Ahmad Latiff Khamaruddin

Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin (born 29 May 1979) is a former professional footballer who last played for the Tanjong Pagar United 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
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Geylang United 40 (15)
2000–2001 Persikabo Bogor 27 (7)
2001–2002 Happy Valley 19 (3)
2002–2003 Singapore Armed Forces 51 (13)
2004–2005 Woodlands Wellington 41 (17)
2006 → Tampines Rovers (loan) 14 (2)
2006 – 2007 Johor FA 19 (4)
2007 Woodlands Wellington 13 (5)
2007 – 2008 PDRM 28 (7)
2008–2010 Singapore Armed Forces 74 (10)
2011–2012 Tampines Rovers 41 (17)
2013–2014 Tanjong Pagar United 33 (9)
National team‡
1997–2014 Singapore 43 (8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and 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 as the 'bad boy' of Singapore football.

His 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

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

In 1998, his sparkling performances led Singapore to win the Tiger Cup, the nation's first international trophy, despite getting sent off in the final against Vietnam.

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.

In 1999, he moved to SAFFC where he helped the club win the S.League title in the following season. In 2001, he made his first career move abroad to Indonesia before coming back to SAFFC in 2002, where he played as a playmaker instead of a striker in which he led the team to a runaway S-League title win.

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

Eventually in 2006, he 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. After the Malaysian football season ended, he was loaned together with Aide Iskandar to Tampines Rovers FC for the rest of S.League season.[1]

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

On 2 July 2008, Ahmad Latiff made his debut for Singapore Armed Forces FC in the S.League. It was his third spell at the club after previously playing for the Warriors 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 AFC Champions League group stages for the very first time.

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 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   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.

Appearances in AFC Cup competitions
#DateVenueClubOpponentResultCompetition
1.18 February 2009Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandSAFFC Buriram United4–12009 AFC Champions League
2.25 February 2009Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC PSMS Medan2–12009 AFC Champions League
3.11 March 2009Hongkou Football Stadium, Shanghai, ChinaSAFFC Shanghai Shenhua1–42009 AFC Champions League
4.18 March 2009Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Suwon Samsung Bluewings0–22009 AFC Champions League
5.7 April 2009Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Kashima Antlers2–12009 AFC Champions League
6.22 April 2009Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima, JapanSAFFC Kashima Antlers0–52009 AFC Champions League
7.5 May 2009Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Shanghai Shenhua1–12009 AFC Champions League
8.19 May 2009Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South KoreaSAFFC Suwon Samsung Bluewings1–32009 AFC Champions League
9.30 January 2010Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Sriwijaya F.C.3–02010 AFC Champions League
10.6 February 2010Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Muangthong United0–0 P:(4-3)2010 AFC Champions League
11.24 February 2010Zhengzhou Hanghai Stadium, Henan, ChinaSAFFC Henan Jianye F.C.0–02010 AFC Champions League
12.10 March 2010Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Suwon Samsung Bluewings0–22010 AFC Champions League
13.23 March 2010Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Gamba Osaka2–42010 AFC Champions League
14.31 March 2010Osaka Expo '70 Stadium, Osaka, JapanSAFFC Gamba Osaka0–32010 AFC Champions League
15.31 March 2010Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Henan Jianye F.C.2–12010 AFC Champions League
16.27 April 2010Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South KoreaSAFFC Suwon Samsung Bluewings2–62010 AFC Champions League
17.2 March 2011Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé, MaldivesTampines Rovers Victory Sports Club3–12011 AFC Cup
18.16 March 2011Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Muangthong United1–12011 AFC Cup
19.12 April 2011Hàng Đẫy Stadium, Hanoi, VietnamTampines Rovers Hanoi T&T F.C.1–12011 AFC Cup
20.27 April 2011Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Hanoi T&T F.C.3–12011 AFC Cup
21.3 May 2011Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Victory Sports Club4–02011 AFC Cup
22.10 May 2011SCG Stadium, Nonthaburi, ThailandTampines Rovers Muangthong United0–42011 AFC Cup
23.24 May 2011Franso Hariri Stadium, Arbil, IraqTampines Rovers Arbil SC0–12011 AFC Cup
24.6 March 2012Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, Tseung Kwan O, Hong KongTampines Rovers Kitchee SC1–32012 AFC Cup
25.20 March 2012Bishan Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Sông Lam Nghệ An0–02012 AFC Cup
26.4 April 2012Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Terengganu FA0–12012 AFC Cup
27.10 April 2012Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, Terengganu, MalaysiaTampines Rovers Terengganu FA2–02012 AFC Cup
28.25 April 2012Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Kitchee SC0–02012 AFC Cup
29.9 May 2012Vinh Stadium, Vinh, VietnamTampines Rovers Sông Lam Nghệ An0–32012 AFC Cup
As of 4 November 2012

Goals in AFC Champions League / AFC Cup competitions
#DateVenueClubOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.25 February 2009Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC PSMS Medan2–12–12009 AFC Champions League
2.5 May 2009Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeSAFFC Shanghai Shenhua1–11–12009 AFC Champions League
3.27 April 2011Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Hanoi T&T F.C.1–03–12011 AFC Cup
4.27 April 2011Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Hanoi T&T F.C.2–03–12011 AFC Cup
5.3 May 2011Jalan Besar Stadium, SingaporeTampines Rovers Victory Sports Club2–04–02011 AFC Cup
As of 4 November 2012

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

Honours

Club
Singapore Armed Forces
Tampines Rovers

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.

Videos
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.