Saadullah Khan

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

Club career

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

BG Sports Saadullah then had a brief stint at Sui Southern Gas in the second-tier of Pakistani football league, before finally making his move to BG Sports Club joining the club on a six-month contract in Maldives in April 2015. 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.

Dhivehi Sifainge 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. In August 2016, Saadullah got an offer from Hungarian team Somos SE to play in 3 friendlies. 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.

Sui Southern Gas Khan returned to SSGC in the 2018–19 season following the restoration of the Pakistan Premier League after three years since 2015.

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.

International career In 2009, Saadullah was called by the Pakistan under-19 team for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualification in Tehran, under coach Gohar Zaman.

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. He also was included in the 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. In May 2015, Khan also participated in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualification.

Saadullah missed international exposure for the next 3 years, as Pakistan was suspended from all football activities by FIFA on 10 October 2017. For three years since March 2015, Pakistan remained suspended from any international competition because of the crisis created inside the Pakistan Football Federation. 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.

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

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. This was before Pakistan were once again suspended from all football activities by FIFA on 7 April 2021.

Coaching career In May 2023, Saadullah became Pakistan's first player to complete an FA Level Two (UEFA) coaching course at the age of 28.

Personal life Saadullah lost his father in 2014, who had been killed by robbers in his hometown in Pishin. His younger brother Kaleemullah Khan is also a footballer.

He completed his master’s degree in International Relations in 2021.

International

Pakistan Premier League: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14; Challenge Cup: 2011, 2012 AFC President's Cup Runner-up: 2013

Dhivehi Sifainge

Maldivian Third Division: 2017