Shehzad Anwar has played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s football development, serving as the head coach for the U-19, U-23, and senior national teams at various times. He also took on the responsibility of caretaker manager for the Pakistan men’s football team.
The Shehzad Anwar Story
In November 2022, Anwar officially took the reins as head coach for a friendly match against Nepal—a significant event as it marked Pakistan’s first game in over three years, following FIFA’s suspension of the Pakistan Football Federation. Unfortunately, the match ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat, with a last-minute goal sealing their fate. In addition to his senior duties, Anwar managed the U-23 team during the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification rounds. He wore multiple hats during this preparation, acting as goalkeeping coach, manager, and physio, largely due to the limited facilities available.
Under Anwar’s guidance, Pakistan played a total of eight matches, suffering defeats in each one. However, it’s notable that the performance wasn’t as disastrous as the record suggests; in fact, the team did not concede more than four goals in any one match, and four of those losses were by a single goal.
By the end of 2023, English coach Stephen Constantine, who previously managed the Indian national team, succeeded Anwar as the head coach of Pakistan. Many believe that Haroon Malik, president of the FIFA-appointed normalization committee for the PFF, was dissatisfied with Anwar’s leadership, leading to his dismissal.
Following his exit from the national team, Anwar returned to POPO FC as head coach, a position he previously held since joining the club in 2020. He had also spent time coaching the Pakistan Air Force football club during the 2022-23 season.
There is a prevailing sentiment among observers that Anwar was treated unfairly by the Pakistan Football Federation’s normalization committee. He dedicated years to nurturing talent within the national setup, striving to foster an inclusive squad. Ultimately, his considerable efforts went unrecognized, leaving Pakistan’s football program in an uncertain position. This chapter undoubtedly marks a challenging turn in Anwar’s coaching career.