Majid Bishkar Explained

Majid Beshkar
Birth Date:6 August 1956
Birth Place:Khorramshahr, Imperial State of Iran
Position:Attacking midfielder
Years1:1976–1978
Years2:1978–1979
Years3:1979–1981
Years4:1982–1987
Years5:1987
Clubs1:Rastakhiz Khorramshahr
Clubs2:Shahbaz
Clubs3:East Bengal
Clubs4:Mohammedan
Clubs5:Mohammedan
Caps1:34
Goals1:18
Caps2:22
Goals2:14
Caps3:71
Goals3:62
Caps4:115
Goals4:58
Caps5:13
Goals5:4
Totalcaps:245
Totalgoals:156
Nationalyears1:1976–1978
Nationalteam1:Iran
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Pcupdate:09:55, 21 May 2019 (UTC)
Ntupdate:09:55, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Majid Beshkar (Persian: مجید بیشکار; born 6 August 1956) is a retired Iranian professional footballer. He is best known for his contributions towards the Indian football clubs East Bengal[1] and Mohammedan,[2] [3] both based in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. He was popularly known as "Badshah" in Calcutta Maidan.[4] An attacking midfielder, Bishkar also played as a forward in a 4–2–4 formation, and guided SC East Bengal to win the Indian Federation Cup in 1980. He represented the Iranian national football team at the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina.[5] [6] [7] [8]

Earlier career

At club level, Majid began his career in his hometown of Khorramshahr with Rastakhiz FC and then moved to the Tehran Province League with Shahin Tehran FC as a forward, where he played until 1979.

Career in India

During the 1970s he moved to Aligarh Muslim University in India to study.[9] On seeing his performance for the university in the North Zone Inter University championship, Bishkar was signed by East Bengal FC along with other Iranian players Jamshid Nassiri and Mahmud Khabbasi.[10] [8] [11] [12] The 1980 Federation Cup was his debut tournament with the Red and Golds, where he won the tournament with them. In the same season, East Bengal also won the Rovers Cup where he played a key role.[13]

East Bengal signed him shortly afterwards. He was known as Majid Baskar in India, a mispronunciation and misspelling which led to difficulties for both Iranian and Indian officials in unveiling the true identity of Majid.[9]

Bishkar played imaginative football throughout and was primarily instrumental in East Bengal's winning the IFA Shield (joint winners) and Darjeeling Gold Cup. In the Shield final, he set up CB Thapa to score a magnificent goal after playing four wall-passes with others. At the Darjeeling Gold Cup too, he was unstoppable and was the main prop behind the Red and Golds 3–2 triumph over Mohun Bagan. Overall, Bishkar netted 33 goals for the Red and Gold brigade.

He switched to Mohammedan Sporting Club in 1982, guiding them to a range of trophies including Calcutta Football League and Rovers Cup.[14] [15] [16]

Majid was instrumental for the first win against Mohun Bagan AC in 1983 Federation Cup also helping to lift the trophy in the final. This win came after late sixties in any form of tournament. After a brief hiatus at a time when he was surrounded by controversies, he was last seen playing for Mohammedan SC in 1987. He was relatively unknown in Iran, with both Iranian football journalists and officials being unaware that Majid had previously plied his trade in India.[9] Due to troubles in his homeland, he eventually got addicted to narcotics and led a bohemian lifestyle. After a few other unsuccessful stints in other parts of India, he moved back to Iran. He is still considered one of the best foreigners in the history of Indian club football.[17] He has a nickname "Badshah" which he got while playing in Kolkata Maidan.[18] [19]

Bishkar cast a magical spell during two seasons at East Bengal and then at Mohammedan Sporting, but as he returned to Kolkata in 2019, after more than three decades, nobody had forgotten the Badshah.

International career

Bishkar was included in the Iran national football team for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.[20] Iran made its debut World Cup appearance after defeating Australia in Tehran. Iran lost two of three group stage matches against the Netherlands and Peru,[21] and Iran's journey ended early for the group stages.

Personal life

After his brief stint with two Kolkata giants, Bishkar moved to Iran in the 1980s and currently live in Khorramshahr, Khuzestan Province, with his family. On 1 October 2020, he was admitted to a hospital after a heart attack.[22] [23]

Honours

East Bengal

1980

1980

Mohammedan Sporting

runner-up: 1982

1984; runner-up: 1982, 1983

1985; runner-up: 1983

runner-up: 1982, 1983

1984

Individual

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Majid Bishkar: The 'Prince of Persia' who cast a spell with his magic. East Bengal Football Club official website. 1 July 2021. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182150/https://www.sceastbengal.co/post/majid-bishkar-the-prince-of-persia-who-cast-a-spell-with-his-magic. live.
  2. https://kolkatatoday.com/majid-bishkar-visits-mohammedan-sporting/ Majid Bishkar visits Mohammedan Sporting
  3. Web site: Indian football: Fred Pugsley, Chima Okorie, Ranti Martins – the foreign strikers who shone in India. Scroll.in. 25 January 2021 . 1 July 2021. 14 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210514105606/https://scroll.in/field/985042/indian-football-fred-pugsley-chima-okorie-ranti-martins-the-foreign-strikers-who-shone-in-india. live.
  4. Web site: East Bengal Football Club – Famous Players. 25 February 2009. www.eastbengalfootballclub.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20090901194505/http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers5.asp. 1 September 2009.
  5. Web site: Ved Sen. 13 October 2014. Long before the Indian Super League, there was an Iranian boy who mesmerized Kolkata. Quartz India. 24 June 2021. 4 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204074313/https://qz.com/india/279990/long-before-the-indian-super-league-there-was-an-iranian-boy-who-mesmerized-kolkata/. live.
  6. Web site: KC McElroy. 13 October 2014. Former Iranian international Majid Bishkar. www.persianfootball.com. 24 June 2021. 5 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405072613/http://www.persianfootball.com/forums/showthread.php?113174-Former-Iranian-international-Majid-Bishkar. live.
  7. Web site: Somnath. Sengupta. 9 November 2018. Majid Bishkar And Jamshid Nassiri : Indian Football's Iconic Iranian Duo. Goalden Times. 26 June 2021. 14 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201214204839/https://www.goaldentimes.org/majid-bishkar-and-jamshid-nassiri/. live.
  8. Web site: Ritabrata. Banerjee. 16 May 2020. Indian Football - The 10 best foreigners to have played for East Bengal. Goal. 27 June 2021. 14 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210214231557/https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/indian-football-east-bengal-10-best-foreigners/10npgrhj9eyrc1969hv0yp2uqf. live.
  9. Web site: Mohammad Amin-ul Islam. Iranians stumped by Majid's India link. https://archive.today/20130103094618/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-01-15/asian-cup-2011/28378272_1_iranians-mohammedan-sporting-journalist. dead. 3 January 2013. 15 January 2011. The Times of India. 4 September 2012.
  10. Web site: Kamath. Sooraj. Father-son duo to have graced Indian football Goal.com. 2021-02-11. Goal.com. en. 24 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200424060223/https://www.goal.com/en/amp/news/father-son-duo-to-have-graced-indian-football/5o84721k8pnt1ktbxc47igp19.
  11. Web site: soumen78 . List of Foreign Players to Play for East Bengal Club from 1942 – East Bengal Club, India – Records, Funs and Facts . Eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com . 2016-03-31 . 2018-12-18 . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019001914/https://eastbengalclubrecords.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/list-of-foreign-players-to-play-for-east-bengal-club-from-1942/ .
  12. Web site: Kolkata. Indranil. Banerjie. 15 May 1985. Money, violence and politics enter Calcutta football. India Today. 1 April 2023. 1 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230401133317/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/sport/story/19850515-money-violence-and-politics-enter-calcutta-football-770046-2013-12-09.
  13. Web site: ময়দানের দেবদাস. 2021-02-11. www.anandabazar.com. bn. 2 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210702132609/https://www.anandabazar.com/patrika/devdas-of-maidan-a-special-write-up-by-jayanta-chakraborty-1.353927. live.
  14. Web site: Mohammedan Sporting felicitate Majid Bishkar. Khel Now. 1 July 2021. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184859/https://khelnow.com/football/mohammedan-spoting-club-majid-bishkar. live.
  15. Web site: The Prince of Persia returns: Majid Bishkar comes back to rekindle maidan memories. 1 July 2021. Indianexpress.com. 13 August 2019 . 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181435/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/the-prince-of-persia-returns-majid-bishkar-comes-back-to-rekindle-maidan-memories-east-bengal-football-5899978/. live.
  16. Web site: Marar. Nandakumar. Majid was like a god on the pitch, says Brahmanand. 2021-02-11. Sportstar. 15 August 2019 . en. 7 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210107014846/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/majid-beshkar-like-a-god-on-the-pitch-brahmanand-sankwalkar-east-bengal/article29101559.ece. live.
  17. Web site: High Five: Best Foreigners in Indian Football. The Hard Tackle. 7 December 2010. 4 September 2012. 25 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180525155451/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2010/high-five-best-foreigners-in-indian-football. live.
  18. https://m.facebook.com/MohammedanSportingKolkata/photos/a.454819361318794/1687093531424698/?type=3 Mohammedan Sporting club and Badshah Majid Bishkar
  19. Web site: Remembering Majid Bishkar: East Bengal's '80s 'Badshah'. orissapost.com. September 2019 . 1 July 2021. 9 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183457/https://www.orissapost.com/remembering-majid-bishkar-east-bengals-80s-badshah/. live.
  20. http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1978/squad_irn78.html Iran national football team: 1978 FIFA World Cup
  21. Web site: Iran in World Cup 1978. teammelli.com. 21 January 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20100104101448/http://www.teammelli.com/articles/iran_in_world_cup_1978.htm. 4 January 2010. dead.
  22. https://www.anandabazar.com/sports/majid-bishkar-is-in-hospital-dgtl-1.1210031 হৃদরোগে আক্রান্ত মজিদ, ভর্তি হাসপাতালে
  23. http://www.asiabangla.live/global/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%87/ ইরানের হাসপাতালে হৃদরোগে আক্রান্ত হয়ে সিসিউতে ভর্তি কিংবদন্তি ফুটবলার মজিদ বাসকর
  24. Web site: Marcus. Mergulhao. 16 Aug 2019. wanted time for myself, thought no one would find me here. The Times of India. 5 Jul 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210705192725/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-wanted-time-for-myself-thought-no-one-would-find-me-here-majid-bishkar/articleshow/70693669.cms. 5 Jul 2021.
  25. Web site: Amitabha. Das Sharma. 13 Aug 2019. Emotional homecoming for East Bengal legend Majid 'Badsha' Beshkar. Sportstar. 5 Jul 2021. 15 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210515115606/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/football-east-bengal-centenary-celebrations-majid-bishkar-returns-kolkata-jamshed-nasiri-mohun-bagan-bhaskar-ganguly-mohammedan/article29037120.ece.

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