Maidaan (2024) - The Incredible True Story of Indian Football

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Maidaan (2024) - Based on a True Story

Indian Hindi-language biographical sport drama film telling the story of Syed Abdul Rahim, a pioneering football coach in India between 1952 and 1962.The film's preview shows were released on 10 April 2024. Theatrically the film was released worldwide on 11 April 2024, coinciding with Eid. Despite a positive critical reception, the film bombed at the box office grossing ₹67 crore worldwide.

Syed Abdul Rahim (17 August 1909 – 11 June 1963), popularly known as Rahim Saab, was an Indian football coach and manager of the India national team[3] from 1950 until his death in 1963, and a former player. He is regarded as the architect of modern Indian football. A teacher by profession, he was a strong motivator and his tenure as a coach is regarded as the "golden age" of football in India.

Under his stewardship, the India national team earned superiority in both technical qualities and tactical innovations, and got the nickname "Brazil of Asia".

They went on to win gold medals in Asian Games of—(1951-Delhi and 1962-Jakarta), play semi-finals of the Summer Olympics—(1956-Melbourne) making India the first ever Asian country to achieve this place, win the titles of Colombo Cup for the years of—(1952-Colombo and 1954-Calcutta and came runners-up in Pestabola Merdeka—(1959 Kuala Lumpur) Rahim died from cancer on 12 June 1963 after being bed-ridden for six months.

In memory of Rahim, the I-League "Best Coach Award" is renamed as "Syed Abdul Rahim Award", given to the best coach in each season by the All India Football Federation (AIFF)

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