Monwar Hossain Nannu

Monwar Hossain Nannu (; 27 August 1948 – 16 February 2008) was a Bangladeshi football player during the 1970s and early 1980s. Initially, he played as an attacking midfielder for Abahani Krira Chakra in the First Division.

Club career Early years In the early sixties while still at school, Nannu practiced at the EPG Press field, and ex-Pakistan national team player Rashid Chunna who coached EPG Press (now BG Press) let Nannu train with the EPG Press football team, when there were not enough players present. In 1965, Nannu got an opportunity to play for the second string team of Azad Sporting Club in the Third Division. Nannu went on to mature by playing in the Second Division with Tejgaon Friends Union in 1966 and Dilkusha SC in 1967.

Nannu made his First Division debut for EPG Press in 1968, playing as a left-back against Dhaka Wanderers. In 1969, he moved to Wari Dhaka. After breaking his leg, Nannu stayed out of the game for two years, returning to football in 1977 and transitioning into a central-defender. He remained at Abahani until 1980, where he won the league title in 1977 and captained the club in 1978.

He is the finest midfielder of Bangladesh. His precision pass could find the gap through three players. He had the ability to attack from defence. He was a master tactician. — Kazi Salahuddin, former Bangladesh captain. He ended his career while playing for Rahmatganj MFS in 1983. They participated in the Mardeka Cup held in Malaysia, and during the tournament Nannu scored against South Vietnam in a 1–1 draw. The tournament turned out to be his only foreign trip with the national team, as injury ruled him out for the 1975 Merdeka Cup. Nannu quit the national team in 1978, prior to the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, only to return to the squad during the 1980 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers held in Dhaka.

Career statistics

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

Personal life and legacy

Nannu's younger brother Shamsul Alam Manju was a right-back. They played together at Mohammedan Sporting Club and Rahmatganj MFS. Nannu was married to Shahana Hossain.

He won the 1974 Bangladesh Sports Writers Association (BSWA) Footballer of the Year prize.

On 16 February 2008, Nannu died due to his cancer. In 2008, Sonali Otit Club introduced an award for the football referees and named it "Monwar Hossain Nannu Award".

Honours Club Mohammedan Sporting Club Independence Cup: 1972

Abahani Krira Chakra Dhaka First Division League: 1974, 1977 Liberation Cup: 1977

Individual 1974 − Sports Writers Association's Best Footballer Award 1998 − National Sports Award