Sheikh Russel KC
| File:Official logo of Sheikh Russel KC.png | |||
| Full name | Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Bengal Blues | ||
| Founded | 1995 | ||
| Ground | Bashundhara Kings Arena | ||
| Capacity | 14,000[1] | ||
| Owner | Bashundhara Group | ||
| Chairman | Sayem Sobhan Anvir | ||
| Manager | Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu | ||
| League | Bangladesh Premier League | ||
| 2021 | BPL, 7th of 13 | ||
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Sheikh Russel KC is a professional football club based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League. The club has won the Federation Cup in 2012, which was their first major title. They also won their maiden Bangladesh Premier League title in the season 2012–13. Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group, is the chairman of Sheikh Russel KC.[2]
History
Emergence
Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra was established in 1995 and named after Sheikh Russel, son of former President of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[3] The founder was Shahjahan Kabir. The club started its journey in 1996 with Pioneer Football. Then in 1998 the team became runners-up in the Dhaka Third Division, under the coaching of Wazed Gazi.
In 2002, Sheikh Russel KC became runners-up in the Dhaka first division league (second Tier). In their first appearance in top-flight football in 2003–04 season, Sheikh Russel stunned traditional powerhouses like Abahani, Mohammedan and Muktijoddha Sangsad to finish second in the now defunct Premier Division Football League. Since then, despite playing in the Bangladesh Premier League regularly, Sheikh Russel did not get the expected success until the start of the next decade.
Treble win and drought
In the 2012–13 season, Sheikh Russel KC got their highest success by winning the domestic treble. Sheikh Russel defeated Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club 2–1 in extra time in the 2012 Bangladesh Federation Cup Final to win a title for the first time ever in their club history. They then won the 2013 Independence Cup 3–2 against Sheikh Jamal. Then again, they left behind a strong team like Sheikh Jamal DC and won the 2012-13 Bangladesh Premier League. Bangladeshi Maruful Haque was the coach of the treble winning team.[4] Since their treble winning season, the club has failed to win another trophy finishing runners-up in multiple tournaments and were also knocked out of the AFC Cup qualifiers twice.[5][6][7] However, the team did manage to reach the semi-finals of the 2014 AFC President's Cup.[8]
On 9 January 2015, the managing director of Bashundhara Group Sayem Sobhan Anvir was appointed as the club's new chairman. He assured that the club would be back challenging for titles once more.[9]
On 20 April 2017, Sheikh Russel KC were fined 2000 Swiss Francs by FIFA over contract disputes with a player and a coach.[10]
Saiful Bari Titu's failed rebuild
After finishing at a disappointing 7th place the previous year, Sheikh Russel KC spent heavily before the start of the 2021–22 Bangladesh Premier League season. The club signed big names like the Brazilian duo Thiago Amaral and Ailton. Nevertheless, their massive investment could not help them win either of the domestic cup competitions, as they were knocked out from the Quarter-finals during the Federation Cup and Independence Cup respectively.[11]
Current squad
Sheikh Russel KC squad for 2021–22 season.
- As of 28 November 2021
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
- As of November 2021
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach |  Zulfiker Mahmud Mintu
|
| Assistant Coach |
|
| Goalkeeping Coach |  Abdul Iddi Salim
|
| Team Manager |
|
| Physio | Yusuf Ali
|
Team records
Head Coach's record
- As of 28 February 2022
| Head Coach | Nat. | From | To | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | %W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wazed Gazi |
|
18 January 2007[12] | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Kamal Babu |
|
27 August 2009[13] | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Mahmudul Haq Liton |
|
December 2010[14] | June 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Maruful Haque |
|
September 2011 | 15 April 2014 | 73 | 45 | 12 | 16 | 130 | 61 | 61.64 |
| Dragan Đukanović | 
|
21 April 2014[15] | 20 May 2015 | 40 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 60 | 44 | 40.00 |
| Maruful Haque |
|
3 June 2015 | 26 August 2016 | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 46 | 40 | 42.86 |
| Shafiqul Islam Manik |
|
27 August 2016[16] | 3 February 2018 | 44 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 46 | 42 | 31.82 |
| Saiful Bari Titu |
|
October 2018[17] | Present | 82 | 41 | 16 | 25 | 116 | 79 | 50.00 |
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2018- | Cosco | Bashundhara Cement |
Honours
Winners
- 2012–13
Runners-up
- 2003-04
- Dhaka First Division League:
- 2002
- 2012–13
- Independence Cup (2):
- 2011, 2018-19
Performance in AFC competitions
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | AFC President's Cup | Group stage | 
|
KRL | 0–0 |
|
Air Force | 5–0 | |||
|
Ugyen Academy | 4–0 | |||
| Final stage | 
|
Erchim | 1–0 | ||
|
Rimyongsu | 0–4 | |||
| 2015 | AFC Cup | Preliminary stage | 
|
Khayr Vahdat | 0–1 |
| 2017 | AFC Cup | Qualifying round | 
|
Tatung | 1–1 |
|
|
F.C. Terton | 3–4 |
References
- ^ "Bashundhara Kings Arena set for historic debut". The Daily Star. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Grand reception for Sheikh Russel KC". Bashundhara Group. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra pays tribute to Bangabandhu". The Independent. Dhaka. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ পাতানো ম্যাচের কলঙ্কমুক্ত লিগ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali).
- ^ Rahman, Anisur (27 December 2018). "Kings still unsatisfied after lifting Independence Cup". The Daily Star.
- ^ "Sheikh Russel KC lose 0-1 to FC Khayr of Tajikistan". The New Nation.
- ^ "Sheikh Russel held by Tatung". The Daily Star. 24 August 2016.
- ^ "Russel creates history in AFC President's Cup". Dhaka Tribune. 11 May 2014.
- ^ "Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra starts new journey". Daily Sun.
- ^ "Sheikh Russel to clear FIFA fine". The Daily Star. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ "তারকাবহুল দল নিয়েও কেন সাফল্য পাচ্ছে না শেখ রাসেল?". 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Gazi belongs to Russel". The Daily Star. 18 January 2007.
- ^ "Russel stick to youth". The Daily Star. 27 August 2009.
- ^ কষ্টে জিতল শেখ রাসেল. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 31 December 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019.
- ^ প্রেসিডেন্ট কাপ মিশনে দেশ ছাড়ছে রাসেল. Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 3 May 2014.
- ^ "Manik all set for Sk Russel post". Dhaka Tribune. 27 August 2016.
- ^ "Sheikh Russel register heavyweight team". Daily Sun.