Published: April 25, 2026 at 5:38 pm
Former India football team captain and legend Shabbir Ali has been appointed as chief coach of the Citadel Godavari Legends FC (CGL FC). Syed Alamdar Raza has been appointed as assistant coach. He returns for his second stint after leading the team to championship success, bringing tactical sharpness and a winning mentality.
As a footballer, Shabbir was rated as the best player in India during the 1970s and 1980s. Arguably the finest striker of his time, Shabbir was a prolific goal scorer both at the national and international level. He rose to fame at a very early age when he captained India to win the Asian Youth championships in Bangkok jointly with Iran in 1974.
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After playing with Tata Sports Club in Bombay for a few years, Shabbir was lured away by the top Calcutta club, East Bengal in the late seventies. Later he joined Mohammedan Sporting and took the club to a great height before retiring from the same club in the mid-1980s. During his captaincy, in 1983–84, the club won nine trophies including back-to-back wins in Indian Federation Cup.
Shabbir scored 23 goals in international matches and remains one of India’s all-time top scorers, ahead of Chuni Goswami, Pradip Kumar Banerjee, Inder Singh and Baichung Bhutia among others. In the 1976 Merdeka international football tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Shabbir scored a hat-trick against Indonesia in the first 35 minutes. Only five footballers in India have scored an international hat-trick; of those, Shabbir’s is the fastest.
Shabbir established himself as India’s best coach
After retiring as a footballer in 1985, Shabbir became a coach. He earned a first class diploma from the Sports Authority of India. He successfully passed the German football association B License coach and also their four-week coaching course, which is equivalent to A License.
As a coach, Shabbir proved to be a great success within a short period of time. Appointed the technical director of India, he steered the team to the gold medal in the 1995 South Asian Games in Chennai. In the 1991–92 seasons, he made Mohammedan Sporting the Champion Club of India, having won four tournaments and finished runners-up in two others.
Between 1997 and 1999, Ali managed top Goan outfit Salgaocar and established himself as India’s best coach. Barring a few like PK Banerjee and Syed Nayeemuddin, no other coach in India could win so many titles in such a short span as Ali did. Shabbir was awarded the Dhyan Chand Award, the highest award in Indian sports for lifetime achievement in 2011. He is the first footballer to be named for the Dhyan Chand Award.
CGL FC represents the East Godavari, Kakinada, and Konaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh and has emerged as a dominant force in state football. It became two-time state champions (2025 & 2026) by winning the prestigious Andhra Pradesh Football Association (APFA) ‘A’ Division Senior men’s football state championship (AP Super Cup). These back-to-back titles highlight the club’s consistency, structure, and competitive excellence.
Citadel Godavari gears up for I-League 3
As per the competition structure, only one club qualifies each year from the APFA ‘A’ Division for the National Football League – I-League 3. By securing the championship, Citadel Godavari Legends FC has earned the right to represent Andhra Pradesh at the national level, marking a major milestone in the club’s journey.
The upcoming I-League 3 matches are scheduled from April 29 to May 4 in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, where CGL FC will compete against top clubs from across the country.
The club is owned by a consortium of Telugu Sports Network, Citadel Sports Pvt Ltd., and Button Eyes Resorts, providing strong professional backing and a clear long-term vision.
To lead this important phase, the club has appointed a strong and experienced leadership team:
Head coach: Shabbir Ali is an Indian football legend and one of the most iconic players in the country’s history, bringing elite experience and leadership.
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Technical director: Kean Lewis is an experienced football professional with exposure to high-level competitive football, contributing to technical planning, player development, and overall football strategy.
Assistant coach: Syed Alamdar Raza is the AP Super Cup-winning coach and is returning for his second stint after leading the team to championship success, bringing tactical sharpness and a winning mentality.
Goalkeeper coach: Dada Khalandar is focused on developing a strong defensive unit with specialized goalkeeper training, discipline, and consistency.
Team manager: Anand Reddy will ensure smooth team operations, logistics, and professional management behind the scenes.
Citadel Godavari Legends FC continues its mission to elevate football from the Godavari region to the national stage, proudly carrying the pride of Telugu land.
