Pakistani footballer (born 1973)
Haroon Yousaf (born 10 November 1973) is a Pakistani former professional footballer.[2] The versatile footballer played as a defender or midfielder. Haroon played 51 full internationals for Pakistan and scored 3 goals between 1992 and 2003.[3][1]
Club career
Yousaf started his career at Pakistan Railways FC in 1990. He transferred to WAPDA FC the following season and stayed there for five years. In 1995, he moved to Allied Bank FC where he became captain in 1997.[1]
Yousaf won National League once with WAPDA in 1991, and then thrice consecutive titles in 1997,[4] 1999 and 2000.[5][6] He also won the National Football Challenge Cup four times with Allied Bank, winning in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2002.
He was offered a playing contract from the Indian football team Mahindra United, but the Pakistan Football Federation seemingly turned it down.[1]
Yousaf also played a short while for Afghan Chaman where he is still highly praised as a solid player and leader.[7]
Yousaf remained captain of PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad until becoming coach of the club in 2011.[8][9]
International career
Yousaf got selected by the Pakistan under-19 national team for the 1992 AFC Youth Championship qualifiers in Kannur, India.[1][10] He captained the national under-23 side for the 1996 Summer Olympics qualifiers.[1] He also captained the national under 23 team as three of the allowed overage players at the 2002 Asian Games.[1][11]
He was from 1996 till 1999 vice-captain of the Pakistan national team after Qazi Ashfaq and since SAFF 1999 Championship which was held in Goa, he became the captain.[1] He remained the captain until his retirement from the national team in 2003.[12]
He was declared man of the match in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Jordan when Pakistan lost 0-3 against Iraq but he was praised for his defending performance.[1]
He received the AFC Silver Star Award by the Pakistan Football Federation in 2013 for his contributions to the national team.[13]
On 19 March 2021 it was announced that Haroon Yousuf has been named as member of the selection committee for national football team.
Personal life
Haroon has five brothers and seven sisters and he is the second oldest of his brothers. One of his brothers, Iqbal Yousaf played in Punjab Football as defender.[1] His favourite footballers are Diego Maradona and Roberto Baggio, and his then national teammates Qazi Ashfaq and Sharafat Ali. He cited Muhammad Aslam Japani as his favourite coach.[1] He got married in 1998 and has three daughters.[1]
