Kolkata: After announcing his retirement from the sport back in 2019, former East Bengal midfielder Mehtab Hossain returned to the field on Monday as a player-cum-mentor for Madhya Pradesh-based club Madan Maharaj FC.
I’m not finished… I am coming back!!!” Mehtab wrote on Facebook sharing a short video posted by the club on its social media handle. Known as the ‘Midfield General’, Mehtab has been an inspiring and instrumental figure in Indian football over the decades and his association with the MMFC will bolster the squad in the forthcoming second division I-League.
Based in Bhopal, MMFC is the first professional football club from the state and also the inaugural champions of the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2021. They defeated Lions Club of Jabal 2-0 in the final. MMFC will be coached by Amit Kumar Jaiswal. The club have also won the Madhya Pradesh State Gold Cup in 2018.
BOOOOOMMMMMM!!! 💣💣
— MadanMaharajFCOfficial (@FcMaharaj) August 16, 2021
Arguably India's finest midfielder of the open era, the midfield general is back! Mehtab Hossain joins Madan Maharaj FC as a player cum mentor in what possibly becomes the biggest #TransferNews in #IndianFootball!
Let's get the roar back!!!#MMFC pic.twitter.com/RHlmIXlfXk
Mehtab was mostly known for his stint with East Bengal which lasted over ten seasons, with the former skipper making 255 appearances for the Kolkata side and lifted the Federation Cup thrice. He had also made 31 appearances for India between 2005 and 2014, finding the net twice.
Mehtab also had his time in the Indian Super League for Kerala Blasters and Jamshedpur FC before retiring with Mohun Bagan in 2019. He then went on to manage another Kolkata-based club Southern Samity in Calcutta Premier League in the 2019-20 season.
Mehtab who himself has been a product of IFA’S Baby League, which promoted football among the children would relate to the passion of the team which is mostly consisting of youngsters. His experience and expertise would add a lot of positives to the squad of these youngsters as they hope to reach new heights in Indian football.
