Amalesh Sen, footballer-turned-coach and member of the Swadhin Bangla football team, breathed his last yesterday evening after suffering cardiac arrest at the Abahani Club premises.

The veteran footballer, who had been working as a coach of the Abahani team for a long time, complained of chest pain and unease towards the end of the team's training session at the club premises. He was rushed to the nearby Bangladesh Medical College and Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead at around 6:30pm.

Sen was 72. He left behind his wife, two sons and a host of well-wishers.

When Abahani was formed in 1972, Sen joined the club and spent the rest of his playing career with the Dhanmondi outfit after having played for a number of other clubs including Mohammedan Sporting Club before the nation's independence. He also represented the national team from 1975 to early 1978.

Sen continued his playing career till the early '80s before embarking on his coaching career in 1986. He stayed with Abahani till the late '90s before having a two-year stint with Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra. He returned to Abahani in 1999 and remained until now.

Sen also served as the vice-president of Bangladesh Football Coaches' Association.  Members of the Bangladesh Football Federation, different clubs and football organisers expressed deep shock at the demise of the renowned football coach.