# Safiullah Khan

Safiullah Khan (born 13 March 1979) is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a forward. Khan made his international debut in 2005, and won the highest goal-scorer award in the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers, where he finished as the top-scorer with 5 goals.

## Early life

Khan was born in Dir, in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan on 13 March 1979.

## Club career
### Early career

Khan started his career with departmental side Pakistan Telecommunication (PTCL) in 2000. After a year, he moved to Allied Bank, where he lastly participated in the inaugural 2004–05 Pakistan Premier League, where the team was dissolved at the end of the season.

### Pak Elektron

Khan moved to Pak Elektron in 2006, where he helped the team achieve the promotion to the top-tier after winning the 2007–08 PFF League.

### Khan Research Laboratories

In 2009, Khan moved to Khan Research Laboratories, winning the 2009–10 Pakistan Premier League and the National Challenge Cup in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

## International career

Khan debut was on 16 June 2005 which was the second game in a series of three games against India, the game finished 1–0 loss to Pakistan. After a three year absence Khan was selected to play in an AFC Challenge Cup qualifier against Brunei on April 6, 2009. In the match he scored four goals with the game finishing 6–0 in Pakistan's favour, becoming at the time, the second player in Pakistan soccer history to score four goals in an international fixture after Abdul Jabbar. On 8 April 2009 in the same competition Khan scored again in the 2–2 draw against Sri Lanka.

## Post-retirement

After retirement, Khan participated in the AFC Future Coaches Project programme in 2008 and 2010 under Gyorgy Kottan in Spain. He later joined University of Agriculture in Peshawar as Assistant Director Sports.
In 2014, he also participated in the FATA International Peace Football Cup with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa football team.

## Career statistics
### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Pakistan | 2005 | 3 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 2009 | 7 | 5 |
| Total | Total | 11 | 5 |
    Scores and results list Pakistan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Khan goal.
List of international goals scored by Safiullah Khan :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 6 April 2009 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Brunei | 0–1 | 0–6 | 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification |
| 2 | 6 April 2009 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Brunei | 0–3 | 0–6 | 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification |
| 3 | 6 April 2009 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Brunei | 0–4 | 0–6 | 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification |
| 4 | 6 April 2009 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Brunei | 0–5 | 0–6 | 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification |
| 5 | 8 April 2009 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification |

## Honours
### Pak Elektron

* Football Federation League: 2007–08

### Khan Research Laboratories

* Pakistan Premier League: 2009–10
* Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup: 2009, 2010, 2011