Zulqarnaen Suzliman

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Suzliman is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Muhammad Zulqarnaen. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Zulqarnaen Suzliman
Zulqaernaen playing for Singapore in 2019
Personal information
Full name Muhammad Zulqarnaen bin Suzliman
Date of birth (1998-03-29) 29 March 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Lion City Sailors
Number 19
Youth career
2012–2015 NFA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Young Lions 60 (2)
2020– Lion City Sailors 22 (0)
2021–2022 → Young Lions (loan) 15 (2)
International career‡
2016 Singapore U16 6 (6)
2016 Singapore U19 2 (0)
2017–2020 Singapore U22 16 (0)
2018– Singapore 27 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Singapore
Merlion Cup
Winner 2019 Singapore
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 October 2023

Muhammad Zulqarnaen bin Suzliman (born 29 March 1998), also known as Mamat, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors and the Singapore national team.

He is the younger brother of Zulfahdmi Suzliman who plays mainly as winger and striker for Singapore Premier League club Tanjong Pagar United.

Club career

Young Lions

Zulqarnaen made his professional debut for Young Lions in a 2–0 league match lost to Geylang International on 25 February 2016.[1] He scored his first career goal on 27 February 2017 against Home United.

Lion City Sailors

On 17 January 2020, Zulqarnaen signed for newly privatised club, Lion City Sailors. He make his debut on 6 March 2020 in a league match against Tanjong Pagar United.

Loan to Young Lions

In April 2021, Zulqarnaen was loaned to his former club, Young Lions following his National Service commitments.[2] He made a total of 16 appearances for the club.

On 11 June 2022, Zulqarnaen returned to his parent club, Lion City Sailors from Young Lions after completing his national service.[3][4][5]

On 26 July 2023, in a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspurs at the Singapore National Stadium, Zulqarnaen was tasked to marked against Son Heung-min who was considered as one of the best players in the world and widely regarded as one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time in which he managed to close down and prevented Son for scoring or dribbling past him for the first half of the match. Zulqarnaen went on to gain worldwide media attention for his excellent defensive work rate against Tottenham.[6] On 9 December 2023, he won the 2023 Singapore Cup after a 3–1 win against defending champion, Hougang United.

On 15 December 2023, Lion City Sailors announce that Zulqaernaen has signed a contract extension with the club,

International career

Zulqarnaen made his professional debut for the Singapore national football team in a friendly 2–0 win over Fiji on 19 September 2018.[7]

Zulqarnaen made his AFF Championship debut in the 2018 campaign on 9 November, with a 1–0 win over Indonesia.

On 21 November, Zulqarnaen started and played 90 minutes in Singapore's 6–1 win over Timor Leste in the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup.

Personal life

Zulqaernaen's brothers, Zulkifli, Zulfadhli, Zulfadhmi, are all footballers in Singapore.[8] He served his compulsory National Service from 2020 to 2022.

Zulqarnaen studied at ITE College West from 2016 to 2017.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 December 2023.[9]
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore League Cup Asia Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Young Lions 2016 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2017 19 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 1
2018 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
2019 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 1
Total 60 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 60 2
Lion City Sailors 2020 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Young Lions (loan) 2021 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2022 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Total 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 1
Lion City Sailors 2022 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2023 18 0 6 0 0 0 6 0 30 0
Total 21 0 6 0 0 0 6 0 33 0
Career total 99 3 6 0 0 0 6 0 111 3

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Singapore 2018 7 0
2019 4 0
2021 8 0
2022 2 0
Total 21 0

Senior international caps

No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 7 September 2018 Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore  Mauritius 1–1 (draw) Friendly
2 12 October 2018 Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore  Mongolia 2-–0 (won) Friendly
3 16 October 2018 Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia  Cambodia 2–1 (won) Friendly
4 9 November 2018 Singapore Sports Hub, Kallang, Singapore  Indonesia 1–0 (won) 2018 AFF Championship
5 13 November 2018 Panaad Stadium, Bacolod, Philippines  Philippines 0–1 (lost) 2018 AFF Championship
6 21 November 2018 Singapore Sports Hub, Kallang, Singapore  Timor-Leste 6–1 (won) 2018 AFF Championship
7 25 November 2018 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand  Thailand 0–3 (lost) 2018 AFF Championship
8 5 September 2019 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Yemen 2–2 (draw) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
9 10 September 2019 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Palestine 2–1 (won) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
10 5 October 2019 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan  Jordan 0–0 (draw) Friendly
11 10 October 2019 King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia  Saudi Arabia 0–3 (lost) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
12 3 June 2021 King Fahd Sports City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Palestine 0–4 (lost) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
13 7 June 2021 King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Uzbekistan 0–5 (lost) 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
14 5 December 2021 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Myanmar 3–0 (won) 2020 AFF Championship
15 8 December 2021 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Philippines 2–1 (won) 2020 AFF Championship
16 14 December 2021 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Timor-Leste 2–0 (won) 2020 AFF Championship
17 18 December 2021 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Thailand 0–2 (lost) 2020 AFF Championship
18 22 December 2021 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Indonesia 1–1 (draw) 2020 AFF Championship
19 25 December 2021 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Indonesia 4–2 (lost) 2020 AFF Championship
20 26 March 2022 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Malaysia 2–1 (won) 2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series
21 29 March 2022 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Philippines 2–0 (won) 2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series
22 8 August 2023 Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore  Tajikistan 0–2 (lost) Friendly
23 12 August 2023 Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore  Chinese Taipei 3–1 (won) Friendly
24 12 October 2023 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Guam 2–0 (won) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
25 17 October 2023 GFA National Training Center, Dededo, Guam  Guam 0–1(won) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
26 21 March 2024 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  China 2–2 (draw) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
27 26 March 2024 Tianjin Olympic Center, Tianjin, China  China 1–4 (lost) 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

U22 International caps

No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 12 July 2017 Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Singapore  India 1-0 (won) Friendly
2 21 March 2018 National Stadium, Singapore  Indonesia 0-3 (lost) Friendly
3 25 April 2018 Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Brunei  Laos 5-1 (won) 2018 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy
4 30 April 2018 Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Brunei  Cambodia 0-1 (lost) 2018 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy
5 2 May 2018 Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Brunei  Timor-Leste 1-2 (lost) 2018 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy
6 20 June 2018 Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore  Myanmar 0-2 (lost) Friendly
7 22 March 2019 MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia  Hong Kong 1-1 (draw) 2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualification
8 24 March 2019 MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia  North Korea 1-1 (draw) 2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualification
9 26 March 2019 MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia  Mongolia 3-1 (won) 2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualification
10 7 June 2019 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Philippines 3-0 (w0n) 2019 Merlion Cup
11 9 June 2019 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore  Thailand 1-0 (won) 2019 Merlion Cup
12 26 November 2019 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines  Laos 0-0 (draw) 2019 Southeast Asian Games
13 28 November 2019 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines  Indonesia 0-2 (lost) 2019 Southeast Asian Games
14 1 December 2019 Biñan Football Stadium, Manila, Philippines  Thailand 0-3 (lost) 2019 Southeast Asian Games
15 3 December 2019 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines  Vietnam 0-1 (lost) 2019 Southeast Asian Games
16 5 December 2019 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines  Brunei 7-0 (won) 2019 Southeast Asian Games

U19 International caps

No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 11 September 2016 Hàng Đẫy Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam  Vietnam 0-0 (draw) 2016 AFF U-19 Youth Championship
2 15 September 2016 Hàng Đẫy Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam  Malaysia 1-2 (lost) 2016 AFF U-19 Youth Championship

U16 International caps

He was called up to the National U16 team for the 2014 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship qualifiers.[10]

No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 23 August 2013 Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Naypyidaw, Myanmar  Malaysia 1-1 (draw) 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
2 25 August 2013 Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Naypyidaw, Myanmar  Philippines 2-0 (won) 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
3 27 August 2013 Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Naypyidaw, Myanmar  Indonesia 1-1 (draw) 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
4 29 August 2013 Zeyar Thiri Stadium, Naypyidaw, Myanmar  Laos 2-4 (lost) 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
5 21 September 2013 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong  Hong Kong 1-4 (lost) 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
6 25 September 2013 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong  Chinese Taipei 3-1 (won) 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
7 27 September 2013 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong  Macau 9-0 (won) 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
8 29 September 2013 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong  Australia 1-3 (lost) 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification

U16 International goals

Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 23 August 2013 Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Naypyidaw, Myanmar  Malaysia
1–1
1-1
 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
2. 25 August 2013 Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Naypyidaw, Myanmar  Philippines
1–0
2-0
 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
3. 27 August 2013 Wunna Theikdi Stadium, Naypyidaw, Myanmar  Indonesia
1–0
1-1
 2013 AFF U-16 Youth Championship
4 21 September 2013 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong  Hong Kong 1-4 1-4 (lost) 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
5 27 September 2013 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong  Macau 1-0 9-0 (won) 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification
6 27 September 2013 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium, Happy Valley, Hong Kong  Macau 2-0 9-0 (won) 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification

Honours

Club

Lion City Sailors

International

Singapore U22

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. ^ "Young Lions vs. Geylang International - 25 February 2016 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com.
  2. ^ "Mamat is back with GYL". Archived from the original on 25 December 2021.[self-published]
  3. ^ "Lion City Sailors: Will the Sailors guard their title or will they succumb to the other persevering clubs?". Vavel.
  4. ^ "Zulqarnaen Suzliman has returned to the Sailors' squad after completing his National Service". Lion City Sailors. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  5. ^ "The right back will be returning to Lion City Sailors having completed his NS". Young Lions. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  6. ^ "'Once in a lifetime': Singapore footballer Zulqarnaen Suzliman on what it's like facing Spurs". CNA. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Singapore coach Fandi Ahmad: "Big Lungs" Mahler is a true professional at 18". 13 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Once a firefighter, Zulfadhmi Suzliman now sets fields ablaze at Tampines". Football Association of Singapore. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  9. ^ Zulqarnaen Suzliman at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  10. ^ "AFC U-16 Football Qualifiers: Singapore bow out; Malaysia only SEA country to qualify".