Nasiruddin Chowdhury

{{redirect|Nasir Uddin Chowdhury|the politician|Nasir Uddin Chowdhury (politician)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nasiruddin Chowdhury

| caption = Nasir with Abahani Limited Dhaka in 2021

| image = Nasiruddin_Chowdhury_by_RHS_Photography.jpg

| fullname = Nasiruddin Chowdhury

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|10|9|df=y}}{{Cite web |title=Bangladesh - N. Chowdhury - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway |url=https://us.soccerway.com/players/mohammed-nasir-uddin-chowdhury/118569/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=us.soccerway.com}}

| birth_place = Chittagong, Bangladesh

| height = {{Height|m=1.75}}

| position = Centre back, Defensive midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Chittagong Pioneer XI

| years1 = 1998–08

| clubs1 = Bangladesh Army

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2009

| clubs2 = Chittagong Mohammedan

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2009–10

| clubs3 = Dhaka Mohammedan

| caps3 = 24

| goals3 = 6

| years4 = 2010–12

| clubs4 = Muktijoddha Sangsad

| caps4 = 38

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2012–15

| clubs5 = Sheikh Jamal DC

| caps5 = 56

| goals5 = 4

| years6 = 2016

| clubs6 = Sheikh Russel KC

| caps6 = 0

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2016–17

| clubs7 = Chittagong Abahani

| caps7 = ?

| goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2017–18

| clubs8 = Dhaka Abahani

| caps8 = 22

| goals8 = 6

| years9 = 2018–19

| clubs9 = Bashundhara Kings

| caps9 = 20

| goals9 = 3

| years10 = 2019–21

| clubs10 = Dhaka Abahani

| caps10 = 27

| goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2021–22

| clubs11 = Sheikh Russel KC

| caps11 = 19

| goals11 = 1

| years12 = 2022–24

| clubs12 = Chittagong Abahani

| caps12 = 25

| goals12 = 3

| pcupdate =

| nationalyears1 = 2010–19

| nationalteam1 = Bangladesh

| nationalcaps1 = 25

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| ntupdate =

}}

Nasiruddin Chowdhury ({{langx|bn|নাসিরউদ্দিন চৌধুরী}}; born 9 October 1979) is a retired Bangladeshi professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He last played for Bangladesh Premier League club Chittagong Abahani. He represented the Bangladesh national team from 2010 to 2019.{{NFT player|pid=36191}} He is the oldest ever player to play in the Bangladesh Premier League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/17u73xitz4|date=4 January 2024|title=প্রিমিয়ার লিগে ‘সবচেয়ে বেশি বয়সী’ নাসিরের গর্ব শৃঙ্খলা|language=bn|website=Prothomalo}}

Club career

=Early years=

Born in Chittagong, Nasir played football using his tuition fees. He did not even have boots before giving trials for Chittagong Pioneer Football League clubs. When the Chittagong League was postponed, a friend of Nasir's encouraged him to participate in a trial for the Bangladesh Army Football Team, and although his parents were hesitant, Nasir impressed in the trials and ended up getting selected by the army officials. Nasir started his career with the army at the 28 East Bengal Regiment of Chittagong Cantonment. After completing his military training, Nasir travelled to Sri Lanka in 2000 as, the Bangladesh Army participated in a football tournament held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sri Lanka Army. Former Bangladesh national team coach György Kottán was impressed by Nasir's performance during a friendly match between the Army team and the Bangladesh national team at BKSP and offered him a chance to play in the national team. However, the army officials did not give him permission to leave duty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC|date=28 June 2015|title=সেই ফুটবলারই মায়ের গর্ব|language=bn|website=Prothomalo}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.banglatribune.com/sport/football/634209/%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B6|title=দেশের ফুটবলের উন্নয়নে নাসিরউদ্দিনের পরামর্শ|language=bn|website=Bangla Tribune}}

In 2004, the Army were the runners-up at the Sher-e-Bangla Cup (losing to Narayanganj) and Nasir finished as the top-scorer with 5 goals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bang04.html|access-date=4 January 2024|title=Bangladesh 2004|website=RSSSF}} In 2006, Nasir went to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia. There he met legendary footballer George Weah. After this encounter, Nasir decided to quit his job in the army and in 2008, he filed a petition with the authorities and returned home. Nevertheless, he was unable to play for any professional club as he was yet to receive permission from the army. Former national goalkeeper Aminul Haque came forward to help him. With the help of the then director of Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Major General Amin Ahmed Chowdhury, he finally got a clearance from the army. The next year he joined his hometown club Chittagong Mohammedan.

=Professional league career=

After seeing Nasir's performance in the 2009 Super Cup, tournament winning coach Maruful Haque brought Nasir to Dhaka Mohammedan the same year before the 2009–10 Citycell Premier League. Nasir went onto score 6 league goals that season mainly playing as a striker. Nasir went onto join Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, and played for the club for the next to years. On 3 Jun 2012, he scored a crucial goal against Brothers Union to keep Muktijoddha in the title race, however in the end Nasir failed to win his first league title with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-236740|title=Muktijoddha keep title hopes alive|date=June 3, 2012|website=The Daily Star}} The same year Nasir joined rising giants Sheikh Jamal DC where he went onto make win the Bangladesh Premier League and Federation Cup title twice, during his three years with them.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sk-jamal-crowned-kings-of-domestic-football-33538|title=Sk Jamal crowned kings of domestic football|date=July 16, 2014|website=The Daily Star}} During his time at the Dhanmondi-based club, Nasir was often used as a striker turned defender due to his eye for a goal. He scored twice against Chittagong Abahani during the 2013–14 season putting his team six point clear at the top of the table, in the end Sheikh Jamal went onto win their second league title that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/nasir-brace-moves-jamal-five-clear-20606|title=Nasir brace moves Jamal five clear|date=April 19, 2014|website=The Daily Star}} He was also regular with Sheikh Jamal DC & Sheikh Russel KC during continental competitions, the following half a decade. In 2016, Nasir returned once more to Chittagong, this time with Chittagong Abahani Limited. He scored during the group-stages of the 2017 Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup against Manang Marshyangdi Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/ctg-abahani-thru-1366768|title=Ctg Abahani thru'|first=Anisur|last=Rahman|date=February 25, 2017|website=The Daily Star}} He also represented Sheikh Russel in the 2017 AFC Cup qualifying round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/sheikh-russel-held-tatung-1274494|title=Sheikh Russel held by Tatung|date=August 24, 2016|website=The Daily Star}}

In 2017, Nasir joined Abahani Limited Dhaka. He scored the first in a 2–0 win over his former club Sheikh Jamal DC, the win saw Abahani win a record of six Bangladesh Premier League titles.{{Cite web|url=https://bdnews24.com/sport/abahani-beat-sheikh-jamal-to-defend-bangladesh-premier-league-crown|title=Abahani beat Sheikh Jamal to defend Bangladesh Premier League crown|date=5 January 2018|website=bdnews24.com}} Throughout the season Nasir scored six league goals, again showcasing his goal scoring ability. He was the second highest local goal scorer and was only one goal behind Tawhidul Alam Sabuz, who mainly played as a forward. In 2018, Nasir was caught in a controversy, as he took an advance of Tk 3 lakh from Abahani, confirming he would stay at the club; but later he joined newcomers Bashundhara Kings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jagonews24.com/sports/football/459133|title=নিষিদ্ধ হতে পারেন ফুটবলার নাসির উদ্দিন|date=28 October 2018|language=bn|website=jagonews24.com}} Nasir escaped a one-year ban from Bangladesh Football Federation even after Abahani filed a complaint against him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/nasiruddin-given-week-resolution-1651552|title=Nasiruddin given a week for resolution|date=25 October 2018|website=The Daily Star}} He won the league title once more and scored three goals along the way, the following year Nasir returned to Abahani.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/sport/2019/11/20/abahani-strengthen-on-transfer-deadline-day|title=Abahani strengthen on transfer deadline day|date=November 20, 2019|website=Dhaka Tribune}} However, his second stint at the club was disappointing, as an aging Abahani team failed to win the league title once more, losing out to Bashundhara Kings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deshrupantor.com/sport/2021/01/09/269496|date=9 January 2021|language=bn|title=আবাহনী আবার কবে সর্বজয়ী হবে?|website=Desh Rupantor}} He would also represent the club at the 2019 AFC Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/football/200530/abahani-confident-of-winning-start|title=Abahani confident of winning start|date=February 4, 2020|website=Dhaka Tribune}} The following year Abahani released all of there veteran players including Nasir, who went onto join Sheikh Russel KC in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fns24.com/article/223587/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80/|language=bn|title=নতুন স্বপ্ন দেখছেন আবাহনী|date=26 November 2021|website=Fns24.com}}

On 23 August 2024, Nasir announced his retirement from professional football, however, he also stated that he would continue playing in the Chittagong Football League for another season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jagonews24.com/sports/football/963300|language=bn|title=প্রিমিয়ার লিগ ছাড়লেন ৪৪ বছরের নাসির উদ্দিন|date=23 August 2024|website=Jago News24}}

International career

Serbian coach Zoran Đorđević was the first to include Nasir in the Bangladesh national team. He mainly played as a defender as per the coaches preference. He started his international career during the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup, in Sri Lanka. Nasir captained Bangladesh at the 2013 SAFF Championship, where he injured his head after a collision with Indian defender Nirmal Chettri.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/now-or-never|title=Now or Never|date=September 5, 2013|website=The Daily Star}} In 2014, Nasir was appointed vice-captain for an exhibition match against India.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/new-look-booters-off-to-india-13628|title=New-look booters off to India|date=March 4, 2014|website=The Daily Star}} He scored his first international goal against Singapore during a friendly in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/uncategorized/2015/05/30/singapore-flatter-lacklustre-hosts|title=Singapore flatter lacklustre hosts|date=May 30, 2015|website=Dhaka Tribune}}

Career statistics

=International apps=

Year	Apps	Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan=3 \| Bangladesh
2010	2	0
2012	3	0
2013	5	0
2014	3	0
2015	6	1
2016	4	0
2017	2	0
Total	25	1

=International goals=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"

! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition !! Ref.

6 February 2015

Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka

style="text-align:center;" | 1–0

2015 Bangabandhu Cup

{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/a-victory-worth-every-cheer-63618|title=A victory worth every cheer|first=Atique|last=Anam|date=February 7, 2015|website=The Daily Star}}

30 May 2015

Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka

style="text-align:center;" | 1–0

style="text-align:center;" | 1–2

International friendly

{{Cite web|url=http://thedailynewnation.com/news/54709/bangladesh-concede-1-2-goals-defeat-to-singapore.html|title=Bangladesh concede 1-2 goals defeat to Singapore|date=31 May 2015|website=The New Nation}}