Mehtab Hossain to retire after Mohun Bagan’s game against Indian Arrows
Former India midfielder Mehtab Hossain has announced to retire from football after Mohun Bagan’s next game against Indian Arrows on Thursday. While announcing his retirement Hossain has said that not winning the I-League title will remain the biggest regret in his football career.
Mohun Bagan and Indian Arrows will meet in the next game of the I-League tomorrow at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan at Salt Lake, Kolkata and the Mariners will look forward to presenting a farewell gift to the veteran with a win against a young Indian Arrows team in front of a home crowd. Hossain returned to the Kolkata-based side after a gap of 12 years earlier this season.
“Football has always been my passion. Whatever I am today is because of football. I don’t want to warm the benches, the time has come for me to announce the decision,” Hossain quoted as saying by PTI.
“Not winning the I-League will be the biggest regret and I wish I could have played more matches for the national team.”
Hossain played for East Bengal for more than nine years from 2007 and 2016 and represented the Indian team till 2015. He had hung his boots for the Blue Tigers after getting dropped from the World Cup qualifiers squad back in 2015. In the Indian Super League, Hossain played for Kerala Blasters in the first three editions of the tournament and went on to play for Jamshedpur FC last year.
“Whatever popularity and fame I have received, it is because of my fans. I thank my coaches and officials for giving me the opportunity. I would also like to thank all my friends from the media fraternity as well. I thank all the football fans of Bengal those who have stayed beside me through thick and thin,” Mehtab said.