Pakistani Soccer Fame-men

Even, though Pakistan seems to be an unknown name when it comes to football. But,there comes no doubt from the fact that "Green Shirts" lack no talent in making a mark in this sport as well. Despite, a par average record in football as a team, the Pakistanis were still able to exhibit their unique individual skills to the world. Many of our "Pakistani Proud Diaspora" generation has been a regular part of power house clubs in Europe & Asia. Below, are mentioned some huge soccer-names from Pakistan, who are waving the nation's pride in various corners of the world :-

 Zesh Rehman

Captain Zesh Rehman playing for Bradford City

Zeshan "Zesh" Rehman  is a British Pakistani football defender who plays for Bradford City. He was the first British Asian to start a Premier League match and is the first to have played in all four divisions of professional football in England. He also plays for the Pakistan national football team and was the first Pakistani international footballer to play professional football in England.

Fulham's Zesh Rehman challenges Didier Drogba of Chelsea during a match

He started his career at Fulham and made a total of 21 league appearances. During his time at Fulham he had loan spells at Brighton & Hove Albion and Norwich City. In 2005 he switched allegiances to Pakistan from England. A transfer to Queens Park Rangers followed and he went on to make 46 appearances for the West London-based club. During his three year stint there he went on loan to Brighton & Hove Albion, Blackpool and Bradford City. The third transfer of his career involved him moving to Bradford on a free transfer in June 2009.

Former Gunners Captain Thierry Henry & 'Pride of Pakistan' Zesh Rehman in a quest for the ball 

So far Rehman has made eight appearances for the Pakistan national team and has participated in the World Cup 2010 qualifiers. Outside of football he is known for being an ambassador for Kick It Out, the Asian Football Network and the Show Racism The Red Card campaign. In addition to this he has appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra and writes a blog for Setanta Sports.Rehman has said that, his "sole purpose in trying to be a success as a professional footballer is to inspire other Asian players to follow my lead and achieve their goals."He is an ambassador for the Asian Football Network (AFN), a grassroots community-led initiative designed to support and facilitate the development of grassroots Asian football in the UK.  He has also worked with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) to try and increase the number of British Asians taking up a career in professional football, and has attended meetings with the PFA in order to achieve this goal. In January 2007 he took part in the London 'One Game' initiative held at The FAheadquarters in Soho Square, London. He has also been involved in the Show Racism The Red Card campaign and he has taken part in Chelsea's "Search for an Asian Star" campaign. On 12 July 2008 he took part in the Islam Expo event at the Olympia exhibition centre in West Kensington, London, a four day event whose primary purpose was to build bridges between Britain'sMuslim communities and the rest of society. Rehman took part in a panel giving feedback from his own experiences about the positive use of sport.

English Legend Alan Shearer finds hard to escape from the clutches of Zesh Rehman

Adnan Ahmed

A product of Man Utd Youth Academy, Adnan Ahmed for Huddersfield Town

Adnan Ahmed is a professional footballer who plays in the Hungarian top flight for Ferencvárosi TC. Ahmed is a British Asian of Pakistani descent. Because of his Pakistani parentage he was eligible to represent Pakistan at an international level.

Initially part of Bury youth academy, as well as a two year stint at Manchester United Academy afterwards, Adnan chose to join Huddersfield Town where he turned professional.

Despite making a few appearances for the club in league and cup competitions since turning professional, Ahmed's career has been hampered by persistent injury troubles.

Ahmed has the unfortunate distinction of being the very first player to be sent off at the Keepmoat Stadium, the new home of Doncaster Rovers. He was shown the red card for a two footed challenge on Rovers' Mark McCammon, the scorer of the very first goal in the stadium during Huddersfield's 3-0 defeat on 1 January 2007.

In January 2007, Ahmed went to Lincoln City, who had shown an interest in him, on a one week trial with Huddersfield manager Peter Jackson saying "It will be a good experience for him and will hopefully make him appreciate what he's got here". However, no deal was done between the clubs and as a result the player returned to Huddersfield. On May 9, 2007, he was released from the club.

England's Joe Cole stands beside Adnan Ahmed of Pakistan

On 25 May 2007, it was announced that Adnan had joined Tranmere Rovers side on a free transfer, becoming manager Ronnie Moore's first summer signing of 2007. He made his debut coming on as a substitute in the 2nd half at home in a 1-1 draw with Yeovil Town on 1 September 2007. However, competition for places in midfield saw him make just five further appearances during his debut season with the club.

Because of lack any real first team opportunities, Adnan went on loan to Conference National side Mansfield Town at the end of October 2008, making his first team debut in a 2-0 defeat away to Torquay United on 1 November 2008. He became an instant hit with the Mansfield fans scoring a penalty in the 3-0 win against Salisbury City, also scoring a diving header against Weymouth to set up a 2-1 victory.

In National Colours

Following his return to Tranmere, he joined Port Vale on trial. He went on loan to Vale on 21 January 2009. Ahmed opened his account with the Valiants by scoring the match winner in a 2-0 win at Macclesfield Town on February 25, 2009. He returned to Tranmere in late March after Vale manager Dean Glover rejected the opportunity to extend his loan, despite impressing fans with his performances.

In July 2009, having impressed coaching staff during pre-season trial matches at Hungarian team Ferencváros TC, Adnan Ahmed signed a two year deal with the team to play in Hungarian National Championship I. He played his first competitive game for the team in a 2-0 win over Diósgyőri VTK in the 2009-10 Hungarian League Cup on July 29, 2009.

Shabir Khan

Shabbir Khan for Worcester City

Shabir Khan  is an English-born Pakistani international footballer who plays for Worcester City, having progressed through their youth system.

Khan was called to represent the Pakistan national football team for the SAFF Cup 2009 inBangladesh in December 2009.

Playing for National Team

Amjad Iqbal

A 'lethal sprint' by Amjad Iqbal

Amjad Iqbal  is a professional footballer who plays for Bradford Park Avenue. He has been capped by Pakistan.

Born in Bradford, England, Iqbal started his career at youth level with Bradford City before moving to local non-league club, Thackley in the Northern Counties East Football League and signed for Farsley Celtic in 2002.

Iqbal helped Farsley achieve three promotions in four years, the last promotion being in the 2006–07 season when they were promoted to the Conference National with Iqbal as club captain. Iqbal played 20 consecutive games for Farsley in their 2006–07 promotion season in which they finished in fifth place in the Conference North and beat Hinckley United in the play off final to earn promotion to the Conference National. He has twice won the Farsley Player of the year award. He remained with Farsley until March 2009, when he rejoined his former manager Lee Sinnott at Bradford Park Avenue.

During the match

Reis Ashraf

Young Reis Ashraf for Buckingham Town

Reis Ashraf  is an English-born Pakistani international footballer who plays for Buckingham Town in the United Counties League Division One. Ashraf played for Pakistan in all three of his country’s group matches against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan in the SAFF Championship 2009 in Bangladesh, scoring in the team's 7–0 victory over Bhutan.

Duing a match in progress

Atif Bashir

Atif Bashir in-chat with the referee 

Atif Bashir Qureshi is a German Turkish-Pakistani footballer, who plays for Barry Town in the Welsh Football League First Division.

Born to a British Pakistani father and a Turkish German mother, Atif could have theoretically played for Germany, Turkey, any of the British Home Nations, as well as Pakistan.

Although initially part of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup squad, he could not join the team because of his Pakistani passport had not been made yet. Few months later, he made his International Debut for Pakistan in the 2008 SAFF Championship against the Maldives then encountering India and Nepal in the first round.

Atif had spent seven years as a youth in professional clubs such as Hertha Berlin and Cardiff City.

Adam Karim

Adam 'Luke Docker' Karim playing for FC United of Manchester

Adam Luke Docker is an English-Pakistani footballer. He currently plays for FC United of Manchester. In 2007 he was called up for Pakistan, where he used the name of Adam Karim.

Born to a Pakistani father and English mother, Karim began his professional football career with Bury, later joining Altrincham for a few months but then joined Bangor City in the 2005-06 season. He was released at the end of the 2006-07 season despite being a fairly impressive performer. He joined Chorley, but in September 2007 linked up again with his former Bangor manager Clayton Blackmore when he joined Porthmadog. At the same time he was playing for Rochdale club Asia F.C.

He parted company with Porthmadog in 2008. In late 2009 he was playing for Canaries FC in the Lancashire Evening Post Sunday football league and captained them to victory in the Asian Community Cup final held at Stamford Bridge.

In February 2010, he joined Salford City but after a short period asked to be released and subsequently joined FC United of Manchester.

Away from football he is Director and Co-Owner of Rosso Restaurant on King Street in Manchester.

Celebration after a goal

Muhammad Essa

Essa in action in a match against Asian Giants Japan

Muhammad Essa Khan  is a Pakistani footballer playing currently for KRL FC. The striker is also the captain of Pakistan national football team and is one of the most talented football players Pakistan has seen in recent times. He can be used as a playmaker particularly in support of a striker, or a genuine centre forward because of his ball holding and passing skills. He is also a left-footed free-kick specialist. Essa has become one the most well known faces in Pakistani football, due to his regular goal scoring at international level.