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Yousuf Butt

Yousuf Ijaz Butt (Urdu: يوسف اعجاز بٹ; born 18 October 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for VB 1968. Born in Denmark, he plays for the Pakistan national team.

Butt has played over 400 division games in Denmark, and is considered as one of the best goalkeepers in South Asia due to his performance in the 2018 SAFF Championship, where he won the Safe Hand award.

Club career

Hellerup

Butt started his career at Hellerup IK joining the club at the age of 14. He made his senior debut in 2007 in the Danish 1st division at the age of 18.

BK Skjold

Afterwards, Butt joined the 2nd division club BK Skjold in 2010, helping the club avoid the relegation, playing 17 games in the season. He played for Skjold Birkerød the following season.

Glostrup Albertslund

Butt was then brought into 2nd division side BK Glostrup Albertslund where he eventually became the club captain.

Brønshøj

In August 2014, Butt signed with 1st division club Brønshøj Boldklub on a 6-month contract. He played one match for the club in the DBU Cup, winning 9–1 away against Blovstrød.

Svebølle

Butt later moved to 2nd division club Svebølle B&I in 2015.

Return to Brønshøj

Butt returned again to his former club Brønshøj the next season.

Fredensborg & Herlev

In 2017 after a short stint at Fredensborg BI, Butt signed for Herlev IF.

Greve Fodbold

In 2018, Butt moved to Greve Fodbold, where he was joined by national team fellow Muhammad Ali.

AB Tårnby

In 2018, Butt moved to AB Tårnby with fellow national team striker Hassan Bashir.

Ishøj

Butt moved to the Denmark Series club Ishøj IF in 2021. He played for Ishøj as key player and promoted with the club to Danish 3rd Division in the same season. On January 2024, Ishøj announced the departure of eight players including Butt.

VB 1968

In March 2024, Butt moved to VB 1968 along with club and national team compatriot Hassan Bashir.

International career

Youth

Butt was first called to represent the Pakistan national under-23 team in January 2011 for the 2012 Summer Olympics qualifiers under Tariq Lutfi. He was previously called for the 2010 Asian Games, but was stopped by the Pakistan Football Federation due to alleged late document submission to the Pakistan Olympic Association. He had bought a non-refundable air ticket and received no compensation from the PFF.

He made his debut in the Olympic qualifiers as a starter against Malaysia, losing the match 0–2, conceding both goals in the first half, and eventually being replaced by Muhammad Omar in the second half.

Senior

Butt made his senior debut for the national team in November 2012 against Singapore, as a replacement in the second half for the captain Jaffar Khan, who conceded two of the goals in the eventual 0–4 defeat.

He played as the main goalkeeper for Pakistan including the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers of 2014, the 2013 SAFF Championship, as well as the 2013 Philippine Peace Cup.

After being left out for both the 2014 Asian Games and 2018 FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers 1st round of March 2015, Butt returned after almost 5 years away to be the starting goalkeeper in the 2018 SAFF Championship, where he won the Safe Hand, the award for the most saves.

He was also called for the Panjab football team in the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup, where he made 2 appearances.

On 17 October 2023, Butt captained Pakistan in his home debut with the national team in Islamabad after 11 years, in a 1–0 win against Cambodia in the second leg of the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, to be Pakistan's first ever victory in a World Cup qualifying match, which sent them through to the second round by winning 1–0 on aggregate.

Personal life

Butt was born in Denmark to a Kashmiri family of Punjab from Lahore. He also holds Canadian citizenship due to his father, who moved to Canada at a young age before shifting to Denmark. Yousuf is the younger brother of Yaqoob Butt, who has also represented Pakistan at the international level. Butt also went to school with Hassan Bashir in Denmark, who eventually played alongside him in the national team.