# Rakib Hossain (footballer, born 1973)

Rakib Hossain (Bengali: রকিব হোসেন; born 10 March 1973), also called Rokib Hossain, is a retired Bangladeshi footballer who played as a left winger.

## Early life

Rakib Hossain was born on March 10, 1973, in Shariatpur District, Bangladesh, to Abdul Khalek Howlader and Begum Sayedunnesa. He was the seventh eldest among eleven siblings, comprising five brothers and six sisters. Growing up, he idolized players like Monir Hossain Manu. In 1986, Rakib moved to Dhaka to pursue his dream of becoming a footballer. While studying at Kakoli High School & College, he began his football journey by playing in the Pioneer League for the junior team of MSPCC City Club. Impressing coach, Shahiduddin Ahmed Selim, he was promoted to the senior team, and played in the Second Division for two years. In 1989, he joined the First Division club PWD SC.

## Club career

Following two seasons at PWD SC, Rakib joined Brothers Union, a move facilitated by Brothers' coach, Shahiduddin Ahmed Selim. During his lone season at the club, Brothers finished in third-place with Rakib scoring four league goals. In 1994, following the gentlemen's agreement made by Brothers Union, Mohammedan SC and Dhaka Abahani to lower player salaries, Rakib joined Muktijoddha Sangsad KC and in his debut season at the club he won the Federation Cup.
In 1995, Rakib was named Sports Writers Association's Best Footballer for his performances at both club and international level. In the same year, he represented Calcutta-based East Bengal Club, and during his time in India he played in both the Federation Cup and IFA Shield, winning the latter. In the IFA Shield semi-final match against Mohun Bagan on 6 February 1995, Rakib scored the game's only goal to hand East Bengal a victory in the Kolkata Derby. He eventually returned to Bangladesh, and represented Dhaka Abahani in the 1995 Premier Division League. In the 1997-98 season, Rakib helped Muktijoddha Sangsad win both his and their inaugural Premier Division League title and also the Mahanagari Cup, finishing the latter as top-scorer and the lone scorer of the final against Mohammedan.
Rakib represented Mohammedan at the 2000 National League, and finished the tournament as joint top-scorer with three goals. He also played as a guest player for Muktijoddha Sangsad at the 2001–02 Asian Club Championship. In the 2003-04 season, Rakib captained Dhaka Abahani, and aside from the Premier Division he also led the club during the 2004 National League. However, after suffering a groin injury mid-season, he was stripped of the captaincy by club official Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu. Rakib retired after representing Abahani in the Bhutan King's Cup in October 2004.

## International career

Rakib represented Bangladesh Green (B team) at the 1993 President's Gold Cup in Dhaka. In the same year, coach Oldrich Svab, handed him his Bangladesh national team debut against Maldives in the 1993 South Asian Games held on home soil. In 1994, he was part of the Muktijoddha Sangsad KC team coached by Kazi Salahuddin, which represented the Bangladesh national team at the Qatar Independence Cup.
In 1995, Rakib represented Bangladesh during both the 1995 South Asian Gold Cup and 1995 South Asian Games, winning silver in the latter. Rakib scored his first senior international goal on 27 March 1995, against Nepal in the South Asian Gold Cup. He also scored against Nepal in the South Asian Games on 23 December. Rakib was also part of Otto Pfister's Bangladesh team which won their maiden international title, the 4-nation Tiger Trophy in Myanmar.
In 1997, he played five 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round matches and also featured for the team during their disastrous 1997 SAFF Gold Cup campaign. He retired from international football following Bangladesh's defeat to India in the 1999 SAFF Gold Cup final. Although, Rakib was selected in the squad for the 1999 South Asian Games, he decided against participating in the tournament which Bangladesh would finally go on to win.

## Personal life

Rakib married Jihan Sazed in 2004, and they have two sons. He is a Dhaka Abahani supporter.
In 2004, he moved to Canada following a fall-out with Abahani club officials which led to his retirement. He returned once in 2006 and served as the sports secretary of Bangladesh Awami Swechasebak League for four months.

## Career statistics
### International goals

List of international goals scored by Rakib Hossain :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
| 1 | 27 March 1995 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Nepal | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1995 South Asian Gold Cup | |
| 2 | 23 December 1995 | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Madras, India | Nepal | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1995 South Asian Games | |

## Honours

Muktijoddha Sangsad KC
* Dhaka Premier Division League: 1997–98
* National League: 2003
* Federation Cup: 1994
* Mahanagari Cup: 1997
East Bengal Club
* IFA Shield: 1995
Bangladesh
* South Asian Games Silver medal: 1995
* 4-nation Tiger Cup: 1995

### Awards and accolades

* 1995 − Sports Writers Association's Best Footballer Award