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East Bengal Legend Ilyas Pasha Dies at 61
22 Jan
Summary
- Former India and East Bengal defender Ilyas Pasha passed away on Thursday.
- Pasha earned eight international caps for India and was part of several winning teams.
- He had a distinguished club career, especially with East Bengal from the early 1990s.
The Indian football fraternity is mourning the loss of former India and East Bengal defender Ilyas Pasha, who died on Thursday at the age of 61 after a prolonged illness. Pasha was widely recognized as one of Karnataka's finest footballers, leaving an indelible mark on the sport with his resilience and composure in defense.
His international career saw him earn eight caps for the Indian national team, featuring in prestigious tournaments like the Nehru Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers. Domestically, Pasha shone brightly, notably with East Bengal from the early 1990s to the decade's end. During this period, he was a pivotal figure in the club's most successful era.
Pasha captained East Bengal in the 1993-94 season and was instrumental in securing numerous titles, including five Calcutta Football League crowns, five IFA Shields, and four Durand Cups. He also contributed to memorable victories, such as East Bengal's historic 6-2 triumph over Iraq's Al Zawraa SC in the 1993-94 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. In recognition of his contributions, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from East Bengal in 2012.
