Zulfahmi Arifin

Muhammad Zulfahmi bin Mohd Arifin (born 5 October 1991), more commonly known as Zulfahmi Arifin is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays mainly as a central-midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United, whom he captains and the Singapore national team.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Arifin is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Zulfahmi.
Zulfahmi Arifin
Zulfahmi Arifin playing for Thai League 2 club, Sukhothai on 23 October 2021
Personal information
Full name Muhammad Zulfahmi
bin Mohd Arifin[1]
Date of birth (1991-10-05) 5 October 1991
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) central midfielder, defensive midfielder, centre back
Team information
Current team
 Hougang United
Number 37
Youth career
National Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Young Lions 46 (1)
2013–2015 LionsXII 22 (3)
2016–2017 Home United 23 (1)
2017–2018 Hougang United 21 (0)
2018 Chonburi 15 (0)
2019–2021 Hougang United 20 (1)
2020 → Suphanburi (loan) 8 (0)
2020–2021 → Samut Prakan City (loan) 7 (0)
2021 Sukhothai 8 (1)
2022– Hougang United 16 (1)
International career‡
2013 Singapore U23 7 (0)
2022 Singapore SEA Games 2 (0)
2013– Singapore 63 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Singapore
Asean Football Championship
WinnerAFF Suzuki Cup 20122012
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2021
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2022

He is noted for being a technical player with set-pieces and playmaking abilities.

Mainly a central-midfielder, Zulfahmi is also capable of playing as a defensive-midfielder, a centre-back or occasionally as an attacking-midfielder when called upon.

Club career

Young Lions

Zulfahmi began his footballing career with Young Lions in the S.League. After two seasons with the club, he was selected in the LionsXII squad for the 2013 season of the Malaysia Super League.[2][3]

LionsXII

Zulfahmi failed to play any part in the first 6 games of the season. He was given his first start against Pahang in the MSL on 16 February 2013. Two more appearances followed until a road traffic accident in mid-April set him back a month.[4] He managed one further start and a substitute appearance on his return as LionsXII won the 2013 Malaysia Super League.

Zulfahmi's potential was recognised as he had a run of six starts in the beginning of the 2014 campaign. Poor performances however meant that he was dropped to the bench in favour of Firdaus Kasman for the next three games.[5] He marked his return to the starting line-up on 22 March by curling a free kick into the PKNS net to score his first LionsXII goal.[6]

Home United

After LionsXII was disbanded, Zulfahmi went to sign for Home United for the 2016 S.League. He made 17 appearances for the protectors before leaving the club at the end of the season.[7]

Hougang United

Zulfahmi signed for the Cheetahs ahead of the 2017 Singapore Premier League season, joining former coach Phillipe Aw.

Chonburi

Zulfahmi's journey to Thailand happened after he made contacts with a Thai agent. Zulfahmi was on trial with second-tier club Angthong who had wanted to start negotiations after a day. However, Zulfahmi, on the advice of his agent, traveled to Chonburi instead for a 4-day trial. After playing 60 minutes in a 2–3 friendly defeat to Port FC, Chonburi offered him a contract which is only slightly higher than what he received at Hougang.[8]

Zulfahmi became only the third Lion to play in the Thai top tier, after Hassan Sunny and John Wilkinson.[9] Zulfahmi made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Chiangrai United.[10] He has started Chonburi's first two games of the Thai League 1, helping them to a draw and a loss.[11]

Hougang United

After spending a season with Chonburi, Zulfahmi re-signed for Hougang United FC for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season.[12]

Loan to Suphanburi

After a year back in his native Singapore, helping Hougang to a 3rd-place finish, Zulfahmi found himself back in the Thai League 1 after an agent contacted him about Suphanburi's interest. Suphanburi's coach Adebayo Gbadebo had watched videos of Zulfahmi's previous games before expressing an interest in signing him.[13] Zulfahmi suffered a difficult 2020, playing just 8 of Suphanburi's 15 league matches in a disrupted season, having returned to Singapore in August to be with his ailing mother, who later died from breast cancer. However, he was a fixture of Suphanburi's midfield before and after he returned to Singapore. He started their first four matches before the league's coronavirus-enforced hiatus and, following his return to Thailand, he started three of Suphanburi's last four league games and came off the bench in the other one.[14]

Loan to Samut Prakan City

Zulfahmi signed a 1+1⁄2-season deal with top-tier Thai team Samut Prakan City, after his contract with Thai League 1 side, Suphanburi expired. He will play alongside his international teammate, goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, 30, who joined the club in September.[14]

Sukhothai

On 9 September 2021, Zulfahmi left his parent club, Hougang United to joined Thai League 2 club, Sukhothai which will be his fourth Thai League club. However, Zulfahmi has to serve a 14 days quarantine period. He is the 5th Singaporean player to play overseas in 2021. He make his debut for the club on 25 September 2021 against Chainat Hornbill which resulted in a 2-2 draw. On 17 November 2021, He scored his first goal for the club against Rajpracha in a 4-2 win.

Returned to Hougang United

On 15 February 2022, Zulfahmi rejoins Hougang United for the 2022 Singapore Premier League season. On 27 February 2022, he make his league return appearances after 2 years against Lion City Sailors.

International career

Zulfahmi was first called up to the Singapore national team for a friendly match against Thailand on 24 August 2011.[15] He was also part of the 2012 AFF Championship winning squad although he did not made any appearances in the competition.[8]

Zulfahmi was handed his first international start against Laos on 10 October 2013.[16]

Along with Hariss Harun, he has been identified by national coach Bernd Stange as the future of Singapore's midfield.[5] Zulfahmi had also been part of the Singapore squad for the 2014 and 2016 AFF Championships.[17]

Zulfahmi scored his first goal after 40 appearances for the Lions in a 1–1 draw with Oman on 23 March 2019, scoring a late equaliser from a free-kick in the 2019 AIRMARINE Cup.[18]

In 2022, Zulfahmi was included in the team for the 2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series and 2022 AFF Championship.[19][20]

Singapore Selection Squad

Zulfahmi was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor's Cup to be held on 6 May 2017.[21]

Career statistics
26 Sept 2021

Club
As of match played 20 Nov 2021. Caps and goals may not be correct.
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Young Lions 2010 12020--—140
2011 231———231
2012 110—40—150
Total 461204000521
Club Season Malaysia
Super League		 Malaysia
FA Cup		 Malaysia Cup Asia Total
LionsXII 2013[22] 500030—80
2014[23] 1432000—161
2015 ????????????—????
Total 193203000241
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
Home United 2016 2013000—231
Total 201300000231
Hougang United 2017 2105020—280
Total 210502000280
Club Season Thai League 1 Thai FA Cup Thai League Cup - Total
Chonburi (on loan) 2018 1504020—210
Total 150402000210
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
Hougang United 2019 2013000—231
Total 201300000231
Club Season Thai League 1 Thai FA Cup Thai League Cup - Total
Suphanburi (on loan) 2020-21 800000—80
Total 8000000080
Samut Prakan City (on loan) 2020-21 700000—70
Total 7000000070
Sukhothai (on loan) 2021-22 812000—101
Total 81200000101
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup		 Asia Total
Hougang United 2022 161600030251
2023 0000000000
Total 161600030251
Career total 170823090302058
  • Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
  • Young Lions withdrew from the 2011 and 2012 Singapore Cup, and the 2011 Singapore League Cup due to participation in AFC and AFF youth competitions.

International goals
As of match played 24 March 2019. Singapore score listed first, score column indicates score after each Zulfahmi goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 23 March 2019Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia40 Oman1–11–12019 AIRMARINE Cup

Honours

Club

LionsXII


Hougang United

International

Singapore

References
  1. "FAS names 2014 LionsXII squad list". FAS. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  2. "LionsXII 2013 unveiled". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Zulfahmi 3rd LionsXII player hurt in motorbike accident". The Straits Times. 17 April 2013.
  5. "Football: Zul set to start for Lions". The New Paper. 28 February 2014.
  6. "LionsXII snap losing streak against PKNS". Goal. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  7. "Protectors strengthen with Izzdin and Van Huizen, Zulfahmi to Hougang". FourFourTwo. 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  8. hermes (23 December 2017). "Football: Gaining experience is Zulfahmi Arifin's main objective in Thai adventure". The Straits Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  9. "Zulfahmi Arifin to join Thai League 1 side". FourFourTwo. 18 December 2017. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  10. "Singapore footballers make their debuts in Thai league". The New Paper. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  11. Munirah, Sharifah (23 February 2018). "Zulfahmi finds a mentor in S.League legend Therdsak". The New Paper. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  12. hermesauto (3 March 2019). "Football: Ambitious Hougang United show title promise, but face tough start in Tampines Rovers". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  13. Munirah, Sharifah (27 December 2019). "Zulfahmi Arifin returns to Thailand's top-tier league". The New Paper. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  14. Singh, Dilenjit (31 December 2020). "New year, new beginnings for midfielder Zulfahmi Arifin". The New Paper. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  15. "Football: Daniel Bennett set to play 100th match for Singapore in friendly against Thailand". Red Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  16. "Lions warm up for Syria with slender victory over Laos". FAS. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  17. "Zulfahmi Arifin ready for challenge at 'great' Chonburi - FOX Sports Asia". FOX Sports Asia. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  18. "Zulfahmi stunner earns Lions draw against Oman - Football Association of Singapore". Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  19. Auto, Hermes (17 March 2022). "Football: Four uncapped players called up for Singapore's March friendlies | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  20. Tan, Amanda (20 December 2022). "Five players in Singapore squad to take part in AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 for the first time". youthopia.sg. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  21. "SINGAPORE SELECTION SQUAD FOR THE SULTAN OF SELANGOR'S CUP REVEALED - The Football Association of Singapore". www.fas.org.sg. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  22. "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2013 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  23. "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2014 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.


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