Former India and East Bengal defender Ilyas Pasha passes away at 61

Former India and East Bengal defender Ilyas Pasha passed away aged 61 after a long illness. A calm and reliable right wing-back, he earned eight international caps and won multiple trophies with East Bengal, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian football

New Delhi: Former India defender Ilyas Pasha died on Thursday after a long illness, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) informed while expressing condolences. He was 61 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons.

Pasha, a dedicated and soft-spoken footballer, built a notable career in defence, mainly playing as a right wing-back. He was known for his precise timing, calm attitude and sharp game awareness. His disciplined positioning and careful tackles made life difficult for opposing wingers, giving his goalkeepers added confidence.

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At the international level, Pasha made his senior India debut on January 27, 1987, against Bulgaria in the Nehru Cup at Kozhikode. He earned eight international caps, featuring in two Nehru Cup tournaments (1987 and 1991), the 1991 SAF Games and the 1992 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Pasha began his career at Vinayaka Football Club in Vyalikaval, north Bengaluru. His strong performances led to a move to Indian Telephone Industries in the mid-1980s, marking his rise to the national stage. From 1987, he regularly represented Karnataka in the Santosh Trophy, playing in Kolkata (1987), Quilon (now Kollam, 1988) and Guwahati (1989). He later won two Santosh Trophy titles with Bengal in 1993 and 1995.

He joined Mohammedan Sporting in 1989, winning the Sait Nagjee Trophy and the Nizam Gold Cup, before moving to East Bengal, where he enjoyed the most significant phase of his career.

As a key player for the red and gold brigade in the 1990s, Pasha was central to one of the club’s most successful periods. He captained East Bengal in the 1993-94 season under coach Subhas Bhowmick.

With East Bengal, he won the Calcutta Football League five times (1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998), the IFA Shield five times (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997), and the Durand Cup four times (1990, 1991, 1993, 1995). His trophy haul also included two Rovers Cups (1990, 1994), the Federation Cup (1996), the Wai Wai Cup in Kathmandu (1993), Airlines Trophy (1990, 1992, 1995, 1997), Bordoloi Trophy (1992), ATPA Shield (1992), Kalinga Cup (1993), McDowell Trophy (1995, 1997) and the Super Cup (1996-97).

He was part of East Bengal’s triple crown-winning team in 1990 and captained the side when they won their first international title at the Wai Wai Cup in 1993. He also led East Bengal in their 6-2 win against Iraq’s Al Zawraa SC in the 1993-94 Asian Cup Winners’ Cup. In 2012, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from East Bengal.

The AIFF expressed condolences to the Indian football community, remembering Pasha as a calm and reliable defender who left a lasting impact on the sport.