Ahmed Khan (footballer)

Ahmed Mohammed Khan (24 December 1926 – 27 August 2017) was an Indian footballer who played as a forward. He participated in the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics. He was also vice-captain of India from 1949 to 1954.

Khan, known for his ball controlling skills and creativity in forward position predominantly during his spell in East Bengal from 1949 to 1959, was later idolized by Indian international Chuni Goswami.

Club career
Khan played in the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics and figured for East Bengal from 1949 to 1959, and captained the team in 1954–55. He spent most of his club career in East Bengal. Khan was part of the team that played against German side Kickers Offenbach and FC Torpedo Moscow in 1953. In the same year, he went on to play for the team at the World Youth Festival in Bucharest, Romania. He netted one in their 6–1 victory against Lebanon XI.

He was also one of the "Pancha Pandavas" of the club who, besides him, comprised forwards Dhanraj, Appa Rao, Saleh and Venkatesh. They all helped East Bengal bag the prestigious IFA Shield, Calcutta Football League and Rovers Cup in 1949 and become the first Indian club to win the Durand Cup in 1951. He also played for Bangalore Muslims FC.

International career
He made his Olympic debut in 1948 London Olympics, where Balaidas Chatterjee managed India lost 1–2 to heavyweight France. He also won gold at the 1951 Asian Games, held in New Delhi. At the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Khan played under Sailen Manna's captaincy, but India was thrashed by Yugoslavia 10–1. He scored India's lone goal in that match.

Khan later participated in 1953 Quadrangular tournament in Rangoon with Balaidas Chatterjee managed team, and won the title. He was also part of the Indian team in an exhibition match in December 1954, in an 1–0 defeat to Allsvenskan club AIK at CC&FC Ground in Kolkata.

Honours
Bangalore Muslims
 * Rovers Cup: 1948

East Bengal
 * IFA Shield: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1958
 * Durand Cup: 1951, 1952, 1956
 * Calcutta Football League: 1949, 1950, 1952
 * Rovers Cup: 1949
 * DCM Trophy: 1950, 1952, 1957
 * Dr. H. K. Mookherjee Shield: 1957
 * P. K. Nair Gold Cup: 1956

India
 * Asian Games Gold medal: 1951
 * Colombo Cup: 1953, 1954

Individual
 * East Bengal Best Forward of the Millennium
 * East Bengal "Bharat Gaurav Award": 2012