Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Chunnu

Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Chunnu (Bengali: আশরাফ উদ্দিন আহমেদ চুন্নু; born 1 August 1956) is a Bangladeshi former professional football player and coach. He played for Dhaka Abahani as a left-winger in the First Division from 1975 to 1988, winning the league title a toal of five times. He is the all-time top goalscorer of the Bangladesh national team, with 17 official goals, having represented the country between 1975 and 1985, captaining in 1982. Following retirement in 1988, he served in coaching and administrative roles with both Dhaka Abahani and the Bangladesh Football Federation.

Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Chunnu was born on 1 August 1956, in Paikpara suburb, Narayanganj District, East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh). He completed his matriculation at Joy Govinda High School in Narayanganj before gaining admission to Dhaka University. At a young age, Chunnu, received his football training under former East Bengal Railway left-winger Alauddin Khan at the Gymkhana Field (now Alauddin Khan Stadium) in Narayanganj. While he was in eighth grade, his coach, Alauddin Khan converted Chunnu, initially a goalkeeper, into a left-winger.

Chunnu began his football career in the Dhaka First Division Football League with Dilkusha SC in 1973. The following year, he joined Rahmatganj MFS, and with the club he also participated in the Bordoloi Trophy in Guwahati, India. In the same year, Chunnu began representing the Dhaka District football team in the National Football Championship, winning the championship that year. He represented the Combined University football team in the 1975 National Championship and in a tournament held in Kolkata. In 1977 and 1978, he represented the Dhaka District and Bangladesh Railway football teams, respectively.

In 1975, Chunnu joined Dhaka Abahani on the recommendation of Sheikh Kamal. He spent 13-years at the club winning the First Division title five times in 1977, 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1985. In 1979, Chunnu served as the captain of the club as Abahani finished runners-up in the First Division. In the same year, he also represented the team in the 1979 Aga Khan Gold Cup in Dhaka, notably scoring against Afghanistan XI in a 5–1 victory on 30 November 1979. In the following year, Chunnu served as joint captain alongside Shafiul Arefin Tutul, as Abahani finished fourth in the league, which was at the time their lowest finish since foundation.

On 21 September 1982, Chunnu and several Abahani teammates were arrested after crowd violence erupted during a league match against Mohammedan SC. Following a disputed goal, police raided locations across Dhaka, including the national team camp for the 1982 Asian Games, and detained the players. They were brought before a military court and surprisingly accused of plotting to overthrow the new military ruler, Lt. General Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Chunnu and Kazi Salahuddin received one-month prison sentences and were to be transferred to Jessore by night train, but public crowds at Kamalapur station blocked their departure, prompting the imposition of Section 144. The players were eventually sent to prisons outside Dhaka and released after 17 days amid widespread criticism.

On 30 October 1983, Chunnu scored in a memorable 2–2 draw against Mohammedan in the first-leg match of the 1983 First Division League, the point was eventually vital for Abahani, who went on to win the league title by overtaking their rivals. In the 1985–86 Asian Club Championship Central Asia Zone, Chunnu scored in a 3–0 victory against Pakistani club, PIA FC. Nevertheless, he became an irregular in the starting eleven from that year, as Abahani former teammate and then coach, Kazi Salahuddin, brought in young wingers Fakrul Islam Kamal and Ratnayaka Premalal, and secured their third consecutive league title.

On 11 November 1988, Chunnu officially announced his retirement during the Federation Cup final against Mohammedan. Although he did not play that day, he entered the field wearing his No. 12 jersey, which he had worn throughout his career at the club, and received an ovation from the fans. Notably, he served as a player-cum-coach and led Abahani to the final of the tournament. He eventually served as joint head coach in the final alongside Algimantas Liubinskas, as Abahani won 1–0. Additionally, Chunnu received the Best Footballer Award from the Sports Writers Association in 1980 and the National Sports Council in 1988.

Chunnu began his international career with the Bangladesh U20 team in the 1975 AFC Youth Championship held in Kuwait. In the same year, as a 19-year old, he made his debut for the Bangladesh national team in the 1975 Merdeka Tournament in Malaysia. In the following year, he appeared in the 1976 King's Cup in Thailand.