Shahdan Sulaiman

Shahdan bin Sulaiman (born 9 May 1988) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a central-midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United and the Singapore national team. He is known for his free-kick abilities and long-range efforts. A versatile player, Shahdan has also played as defensive-midfielder, attacking-midfielder and occasionally as a centre-back.

Shahdan Sulaiman
Personal information
Full name Shahdan bin Sulaiman[1]
Date of birth (1988-05-09) 9 May 1988
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) central midfielder, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Hougang United
Number 8
Youth career
2000–2005 National Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Tampines Rovers 52 (4)
2009–2010 Home United 37 (1)
2010–2011 Tampines Rovers 39 (5)
2011 Young Lions 13 (2)
2012 LionsXII 25 (8)
2013–2014 Tampines Rovers 52 (9)
2015 LionsXII 25 (4)
2016 Tampines Rovers 35 (8)
2018Melaka United (loan) 20 (1)
2019 Tampines Rovers 24 (6)
2020–2022 Lion City Sailors 42 (6)
2023– Hougang United 3 (0)
International career
2010– Singapore 88 (6)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Singapore
Sea Games
Bronze medal – third placeVientiane 2009Football
Asean Football Championship
WinnerAFF Suzuki Cup 20122012
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 July 2018
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 December 2022

Club career

Early career

Shahdan previously played for S.League clubs Home United, Tampines Rovers & Young Lions. He moved to play for the LionsXII in the Malaysia Super League for the 2012 season.[2] In 2012, while playing for the LionsXII, Shahdan Sulaiman's impressive form had attracted the attention of the Thai scouts from Pattaya United F.C. who likened him to be a player in the mould of Kaka due to his vision and passing ability. He was briefly considered by the Thai club to join as part of their foreign Asian player scheme, but the move did not happen.

Tampines Rovers

He joined Tampines Rovers in the 2013 season after he was left out of the LionsXII squad as the squad was mostly made up of U-23 players in preparation of the Southeast Asian Games.

In 2013, he signed a 23 months contract with his old club Tampines Rovers. He finished the 2013 season with 4 goals and 9 assists. At the end of 2014, while playing for the national team in the AFF Championship, he picked up an injury which ruled him out for 6 months of the 2015 season.[3]

Back to LionsXII

Following his recovery from a long-term injury he picked up at the end of 2014, Shahdan re-joined the LionsXII in 2015.[4][5] He made his long awaited comeback in a game against Sime Darby as a late substitute in May 2015. In his next match against ATM FA, he scored with his first touch of the ball and made his first start in July, against Kelantan.[6]

Re-signing for the Stags

In January 2016, after the disbandment of LionsXII, he went back to Tampines Rovers FC, although he has had to take a huge pay cut.[7] Shahdan played a key role in the team, starting 10 out of 10 league games for the stags before he then missed a huge chunk of the season due to an injury that he picked up in the 90th minute of an AFC Cup tie with Selangor at the Singapore Sports Hub.[3] He marked his return in late October, helping his team to a 3-1 win over the Young Lions and eventually secured a place in the national team for the 2016 AFF Championship.[8][9]

Shahdan remained with the stags for the 2017 S.League season.[10] He had a good season, scoring 6 goals in all competitions, with his performances attracting interest from MSL side Melaka United.[11]

Melaka United

Shahdan signed for Malaysia Super League side Melaka United for the 2018 season on a season long loan from the Stags to fill their ASEAN foreign player slot.[12][13] On 26 August 2018, in the Malaysia Cup fixture vs PDRM, he scored the 4th goal of the match with a free kick in a 6-1 away victory. [14]

Returning to Tampines Rovers

Shahdan returned to the Stags for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season and had a stellar season where he was one of three nominees for the Player of the Year award.[15]

Lion City Sailors

Shahdan then signed for the Singapore Premier League's first privatised club, Lion City Sailors for the 2020 Singapore Premier League season.[15] On 18 April 2022, He assisted Pedro Henrique goal from a corner with a famous victory over Korean club, Daegu FC in the AFC Champions League. On 29 June 2022, he scored a free kick against Young Lions. On 19 June 2022, Shahdan scored 2 volleys from outside the box against Balestier Khalsa. On 16 July 2022, he found the back of the net with a great effort goal from outside the box against Geylang International. He end the season with 5 goals and 6 assists.

International career

Shahdan got his first goal for the national team in a 2–2 draw with Azerbaijan, scoring a last gasp equaliser to help the Lions come back from behind.[16]

8 June 2019, he scored a free kick and got himself an assist in a 4-3 win against Solomon Islands.

In the 2020 AFF Championship 2nd leg semi-finals fixture vs Indonesia, Shahdan scored a free kick towards the top left corner of the goalpost.

As of January 2023 , Shahdan has amassed 85 caps for the senior national team.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 Oct 2022[17][18][19]
Club Season League Cup1 League Cup2 Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tampines Rovers 2006 S.League 5050
2007 S.League 212212
2008 S.League 262262
Total 524524
Home United 2009 S.League 210210
2010 S.League 1611010181
Total 3711010391
Tampines Rovers 2010 S.League 7152123
2011 S.League 19771268
Total 26852713811
Young Lions 2011 S.League 132132
Total 132132
LionsXII 2012 Malaysia Super League 25840100398
Total 25840100398
Tampines Rovers 2013 S.League 254103050344
2014 S.League 275601070415
Total 5297040120759
LionsXII 2015 Malaysia Super League 01000200
Total 00000000
Tampines Rovers 2016 S.League 132101160213
2017 S.League 215210040276
Total 3473111100489
Melaka United (loan) 2018 Malaysia Super League 2000100201
Total 2000100201
Tampines Rovers 2019 S.League 236520060348
Total 236520060348
Lion City Sailors 2020 Singapore Premier League 131000000131
2021 Singapore Premier League 202000000202
2022 Singapore Premier League 255001060325
Total 588001060658
Hougang United 2023 Singapore Premier League 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Career total 3305025516035140656

1 Includes Singapore Cup and Malaysia FA Cup.
2 Includes Malaysia Cup and Singapore League Cup.

International goals

Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.[20]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1. 24 Feb 2012 The Sevens Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates  Azerbaijan 2–2 2–2 Friendly
2.8 June 2012Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Malaysia2–12–22012 Causeway Challenge
3.23 March 2018National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Maldives2–13–2Friendly
4.8 June 2019 Solomon Islands2–24–3
5.11 November 2021Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Kyrgyzstan1–21–2
6.25 December 2021National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Indonesia1–24–22020 AFF Championship

Honours

Club

Tampines Rovers

Lion City Sailors

International

Individual

Others

Singapore Selection Squad

He was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor's Cup to be held on 24 August 2019.

References

  1. "Announcement of squad for AFF Suzuki Cup 2014". Football Association of Singapore. 22 November 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  2. "Football: Can Lions win S$306,000 Malaysia Super League prize money?". RED SPORTS. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  3. hermes (13 May 2016). "Football: Shahdan hurt on same pitch". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  4. "Everything you need to know about the LionsXII (in 2015)". FourFourTwo. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  5. "Singapore's Shahdan eyes AFF redemption". ESPN. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  6. "Shahdan in line for first start as Fandi looks to rotate". FourFourTwo. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  7. "Only four LionsXII players still to find contracts". The New Paper. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  8. "Shahdan in late bid for Lions' spot". The New Paper. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  9. "Singapore 23-man squad profiles for the Suzuki Cup". FourFourTwo. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  10. "S.League 2017 Transfer Round-Up". FourFourTwo. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  11. "Tampines Rovers' Shahdan set to sign for Melaka United in transfer twist". FourFourTwo. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  12. "Melaka United swoop for Singapore international Shahdan". NST Online. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  13. "Melaka United signed Singapore international for ASEAN slot | Goal.com". Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  14. PDRM vs MELAKA : 1 - 6 ( M4 - PIALA MALAYSIA 2018 ), retrieved 16 April 2023
  15. Ganesan, Deepanraj. "Lion City Sailors' star Shahdan Sulaiman eyes a dream voyage". The New Paper.
  16. "Football: Lions come back to draw 2-2 with Azerbaijan in friendly". RED SPORTS. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  17. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. "Shahdan Sulaiman". National-football-teams.com. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  18. "Singapore - Shahdan Sulaiman - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  19. "Fixtures and Results | Lions XII Official Web Site". Lionsxii.sg. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  20. "Sulaiman, Shahdan". National Football Teams. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
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