Muhammad Essa
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Essa Khan (Urdu/Pashto: ) (born on November 20, 1983) is a Pakistan
i footballer playing currently for KRL FC
. The striker is also the captain of Pakistan national football team
and is one of the most talented football players Pakistan has seen in recent times. He can be used as a playmaker
particularly in support of a striker, or a genuine centre forward because of his ball holding and passing skills. He is also a left-footed free-kick specialist. Essa has become one the most well known faces in Pakistani football, due to his regular goal scoring at international level.
in Pakistan's Balochistan
province, he took up the game with great interest and passion. He played in the Afghan Club Chaman
youth team before signing for PTCL FC.
He was discovered by then Pakistan youth team and Under 23 manager John Layton
back in early 1999 and found his way into the Pakistan national football team
soon enough, receiving his first cap in 2000.
He won the old 2003 PFF President's Cup
with PTCL FC. In 2004, Essa was called up to the Pakistan U23 squad for the SAF Games. He ended the tournament as top scorer and was player of the tournament, and helped Pakistan win Gold.
Essa most famous moment came when he scored from a free-kick against India
in the first match of the 2005 Pakistan-India friendly series, at the Ayub National Stadium
, Quetta
to tie the game 1–1 with minutes to go before the final whistle. With a 3–0 victory in the final game in which Essa scored, he was offered a playing contract from major Indian football team East Bengal Club
, but the PFF
seemingly turned it down to the disappointment of many Pakistani football fans.
In the inaugural 2004 PPL
season he returned to his home town club Afghan Club Chaman
with his goals helping them to survive relegation. The following season, the striker transferring to WAPDA FC
but could not help them retain their PPL
title; finishing second to Pakistan Army FC
. In 2006 he captained Pakistan to another SAF Games gold medal. Returning from the Games, he moved to KRL
and helping them finish 3rd in the 2006–07 season.
There had been talk of a few Iranian clubs, notably Foolad F.C. as well as Homa F.C. inviting Essa over for a trial during the previous season but it could not be finalised due to Essa's commitments with KRL. A proposed move to prominent Bangladesh Pro League
side Mohammedan Sporting Club also failed to materialise.
Essa played in the Geo Super Football League
for Quetta Zorawar
as captain with the club coming second in the league round and losing semi-finalists in the knock-out round of the tournament, although he was awarded the SFL 2007 Player of the Tournament trophy. The striker was awarded the 'Salaam Pakistan Award' alongside tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
and female squash player Maria Toor Pakay
for their contributions to sport by the President of Pakistan
, Pervez Musharraf
on August 13, 2007. He captained Pakistan to a surprise nil-nil draw against Iraq
in Syria in the second leg of the World Cup 2010 qualifiers
, but were knocked out due to a 7–0 aggregate loss.
Once he played for shahbaz united and was substituted after missing a penalty kick. Shahbaz united eventually won that match against KRL when Nanoo scored a hatrick and aziz laris scored winner. In the 2007/08 season of the PPL
, Essa struggled to score goals, only scoring 9 goals in 21 appearances. He retained his Captaincy for the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
qualifying campaign. Despite a 2–0 win against Chinese Taipei
in the first match, they lost 7–1 to Sri Lanka
which made Pakistan's 9–2 demolition of Guam
meaningless as they finished behind on points to Sri Lanka, thus failing to qualify for the main round. Because of injury, Essa had to miss the SAFF Cup 2008.
In 2009 he opened an academy at his home town in Chaman, called the Essa Khan Academy.
With PTCL FC
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i footballer playing currently for KRL FC
KRL FC
KRL are a Pakistani football club who play in the Pakistan Premier League. They play their home games at the KRL stadium in Rawalpindi and are founding members of the PPL....
. The striker is also the captain of Pakistan national football team
Pakistan national football team
The Pakistan national football team is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation . The team has not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or Asian Cup championships. Twice they have finished third in the South Asian Football Federation...
and is one of the most talented football players Pakistan has seen in recent times. He can be used as a playmaker
Playmaker
In association football, a playmaker is a player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals....
particularly in support of a striker, or a genuine centre forward because of his ball holding and passing skills. He is also a left-footed free-kick specialist. Essa has become one the most well known faces in Pakistani football, due to his regular goal scoring at international level.
Career highlights
Born in the football-mad city of ChamanChaman
Chaman is the capital of Qilla Abdullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is situated just south of the border with Afghanistan. Across the border in Afghanistan is the neighbouring town of Spin Boldak, in Kandahar Province...
in Pakistan's Balochistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
province, he took up the game with great interest and passion. He played in the Afghan Club Chaman
Afghan FC
Afghan Football Club Chaman or Afghan FC are a football club playing in the Pakistan Premier League. The club is based in Chaman, Balochistan, a border town near Afghanistan. The Afghan Club have a loyal fan base with locals turning up in huge numbers to support their team at their home matches...
youth team before signing for PTCL FC.
He was discovered by then Pakistan youth team and Under 23 manager John Layton
John Layton
John Henry Layton is an English former footballer, and coach who spent much of his career at Hereford United both as a player and a manager. He played in the position of centre back....
back in early 1999 and found his way into the Pakistan national football team
Pakistan national football team
The Pakistan national football team is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation . The team has not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or Asian Cup championships. Twice they have finished third in the South Asian Football Federation...
soon enough, receiving his first cap in 2000.
He won the old 2003 PFF President's Cup
Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup
The Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup is the national "knockout" cup competition in Pakistani football, run by the Pakistan Football Federation. It was created in 2005 in place of the PFF President's Cup...
with PTCL FC. In 2004, Essa was called up to the Pakistan U23 squad for the SAF Games. He ended the tournament as top scorer and was player of the tournament, and helped Pakistan win Gold.
Essa most famous moment came when he scored from a free-kick against India
India national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
in the first match of the 2005 Pakistan-India friendly series, at the Ayub National Stadium
Ayub National Stadium
Ayub National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Quetta, Pakistan. It is used for football and Cricket games. The stadium holds 20,000 people.Most of the friendly matches are hosted in this stadium as it is superior to many other football grounds in Pakistan....
, Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
to tie the game 1–1 with minutes to go before the final whistle. With a 3–0 victory in the final game in which Essa scored, he was offered a playing contract from major Indian football team East Bengal Club
East Bengal Club
Kingfisher East Bengal Football Club are an Indian professional football club based at Kolkata. They are known to be one of the best footballing sides in India. They have won the most IFA Shields in Indian Football and are tied for the most National Football League and Durand Cup championships with...
, but the PFF
Pakistan Football Federation
The Pakistan Football Federation is the governing body of football in Pakistan. The PFF’s headquarters is at FIFA Football House in Lahore, Punjab near the Punjab Stadium.-Overview:...
seemingly turned it down to the disappointment of many Pakistani football fans.
In the inaugural 2004 PPL
Pakistan Premier League
The Pakistan Premier League is the first division of Pakistani football. It was established in 2004, in place of the National Championship by the Pakistan Football Federation.-Origins:...
season he returned to his home town club Afghan Club Chaman
Afghan FC
Afghan Football Club Chaman or Afghan FC are a football club playing in the Pakistan Premier League. The club is based in Chaman, Balochistan, a border town near Afghanistan. The Afghan Club have a loyal fan base with locals turning up in huge numbers to support their team at their home matches...
with his goals helping them to survive relegation. The following season, the striker transferring to WAPDA FC
WAPDA FC
WAPDA are a Pakistani football club who play in the Pakistan Premier League.WAPDA have been Pakistani champions 7 times. They won their first title in 1983, beating HBL FC, and repeated this feat in 1991 against HBL. In 2001 they overcame KRL FC to win their third title, and retained their title in...
but could not help them retain their PPL
Pakistan Premier League
The Pakistan Premier League is the first division of Pakistani football. It was established in 2004, in place of the National Championship by the Pakistan Football Federation.-Origins:...
title; finishing second to Pakistan Army FC
Pakistan Army FC
The Pakistan Army FC are a Pakistani football club who play in the Pakistan Premier League. They have won the league under its current format twice, in 2005 and 2006/7. They won the National Championship in 1993/94 and 1995. They have also been Cup winners twice, in 2000 and 2001.Since the turn of...
. In 2006 he captained Pakistan to another SAF Games gold medal. Returning from the Games, he moved to KRL
KRL FC
KRL are a Pakistani football club who play in the Pakistan Premier League. They play their home games at the KRL stadium in Rawalpindi and are founding members of the PPL....
and helping them finish 3rd in the 2006–07 season.
There had been talk of a few Iranian clubs, notably Foolad F.C. as well as Homa F.C. inviting Essa over for a trial during the previous season but it could not be finalised due to Essa's commitments with KRL. A proposed move to prominent Bangladesh Pro League
Bangladesh Professional Football League
-Topscorers:-External links:* at fifa.com*...
side Mohammedan Sporting Club also failed to materialise.
Essa played in the Geo Super Football League
Geo Super Football League
The Geo Super Football League or SFL is the first proper professional inter-city football league of Pakistan, with the support of the PFF. It was established in 2007 and is the first time that Pakistani club football matches are telecast live on television via GEO Super...
for Quetta Zorawar
Quetta Zorawar
Quetta Zorawar is a Football team in Pakistan, Quetta, and they play in the Geo Super Football League. The club is a founding member of the SFL.-2007:...
as captain with the club coming second in the league round and losing semi-finalists in the knock-out round of the tournament, although he was awarded the SFL 2007 Player of the Tournament trophy. The striker was awarded the 'Salaam Pakistan Award' alongside tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi is a professional tennis player from Pakistan. He is currently Pakistan's top player. A top 10 doubles player, his highest Singles Race ranking is 103rd and is the former Asian No. 3...
and female squash player Maria Toor Pakay
Maria Toor Pakay
Maria Toor Pakay is a Pakistani professional squash player.She is currently ranked 72nd, and is Pakistan No 1.Maria turned pro in 2006....
for their contributions to sport by the President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
, Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
on August 13, 2007. He captained Pakistan to a surprise nil-nil draw against Iraq
Iraq national football team
The Iraqi national football team represents Iraq in international football and is controlled by the Iraq Football Association. They won the 2007 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup tournament.-The Golden Generation:...
in Syria in the second leg of the World Cup 2010 qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
The Asian Football Confederation was allocated four assured qualifying berths for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and one place in a play-off. 43 teams were in the running for these spots; Laos, Brunei and the Philippines did not attempt to qualify...
, but were knocked out due to a 7–0 aggregate loss.
Once he played for shahbaz united and was substituted after missing a penalty kick. Shahbaz united eventually won that match against KRL when Nanoo scored a hatrick and aziz laris scored winner. In the 2007/08 season of the PPL
Pakistan Premier League
The Pakistan Premier League is the first division of Pakistani football. It was established in 2004, in place of the National Championship by the Pakistan Football Federation.-Origins:...
, Essa struggled to score goals, only scoring 9 goals in 21 appearances. He retained his Captaincy for the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
2008 AFC Challenge Cup
The 2008 AFC Challenge Cup football tournament was hosted by India and played from July 30 to August 13, 2008. India won the final against Tajikistan...
qualifying campaign. Despite a 2–0 win against Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei national football team
The Chinese Taipei national football team is the official name given by FIFA to the national association football team of the Republic of China ....
in the first match, they lost 7–1 to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka national football team
The Sri Lanka national football team represents Sri Lanka in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, the governing body for football in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's home grounds are Sugathadasa Stadium and Kalutara Stadium and their head coach is Jang Jung...
which made Pakistan's 9–2 demolition of Guam
Guam national football team
The Guam national football team is the national team of Guam, an overseas territory of the United States in the Pacific Ocean, and is controlled by the Guam Football Association. They are affiliated to the Asian Football Confederation's East Asian Football Federation region.The team was founded in...
meaningless as they finished behind on points to Sri Lanka, thus failing to qualify for the main round. Because of injury, Essa had to miss the SAFF Cup 2008.
In 2009 he opened an academy at his home town in Chaman, called the Essa Khan Academy.
Goals for Senior National Team
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2006 | Karachi Karachi Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million... , Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan... |
1–4 | Lost | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification The 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification was held in late 2005 and the final qualification round was held from February to November 2006 with 25 nations participating.... |
||
| April 2, 2006 | Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city... , Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south... |
1–0 | Won | 2006 AFC Challenge Cup | ||
| April 6, 2006 | Dhaka Dhaka Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city... , Bangladesh Bangladesh Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south... |
2–2 | Draw | 2006 AFC Challenge Cup | ||
| August 16, 2006 | Quetta Quetta is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the... , Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan... |
1–4 | Lost | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification The 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification was held in late 2005 and the final qualification round was held from February to November 2006 with 25 nations participating.... |
||
| March 25, 2008 | Pokhara Pokhara Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is the second largest city of Nepal. Pokhara is city of close to 350,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, which is the centre of the country from east to west or from north to south, 198 km west of Kathmandu or 90 km west of Mugling, and... , Nepal Nepal Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India... |
1–2 | Lost | Friendly | ||
| April 2, 2008 | Taipei Taipei Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean... , Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following... |
2–1 | Won | 2008 AFC Challenge Cup qualification 2008 AFC Challenge Cup The 2008 AFC Challenge Cup football tournament was hosted by India and played from July 30 to August 13, 2008. India won the final against Tajikistan... |
Honours
With Pakistan national football teamPakistan national football team
The Pakistan national football team is controlled by the Pakistan Football Federation and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation . The team has not yet qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or Asian Cup championships. Twice they have finished third in the South Asian Football Federation...
- South Asian Games Gold 2004, 2006
With PTCL FC
- Pakistan National Football Challenge CupPakistan National Football Challenge CupThe Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup is the national "knockout" cup competition in Pakistani football, run by the Pakistan Football Federation. It was created in 2005 in place of the PFF President's Cup...
2003