Molik Khan Explained

Molik Khan
Fullname:Molik Jesse Khan
Birth Date:8 April 2004
Birth Place:San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
Currentclub:HB Køge
(on loan from Minnesota United FC 2)
Clubnumber:8
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:2014–2019
Youthclubs1:W Connection
Years1:2019–2020
Clubs1:W Connection
Caps1:15
Goals1:1
Years2:2020–2022
Clubs2:Club Sando
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2022–
Clubs3:Minnesota United 2
Caps3:40
Goals3:5
Years4:2024
Clubs4:Minnesota United
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:HB Køge (loan)
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Nationalteam1:Trinidad and Tobago U15
Nationalteam2:Trinidad and Tobago U17
Nationalteam3:Trinidad and Tobago U20
Nationalteam4:Trinidad and Tobago
Nationalyears1:2018
Nationalyears2:2019
Nationalyears3:2021
Nationalyears4:2021–
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalcaps4:6
Nationalgoals1:4
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:20:25, 11 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:22:53, 25 January 2019 (UTC)

Molik Jesse Khan (born 8 April 2004) is a Trinidadian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Danish 1st Division club, HB Køge, and the Trinidad and Tobago national football team.

Early life and education

Khan played for Naparima College at high school, where he won the Trinidad and Tobago National High School Championships for three consecutive years.[1] Khan and Naparima College finished seasons unbeaten, breaking long-standing records in the Trinidad and Tobago youth football circuit.[2]

Khan then enrolled at 13-time national soccer champions St Benedict's Preparatory[3] school in Newark, New Jersey the former high school of American soccer legends Claudio Reyna, Gregg Berhalter and Tab Ramos. In his only season at St Benedict's, Khan led the team to an unbeaten New Jersey State Championship making him a high school champion in a second country.[4]

Career

Club

Khan made his professional debut for W Connection at age 15, becoming one of the youngest professional footballers in the history of TT Pro League.[5] A few weeks after his professional debut Khan scored in the TT Pro League, becoming one of the league's youngest-ever goal scorers.[6] In April 2021, Khan was offered a two-week trial at Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls and stayed with the club for four months.[7]

On the eve of his 18th birthday, Khan signed a multi-year contract with Minnesota United in Major League Soccer and will play primarily with their MLS Next Pro team, Minnesota United FC 2.[8]

International

Khan has represented Trinidad and Tobago at the youth level.[9] Because of Khan's efforts in the TT Pro League he was called up by new national team head coach and ex-England international, Terry Fenwick, for his first senior team camp. At 16, Khan was the youngest player selected.[10]

Following Trinidad and Tobago's elimination from the 2022 World Cup, interim coach, Angus Eve, named 17-year-old Khan as the youngest member of their 26-man squad for the 2021 Gold Cup qualifiers in Miami, Florida.[11] Eve, who is Trinidad and Tobago's most capped player, has described Khan as "the future of Trinidad and Tobago football".[12] On 21 January 2022, aged just 17 years old, Khan made his senior international debut for Trinidad and Tobago against Bolivia during an international friendly in Sucre, Bolivia. Khan entered the game at the start of the second half.[13]

18-year-old Khan was then selected as part of Trinidad and Tobago's 26-man Concacaf Nations League squad to play games against Nicaragua, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Bahamas during the June 2022 FIFA international window.[14]

At the 2022 CONCACAF U20 Championships in Honduras, Khan was named captain of the Trinidad and Tobago U20 team and was the only professional player on the team's roster. Khan played the full 90 minutes in all four of the teams' games scoring twice against Suriname and Costa Rica.

In January 2023, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association named Khan as its Best Player of the Year -Youth Male.[15]

Khan was selected for Trinidad and Tobago's 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final squad.[16] He made his tournament debut by coming on the 76th minute against Jamaica.

In August 2024, the midfielder was loaned to Danish club HB Køge. [17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Champs Naparima clobbers Caps 5–0 to keep lead. www.guardian.co.tt.
  2. Web site: SSFL 19: Champions again! Unbeaten 'Naps' win fourth Premier title after 4–0 romp over QRC. 5 November 2019.
  3. Web site: Soccer – St. Benedict's Prep .
  4. Web site: Gray Bees Varsity Soccer Team Triumphant in State Championship Final . 4 November 2021 .
  5. Web site: Meet Molik Khan. Calisa Joseph (Total. SporTT). Soca Warriors Online – Trinidad and Tobago Football. 4 March 2024 .
  6. Web site: Jean protests 'Wales of a decision', Connection crumble to 4–1 Rangers loss after controversial call. Lasana. Liburd. 16 February 2020. Wired868.
  7. Web site: Trinidad international Molik Jesse Khan on trial with New York Red Bulls. 29 June 2021.
  8. Web site: MNUFC2 Signs Molik Khan, Acquires Ignacio Gutierrez Via Loan | Minnesota United FC .
  9. Web site: Fevrier picks 20-man U-15 team. www.guardian.co.tt.
  10. Web site: Eyes on youth: Teenagers aplenty in Fenwick's first T&T training squad. Ian Prescott (T&T. Express). Soca Warriors Online – Trinidad and Tobago Football. 4 March 2024 .
  11. Web site: Marcus 'Lobo' Joseph, Molik Khan and Kevin Molino called up for Trinidad and Tobago Gold Cup qualifiers. 24 June 2021.
  12. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Press Call with Eve Md-2 ahead of Gold Cup Qualifier . YouTube.
  13. Web site: Khan delighted to make Soca Warriors debut | Loop Trinidad & Tobago .
  14. Web site: Joevin, Bateau, Paul named in 28-man T&T squad for Nations League, but no Molino, no Moore . 31 May 2022 .
  15. Web site: Levi Garcia, Asha James cop 2022 TTFA Player of the Year awards - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday . 18 January 2023 .
  16. https://www.mnufc.com/news/molik-jesse-khan-earns-call-up-to-trinidad-and-tobago-national-team
  17. https://www.hbkoge.dk/dobbelttransfer-velkommen-jesse-patrick/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEkgYhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdSFifTp4WF0fr8xn8vhNCVmMELLoPSVfahwYylLpPT-1RB-ZcTKb7VaDA_aem_zX7mj3z9E4WIsot4wmGILg