| Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu | |
| Fullname: | Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu |
| Birth Date: | 9 December 1977 |
| Birth Place: | Noakhali, Bangladesh |
| Currentclub: | Sheikh Russel KC (head coach) |
| Position: | Winger |
| Youthyears1: | 1987–88 |
| Youthclubs1: | Badda Jagoroni |
| Years1: | 1989–90 |
| Clubs1: | Badda Jagoroni |
| Years2: | 1990–93 |
| Clubs2: | Sadharan Bima |
| Years3: | 1994–96 |
| Clubs3: | Dhaka Abahani |
| Years4: | 1997 |
| Clubs4: | Brothers Union |
| Years5: | 1998–99 |
| Clubs5: | Dhaka Abahani |
| Years6: | 2000–01 |
| Clubs6: | Muktijoddha Sangsad |
| Years7: | 2001–06 |
| Clubs7: | Badda Jagoroni |
| Years8: | 2001–02 |
| Clubs8: | → Chittagong Abahani (loan) |
| Nationalyears1: | 1992 |
| Nationalteam1: | Bangladesh U16 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1994 |
| Nationalteam2: | Bangladesh U19 |
| Nationalyears3: | 1998–01 |
| Nationalteam3: | Bangladesh |
| Manageryears1: | 2012–13 |
| Managerclubs1: | Dhaka Abahani (assistant) |
| Manageryears2: | 2013–14 |
| Managerclubs2: | Sheikh Russel KC (assistant) |
| Manageryears3: | 2014 |
| Managerclubs3: | Bangladesh U19 (assistant) |
| Manageryears4: | 2014–15 |
| Managerclubs4: | Sheikh Jamal DC (assistant) |
| Manageryears5: | 2015–16 |
| Managerclubs5: | Bangladesh (assistant) |
| Manageryears6: | 2015–16 |
| Managerclubs6: | Sheikh Russel KC (assistant) |
| Manageryears7: | 2016 |
| Managerclubs7: | Chittagong Abahani (interim) |
| Manageryears8: | 2018–19 |
| Managerclubs8: | Chittagong Abahani |
| Manageryears9: | 2020–21 |
| Managerclubs9: | Saif SC (assistant) |
| Manageryears10: | 2021 |
| Managerclubs10: | Saif SC (interim) |
| Manageryears11: | 2021 |
| Managerclubs11: | Saif SC (assistant) |
| Manageryears12: | 2021 |
| Managerclubs12: | Saif SC |
| Manageryears13: | 2021–22 |
| Managerclubs13: | Sheikh Russel KC (assistant) |
| Manageryears14: | 2022–23 |
| Managerclubs14: | Sheikh Russel KC |
| Manageryears15: | 2023 |
| Managerclubs15: | Bangladesh U23 |
| Manageryears16: | 2024 |
| Managerclubs16: | Sheikh Jamal DC |
| Manageryears17: | 2024– |
| Managerclubs17: | Sheikh Russel KC |
Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu (Bengali: জুলফিকার মাহমুদ মিন্টু; born 9 December 1977) is a Bangladeshi professional football coach and former player who is the current head coach of Sheikh Russel KC.[1]
Mintu began his career playing in the Pioneer Football League and Dhaka Third Division League with Badda Jagarani Sangsad. He initially joined the club through the recommendation of former Fifa referee, Monirul Islam. In 1990, he was signed by First Division outfit Shadharon Bima CSC and made his top-tier debut with them.
In 1994, he joined Abahani Limited Dhaka. Mintu played a pivotal role for Abahani during the club's triumphant 1994 Charms Cup campaign in India, scoring in a 2–0 victory over Kolkata Mohammedan in the final.[2]
Mintu's international career began with taking part in the 1992 AFC U-16 Championship in Saudi Arabia. He later played for the senior national team between 1998 and 2001. He was a member of the 1999 South Asian Games gold medal-winning squad.[3] He scored against both India and Maldives during the 2000 Invitational Football Tournament in Maldives.
In 2012, Mintu obtained both AFC C Diploma and AFC B Diploma on the recommendation of Iranian coach Ardeshir Pournemat Vodehi. In the same year, Mintu worked as an assistant coach at Abahani under Ardeshir. He was the head coach of Saif Sporting Club in 2021.[4] [5]
In March 2022, Mintu was appointed as the head coach of Sheikh Russel KC following the departure of Saiful Bari Titu.[6] He guided the previously relegation-threatened team to a top-half league finish.[7]
In June 2023, Mintu was appointed head coach of the Bangladesh U23 national team for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers.[8] [9] [10] In August 2023, Mintu obtained the AFC Pro-Diploma.[11] [12]
Mintu was a student of Dhaka University. Unlike many others who decided to marginalise education, Mintu diligently finished his master's degree, while playing domestic football in the Dhaka League. After retiring due to a serious injury in 2006, he went for further education taking the FIFA licence for coaching.[13]
| Team | From | To | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | %W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chittagong Abahani (interim) | 21 September 2016 | 31 December 2016 | |||||||
| Chittagong Abahani | 4 January 2018[14] | 3 August 2019 | |||||||
| Saif SC (interim) | 26 February 2021 | 8 March 2021 | |||||||
| 1 August 2021 | 14 September 2021 | ||||||||
| Sheikh Russel KC | 14 March 2022 | 19 August 2023 | |||||||
| Bangladesh U23 | 20 June 2023 | 12 September 2023 | |||||||
| Sheikh Jamal DC | 30 January 2024[15] | 30 May 2024 | |||||||
| Sheikh Russel KC | 1 June 2024[16] | Present |
Abahani Limited Dhaka
Muktijoddha Sangsad KC
Bangladesh
Individual