Khandoker Wasim Iqbal

Khandoker Wasim Iqbal (খন্দকার ওয়াসিম ইকবাল; born 21 November 1961) is a retired Bangladeshi football player and coach. He mainly played as a right winger, and was one of the most recognised players during the early years of Bangladeshi football. He was a prominent member of the Bangladesh national football team during the majority of the 80s.

Club career
Wasim's career began with his local club Brothers Union's youth team, with whom he took part in the Pioneer League. During his time with the youth team, Wasim managed to impress the club's captain Shahiduddin Ahmed Selim and was promoted to the senior team, within a year. Under the legendary Brothers coach Abdul Gafur Baloch, Wasim made his Dhaka League debut against Dhaka Wanderers. He started his career as a striker, but was soon converted to an out an out right winger in a 4-2-4 system and in his debut season of 1979, he scored in a 1–0 victory over Mohammedan SC. In 1984 he was named the club's captain.

Wasim's career with the Oranges saw him win the Federation Cup in 1980 and the Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1982. The late 70s and early 80s was the golden era for Brothers Union as their academy setup produced national team players like Hasanuzzaman Bablu, Mohammed Mohsin and the ever-dependable Wasim himself, whose technical ability was not something many local players had at the time. During Brothers' Aga Khan Gold Cup triumph in 1982, Wasim scored as the club routed the Oman national football team 3–1. He was a guest player during Mohammedan SC's Ashis-Jabbar Shield Tournament victory in India.

One of Wasim's most forgettable moments occurred during the 1985 Dhaka League deciding match against Abahani Krira Chakra. With Brothers needing a win to claim their first league title, they soon took a two-goal lead against their rivals. Furthermore, Wasim found himself in a one-on-one situation with Abahani's Sri Lankan goalkeeper, Chandrashir; however, his miss saw Abahani win the game 3–2, ending Wasim's hope for a first league title with his boyhood club.

Soon, Wasim attracted interest from overseas and ended up joining Kolkata based Indian giants SC East Bengal in 1987. During his stint in India, he participated in both the Calcutta League and Rovers Cup. After winning the Calcutta League, Wasim returned to Bangladesh by joining Abahani Krira Chakra. He spent two years at the club winning the Dhaka League in 1989 and also India's Sait Nagjee Trophy, with Wasim assisting Sheikh Mohammad Aslam's winning goal in the final. Wasim also represented Mohammedan as a guest player during the J.C. Guha Memorial Trophy in India. In 1990, he scored the only goal as Abahani defeated India's Mohun Bagan in the Azmiri Begum Gold Cup final in Feni. He retired after representing Brothers in the first round of the 1992–93 Asian Club Championship.

International career
In 1980, Wasim played for the Bangladesh U-19 team and soon became a member for the senior national team, making his official debut during the 1982 Quaid-e-Azam, in Pakistan. Wasim regularly featured for the Bangladesh national team from 1982 to 1989, and captained the side at the 1984 South Asian Games in Nepal, and again at the 1987 South Asian Games in India. One of his most memorable matches for the national side came during the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against the Philippines, when he almost single-handedly won the match for Bangladesh with his two solo goals in the first half.

On 8 March 1989, Wasim scored his last goal for the country, during what's considered to be one of Bangladesh's best ever performances in international football, thrashing Thailand 3–1 at the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Before the start of the 1989 South Asian Games, coach Nasser Hejazi dropped many regular faces including Wasim. It was suspected that as Wasim played for Abahani Limited Dhaka at the time, the Mohammedan SC coach Hejazi did not want him in the team.

International goals

 * Scores and results list Bangladesh's goal tally first.

Style of play
Wasim dominated the domestic football scene in the 80s in the colors of Brothers Union with his deft dodges, speed, lethal crosses and stunning goals. He was mainly known for his dribbles and is considered to be the best dribbler of the ball Bangladesh ever produced.

Managerial career
After retiring, Wasim started his coaching career with his former club Brothers Union's under 19 team and later went on to manage the senior team for three years. In 2013, he took charge of Sheikh Jamal DC for the Bangladesh Super Cup.

He later focused on grassroots, coaching with United City in the Third Division League and Little Friends Club in the Second Division League.

In October 2021, he became the general manager of Sheikh Russel KC in the Bangladesh Premier League.

In March 2022, Wasim was dismissed from the general manager post of Sheikh Russel KC.

Personal life
Wasim studied in Ramakrishna Mission High School, which is where he learned how to play football, due to his father's persistence. During the peak of his career Wasim appeared in the movie Johnny Ustad, where he acted alongside film stars like Zafar Iqbal and Anju Ghosh.

Honours
Brothers Union
 * Federation Cup: 1980, 1991
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup: 1981–82
 * DMFA Cup: 1984

Mohammedan SC
 * Ashis-Jabbar Shield Tournament (India): 1982

East Bengal Club
 * Calcutta Football League: 1987

Abahani Limited Dhaka
 * Federation Cup: 1988
 * Sait Nagjee Trophy: 1989
 * Dhaka League: 1989–90
 * Independence Cup: 1990
 * Azmiri Begum Gold Cup: 1990

Bangladesh
 * South Asian Games Silver medal: 1984, 1985

Awards and accolades

 * 1985 − Sports Writers Association's Best Footballer Award.
 * 2006 − National Sports Award.