Zainal Abidin Hassan
Zainal Abidin Hassan bin Ali (born 9 November 1961) is a Malaysian former footballer and current head coach of Malaysian team Melaka United.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zainal Abidin Hassan Ali | ||
| Date of birth | 9 November 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | Selangor, Malaysia | ||
| Position(s) | Defender . Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Melaka United (head coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980–1982 | Selangor FA | ||
| 1983–1984 | Pahang FA | ||
| 1985–1990 | Selangor FA | ||
| 1991–1996 | Pahang FA | ||
| 1997–1999 | Selangor FA | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 1980–1997 | Malaysia | 122 | (47[1]) |
| 1983–1987 | Malaysia Olympic | 13 | (6) |
| 1996 | Malaysia Futsal | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 2001 | Malaysia U-17 | ||
| 2004–2006 | Pahang FA (coach) | ||
| 2006–2008 | Pahang FA (manager) | ||
| 2009–2010 | Kuantan Port-Shahzan Muda FC (manager) | ||
| 2011–2013 | Pahang FA (manager) | ||
| 2013–2014 | Pahang FA (assistant head coach) | ||
| 2014–2015 | Pahang FA (head coach) | ||
| 2016 | Selangor FA (head coach) | ||
| 2017–2018 | Penang FA | ||
| 2018– | Melaka United | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 November 2012 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2012 | |||
Playing career
Zainal Abidin is well known as the best Malaysian footballer in the 80's and 90's. His football career started with Selangor FA in 1980.[2] At the age of 18 years 6 month, Zainal made his international debut in the 1980 Merdeka Tournament against Indonesia.[3] He played along with Malaysian legendary striker the late Mokhtar Dahari, R Arumugam, Soh Chin Aun and other recognised faces in Malaysian football.
In 1987, he partnered Dollah Salleh in front as they became the fierce striker for Selangor FA and Pahang FA in Malaysia Cup and also the national team in SEA Games and Merdeka Tournament. In 1996 Tiger Cup, Zainal Abidin was awarded as the MVP of the tournament. Three years later he was awarded the AFC Century Award.[4]
He also played for Malaysia national futsal team, and was in the squad that took part in the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship in Spain.[5]
Coaching career
He retired from football in 1999 and selected to coach the Malaysian youth in 2001. In 2002, he selected as the assistant coach for Malaysia senior team. He later coached Pahang FA and brought them their first Malaysia Super League title. In 2006, he guided Pahang FA to win the Malaysian FA Cup.[6] After the contract with Pahang FA ended, he reunites with his former striker partner Dollah Salleh. This time they act as manager-coach combination for Kuantan Port-Shahzan Muda FC.
In 2011, he returns to Pahang FA as assistant manager, where he works again with Dollah, who were the current head coach. The partnership lasts until the end of 2013, when they helped Pahang win the 2013 Malaysia Cup; Pahang's first Malaysia Cup after 21 years. After Dollah left Pahang to coach PDRM FA and Ron Smith was appointed as the new Pahang head coach at the end of 2013, Zainal was appointed as his assistant head coach. But after Smith's contract was not renewed in March 2014, Zainal Abidin was appointed as Smith's replacement. With Pahang, he won the Malaysia Cup in 2014 and also Malaysia FA Cup in the same year.
In 2016, Zainal Abidin made his return to Selangor as head coach, replacing Mehmet Durakovic.[7] This was not without controversy, as negotiations between Zainal and Selangor was made public when Durakovic was still Selangor coach,[8] and Durakovic contract was terminated even after he won the 33rd Malaysia Cup title with Selangor in 2015.[9] Zainal however was sacked in August the same year, after poor performances by the team in the Super League and Malaysia Cup.[10]
Zainal Abidin next coached Penang FA from May 2017 until September 2018. In November 2018, he was unveiled as the new head coach of Melaka United.[11]
Personal life
Zainal Abidin's father is of Kenyan descent.[12][13] His oldest son Mohd Zaiza Zainal Abidin is also a Malaysian footballer.[14]
Honours
Selangor FA
- Malaysia Super League
- 1980, 1989, 1990
- Malaysia Premier League
- Runner-up: 1999
- Malaysia Cup
- 1981, 1982, 1986, 1997
- Runner-up: 1980
- Malaysia FA Cup
- 1991, 1997
- Runner-up: 1990
- Malaysia President Cup (as Selangor Youth Team)
- 1988
- Runner-up: 1987, 1999
- Malaysia Charity Shield
- 1985, 1987, 1990, 1997
- Runner-up: 1998
Selangor FA
- Malaysia Charity Shield
- Runner-up: 2016
References
- Mamrud, Roberto. "Zainal Abidin Hassan – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- "Veterans put on the boots again". The Star online. Malaysia. 31 August 2007.
- Only 19 yet so cool. - New Sunday Times, 26 October 1980 (Page 82).
- http://chedinsphere.blogspot.com/2013/02/anugerah-kelab-satu-abad-afc-1999-11hb.html
- https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=106/edition=7184/teams/team=1890410.html
- Husin, Nik Naizi (16 June 2006). "Celebration of Pahang victory". The Star online. Malaysia.
- "Football: Surprise, surprise, Zainal's back in the red and yellow | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- "Merah Kuning ikat Zainal sebelum final Piala Malaysia". BH Online (in Malay). 16 December 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- "Zainal Abidin Hassan moves closer to taking over as Selangor coach". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- "Selangor's Zainal sacked as coach, K. Gunalan takes over as caretaker". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/melaka-united-unveil-zainal-abidin-hassan-head-coach
- Mohd Sofi Munajir, Zainal Abidin Hassan, Pertahanan Kental, Penyerang Yang Tajam dlm. 20 Tokoh Sukan, Medium Publication, Bandar Baru Bangi, 2009, pp.131.
- "Malaysian Football Legends: Zainal Abidin Hassan - Goal.com". Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- "Football: Zaiza puts honeymoon on hold to prepare for Premier League season | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 27 April 2018.