Syed Shahid Hakim

Syed Shahid Hakim (23 June 1939 – 22 August 2021)^[2] was an Indian footballer, football manager, FIFA official and referee.^[3] Hakim also acted as assistant manager of India national team during the 1980s.^[4] He was awarded by the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award in 2017 for his contributions to the sport.^[5]^[6]

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Syed Shahid Hakim
The President, Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Dhyan Chand Award to Hakim at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, 29 August 2017.
Personal information
Date of birth	(1939-06-23)23 June 1939^[1]
Place of birth	Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British India (now in Telangana, India)
Date of death	22 August 2021(2021-08-22) (aged 82)^[1]
Place of death	Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	City College Old Boys
	Indian Air Force
	Hyderabad City Police
International career
1960	India
Managerial career
1998–1999	Mahindra United
2000–2001	Salgaocar
2004–2005	Bengal Mumbai
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Hakim was the member of the last India national football team played in the 1960 Rome Olympics.^[7]^[8]^[9] He served as the Regional Director of Sports Authority of India. He played in the position of half-back.^[10] Hakim was an international referee with FIFA badge holder.^[11]

In club football, Hakim appeared with Hyderabad City Police, then one of the strongest sides in Indian club football.^[12]^[13]

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Post-playing career

After retiring from football, Hakim became FIFA badge holder international referee, and officiated matches of Asian Club Championship,^[14] and the 1988 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.^[15]

He also worked as pilot, having served as Squadron Leader of the Indian Air Force.^[14] Hakim later appointed regional director of Sports Authority of India (SAI).^[14] He also went on to serve as "project director in charge of scouting" before the beginning of 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.^[14]

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Managerial career

He managed National Football League (India) outfit Mahindra United from 1998 to 1999,^[16]^[17] and guided the team clinching 1998 Durand Cup.^[14]^[18] He later managed another NFL side Salgaocar,^[14] before becoming head coach of NFL second division and Bombay Harwood League club Bengal Mumbai in 2004–05.^[19]^[20]

Beside managing Indian clubs, he also served as assistant coach of P. K. Banerjee managed India national football team at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.^[14]

Hakim-saab has been an inspiration to many Footballers over the years. He has been a versatile personality. He fully deserves the Award. Congratulations.

— Kushal Das, General Secretary of the All India Football Federation, on Hakim.^[21]

Hakim for his contributions to Indian football as coach and manager, was conferred with the prestigious Dronacharya Award in 2017.^[21]

Personal life

Born in Hyderabad, British India, Hakim is son of legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim,^[22]^[23] whose tenure as coach of India national team is regarded as "golden age" of football in the country.^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27]^[28]^[29]

Hakim was tested positive for COVID-19 but recovered after treatment.^[30] He died on 22 August 2021 of cardiac arrest, aged 82, at a hospital in Gulbarga.^[15]^[31]