Former Afghanistan Manager Yousef Kargar Has Surgery After Being Stabbed in Back

Former Afghanistan national football coach Mohammad Yousef Kargar is in hospital after being stabbed in the back on Saturday.

BBC Sport reported the incident, which allegedly saw Kargar attacked "near his home" on the outskirts of Kabul. Afghan Zariza's Twitter account posted an image of Kargar:

Although the motive for such an assault is yet to be determined, it seems the incident took place as Kargar returned from a wedding, per Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 

"The attackers stabbed Kargar in the back," police officer Rohullah Khan confirmed, per South African Press Association and the Associated Press (via SuperSport). "He underwent surgery at a private hospital and is now in stable condition."

The RFE/RL report, which included contributions from Reuters and Deutsche Presse-Agentur, noted that Kargar also suffered a head injury.

Kargar is revered for his leading role in rebuilding Afghanistan's national team after the fall of the Taliban regime.

He posted a 12-year coaching association with the side before exiting in 2014, leading the country to the South Asian Football Federation title as manager in 2013. He also played for the Lions between 1976 and '84. It is promising to hear his condition has stabilised after an attack that is likely to shock football fans across the globe.