Atif Bashir

Atif Qureshi Bashir (; born 3 April 1985) is a former professional football player who played as a defender. Born in Germany, he represented the Pakistan national team.

Club career Early career Born to a German Turkish mother and British Pakistani father, Bashir started as a defender equally comfortable playing at right-back, and the centre of defence. Bashir spent seven years as a youth at professional clubs such as Hertha Berlin and Cardiff City.

Welsh football After leaving Cardiff City, Bashir signed for Afan Lido in 2004 and played 11 games scoring 1 goal for the club. He later on made a move to Bridgend Town in 2010 but in the same year he returned to Barry Town.

English trials In July 2010, Bashir had a trial with English Conference National side Luton Town. He impressed the fans in a pre-season friendly match against Dunstable Town, but he was surprisingly not offered a contract by Luton Town manager Richard Money.

In August 2010, he had a trial with another English Conference National side, Histon, playing in a pre-season friendly match against Dagenham & Redbridge. A transfer to Histon looked set to happen, but Histon manager John Beck resigned shortly after Bashir's trial, so he returned to Barry Town for the start of the 2010–11 season.

In October 2010, and then again in November 2010, Bashir undertook trial spells with Conference North outfit AFC Telford United.

Bashir undertook a trial spell with Conference National side Newport County in July 2011, featuring in a pre-season friendly match against Mangotsfield United.

Last years Following his return to Barry town, in the 2012–13 season whilst playing against his former team Haverfordwest, he sustained an injury which put him out for the rest of the season and possibly the rest of the 2013–14 season.

At the beginning of the 2014–15 season, Bashir returned to game action for Barry Town.

He continued to cement his place as a regular in the Pakistan national side, featuring in both legs of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh in June and July 2011. He also featured in the 2011 SAFF Championship.

In the end of 2012, a knee injury while playing for Barry Town proved to be the end of his international career, although later in 2014 he hinted a return to the national side.

Personal life Bashir was born in Berlin, Tiergarten to a Cypriot Turkish mother and a German-Pakistani father. He started his football career at the age of 8 at Hertha BSC Berlin with stints at Hertha Zehlendorf. Interests from clubs such as Tasmania Berlin and Tennis Borussia resulted in short term loans.

Apart from his football career, Bashir has some experience in modelling.

Career statistics

Scores and results list Pakistan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bashir goal.