Tariq Kazi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Tariq with Bangladesh in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tariq Raihan Kazi | ||
| Date of birth | 6 October 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Tampere, Finland[1] | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2017 | Ilves | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2019 | Ilves | 15 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → HJS (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Ilves II | 12 | (0) |
| 2020–2025 | Bashundhara Kings | 61 | (0) |
| 2026– | Paro FC | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | Finland U16 | 1 | (0) |
| 2017 | Finland U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2017–18 | Finland U18 | 4 | (0) |
| 2018 | Finland U19 | 1 | (0) |
| 2021– | Bangladesh | 34 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 7 April 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13 November 2025 | |||
Tariq Raihan Kazi (Bengali: তারিক কাজী; born 6 October 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender. Born in Finland, he plays for Paro FC and Bangladesh national team.[2][1] During his youth career he was primarily used as a right wing-back, who could also be deployed as a right back, later on he was transitioned into a center back by coach Óscar Bruzón.
Kazi is the second non-resident Bangladeshi footballer to represent Bangladesh internationally after Danish-born Jamal Bhuyan. He represented Finland at U17 and U19 levels internationally, before switching national sides. He also made an appearance in the UEFA Europa League for Ilves.[3]
Ilves
Kazi began his career with Ilves, making his Veikkausliiga debut for the club in June 2018 as a substitute in a 3–1 loss to KuPS. On 19 July 2018, Kazi became the first ever Bangladeshi to play in a Europa League match. He came on as a substitute in the 76th minute for Jani Tanska, as Ilves defeated Bulgarian club PFC Slavia Sofia 2–1.[4]
Tariq spent the 2018–19 season on loan at Swedish club HJS Akatemia who played in the Kakkonen which was the third level in the league system of Finnish football. During the season Tariq managed to make 8 appearances for the club.
Bashundhara Kings
In November 2019, Kazi joined Bangladesh Premier League side Bashundhara Kings on a three-year deal.[5][6][7]
On 17 October 2025, Kazi announced that he had terminated his contract with Bashundhara Kings due to outstanding salary payments.[8]
Paro FC
In April 2026, Kazi joined Bhutanese champions Paro ahead of the Bhutan Premier League season.[9]
International career
Having represented Finland at youth international level, in November 2020, Kazi was called up to the Bangladesh squad for their friendlies against Nepal but had to withdraw from the squad due to injury.[10]
On 3 June 2021, Kazi made his senior international debut for Bangladesh against Afghanistan in the country's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier, playing full 90 minutes.[11]
Kazi scored his first international goal on 25 March 2023 against Seychelles in a friendly at the Sylhet District Stadium.
Personal life
Kazi was born to a Finnish mother and a Bangladeshi father in Tampere. Kazi, who has represented Finland in the U17, U18, U19 national team, also has a Bangladeshi passport due to his family roots. His father Sahidul Kazi is a teacher of Tampare University of applied science. Kazi is the grandson of a freedom fighter and school teacher of Naogaon, Abdul Jabber Kazi, who was martyred in the battlefield of 1971 liberation war. He is one of four siblings, with a brother and two sisters.[12]
