Golam Sarwar Tipu

Golam Sarwar Tipu (; born 22 October 1945), is a former Bangladeshi football player and manager. He is one of the few East Pakistani footballers to represent the Pakistan national football team.

Club career While studying in Tejgaon school, Tipu was introduced to neighbourhood club Tejgaon Friends Union, which he joined in 1963, after completing his Matriculation examination the previous year. With the club he took part in the Dhaka Second Division. In 1964, he was signed up by ex-Pakistani international Rashid Chunna's EPG Press, with them he played in the First Division without remuneration, before Rashid fixed his move to Wari Club the following year. With the Black and Whites, he won his first league title in 1969, establishing a lethal partnership with Pakistani striker Ali Nawaz Baloch.

In 1972, almost a year after Bangladesh Liberation War, Tipu joined the newly established Abahani Krira Chakra, after being persuaded by Sheikh Kamal. Although he suffered a serious knee injury the previous year, he was made the club captain in 1973. The following year, although not in his best form, he won league title with Abahani. In 1975, Tipu returned to Mohammedan, and became hat trick champions, winning the league title in 1975, 1976 and 1978. He announced his retirement after playing against Kolkata Mohammedan in a charity match, and during the match he got an assist for Sheikh Mohammad Aslam's goal, as the game ended 1–1.

International career

In 1967, he trialed for the Pakistan national football team while still at Victoria SC, and after getting his move to Mohammedan SC, he made his official debut for Pakistan during the 1969 Friendship Cup, held in Tehran, Iran. During the tournament, Tipu played against Soviet club Spartak Moscow. On 11 May 1972, Tipu's Mohammedan SC took on Mohun Bagan AC, who were the first foreign team to visit Bangladesh after independence. Although Tipu was on the losing side at the end of the game, two days later on 13 May, Tipu defeated the Indian side as a member of the Dhaka XI, with Kazi Salahuddin scoring the only goal.

Later on that year, Tipu played for the Dhaka XI in India's Bordoloi Trophy, and scored in the final against East Bengal Club, as his team finished runner-up. However, a knee injury he suffered in 1972, prevented him a place in the first Bangladesh national football team, which played in Malaysia's Merdeka Tournament, in 1973. After returning from injury, Tipu could not regain his old form, and retired in 1979, without getting a chance to play for Bangladesh.

Tipu returned to domestic football, coaching both Arambagh KS and Agrani Bank Ltd, until 1989. He returned to Mohammedan for his second stint as coach, in 1993. He managed the Bangladesh U16 team at the 1998 AFC U-16 Championship and during the tournament his side earned a hard-fought 2–2 draw with Japan U16. His last coaching job with the national team came during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round, where Bangladesh lost 4–0 to Tajikistan on aggregate. During the 2009–10 Bangladesh League, Tipu guided a financially struggling Muktijoddha Sangsad KC to a sixth-place finish.

Post-retirement Following his retirement from football as a coach and player, Tipu regularly appears as a football pundit for various news outlets.

Honours Player Dhaka Mohammedan Dhaka First Division League: 1969, 1975, 1976, 1978 Aga Khan Gold Cup: 1968 Independence Cup: 1972

Abahani Krira Chakra Dhaka First Division League: 1974

East Pakistan King Mahendra Cup: 1970

Manager Dhaka Mohammedan Dhaka First Division League: 1980, 1982 Federation Cup: 1980*, 1981, 1982*, 1983 Ashis-Jabbar Shield Tournament: 1982

Awards and accolades 1979 − National Sports Awards. 2013 − National Sports Awards Lifetime Honour. 2018 − Rupchada Prothom Alo Award 2018.