Shahdan Sulaiman
Singaporean professional footballer
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Shahdan bin Sulaiman (born 9 May 1988) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a central-midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United and the Singapore national team. He is known for his free-kick abilities and long-range efforts.
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Shahdan in 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Shahdan bin Sulaiman[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 9 May 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Singapore | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Hougang United | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2005 | National Football Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Tampines Rovers | 52 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Home United | 37 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Tampines Rovers | 39 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | Young Lions | 13 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | LionsXII | 25 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Tampines Rovers | 52 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | LionsXII | 25 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Tampines Rovers | 35 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | → Melaka United (loan) | 20 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Tampines Rovers | 24 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | Lion City Sailors | 42 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Hougang United | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010– | Singapore | 90 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 July 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 December 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
A versatile player, Shahdan is also capable of playing either as a defensive-midfielder, attacking-midfielder and occasionally a centre-back.
Club career
Early career
Shahdan previously played for S.League clubs Home United, Tampines Rovers & Young Lions. He moved to play for the LionsXII in the Malaysia Super League for the 2012 season.[2] In 2012, while playing for the LionsXII, Shahdan Sulaiman's impressive form had attracted the attention of the Thai scouts from Pattaya United F.C. who likened him to be a player in the mould of Kaka due to his vision and passing ability. He was briefly considered by the Thai club to join as part of their foreign Asian player scheme, but the move did not happen.
Tampines Rovers
He joined Tampines Rovers in the 2013 season after he was left out of the LionsXII squad as the squad was mostly made up of U-23 players in preparation of the Southeast Asian Games.
In 2013, he signed a 23 months contract with his old club Tampines Rovers. He finished the 2013 season with 4 goals and 9 assists. At the end of 2014, while playing for the national team in the AFF Championship, he picked up an injury which ruled him out for 6 months of the 2015 season.[3]
Back to LionsXII
Following his recovery from a long-term injury he picked up at the end of 2014, Shahdan re-joined the LionsXII in 2015.[4][5] He made his long awaited comeback in a game against Sime Darby as a late substitute in May 2015. In his next match against ATM FA, he scored with his first touch of the ball and made his first start in July, against Kelantan.[6]
Re-signing for the Stags
In January 2016, after the disbandment of LionsXII, he went back to Tampines Rovers FC, although he has had to take a huge pay cut.[7] Shahdan played a key role in the team, starting 10 out of 10 league games for the stags before he then missed a huge chunk of the season due to an injury that he picked up in the 90th minute of an AFC Cup tie with Selangor at the Singapore Sports Hub.[3] He marked his return in late October, helping his team to a 3-1 win over the Young Lions and eventually secured a place in the national team for the 2016 AFF Championship.[8][9]
Shahdan remained with the stags for the 2017 S.League season.[10] He had a good season, scoring 6 goals in all competitions, with his performances attracting interest from MSL side Melaka United.[11]
Melaka United
Shahdan signed for Malaysia Super League side Melaka United for the 2018 season on a season long loan from the Stags to fill their ASEAN foreign player slot.[12][13] On 26 August 2018, in the Malaysia Cup fixture vs PDRM, he scored the 4th goal of the match with a free kick in a 6-1 away victory.[14]
Returning to Tampines Rovers
Shahdan returned to the Stags for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season and had a stellar season where he was one of three nominees for the Player of the Year award.[15]
Lion City Sailors
Shahdan then signed for the Singapore Premier League's first privatised club, Lion City Sailors for the 2020 Singapore Premier League season.[15] On 18 April 2022, He assisted Pedro Henrique goal from a corner with a famous victory over Korean club, Daegu FC in the AFC Champions League. On 29 June 2022, he scored a free kick against Young Lions. On 19 June 2022, Shahdan scored 2 volleys from outside the box against Balestier Khalsa. On 16 July 2022, he found the back of the net with a great effort goal from outside the box against Geylang International. He ended his season with 5 goals and 6 assists.
Hougang United
Shahdan signed for the Cheetahs ahead of the 2023 SPL season but suffered a fractured fibula and dislocation of his left ankle during pre-season which meant that he missed most of the campaign.[16] However, he overcame these issues and established himself as a key player for Hougang United in the 2024 Singapore Premier League season with one goal and three assists from 14 appearances.[16]
International career
Shahdan got his first goal for the national team in a 2–2 draw with Azerbaijan, scoring a last gasp equaliser to help the Lions come back from behind.[17]
8 June 2019, he scored a free kick and got himself an assist in a 4-3 win against Solomon Islands.
In the 2020 AFF Championship 2nd leg semi-finals fixture vs Indonesia, with one swerve of his right foot, Shahdan sent a free-kick to the top left corner of Indonesia’s net, which gave nine-man Singapore a shock 2-1 lead, although the Lions ultimately lost in extra time.[16]
As of January 2023, Shahdan has amassed 85 caps for the senior national team.[11]
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup1 | League Cup2 | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tampines Rovers | 2006 | S.League | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 | S.League | 21 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 2 | |
| 2008 | S.League | 26 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 2 | |
| Total | 52 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | 4 | ||
| Home United | 2009 | S.League | 21 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| 2010 | S.League | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 1 | |
| Total | 37 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 1 | ||
| Tampines Rovers | 2010 | S.League | 7 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 3 |
| 2011 | S.League | 19 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | 26 | 8 | |
| Total | 26 | 8 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 38 | 11 | ||
| Young Lions | 2011 | S.League | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 2 |
| Total | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 2 | ||
| LionsXII | 2012 | Malaysia Super League | 25 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 8 |
| Total | 25 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 8 | ||
| Tampines Rovers | 2013 | S.League | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 4 |
| 2014 | S.League | 27 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 41 | 5 | |
| Total | 52 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 75 | 9 | ||
| LionsXII | 2015 | Malaysia Super League | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Tampines Rovers | 2016 | S.League | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| 2017 | S.League | 21 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 6 | |
| Total | 34 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 48 | 9 | ||
| Melaka United (loan) | 2018 | Malaysia Super League | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 |
| Total | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| Tampines Rovers | 2019 | S.League | 23 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 34 | 8 |
| Total | 23 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 34 | 8 | ||
| Lion City Sailors | 2020 | Singapore Premier League | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 2021 | Singapore Premier League | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | |
| 2022 | Singapore Premier League | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 32 | 5 | |
| Total | 58 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 65 | 8 | ||
| Hougang United | 2023 | Singapore Premier League | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Singapore Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 333 | 50 | 27 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 415 | 56 | ||
1 Includes Singapore Cup and Malaysia FA Cup.
2 Includes Malaysia Cup and Singapore League Cup.
International goals
- Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.[21]
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 24 Feb 2012 | The Sevens Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |  Azerbaijan |
2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 2. | 8 June 2012 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore |  Malaysia | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2012 Causeway Challenge |
| 3. | 23 March 2018 | National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore |  Maldives | 2–1 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 4. | 8 June 2019 |  Solomon Islands | 2–2 | 4–3 | ||
| 5. | 11 November 2021 | Al Hamriya Sports Club Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates |  Kyrgyzstan | 1–2 | 1–2 | |
| 6. | 25 December 2021 | National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore |  Indonesia | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2020 AFF Championship |
Honours
Club
Tampines Rovers
Lion City Sailors
Hougang United
- Singapore Cup Runner-ups (1): 2023
International
- AFF Suzuki Cup: 2012
Individual
- Singapore Premier League Team of the Year: 2019, 2021
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.