The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is saddened to learn of the passing of Mansoor Ahmed, the legendary goalkeeper who inspired Pakistan to glory at the 1994 Men’s Hockey World Cup in Sydney, Australia. He was 49 years of age.
Mansoor was rated as one of the best hockey goalkeepers in the world during the throughout the 1990s, and also captained the national hockey team on numerous occasions.
A true icon of the sport, Mansoor represented the Green Shirts 338 times in a wonderful 14 year international career that started in 1986 and ended in 2000. He competed at three Olympic Games, winning bronze at the Barcelona 1992 Games and being Pakistan’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
Arguably the most memorable moments of his career arrived in Sydney at the Men’s Hockey World Cup 1994, where he produced crucial penalty stroke saves in both the semi-final and final to give Pakistan their fourth title.
In the semi-final, with the teams tied at the end of regulation time, Mansoor denied Germany captain Christian Blunck during the penalty strokes to help his side reach the title match against Netherlands. That match also needed penalty strokes to decide the outcome, with Mansoor’s brilliant save from Jeroen Delmee settling the contest.
The hockey world has lost one of its greats. The FIH offers its condolences to Mansoor’s family and friends at this difficult time.
