Mukhtar Ali (footballer, born 1962)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mukhtar Ali

| image = File:Mukhtar Ali at the 1986 Fajr International Tournament in Tehran.jpg

| fullname = Sheikh Mukhtar Ali

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1962|7|25}}

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = 1978–1982

| youthclubs1 = Bata FC

| years1 = 1982–1994

| clubs1 = Pakistan Airlines

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| nationalyears1 = 1984–1988

| nationalteam1 = Pakistan

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

| birth_place = Lahore, Pakistan

| nationalyears2 =

| nationalteam2 =

| caption = Ali with Pakistan at the 1986 Fajr International Tournament

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 =

| height =

}}

Sheikh Mukhtar Ali (born 25 July 1962) is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a defender.{{Cite web |title=MTFA calls to arrest thieves – Business Recorder |url=https://fp.brecorder.com/2007/11/20071108649222/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240924163547/https://fp.brecorder.com/2007/11/20071108649222/ |archive-date=2024-09-24 |access-date=2024-09-24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2005-03-31 |title=Pakistan-India football series to go ahead |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/387196/pakistan-india-football-series-to-go-ahead |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240924015224/https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/387196 |archive-date=2024-09-24 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} He played for Pakistan Airlines throughout his career, and captained the Pakistan national team on several occasions from 1986 till 1988, guiding the national side achieve the bronze medal at the 1987 South Asian Games.

Early life

Ali was born on 25 July 1962 in Lahore, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. He studied up to FA level, and started his football career with Bata Club of Lahore at the age of 15, where he played from 1978 till 1982.{{Cite web |date=2013-03-07 |title=فٹ بال ہیروز کی دنیا |trans-title=World of Football Heroes |url=https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2013-03-07&edition=KCH&id=212051_32836759 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123185518/https://e.dunya.com.pk/detail.php?date=2013-03-07&edition=KCH&id=212051_32836759 |archive-date=2025-01-23 |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Daily Dunya |language=ur}}

Club career

Ali played for Pakistan Airlines throughout his career at the National Football Championship from 1982 till 1994.{{Cite web |date=2007-09-21 |title=PFF president praised for giving boost to football |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/3436666 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240924163547/https://www.brecorder.com/news/3436666 |archive-date=2024-09-24 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Brecorder |language=en}} In 1979, Ali featured in the National Youth Football Championship, where he led the Punjab team.{{cite news |date=28 August 2007 |title=U-18 Football Championship starts |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3428625 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807173625/http://www.brecorder.com/news/3428625 |archive-date=7 August 2024 |access-date=7 August 2024 |work=Business Recorder |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2009-10-01 |title=PFF approves Lahore as championship host |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/493696/pff-approves-lahore-as-championship-host |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240924003729/https://www.dawn.com/news/493696/pff-approves-lahore-as-championship-host |archive-date=2024-09-24 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{cite news |date=8 September 2007 |title=Faisalabad win U-18 soccer final |url=http://www.brecorder.com/news/3432425 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807174337/http://www.brecorder.com/news/3432425 |archive-date=7 August 2024 |access-date=7 August 2024 |work=Business Recorder |language=en}}

International career

= Early years =

In 1982, Ali represented Pakistan youth in the 30th Asian Youth Championship held in Kathmandu, Nepal. He also featured against a team of South-West German Football Association which arrived in Pakistan on 3 January 1983 on a six day tour. In the first test played at Rawalpindi, the Germans beat Pakistan XI 0–3, with Mukhtar scoring a self goal in the second half in a bid to clear the ball which ultimately deflected from another Pakistani defender's foot and landed in the goal. The second test in Karachi on 8 January ended in a 0–2 defeat.{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Pakistan_Year_Book/B9NFAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22A+team+of+South-West+German+Football+Association+arrived+in+Pakistan+on+January+3+,+1983+on+a+six+-+day%22&dq=%22A+team+of+South-West+German+Football+Association+arrived+in+Pakistan+on+January+3+,+1983+on+a+six+-+day%22&printsec=frontcover |title=Pakistan Year Book |date=1983 |publisher=East & West Publishing Company |pages=89 |language=en}}

Mukhtar made his senior international debut with Pakistan at the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification held in Calcutta, later playing at the 1984 Merdeka Tournament. The following year, he played at the 1985 Quaid-e-Azam International Cup held in Peshawar.

= Captaincy (1986–1988) =

Ali played at the 1986 Fajr International Tournament in Tehran and the 1986 Pakistan President's Gold Cup where he was vice-captain after Shaukat Mufti.{{Cite web |title=1986 Fajr International Tournament |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fajr86.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229015204/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fajr86.html |archive-date=29 February 2024 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.rsssf.org}} He wore the captain armband for the first time at the President's Cup. He was selected as the main captain at the 1986 Quaid-e-Azam International Cup held in Islamabad. After playing at the 1986 Asian Games where the Muhammad Naveed took over as captain, Mukhtar was once again handed the captaincy in the 1988 Summer Olympics qualification in 1987, and the 1987 South Asian Games in India, helping the team achieve the bronze medal.{{Cite web |date=2006-11-18 |title=SPORTS WORLD: End to gloomy era of Pakistan football in sight |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/3337898/sports-world-end-to-gloomy-era-of-pakistan-football-in-sight-20061118498307 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240924163548/https://www.brecorder.com/news/3337898/sports-world-end-to-gloomy-era-of-pakistan-football-in-sight-20061118498307 |archive-date=2024-09-24 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2010-01-24 |title=Faisal approves Arif as captain of Pakistan team |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/24-Jan-2010/faisal-approves-arif-as-captain-of-pakistan-team |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240818133355/https://www.nation.com.pk/24-Jan-2010/faisal-approves-arif-as-captain-of-pakistan-team |archive-date=2024-08-18 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2010-03-21 |title=Former captains hail KPT-PFF Cup organisation |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/21-Mar-2010/former-captains-hail-kptpff-cup-organisation |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230531140502/https://www.nation.com.pk/21-Mar-2010/former-captains-hail-kptpff-cup-organisation |archive-date=2023-05-31 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}}

He also played as captain at the 1988 AFC Asian Cup qualification in Kuala Lumpur, marking his final appearances with the national team.{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Mukhtar Ali (Player) |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/86247/Mukhtar_Ali_1.html |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=www.national-football-teams.com |language=en}}

Post-retirement

After his retirement as player, Mukhtar undertook several trainings to obtain a coaching license.{{Cite web |date=2009-02-24 |title=AFC-C coaching course begins |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/345646/afc-c-coaching-course-begins |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240924163547/https://www.dawn.com/news/345646/afc-c-coaching-course-begins |archive-date=2024-09-24 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

Personal life

Mukhtar came from a family of footballers. His elder brother Niaz Ali Naji and his younger brother Ejaz Ali also represented the Pakistan national team, the latter alongside him on several occasions. His eldest brother Niaz Ali's son Zahid Niaz also played for the national team.