Remembering Saeed Shahid Hakim – Player, Referee and Coach of Indian Football

Saeed Shahid Hakim entered the world on June 23, 1939, in Hyderabad, learning football fundamentals from his father, Saeed Abdul Rahim, a celebrated forward of his time. This early mentorship laid the foundation for Hakim’s lifelong devotion to the sport.

He represented India at the 1960 Rome Olympics, a tournament where his father was the head coach. Although the Indian team failed to advance beyond the group phase, it recorded a noteworthy 1‑1 draw with France.

Back home, Hakim played for Services, winning the Santosh Trophy, and also turned out for the Indian Air Force side in various competitions.

After retiring from active play, he pursued a career in officiating, becoming an international referee and taking charge of matches at the 1988 AFC Asian Cup.

Hakim’s most profound legacy lies in coaching. He worked as an assistant coach for the Indian national team and later guided clubs such as Mahindra United, Salgaocar, and Bengal Mumbai, contributing to the development of a new generation of footballers.

The Indian government honored his contributions with the Dhyan Chand Award in 2017 and later the Dronacharya Lifetime Achievement Award. Hakim passed away on August 22, 2021, in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, at the age of 82.