Ahmad Fakri Saarani

Ahmad Fakri Bin Saarani (born 8 July 1989) is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays for Malaysian side Northern Lions and Malaysia national team. Fakri plays mainly as a right winger but can also play as a forward or as an attacking midfielder.

Ahmad Fakri Saarani
Personal information
Full name Ahmad Fakri Bin Saarani
Date of birth (1989-07-08) 8 July 1989
Place of birth Kota Bharu, Kelantan,Malaysia
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger, Forward
Club information
Current team
 Northern Lions
Number 24
Youth career
2006 Perak President Cup
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Perak 4 (4)
2007–2008 Harimau Muda 24 (9)
2009–2010 Perlis 25 (13)
2011 Negeri Sembilan 14 (2)
2012 Felda United 11 (2)
2012–2013 Atlético 5 (0)
2013–2015 Kelantan 32 (5)
2016–2017 Kedah 24 (1)
2016 → Felda United (loan) 8 (0)
2018 Melaka United 11 (0)
2019 Kuala Lumpur 8 (0)
2020– Northern Lions (0)
National team‡
2006–2009 Malaysia U-20 17 (7)
2009–2011 Malaysia U-23 28 (6)
2009– Malaysia 30 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 June 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2016
In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Saarani is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Ahmad Fakri.

Fakri has earned 30 caps for the Malaysia national team since making his international debut on 12 August 2009 at the age of 19.

Club career

Perak, Harimau Muda
Fakri has been training with the senior team for the past two months. And I think the time is right for him to come into the picture. This is the right time to blood him although many may question my decision. It does not matter if we are playing at home. The fans may not like it if he makes mistakes but I have faith in the youngster. Fakri seems to handle pressure well and is confident of his game. He played for the national Under-19 team in a tournament in Brunei recently. I try to bring in the young players at the proper time. This is Fakri's chance to prove his worth under my rotation system. I have been losing players to the national squads at all levels and we have to learn to cope without them.

— Steve Darby, former Perak coach.[2]

Fakri was born in Kota Bharu, in the state of Kelantan he has been raised in Batu Gajah, Perak. He started his professional career with Perak when he signed a three-year contract from 2007 until 2009. At the beginning, Fakri is a natural right winger but also can play as a forward. He played for Perak youth team during his season debut.[3]

Fakri was promoted to Perak first team as the senior striker, R. Surendran was away for national duty with the Malaysia national team on a playing tour of Sri Lanka. It was Steve Darby the former Perak coach who brought him into senior team. On 24 March 2007, Fakri made his Liga Super debut for Perak's first team in the 5–1 win against Negeri Sembilan. He scored a hat-trick and made one assist during that match.

On the following season, Fakri signed a one-year contract to play with Harimau Muda in 2007–08 Liga Premier. He made 24 appearances and scored 9 goals for the club.

Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Felda United

After two seasons playing for Perlis, on December 2010, Fakri signed a contract with Negeri Sembilan.[4] In 2012, Fakri named as the Felda United new player.[5]

Atlético SC

On 8 December 2012, it was confirmed that Fakri had signed a one-year contract with Terceira Divisão side Atlético SC[6][7][8][9]

Kelantan

Fakri had returned to Malaysia and signed with Kelantan after his contract with Portuguese side Atlético SC ended.[10][11] On 19 April 2013, Fakri scored his first league goal for Kelantan in 1–2 defeat to PKNS. On 31 August 2013, he scored his first Malaysia Cup goal for Kelantan in 1–2 defeat to Negeri Sembilan. Fakri played as a substitute in the 2013 Malaysia Cup final against Pahang.

Kedah

On 1 January 2016, Fakri signed a one-year contract with 2015 Malaysia Premier League champions Kedah.[12] On 14 December 2016, after his loan stint with Felda United ended Fakri returned to Kedah and signed another one-year contract with Kedah.[13]

Felda United (loan)

On 16 July 2016, Fakri was loaned to Felda United on 6 month deal.[14]

Melaka United

On 24 November 2017, Fakri signed a one-year contract with Melaka United.[15]

International career

Youth

Fakri is former Malaysia Under-20 member squad. He has participated in ASEAN Football Federation Youth Championship 2006 and ASEAN Football Federation Youth Championship 2007. He also play in 2007 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy. In 2008, Fakri was seconded to Harimau Muda, a Malaysian Premier League team made up of members of the Malaysian Under-20 national side.

Senior

Fakri made his senior debut in 0–0 draw against Kenya on 12 August 2009 coming off from the bench. In November 2010, Malaysia coach, K. Rajagobal called up Fakri for the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, but he was later ruled up by injury during the 2010 Asian Games. He was later replaced by Ashari Samsudin.

He was selected by Malaysia coach, K. Rajagobal for 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup campaign. However, he only came in as a substitute in Group B match against Indonesia.

Personal life

Fakri has a younger sister, Nur Haniza Saarani playing for the Malaysia women's football team.[16]

Statistics

Club
As of match played 26 June 2018.[17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Perak 2006-07 Malaysia Super League 440000––00
Total440000––00
Harimau Muda 2007-08 Malaysia Premier League 2490000––00
Total2490000––00
Perlis 2009 Malaysia Super League 1370000––00
Perlis 2010 Malaysia Super League 1260000––00
Total25130000––00
Negeri Sembilan 2011 Malaysia Super League 1420000––02
Total1420000––02
Felda United 2012 Malaysia Super League 1120002––114
Felda United (loan) 2016 Malaysia Super League 800000––80
Total1920000––00
Atlético SC 2012–13 Terceira Divisão 500000––50
Total500000––50
Kelantan 2013 Malaysia Super League 1111010––131
Kelantan 2014 Malaysia Super League 11[lower-alpha 1]40203––09
Kelantan 2015 Malaysia Super League 1013060––191
Total3260203––011
Kedah 2016 Malaysia Super League 1016100––162
Kedah 2017 Malaysia Super League 1404051––231
Total24110151––393
Melaka United 2018 Malaysia Super League 1101000––120
Total1101000––120
Career Total158370000––00
  1. League appearance for 2014 might inccorect, data based on infobox only

International
As of 13 November 2017[18]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Malaysia 200940
201020
201150
201241
201320
201441
201520
201660
Total292

International goals
As of match played 9 November 2017. Malaysia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Fakri goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 October 2012Mong Kok, Hong Kong
13
 Hong Kong3–03–0Friendly
2 5 March 2014Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium, United Arab Emirates
20
 Yemen2–12–12015 Asian Cup Qualifiers

Honours

Club

Perak President Cup

Kelantan

Kedah

International

Malaysia U-23

References
  1. Ahmad Fakri Saarani - Player Profile https://asia.eurosport.com/football/ahmad-fakri-saarani_prs261496/person.shtml
  2. "Perak coach Darby to unleash teen striker Fakri against Negri". The Star. 24 March 2007. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
  3. In Person | Ahmad Fakri Saarani http://www.seladang.net/2008/02/in-person-ahmad-fakri-saarani Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Senarai Pemain Negeri Sembilan http://www.n9kini.com/senarai-pemain-negeri-sembilan-pemian-perak-tidak-rasmi Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Liga Super 2012 : Review Pasukan Felda United http://bolasepakm.blogspot.my/2012/01/liga-super-2012-review-pasukan-felda.html
  6. "Ahmad Fakri sah wakili kelab divisyen tiga Portugal – Sukan". Sinar Harian. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  7. "Fakri Saarani set to sign for Portuguese side Atletico S.C". Goal.com. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  8. "Ahmad out to prove Malaysians can perform in Europe (Malay)". Sinar Harian. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  9. Fakri mungkin kembali ke Liga-M http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/Sukan/20130225/su_01/Fakri-mungkin-kembali-ke-Liga-M Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Fakri Saarani signs with Kelantan FA, Dimitri Petratos to return for AFC Cup". Goal.com. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  11. "Dickson and Fakri to play for Kelantan in MSL". Goal.com. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  12. Kedah Ikat Amar Rohidan, Fakri Saarani Setahun http://www.mstar.com.my/sukan/bola-sepak/2016/01/01/kedah-ikat-amar-rohidan
  13. Fakri kekal 2017 https://www.facebook.com/kedahfa.my/photos/a.179849612047524.40613.179345575431261/1366410180058122/?type=3&theater
  14. Fakri media temper http://www.sinarharian.com.my/sukan/fakri-sedia-gempur-1.541827
  15. Ahmad Fakri ubati kekecewaan MU https://www.bharian.com.my/sukan/bola/2017/11/354881/ahmad-fakri-ubati-kekecewaan-mu
  16. Oleh Ajitpal Singh (16 August 2017). "Semangat Haniza Saarani sentiasa membara" (in Malay). BN online. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  17. "Fakri Saarani". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  18. "Saarani, Ahmad Fakri". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
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