Amirizdwan Taj

Amirizdwan Taj Bin Tajuddin (born 30 March 1986), commonly known as Taj, is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a centre back and capped by Malaysian national team.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Tajuddin is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Amirizdwan Taj.
Amirizdwan Taj
Personal information
Full name Amirizdwan Taj bin Tajuddin
Date of birth (1986-03-30) 30 March 1986
Place of birth Kelantan, Malaysia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 retired
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 UiTM
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 UiTM
2012–2015 ATM 48 (11)
2015–2016 Kelantan 21 (3)
2016–2017 Terengganu 22 (0)
2017–2018 PKNS 11 (0)
2018 Kelantan 2 (0)
2019 Perlis 0 (0)
2019–2020 Kelantan United 21 (0)
Total 125 (14)
International career‡
2011–2015 Malaysia 14 (0)
Managerial career
2021– Mokhtar Dahari Academy (assistant coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 26, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 20, 2023

Born in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Taj never seriously play football at his youth where he attended MRSM Gerik and later MRSM Kuala Terengganu. His football career began while completing his undergraduate studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA where he played for UiTM FC. During that time, Taj was commonly known by nickname Panjang which means tall in English, to describe his tall physic body compared to his other teammates. Taj was a late bloomer which was not from regular state President Cup or youth teams.[1]

Club career

UITM

Amirizdwan further his study at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Sport Science. He then join UiTM football team to play for IPT League. His series of good performance caught the eye of several coach from other club and one of them was former coach of Kelantan, B. Sathianathan in a friendly between UiTM Fc and Kelantan. When B. Sathianathan appointed as ATM, he signs Amirizdwan.

Amirizdwan joined ATM at the start of the year after three seasons with UiTM and immediately tasted success after helping his side winning the Malaysia Premier League, and gain promotion to the Malaysia Super League.[2] He also won Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup in 2013 with ATM.

Amirizdwan was a complete and versatile player; he was gifted with excellent technical ability, vision and passing range. He was also a strong, tall, tenacious, influential, hardworking, and physical player. He has played much of his career as a centre defender, but has also been used as a holding midfielder at early of his career.

He represented Malaysia in 2011 Summer Universiade[3] alongside K. Reuben. Malaysia finished 12th in the tournament.

Amirizdwan made his international debut for Malaysia national football team in 2011 at the age of 25. He was called up to the national squad just before he made the move, but as soon as he started helping the Armed Forces dominate the Premier League in 2012, his regular inclusion in the national set-up was a no-brainer. Despite play for Harimau Malaya occasionally, he never gets a chance to play for big tournament due to injuries and being overlooked by the coach.

ATM FA

In 2012, Amirizdwan joined ATM and was given squad number 24.[4][5] He helped his side in winning the 2012 Malaysia Premier League,[6] and promotion to the Malaysia Super League for 2013 season. At the start of his ATM's career, Amirizdwan usually used as a midfielder but later switch his position to central defender.

2015 season

In April, they removed B. Sathianathan from the head coach position, sparking an exodus of players. Amirizdwan finally decided to end ties with ATM and return to his home state. A fresh start, was what he was ultimately craving for.

Kelantan FA

Amirizdwan signed with Kelantan FA in April 2015,[7] The signing was announced on the Red Warriors' social media accounts, which also added that the Kota Bharu-born former UiTM FC player would be wearing number 42 on his kit for the remainder of 2015 season.[8] Amirizdwan has been linked with home state team for the past few years, after his rise from university-level football. He scored his first goal for Kelantan with a header against Sime Darby FC which ended 2-2 that night.[9][10] At the time that the Red Warriors were undergoing a severe financial crisis Amirizdwan's departure was widely discussed.

Terengganu FA

To be honest, I didn’t leave Kelantan because of salary payment issues. There were several other problems that I’ll keep confidential, out of respect to them

— Amirizdwan Taj on signing for Terengganu.

Despite interest from other clubs, Amirizdwan signed with Terengganu FA on 2 December 2015.[11] He will be given number 3 in the squad.[12] A few weeks ago though, speculations of his departure became rife, with Kelantan's well-documented financial issues dominating the narrative. Amir though after signing his contract with the Turtles yesterday claims that his departure was ultimately fueled by other reasons.

Amir was released by Terengganu without making any appearance after just 6 month signed for the club.[13] The former UiTM, ATM and Kelantan player has always grappled with long-term injuries.[14]

PKNS FC

Amir signed for PKNS FC for 2017 season.[15]

International career

Playing for the national team is the biggest honour for any football

— Amirizdwan Taj

In October 2011, he was called up by K. Rajagobal for the national team's training session for an international friendly against India.[16]

Managerial career

On 1 February 2021, he was hired to became assistant coach for Mokhtar Dahari Academy to aid producing quality young players from the grassroots development program.[17]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played on 13 December 2018.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
ATM 2012 Malaysia Premier League 00000000
2013 Malaysia Super League 00002000
2014 Malaysia Super League 00000000
2015 Malaysia Super League 00000000
Total 48000004811
Kelantan 2015 Malaysia Super League 91306091
Total 91306091
Terengganu 2016 Malaysia Super League 00000000
Total 00000000
PKNS FC 2017 Malaysia Super League 20000020
Total 20000020
Kelantan 2018 Malaysia Super League 20000020
Total 20000020
Perlis 2019 Malaysia Super League 00000000
Total 00000000
Kelantan United 2019 Malaysia M3 League 40000040
Total 40000040
Total Career total 65130606712

International
As of match played 8 September 2015.
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Malaysia 201140
201250
201341
201441
Total172

Honours

Club
ATM FA
Kelantan FA
Kelantan United F.C.

Personal life

Amirizdwan is a Kelantan supporter. He married longtime girlfriend Anna Syahida Tamsir when they were student at UITM Shah Alam. He also an excellent student during his school days when he enrolled in Mara junior college. He also has siblings that played football professionally, amir ikhwan taj played for uitm fc, amir izham taj for felda utd u21.

Amir himself admired that he's not planned to play football professionally. He never involved in any football pyramid like others do. He didn't went to youth academy, neither sport school. But during his college years where he just play for his residential college for inter-college games, a coach spotted him and called him to be trained with UiTM Fc. That seems to be cinderella story for him when coach B.Sathianathan whom are head coach for Kelantan that season offered his to play in Malaysia Cup campaign but that deal seems impossible when rules only applicable to those who are played with super league or premier league team that failed to qualified for that competition since Uitm Fc are in FAM League.

2011 is a breakthrough year for him when he selected in national team friendly match with India. Maybe the only player from FAM league and only UiTM Fc player being able to do so.

References
  1. "Go claim the kingdom you lost, Amirizdwan Taj". FourthOfficial.com. 18 August 2015.
  2. "High-flying Amirizwan eyeing cup glory". ESPN Asia. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  3. "Malaysia Universiade Athletes". Archived from the original on 25 January 2012.
  4. "A New Look Malaysian Armed Forces Aiming Big in M-LEAGUE". Shekhinah. 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  5. "Ambitious Armed Forces ready for new season". Malaysia Football News. 19 December 2011.
  6. "Malaysia, Astro Premier League Malaysia".
  7. "Transfer News: Kelantan sign Amirizdwan Taj | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  8. "Confirmed! Amiridzwan Taj signs for Kelantan | FourthOfficial.com". www.fourthofficial.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08.
  9. "Kelantan struggle to 2-2 draw against Sime Darby". 26 July 2015.
  10. SILVA, JOASH EE DE. "Sime Darby rue bad luck against Kelantan". The Star.
  11. "Amiridzwan Taj on the verge of sealing Terengganu move". Fourthofficial.com. 1 December 2015.
  12. "Official: Terengganu secure three major signings for 2016". Fourthofficial.com. 2 December 2015. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  13. "PBSNT TAMAT KONTRAK AMIRIDZWAN TAJ". Stadium Astro. 1 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  14. "Terengganu terminate Amiridzwan's contract one day after his birthday". Goal.com. 31 May 2016.
  15. ""TERIMA KASIH KERANA BERI SAYA PELUANG" -- AMIRIDZWAN". Stadium Astro. 12 Dec 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  16. "xclusive: "Go support our national team," - Amirizwan Taj rallies the fans ahead of cruncher against Indonesia". Yahoo! Sports. 30 November 2012. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  17. Sulaiman (1 February 2021). "Norhafiz Zamani Misbah Sertai Barisan Jurulatih Akademi Mokhtar Dahari" (in Malay). Vocket FC. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
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