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Saadullah Khan (footballer)

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Saadullah Khan
Personal information
Full name Saadullah Khan
Date of birth (1994-06-04) 4 June 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Pishin, Pakistan[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder / Winger
Youth career
2008–2009 Youth Academy Pishin
2009–2010 Pak Elektron
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Pak Elektron 27 (11)
2011–2014 Khan Research Laboratories 95 (43)
2014–2015 Sui Southern Gas 8 (6)
2015–2016 B.G. Sports Club 12 (5)
2017–2018 Dhivehi Sifainge
2018–2022 Sui Southern Gas 23 (6)
International career‡
2009–2011 Pakistan U20 23 (4)
2015 Pakistan U23 3 (0)
2014–2020 Pakistan 7 (1)
Medal record
Khan Research Laboratories
Winner Pakistan Premier League 2011
Winner Challenge Cup 2011
Winner Pakistan Premier League 2012
Winner Challenge Cup 2012
Runner-up AFC President's Cup 2013
Winner Pakistan Premier League 2013
Winner PFF Fair Play Trophy 2013
Dhivehi Sifainge
Winner Maldivian Third Division 2017
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 January 2022

Saadullah Khan (Urdu: سعد الله خان; born 4 June 1994[1]) is a Pakistani professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.[2] He is currently a free agent. Although his favored position is that of a playmaker, he can also be deployed as a striker or winger.

Khan had been praised for his speed, technique, dribbling skills, and play-making capabilities.[3] Considered one of Pakistan's best young players in the 2010s, he had been labelled as one of the featured midfielders of South Asia in 2015.[4][5][6]

Early life

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“I remember when I became Hafiz-e-Quran, it was in December 2000, I would run away and play football. My father was against the idea of me playing the sport full-time, but I persevered and didn’t give up. Slowly but surely, when he would hear people praising my skill, he allowed me to play. I know there are many children who play football with this passion, and they should not be failed on any account.”

Saadullah in an interview with The Express Tribune.

Saadullah was born in the town of Pishin, in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. He used to study in a madrassa, and became a Hafiz in December 2000.[7]

Club career

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Youth career

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In 2008, Saadullah trained at Youth Academy Pishin. After a year, he played for departmental side Pak Elektron.[3]

Khan Research Laboratories

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He played for Khan Research Laboratories between 2011 and 2014, winning the Pakistan Premier League title in 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14 and Challenge Cup in 2011 and 2012. In the 2011 National Football Challenge Cup, Khan scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 victory against KPT as a substitute in the second half within 36 minutes in the 54th, 56th and 90th minute respectively as KRL advanced to the semifinals.

He also participated in the AFC President's Cup from 2012 to 2014. He was a member of the team which reached the 2013 AFC President's Cup final, after falling to Turkmen club Balkan FT by 0–1 in the final.[8]

BG Sports

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Saadullah then had a brief stint at Sui Southern Gas in the second-tier of Pakistani football league,[9][10] before finally making his move to BG Sports Club joining the club on a six-month contract in Maldives in April 2015.[11][12] Khan was one of the four foreign players allowed for the club including Spaniard David Carmona, Trinidad and Tobago international Sean Bateau, and Nigerian David Philemon. The move would also make him the first Pakistani men footballer to play in Maldives, after female international Hajra Khan.[13]

Dhivehi Sifainge

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After his stint, Khan returned to SSGC, playing in the 2016 PFF Cup which was the one the few events held in Pakistan due to Pakistan Football Federation crisis from 2015 to 2017 until the eventual ban.[14][15] In August 2016, Saadullah got an offer from Hungarian team Somos SE to play in 3 friendlies.[16][17] He eventually joined Dhivehi Sifainge in the 2017 Maldivian Third Division. The team got promoted to the Maldivian Second Division after defeating Sea Life SC in the penalties, following a 1–1 draw.[18]

Sui Southern Gas

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Khan returned to SSGC in the 2018–19 season following the restoration of the Pakistan Premier League after three years since 2015.[19] In February 2019, he got an offer from Indonesia Liga 1 club Persib Bandung.[20]

In 2021, SSGC club was closed after the shutdown of departmental sports in Pakistan. After the restoration of departmental sports in Pakistan, SSGC terminated contracts of the players of the squad on 26 August 2022, including Saadullah.[21]

International career

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In 2009, Saadullah was called by the Pakistan under-19 team for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualification in Tehran,[22] under coach Gohar Zaman.[23][24]

Khan made his senior debut for the Pakistan national football team in 2014 at the age of 19, in a 3–1 defeat against Lebanon.[1] His second appearance was against Palestine.[1] Khan scored his first international goal for the national team on his third appearance, in a friendly against Afghanistan in 2015 which was assisted by team captain Hassan Bashir.[1] Saadullah came as a substitute in the last 10 minutes of the match in place of Mansoor Khan, and scored with a header at the 91th minute of the match through a free kick executed by Bashir.[25] He also was included in Pakistan squad for test matches against Malaysia under-19 and under-22 in Kuala Lumpur, and Osotspa FC and Thailand under-23 in Bangkok in 2015. He remained an unused substitute in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification against Yemen.[26][27] In May 2015, Khan also participated in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification.[11][12][28]

Saadullah missed international exposure for the next 3 years, as Pakistan was suspended from all football activities by FIFA on 10 October 2017.[29][30] For three years since March 2015, Pakistan remained suspended from any international competition because of the crisis created inside the Pakistan Football Federation.[30][31] Saadullah along with other national team players meanwhile participated with Pakistan during local Leisure Leagues exhibitions matches involving Brazilian star Ronaldinho and Ryan Giggs in 2017.[32][33]

In 2018, Saadullah participated in Pakistan tour to Bahrain for test matches as a preparation for the 2018 SAFF Championship, when his national side returned to international circuit after 3 years, where he scored a goal in a 2–0 victory against Sitra Club. In the 2018 SAFF Championship, Pakistan terminated the campaign sealing its place in the semi-finals.[34]

In January 2020, Saadullah was named in Pakistan's squad for a two-match friendly tour in Malaysia against UKM and Felda United on 22 and 23 January respectively, which ended in a 2–2 draw and a 2–0 victory.[35][36] This was before Pakistan were once again suspended from all football activities by FIFA on 7 April 2021.[6] After the suspension was lifted on 29 June 2022, Saadullah along with his teammate Saddam Hussain were excluded from the national football team camp, as they were unable to attend the trials of the national team where they were named, following the return to international football due to their ongoing court case against their former departmental club SSGC.[37][38]

Personal life

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Saadullah lost his father in 2014, who had been killed by robbers in his hometown in Pishin.

He completed his master’s degree in International Relations in 2021.[7] In May 2023, Saadullah became Pakistan's first player to complete an FA Level Two (UEFA) coaching course at the age of 28.[3][39]

Career statistics

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Club

[edit]
As of match played 12 September 2023[1][19]
Club Season League Domestic
Cup 		Asian
Competition[a] 		Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Pak Elektron 2010–11 Pakistan Premier League 24 9 3 2 – 27 11
Khan Research Laboratories 2011–12 Pakistan Premier League 25 14 6 0 4 1 35 15
2012–13 Pakistan Premier League 23 15 4 0 4 1 31 16
2013–14 Pakistan Premier League 26 11 3 1 0 0 29 12
Total 98 49 16 3 8 2 122 54
Sui Southern Gas 2014–15 PFF League 5 6 3 0 – 8 6
BG Sports Club 2015 Dhivehi Premier League 12 5 – – 12 5
Dhivehi Sifainge 2017 Maldivian Third Division – – – – – –
Sui Southern Gas 2018–19 Pakistan Premier League 10 2 2 0 – 10 2
2019–20 Pakistan Premier League –[b] 5 2 – 5 2
2020–21 Pakistan Premier League –[c] 0 0 – 0 0
2021–22 Pakistan Premier League 8 2 – – 8 2
Total 35 15 10 2 – 43 17
Career total 147 64 26 5 8 2 181 71
  1. ^ Asian competitions include the AFC President's Cup
  2. ^ No league was held during 2019–20 season.
  3. ^ No league was held during 2020–21 season.

International

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As of match played 12 September 2018[1]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Pakistan 2014 2 0
2015 1 1
2018 4 0
Total 7 1

International goals

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Scores and results table list Pakistan's goal tally first.

Honours

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Club

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Khan Research Laboratories[40]

Dhivehi Sifainge

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Saadullah Khan at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. ^ "Saadullah Khan". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Pakistani footballer Saadullah Khan makes history". Geo.tv. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  4. ^ our.correspondent (21 November 2015). "SAFF Championship: Saadullah sceptical of Pakistan's participation". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ natasha.raheel (22 December 2015). "SAFF Championship: Pakistan will be missed, say India officials". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b natasha.raheel (14 May 2021). "Pick football over politics, says Saadullah". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b Raheel, Natasha (23 November 2021). "Light fading for Saadullah at tunnel's end". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Balkan of Turkmenistan crowned as AFC President's Cup champions". boxscorenews.com. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  9. ^ End of an era? KRL part ways with Lutfi Retrieved on 15 August 2015
  10. ^ Ghulam Rasool extends Army’s lead Retrieved on 15 August 2015
  11. ^ a b "Saadullah pens deal with Maldives' BG Sports Club". www.thenews.com.pk. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b Raheel, Natasha (15 February 2015). "Six-month stint: Saadullah signs with Maldivian club". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  13. ^ Wasim, Umaid (13 April 2016). "Saqib hopes to impress during Maldives stint". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  14. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (2 February 2016). "SSGC top group, Asim hits treble for Railways". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  15. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (18 February 2016). "Omar's shootout heroics put NBP into PFF Cup semis". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  16. ^ Raheel, Natasha (10 August 2016). "Budapest beckons: Saadullah ready to live Hungarian dream". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  17. ^ natasha.raheel (21 September 2016). "Saadullah expecting call from Hungarian club". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  18. ^ ތިން ވަނަ ޑިވިޝަނުގެ ޗެމްޕިއަންކަން ސިފައިން ހޯދައިފި (in Dhivehi) Mihaaru Sports
  19. ^ a b "Saadullah - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Persib Bandung Bantah Akan Kontrak Penyerang Asal Pakistan | Goal.com Indonesia". www.goal.com (in Indonesian). 20 February 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Top footballers set to move Supreme Court after SSGC terminates contracts - Sports - SAMAA". 29 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  22. ^ "AFC U-19 Championship shifted to Tehran". Brecorder. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  23. ^ "PFF names Gohar as Pakistan U-19 coach". The Nation. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Gohar Zaman appointed U-19 football team coach". Brecorder. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  25. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Pakistan vs. Afghanistan". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  26. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Matches - Yemen-Pakistan". 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  27. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Matches - Pakistan-Yemen". 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Saadullah - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  29. ^ "FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation". FIFA. 11 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017.
  30. ^ a b Din, Tusdiq. "Three years without any football - can Pakistan recover?". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  31. ^ natasha.raheel (15 July 2017). "Save us footballers: Saadullah requests PFF, FIFA". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Pak players want payment for Leisure Leagues matches". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  33. ^ "Riaz, Hassan strikes help Ronaldinho win series". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  34. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (1 September 2018). "Pakistan squad named for SAFF Cup". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  35. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (23 January 2020). "Pakistan hold on for 2-2 draw against Malaysian club". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  36. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (24 January 2020). "Pakistan end Malaysia tour on a winning high". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  37. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (11 September 2022). "Saddam excluded as PFF NC announces shortlist for national team". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  38. ^ "NC names 36 players selected for national camp". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  39. ^ Fatima, Noor (16 May 2023). "Footballer Saadullah Khan becomes first Pakistani to complete UEFA coaching course". gnnhd.tv. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  40. ^ "S. Khan". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
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