Mamunul Islam brought the curtain down on a 30-year football journey on Thursday, announcing his retirement ahead of Fortis FC’s match against Rahmatganj Muslim Friends Society at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on 2 May. There were tears, smiles and a deep sense of fulfilment, though also a handful of regrets that the veteran midfielder acknowledged will stay with him for life.
The announcement was made at an event where Mamunul walked in slowly, posed for photos with Fortis FC officials and teammates, and then sat alone, wiping away tears. A subdued smile occasionally crossed his face, reflecting the quiet weight of a long career drawing to its close.
The 37-year-old had already retired from international football in 2020 but continued at club level. Now that chapter too is ending. His voice carried both joy and disappointment as he spoke, though overall the tone was one of quiet fulfilment.
“I am about to close a 30-year chapter,” he said. “It is very difficult to put into words. First of all, I remember my respected father. He made the greatest sacrifices for me to become a footballer. He wanted me to represent the national team, and I fulfilled that wish. But today, at my farewell, he is no longer with us.”
His father passed away just three months ago, and his absence cast a visible shadow over an otherwise celebratory occasion.
Mamunul’s path to football was anything but straightforward. His family had wanted him to become a Hafiz, but he had other ideas. He joined BKSP in 1997, initially enrolling in gymnastics before his coaches redirected him towards football, setting in motion a career that would span three decades.
He began his senior club career with Brothers Union in 2005 and went on to represent Dhaka Abahani, Mohammedan SC, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC, Sheikh Russel KC, Chittagong Abahani, Rahmatganj and finally Fortis FC. He made his Bangladesh debut in 2008 and went on to captain the national side for six years, winning SAFF Games gold and lifting numerous club trophies along the way.
“Football has given me everything — fame, money, trophies, achievements,” he said. “I don’t know how much I gave to the country, but I tried with honesty.”
For all the silverware and recognition, two regrets stand out above the rest. The first is never winning the SAFF Championship with Bangladesh. The second is failing to get any game time at Atletico de Kolkata in 2014, despite being part of the title-winning squad.
“Not becoming SAFF champions is a regret. Another is not getting to play despite being part of a championship-winning team at Atletico de Kolkata. These two regrets will stay with me for life,” he said.
He also voiced disappointment at not receiving what he felt was adequate recognition from the national football establishment at the time of his retirement.
“Playing 15 years for the country and captaining for six years is not easy. I did not receive the respect I expected from the country at the time of my farewell, though I am getting it from my club. If a player does not get a proper farewell, it diminishes a lifetime of achievement.”
Despite his personal frustrations, Mamunul remains optimistic about the future of Bangladeshi football. He singled out Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome as examples of a new generation capable of achieving what his era could not, and expressed belief that Bangladesh now has the squad to win the SAFF Championship.
He also highlighted Shekh Morsalin as an exceptional local talent, praising his creativity and eye for goal, and humbly acknowledged that the current generation of midfielders may surpass what he himself achieved.
Mamunul holds an A coaching licence and is open to remaining at Fortis FC in a coaching capacity if the club wishes to retain him, though he has not yet made any firm decisions about his next move.
“I have not decided what I will do next. If Fortis want me, I will stay. It depends on them. Football is everything to me — I cannot imagine life without it.”
He closed his farewell address by apologising for any harsh words spoken in anger over the years and left those present with a parting thought: “As long as football survives, our names will survive. I will always need your support, even after retirement, until my last breath.”
