Osman Jan


Osman Jan was a Pakistani footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Jan is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the Indian subcontinent during the 1930s and 1940s. With a short height measuring 5'6", Jan was praised for his long-range leap and a powerful fist. He was also renowned for his outfield play mind and one-on-one situations.
He was part of the Calcutta League dominant side Mohammedan Sporting in the 1930s. He also represented Aryan FC. Osman played for Bengal and Delhi in the Santosh Trophy and was the first footballer to win the Santosh Trophy for two different states.
Osman was appointed captain of the Pakistan national team in their international debut in 1950, and became the first ever captain in the country's history.

Club career

Initially playing for Delhi Crescent Club, Osman was recruited by Mohammedan Sporting in 1935. He further became a key player during the club's dominance Calcutta League in the 1930s.
He won the inaugural edition of the Santosh Trophy with Bengal in 1941.
Osman's return to Delhi, after successful stints at Mohammedan Sporting and Aryan FC in Kolkata helped build a strong Delhi team. Under his captaincy, Delhi achieved an unexpected triumph in the 1944 Santosh Trophy, defeating all time champions Bengal 2–0 in the final. This victory remains Delhi's sole triumph in the National Football Championship.
After the partition of India, Osman went over to Pakistan where he represented Sindh at the National Football Championship. He also helped Keamari Union club to win All-Pakistan trophy in Lahore. On 29 April 1950, Osman was included as guest in the squad of Heroes Club from Peshawar for a tour to Iran in May.

International career

In 1946, he was selected for an Indian XI to tour South Africa.
Osman was appointed captain of the Pakistan national team in their international debut during a trip to Iran and Iraq in October 1950.
Osman made his debut in Pakistan's first ever international match on 27 October 1950 against Iran in the Amjadiyeh Stadium in Teheran. Reportedly the Pakistan national team played the match barefoot, which was the norm in South Asia at the time. Pakistan also engaged in unofficial friendly matches during the tour, defeating Tehran's Taj FC with a 6–1 scoreline and drawing 2–2 against a team from Isfahan.
In Iraq, due to the Iraqi FA's inability to gather a full national team, Pakistan played an unofficial friendly against the club Haris al-Maliki resulting in a 1–1 draw at Baghdad in front of a 10,000 crowd, playing once again barefoot, with the heroics of Osman keeping Pakistan from losing in the dying minutes of the game.

Post-retirement

On 4 July 1951, Osman was appointed as coach of the Pakistan Air Force football team on behalf of the Pakistan Football Federation. On 17 November 1961, Osman was appointed as member of the selection committee of the Karachi Division football team for the National Football Championship.
After his death, a tournament was started in his memory in Karachi.

Honours

Kolkata Mohammedan

  • Calcutta Football League: 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938
  • IFA Shield: 1936
Bengal
  • Santosh Trophy: 1941
Delhi
  • Santosh Trophy: 1944