Kazi Nazrul Islam (footballer)

Kazi Nazrul Islam (কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম; born 16 October 1978) is a retired Bangladeshi professional footballer who played as a defender. He played for the Bangladesh national team from 1999 to 2008 and captained the team on multiple occasions. Nazrul currently works as a team manager for his former club Abahani Limited Dhaka.

Club career
Nazrul made his Dhaka Premier Division League debut with Farashganj SC in 1993. He spent most of his career with Abahani Limited Dhaka. His first spell with club lasted for two years and after four years away, Nazrul rejoined Abahani in 2007. During his second spell, Nazrul was a mainstay in defense as the club won the Bangladesh Premier League for three years straight, from 2007 till 2010. He was club captain in the 2008-09 season. He was released from the aging squad following the 2012–13 season.

International career
Nazrul represented Bangladesh U19 at the 1996 AFC Youth Championship after playing an important role during qualification. He captained the Bangladesh national team during the 2007 Nehru Cup. He initially retired from international football in 2007 after a fallout with head coach at the time, Syed Nayeemuddin. He returned to the team after Nayeemuddin left only to continue for one more year. During his final international tournament, the 2008 SAFF Championship, coach Abu Yusuf did not let Nazrul enter the pitch, although the defender was the top performer in the professional league.

Honours
 Mohammedan SC 
 * National League: 2005–06

 Abahani Limited Dhaka 
 * Dhaka Premier Division League: 2001
 * Bangladesh Premier League: 2007, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2012
 * Federation Cup: 2010
 * Super Cup: 2011
 * Bordoloi Trophy: 2010

 Brothers Union 
 * Dhaka Premier Division League: 2003–04
 * National League: 2004

Bangladesh
 * SAFF Championship: 2003
 * South Asian Games Gold medal: 1999