Akmal Rizal
Malaysian footballer (born 1981)
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Akmal Rizal Bin Ahmad Rakhli (born 12 December 1981) is a former Malaysian professional footballer who played as a forward. He is one of the batch of Malaysians to play overseas.[3] He is former head coach of the Malaysia Super League club Kelantan The Real Warriors.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Akmal Rizal Bin Ahmad Rakhli | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 December 1981[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Vacant | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Kedah FA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | RC Strasbourg | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Kedah FA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | RC Strasbourg | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | → FCSR Haguenau (loan) | 36 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2006 | Kedah FA | 53 | (38) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Selangor FA | 39 | (23) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Kuala Muda Naza | 16 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Kelantan FA | 18 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Perak FA | 45 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Kedah FA | 16 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Sarawak FA | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Kedah United | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 242 | (107) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2004 | Malaysia U23 | 24 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2008 | Malaysia | 22[2] | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | PB Melayu Kedah | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Penang (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Penang U21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Penang | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | MPKP Kubang Pasu | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025–2026 | Kelantan The Real Warriors | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 January 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 December 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Early career
A product of the Kedah youth academy (Kedah Piala President), Akmal made his way abroad to RC Strasbourg. He made his debut for the RC Strasbourg Academy which ended in a 3–1 win against FC Köln II, scoring 2 goals.[4] In 2000, to aid his development, the then 19-year-old forward joined FCSR Haguenau on loan.[5] He scored 11 goals in 22 games and won Championnat de France Amateur 2.[6] On 20 May 2000, during RC Strasbourg's tour to Malaysia, Akmal and Peguy Luyindula helped them beat GNK Dinamo Zagreb 2–0 in friendly match at the Shah Alam Stadium.[7] He attracted the attention of former Mainz coach Jürgen Klopp.[8]
Kedah FA
In 2002, he returned from abroad and played for his former youth club.[9] In the 2003 Liga Perdana 1, he scored 10 goals in 24 games and become runner-up with the club.[10]
Selangor FA
He then played for Selangor for the 2006–07 Malaysia Super League.[11]
Kuala Muda Naza
In the 2009 Malaysia Super League, he joined the new promoted Kuala Muda Naza.[12]
Kelantan FA
On 12 January 2010, he scored his first goal for Kelantan FA in a 3–0 win against Johor FA.[13] Later, he finally won his first Malaysia Cup in the 2010 Malaysia Cup Final after Kelantan beat Negeri Sembilan FA 2-1.[14]
Perak FA
After leaving Kelantan FA, he joined Perak FA and reunited with former national team coach Norizan Bakar.[15]
Kedah FA
He made his second debut on 7 January 2013, appearing as a substitute in a 1–0 win against UiTM F.C.. On 8 March 2013, he scored his first season goal, against Kuala Lumpur FA.[16] He made 16 appearances with Kedah FA before he agreed to join Sarawak FA for the 2014 Malaysia Super League season.
Sarawak FA
On 10 November 2013, Akmal Rizal officially signed a one-year contract with Sarawak FA after being released by Kedah FA.[17]
Kedah United
In 2015, Akmal Rizal played with Kedah United in the FAM League.
International career
He represented Malaysia U23 for the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.[18] He also represented Malaysia U23 for the Afro-Asian Games Hyderabad, India in October 2003.[19] In 2002, Akmal was called up for an international friendly match against Brazil.[20][21][22] He has also been called up by the Malaysia national team coach Norizan Bakar for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.[23]
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 March 2001 | Hong Kong, Hong Kong |  Hong Kong | 2–0 | Won | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
| 2. | 8 March 2001 | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | Hong Kong | 2–0 | Won | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
| 3. | 25 March 2001 | Doha, Qatar |  Palestine | 4–3 | Won | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
| 4. | 25 March 2001 | Doha, Qatar | Palestine | 4–3 | Won | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
| 5. | 11 December 2002 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |  Cambodia | 5–0 | Won | Friendly |
| 6. | 18 December 2002 | Singapore, Singapore |  Singapore | 0–4 | Won | 2002 Tiger Cup Group Stage |
| 7. | 20 December 2002 | Singapore, Singapore |  Thailand | 3–1 | Won | 2002 Tiger Cup Group Stage |
| 8. | 12 July 2004 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Singapore | 2–0 | Won | Friendly |
| 9. | 21 June 2007 | Petaling Jaya, Malaysia |  United Arab Emirates | 1–3 | Loss | Friendly |
After retirement
Akmal Rizal retired from playing professionally in 2016. He was the co-commentator for Media Prima Berhad. He also opened a youth football academy in hometown Jitra, while completing the coaching course.[24][25]
Managerial career
On 27 December 2019, Akmal was hired to become assistant coach for Penang FC.[26] In 2022, he became head coach for Penang U-21.[27] On 7 November 2023, he became Penang caretaker for remaining of the 2023 Malaysia Super League season.[28] He were appointed as the permanent head coach of Penang for the 2024-25 season.[29]
Managerial statistics
- As of 11 March 2026
| Team | Nat. | From | To | Record | Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Penang |  |
7 November 2023 | 1 November 2024 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 37 | −19 | 15.79 | |
| Kelantan TRW | |
16 October 2025 | 11 March 2026 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 17 | 41 | −24 | 21.05 | |
| Career Total | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 35 | 78 | −43 | 18.42 | ||||
Honours
Club
FCSR Haguenau
Kedah FA
- Liga Perdana 2 : 2002
- Liga Perdana 1 : runner-up 2003
- Malaysia Premier League : 2005-06
Selangor FA
- Malaysia Cup : 2008 runner-up
- Malaysia FA Cup : 2008 runner-up
Kelantan FA
- Malaysia Cup : 2010
- Malaysia Super League : runner-up 2010
International
Malaysia U-23
Malaysia U-14
Individual
Coaching
Penang U-21
- Sukma Games :
silver 2022[31]