| Ghulam Rabbani | |
| Fullname: | Sheikh Ghulam Rabbani |
| Birth Date: | Unknown |
| Birth Place: | Delhi, British India |
| Death Date: | 10 December 2010 |
| Death Place: | Karachi, Pakistan |
| Position: | Right-winger |
| Years1: | 1953–1962 |
| Years2: | 1950s |
| Years3: | 1959–1970 |
| Years4: | 1962 |
| Years5: | 1970s |
| Clubs1: | Pakistan Mughal FC |
| Clubs2: | Punjab |
| Clubs3: | Dhaka Wanderers |
| Clubs4: | Victoria SC |
| Clubs5: | Pakistan Airlines |
| Nationalyears1: | 1954–1960s |
| Nationalteam1: | Pakistan |
Sheikh Ghulam Rabbani (died 10 December 2010), was a Pakistani professional footballer who played as a right winger. Rabbani represented the Pakistan national football team from 1954 until the 1960s, captaining the team in 1961.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Rabbani was born in Delhi in British India. He moved to Karachi in the newly formed Pakistan following the partition.
Rabbani represented Pakistan Mughal Football Club from 1953 to 1962, and won the National Football Championship with Punjab four times.[5] In the late 1950s, Rabbani played for Dhaka Wanderers Club.
After a spell of more than a decade with the club, Rabbani played for Pakistan Airlines before his eventual retirement. During his time in Dhaka, Rabbani represented Victoria SC as a guest player at the 1962 Aga Khan Gold Cup.[6]
Rabbani was first selected for the Pakistan national team at the 1954 Colombo Cup in Calcutta, but was unable to feature in any of the matches because of the quality of the squad. After a long gap, his performances playing for the Dhaka Wanderers Club enabled his comeback in the national team for the 1958 Asian Games. He featured in the 1960 and 1962 Merdeka Tournament.[7] In the later edition under the leadership of Muhammad Umer, he played a key role in Pakistan finishing as runner-ups of the tournament. He captained the national team in 1961, during Burma national team tour to East Pakistan with matches played in Dhaka and Chittagong.[8] [9] [10]
Following his retirement, Rabbani served the Pakistan Football Federation Selection Committee as a member. He is one of the key figures responsible to launch the Pakistan Airlines football team in the late 1960s, which eventually became the most successful team in the National Football Championship.
A right winger, Rabbani was praised for his speed and dribbling skills, and was often regarded as one of the fastest runners in Pakistani football. He was also praised for his ability to create space, bring the ball into the danger zone and send pin-point crosses.
Rabbani died on Friday of 10 December 2010.
Punjab
Dhaka Wanderers
Victoria SC
1962