Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin

Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin (born 29 May 1979) is a former professional footballer who last played in the S.League.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Khamaruddin is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Ahmad Latiff.
Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin
Personal information
Full name Ahmad Latiff bin Khamarudin
Date of birth (1979-05-29) 29 May 1979
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Striker, Midfielder
Youth career
1996 Police FC
1997 Tampines Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Geylang United 40 (15)
1999–2001 SAFFC 19 (3)
2001–2002 Persikabo Bogor 27 (7)
2002–2003 SAFFC 51 (13)
2004–2005 Woodlands Wellington 41 (17)
2006–2007 Johor FA 19 (4)
2006 → Tampines Rovers (loan) 14 (2)
2007 Woodlands Wellington 13 (5)
2007–2008 PDRM 28 (7)
2008–2010 SAFFC 74 (10)
2011–2012 Tampines Rovers 41 (17)
2013–2014 Tanjong Pagar United 33 (9)
International career‡
1997–2014 Singapore 43 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 November 2012
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 November 2012

Once touted as a successor to golden boy Fandi Ahmad, he can play as an attacking midfielder or striker with his talented playmaking skills. He is also capable at playing as a full-back later in his career.

However, due to his consistent bad disciplinary track record for the national team and club sides, he is deemed the 'bad boy' of Singapore football. Ahmad Latiff various nicknames include the frequently used "bad boy of Singapore football" for his disciplinary problems on and off the pitch, and also "the blond bombshell" in reference to his bleached blond hair..

Club career

Youth career

Ahmad Latiff started his career at Police FC (now known as Home United) in 1996, before moving to Tampines Rovers youth academy the following year.

Geylang United

Ahmad Latiff moved to Geylang United in 1997 for a first chance of senior football appeareance. His flamboyant performances caught the eyes of many top football coaches in Asia, who were confident that he would be the next big thing in Asian football. However, his disciplinary problems had got the better of him and he failed to live up to the high expectations set for him.

SAFFC

In 1999, Ahmad Latiff moved to SAFFC where he helped the club win the S.League title in the following season.

Persikabo Bogor

In 2001, Ahmad Latiff made his first career move abroad to Indonesia joining Liga 3 club, Persikabo Bogor.

Returned to SAFFC

Ahmad Latiff returned to SAFFC in 2002, where he played as a playmaker instead of a striker in which he led the team to the 2002 S.League title victory.

Woodlands Wellington

In 2004, Ahmad Latiff moved to Woodlands Wellington but he was unable to capture the blistering form from his days in SAFFC.

Johor FA

Eventually in 2006, Ahmad Latif made his move abroad once again to Johor FA, which played in the Malaysian Premier League. He played well for the side along with fellow Singaporean and Lions skipper, Aide Iskandar.

Loan to Tampines Rovers

After the Malaysian football season ended, he was loaned together with Aide Iskandar to Tampines Rovers for the rest of S.League season.[1]

Returned to Woodlands Wellington

Prior to the start of the 2007 S.League season, Ahmad Latiff returned to his former club, Woodlands Wellington. He was then appointed as the club captain by then-manager, Jörg Steinbrunner, and led Woodlands Wellington to their first piece of silverware in their history, the inaugural 2007 Singapore League Cup.

Third spell at SAFFC

On 2 July 2008, Ahmad Latiff made his return debut for SAFFC in the 2008 S.League. It was his third spell at the club after previously playing for the SAFFC back in 1999 and 2002. Latiff made very important contributions to SAFFC in his third spell, scoring against PSMS Medan in the qualifying round to send the Warriors into the 2009 AFC Champions League group stages for the very first time. On 5 May 2009, he also netted a splendid volley against Shanghai Shenhua in the fifth game of the competition's group stages, helping his team win their first ever point in the AFC Champions League in a 1–1 draw.

Tampines Rovers

In 2010, Ahmad Latiff moved to Tampines Rovers where he helped them to two consecutive S.League titles in 2011 and 2012. Since returning to the S.League in 2009, he has appeared in 29 Asian Football Confederation matches, with SAFFC in the 2009 AFC Champions League and 2010 AFC Champions League, as well as Tampines Rovers in the 2011 AFC Cup and 2012 AFC Cup, scoring 5 goals in the process.

International career

Ahmad Latiff made his debut for Singapore against Lebanon on 24 May 1997.

In 1998, his sterling performances led Singapore to win the Tiger Cup, the nation's first international trophy, despite getting sent off in the final win against Vietnam. However, due to his poor disciplinary track record, he had been in and out of the Singapore team since the 1998 Tiger Cup win.

Ahmad was recalled to the Singapore in 2006 after his good performances for Johor FA but was axed by coach, Raddy Avramovic, after he reacted angrily to the coach's decision to substitute him after just 25 minutes during Singapore's Asian Cup qualifying match against Iraq in the United Arab Emirates.[2] Ahmad has never played for Singapore since that incident.

Club career statistics
As of 4 November 2012

Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin's Profile

Club Performance League Cup League Cup Champions League Total
Singapore S.League Singapore Cup League Cup AFC Champions League
Club Season Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Apps Goals
SAFFC 2009 22 (3)500008240130 (3)7
2010 27 (3)310108090037 (3)3
Tampines Rovers 2011 326301 (1)07360043 (1)9
2012 154624160300317
All numbers encased in brackets signify substitute appearances.
*Tampines Rovers appeared in the AFC Cup in 2011 & 2012.

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.26 August 1998Hàng Đẫy Stadium, Hanoi, VietnamMalaysia Malaysia2–02–01998 Tiger Cup
2.30 August 1998Hàng Đẫy Stadium, Hanoi, VietnamLaos Laos2–14–11998 Tiger Cup
3.30 August 1998Hàng Đẫy Stadium, Hanoi, VietnamLaos Laos3–14–11998 Tiger Cup
4.4 August 1999Berakas Sports Complex, Bandar Seri Begawan, BruneiBrunei Laos3–13–11999 SEA Games
As of 4 November 2012

Honours

Club
Singapore Armed Forces
PDRM
Tampines Rovers
Woodlands Wellington

International

Singapore

Individual
  • SAFFC-Warriors' Player of the Year: 2010

References
  1. "Singapore's Latiff fined but spared suspension". ESPN Soccernet. 3 November 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  2. "Tan: The case for Ahmad Latiff". ESPN Star. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013.

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