[2] During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, Yusuf supported his family financially by driving rickshaws while still studying in eight grade at the Nabakumar Institution.

[1] In 1972, Mahuttuli Sporting footballer Khorshed took Yusuf to the trials for Star of Bangladesh Club who played in the Dhaka Third Division League.

Eventually, the assistant coach of Fire Service SC, Bazlur Rahman, gave Yusuf the opportunity to play for Kamal Sporting in the Dhaka Second Division League.

In 1974, a Russian coach held trials for the Bangladesh U19 team in Comilla, and Yusuf got into the final squad for the 1975 AFC Youth Championship in Kuwait.

He was also part of the team that won the Ashis-Jabbar Shield Tournament in India, as the Black and Whites became the first Bangladeshi club to win a trophy on foreign soil.

On the same day as the massacre, a below par Bangladesh team were compelled to play their last group game against South Korea, which they lost 4–0.

Although he was called up to the preliminary squad for the 1982 Asian Games, he was excluded from German coach Gerd Schmidt's final selection.

[7] In the 1985 South Asian Games final against India, Yusuf was one of the players who failed to convert his penalty as Bangladesh lost 1–4 in the tie-breaker.

Mohammedan finished runners-up to Muktijoddha SKC in the championship playoff, after their star players Motiur Rahman Munna and Kaiser Hamid suffered season ending injuries.

[9] On 3 October 2004, Yusuf signed a one-year contract with Sheikh Russel KC and guided them to fifth position in the league, playing in an unorthodox 5-3-2 formation.

[16] On 4 March 2008, Yusuf was made Bangladesh national team coach for the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers and the 2008 SAFF Championship.

[17][18] Yusuf selected an inexperienced squad for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers,[19] and during their opening match draw against Afghanistan, he handed debuts to three players – Mamunul Islam, Arup Kumar Baidya, Kazi Mofazzal Hossain (sent off during the game) and Maroof Ahmed.

[21][22][23] Later on that year at the SAFF Championship, Bangladesh produced one of their worst performances in the competition, and failed to advance past the group-stage with 2 draws and 1 loss.

[29][30] On 16 February 2012, Yusuf joined Sheikh Jamal DC, and lead the club to a runners-up position in the 2012–13 Bangladesh Premier League and 2012 Federation Cup.