman Dawn (2016, interim)
• Abdul Qaium Sentu (2017)
• Syed Nayeemuddin (2017)
• Rashed Ahmed Pappu (2017–2018)
• Christopher Evans (2018–2019)
• Ali Asgar Nasir (2019, interim)
• Shahidul Islam Jewel (2019, interim)
• Sean Lane (2019–2022)
• Shafiqul Islam Manik (2022–2023)
• Alfaz Ahmed (2023–present)

Managerial statistics

As of 27 May 2025

Head coach	Nat.	From	To	P	W	D	L	GS	GA	%W
Maruful Haque[28]		July 2008	13 May 2010[29]	61	48	11	2	150	33	078.69
Rui Capela		31 December 2013[30]	July 2014	29	13	10	6	37	24	044.83
Alfaz Ahmed^		May 2014	May 2014	1	1	0	0	1	0	100.00
Mohammed Jewel Rana^		May 2014	June 2014	2	2	0	0	5	3	100.00
Jasimuddin Ahmed Joshi[31][32]		24 November 2014	7 October 2016	44	17	13	14	73	52	038.64
Mizanur Rahman Dawn^		14 October 2016	29 December 2016	13	3	5	5	12	15	023.08
Abdul Qaium Sentu[33]		10 January 2017	24 February 2017	3	1	1	1	2	3	033.33
Syed Nayeemuddin[34]		9 May 2017	31 October 2017	14	6	2	6	21	17	042.86
Rashed Ahmed Pappu^		November 2017	February 2018	13	4	5	4	14	14	030.77
Christopher Evans[35]		19 September 2018	3 January 2019	6	1	3	2	5	8	016.67
Ali Asgar Nasir^[36]		3 January 2019	16 February 2019	5	1	0	4	4	11	020.00
Shahidul Islam Jewel[37]^		18 February 2019	4 March 2019	4	0	2	2	1	5	000.00
Sean Lane[38]		4 April 2019	28 May 2022	75	32	23	20	112	89	042.67
Shafiqul Islam Manik[39]		5 June 2022	24 February 2023	24	10	6	8	47	29	041.67
Alfaz Ahmed[40]		25 February 2023	Present	65	39	16	10	146	66	060.00

^– Interim 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)

Record as Bangladesh Premier League member
Season	Division	League								Federation Cup	Independence Cup	Asian club competition		Top league scorer(s)
		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts	Position					Player	Goals
2007	B.League	20	11	7	2	40	13	40	Runners-up	—	—	—		Paul Nwakuchu	14
2008/09	B.League	20	13	5	2	42	12	44	Runners-up	Champions				Alamu Bukola Olaken	18
2009/10	B.League	24	19	5	0	63	12	62	Runners-up	Champions				Zahid Hasan Ameli	19
2010/11	BPL	22	8	6	8	26	26	30	6th	Group Stage	Semi-finals			Sunday Chizoba	12
2012	BPL	20	9	7	4	33	21	34	3rd	Group Stage	—			Bazden Wilcox	7
2012/13	BPL	16	7	4	5	17	17	25	5th	Semi-finals	Semi-finals			Osei Morrison	12
2013/14	BPL	27	12	9	6	36	25	45	4th	Quarter-finals	Champions			Wahed Ahmed	15
2014/15	BPL	20	11	5	4	38	17	38	3rd	Semi-finals	—			Ismael Bangoura	17
2016	BPL	22	3	11	8	20	29	20	10th	Group Stage	Group Stage			Tawhidul Alam Sabuz	8
2017/18	BPL	22	9	5	8	31	26	32	5th	Quarter-finals	Group Stage			Nkwocha Kingsley Chigozie	13
2018/19	BPL	24	6	7	11	31	40	25	9th	Group Stage	Group Stage			Souleymane Diabate	8
2019/20	BPL	Abandoned								Semi-finals	—			Ugochukwu Obi Moneke	3
2020/21	BPL	24	12	7	5	36	25	43	6th	Quarter-finals				Souleymane Diabate	13
2021/22	BPL	22	8	9	5	39	26	33	5th	Semi-finals	Group Stage			Souleymane Diabate	21
2022/23	BPL	20	9	5	6	38	21	32	4th	Champion	Quarter-finals			Souleymane Diabate	16
2023/24	BPL	18	9	8	1	40	17	35	Runners-up	Runners-up	Runners-up			Souleymane Diabate	17

Champions

Runners-up

Third place

Promoted

Relegated

Honours

League

• Bangladesh Premier League
  • Winners (1): 2024–25
• Dhaka First Division/Premier Division League
  • Winners (19): 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988–89, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002^[41]
• National League
  • Winners (2): 2001–02, 2005–06

Cup

• Federation Cup
  • Winners (11): 1980*, 1981, 1982*, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2022–23
• Independence Cup
  • Winners (3): 1972, 1991, 2014
• Super Cup
  • Winners (2): 2009, 2013
• Ma-O-Moni Gold Cup
  • Winners (1): 1990
• DMFA Cup
  • Winners (3): 1984*, 1993, 1995^[42]
• Independence Day Tournament
  • Winners (6): 1958, 1960,^[43] 1961*, 1963*, 1965, 1966*
• All Pakistan Mohammad Ali Bogra Shield
  • Winners (1): 1966
  • Runners-up (1): 1968^[44]

Invitational

• Aga Khan Gold Cup^{[note 1]}
  • Winners (3): 1959, 1964*, 1968
• All Airlines Gold Cup
  • Winners (1): 1999^[45]
• Ashis-Jabbar Shield Tournament
  • Winners (1): 1982
• Bordoloi Trophy
  • Runners-up (1): 1989^[46]
• J.C. Guha Memorial Trophy
  • Runners-up (1): 1988
• IFA Shield
  • Runners-up (1): 1995^[47]

Performance in AFC competitions

Asian Club Championship/AFC Champions League: 6 appearances

Main article: Bangladeshi football clubs in the Asian Club Championship

• 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

Main article: Bangladeshi clubs in the AFC Cup

• 2006 : Group Stage

Notable players

See also: Category:Mohammedan SC (Dhaka) 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

• Sheikh Shaheb Ali (1936–38)^[17]
• Ashraf Chowdhury (1950; 1956–63)^[48]
• Amir Jang Ghaznavi (1956–63)^[49]
• Kabir Ahmed (1956–58; 1960–66)^[50]
• Mari Chowdhury (1957–58; 1961–62)^[51]
• Nabi Chowdhury (1958)^[52]
• Debinash Sangma (1958–59; 1961–65; 1968–69)^[53]
• Abid Ghazi (1959–66)^[54]
• Zahirul Haque (1960–76)^[55]
• Abdullah Rahi (1960–61; 1964–70)^[56]
• Turab Ali (1961–68)^[57]
• Ghulam Abbas Baloch (1961)^[58]
• Abdul Ghafoor (1961; 1965–68)^[59][60]
• Moosa Ghazi (1962–68)^[44]
• Balai Dey (1962; 1963–64)^[61][62][63]
• Qayyum Changezi (1963)^[64]
• Mohammad Amin (1964)^[65]
• Khandoker Mohammad Nurunnabi (1965–70)^[66]
• Qadir Bakhsh (1967)^[67]
• Hafizuddin Ahmed (1967–78)^[68]
• Abdul Jabbar (1967)^[69]
• Golam Sarwar Tipu (1968–72; 1975–79)^[70]
• Ali Nawaz Baloch (1969)^[71]
• Ayub Dar (1970)^[17]
• Mohammed Rahmatullah (1963–64)^[72]
• Khare Basnet (1980)^[73]
• Ganesh Thapa (1981–82; 1985–86)^[74]
• Nasser Hejazi (1987)^[75]
• Morteza Yekkeh (1987)^[76]
• Bijan Taheri (1988–89)^[75]
• Reza Naalchegar (1987–89)
• Ronnachai Sayomchai (1988)
• Azamat Abduraimov (1991–92)^[77]
• Wangay Dorji (2000)^[78]

Africa

• Emeka Ezeugo (1987–89)^[79]
• Ousmane Berthé (2019–20)^[80]
• Yassan Ouatching (2021)
• Sunday Emmanuel (2023–present)

See also

• Mohammedan Sporting Club cricket team
• Kolkata Mohammedan
• Chittagong Mohammedan

Notes

1. The 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).