Muhammed Saheef AP (Malayalam: മുഹമ്മദ് സഹീഫ്; born February) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.

Muhammed Saheef
Personal information
Full name Muhammed Saheef AP
Date of birth (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Malappuram, Kerala, India
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Left-back, centre-back
Team information
Current team
Kerala Blasters
Number 5
Youth career
Parappur FC
Kerala
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Kerala Blasters B 4 (0)
2023– Kerala Blasters 1 (0)
2023–2024Gokulam (loan) 21 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:30, 15 September 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Youth and early career

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Saheef spent his youth career with Parappur FC. He gained prominence through performances in the 2021–22 Kerala Premier League with them.[1] Saheef was then selected by the Kerala State Team to play for them in the Santosh Trophy in the 2021–22 season and won the tournament with them.[2]

Kerala Blasters

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2022–2023: Kerala Blasters reserves and senior team debut

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Saheef was noted for his performance in the Santosh Trophy, by the scouts of Kerala Blasters, a Kochi based Indian Super League club.[3] After the trials, he was offered his first ever professional contract by the Blasters, which he signed. Saheef was put into the club's reserve team, and played for them in the 2022–23 Kerala Premier League and the 2023 RFDL.[4] Saheef got his first national level exposure by playing in the 2022 Durand Cup.[5] Kerala Blasters fielded its reserve team as the primary squad for the tournament, in which Saheef was also included. He made one appearance in the tournament, by coming as a substitute against Mohammedan SC, on 9 September 2022.[6]

In April 2023, Saheef was included in the Kerala Blasters squad for the 2023 Super Cup.[7] He made his official Kerala Blasters senior team debut on 12 April 2023, by coming as a substitute against Sreenidi Deccan FC in the 72nd minute. Saheef also started in the game against Bengaluru FC and played for 58 minutes.[8]

2023–2024: Contract extension and loan to Gokulam

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On 9 May 2023, Kerala Blasters announced the extension of Saheef's contract until 2026.[9][10] He was then included in club's 2023 Durand Cup squad and made appearances in all the three games.[11][12]

On 1 September, Kerala Blasters announced that Saheef has been loaned out to Gokulam Kerala on a season long deal to get some first team experience.[13] He started in most of the matches for Gokulam, making 21 appearances in the 2023–24 I-League and also made one assist. Saheef also made two appearances in the 2024 Super Cup with them.[14]

2024–present: Return to Kerala Blasters and rise to the first team

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Saheef returned to Kerala Blasters and made his Indian Super League debut for the club on 15 September 2024 in a 1–2 loss against Punjab.[15] He fouled Leon Augustine inside the box, giving Punjab a penalty in the 85th minute, which helped them to get a 1–0 lead in the 87th minute. He was also booked with a yellow card in the 90th minute.[16]

Career statistics

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As of match played 07 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Domestic cup[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kerala Blasters 2022-23 Super League 0 0 3[b] 0 3 0
2023-24 Super League 0 0 3[c] 0 3 0
Total 0 0 6 0 6 0
Gokulam Kerala (loan) 2023-24 I-League 20 0 2[d] 0 22 0
Career total 20 0 8 0 28 0
  1. ^ Includes Durand Cup, Super Cup
  2. ^ One appearance in Durand Cup; two appearances in Super Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Durand Cup
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in Super Cup

Honours

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Kerala

References

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  1. ^ "Manorama Club Award: Parappur FC have bigger goals to chase". OnManorama. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Demand and supply of domestic players doesn't match: Karolis Skinkys". The Times of India. 16 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ FAR (12 August 2022). "മുഹമ്മദ് ഷഹീഫ് ബ്ലാസ്റ്റേഴ്‌സ് സ്‌ക്വാഡിനൊപ്പം". www.thejasnews.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  4. ^ "11 Kerala players included in Blasters' squad for Super Cup". The Times of India. 4 April 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  5. ^ Sportstar, Team (17 August 2022). "Kerala Blasters announces 21-man squad for Durand Cup". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  6. ^ Sportstar, Team (9 September 2022). "Durand Cup: Mohammedan SC beats Kerala Blasters 3-0 to enter semifinals, Dauda scores twice on debut". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  7. ^ Sportstar, Team (3 April 2023). "Super Cup 2023: Kerala Blasters announces 29-men squad". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  8. ^ Sportstar, Team (3 April 2023). "Super Cup 2023: Kerala Blasters announces 29-men squad". sportstar.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  9. ^ "KERALA BLASTERS EXTEND CONTRACTS WITH MUHAMMAD SHAEEF, MOHAMMED AIMAN & MOHAMMED AZHAR UNTIL 2026". Kerala Blasters FC. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  10. ^ "ISL: Kerala Blasters extend contracts of youngsters Azhar, Aiman and Saheef". Khel Now. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Kerala Blasters announces squad for 2023 Durand Cup". Sportstar. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Durand Cup 2023: Kerala Blasters announce squad". Khel Now. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  13. ^ "KBFC CONFIRM MULTIPLE LOANS". Kerala Blasters. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Kalinga Super Cup: Mumbai City FC Come From Behind To Take Full Points Against Gokulam Kerala | Football News". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Match Highlights | Kerala Blasters FC 1-2 Punjab FC | MW 1 | ISL 2024-25". www.indiansuperleague.com. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  16. ^ Sportstar, Team (15 September 2024). "Kerala Blasters vs Punjab FC highlights, KBFC 1-2 PFC, ISL 2024-25: Shers steal three points as Mrzljak scores late winner". Sportstar. Retrieved 16 September 2024.