The club was founded in 1949, patroned by local Gopibagh businessmen. Nicknamed the Oranges, Brothers Union spent the late 70s and early 80s as one of the pioneers of Bangladeshi football, behind Abahani Limited Dhaka and Dhaka Mohammedan. Throughout their history, Brothers Union has built a reputation for spotting and developing young talent, especially during the club's legendary coach Abdul Gafur Baloch's regime from 1972 to 1986.[2]
The club earned promotions from the Dhaka Third Division Football League and Dhaka Second Division Football League in 1973 and 1974, respectively. They entered the First Division in 1975, however, had to wait till the 2003–04 season to win their first league title. Their second league triumph came in the following season, in 2005. The club has also found success at continental level, jointly winning the 1981–82 edition of the Aga Khan Gold Cup, becoming the first and only local club to win the tournament since the Independence of Bangladesh.[3]
Originally, the club was a well-known cultural organization founded 1949 with business tycoon K. G. Ahmed serving as its first chairman. Brothers Union formed its football team in 1973 and they began playing in the Dhaka Third Division Football League that year. Next year, they were promoted to the Second Division Football League. In 1975, Brothers won the Second Division title and the club was promoted to the top tier. Brothers won their first major title, the Dhaka League in 2004.
Crest and colours
Old club crest used from 1949–2024.
Current squad
As of 27 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^The competition is widely regarded as the predecessor of AFC Champions League (held for the first time in 1967), since it was the first organized international competition that involved club teams around Asia, organized by the football authorities of East Pakistan, in collaboration with Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
^Tom Lewis; Neil Morrison; Novan Herfiyana; Karel Stokkermans (2003). "Aga Khan Gold Cup (Dhaka, Bangladesh)". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
