Mehtab Hossain, Former East Bengal skipper returns as player-cum-mentor

The gem of an Indian midfielder, Mehtab Hossain announced his retirement from the sport back in 2019. However, the former East Bengal skipper has returned to the field on Monday as a player-cum-mentor for Madhya Pradesh-based club Madan Maharaj FC.

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"I'm not finished… I am coming back!!!" Mehtab Hossain wrote on Facebook sharing a short video posted by the club on its social media handle. His ability to control the game in the midfield earned him the title '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. They are also the inaugural champions of the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2021. They defeated the Lions Club of Jabal 2-0 in the final. Amit Kumar Jaiswal will coach the MMFC. The club has also won the Madhya Pradesh State Gold Cup in 2018.

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Mehtab was mostly known for his stint with East Bengal which lasted over ten seasons. The former skipper made 255 appearances for the Kolkata side and lifted the Federation Cup thrice. He had also made 31 appearances for India between 2005 and 2014.

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.