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.

Zainal Abidin
Personal information
Full name Zainal Abidin Hassan Ali
Date of birth (1961-11-09) 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

Pahang FA

Malaysia FA Cup
  • 2006, 2014
Malaysia Cup
  • 2014
Malaysia Charity Shield
  • 2014

Selangor FA

Malaysia Charity Shield
    • Runner-up: 2016

References

  1. Mamrud, Roberto. "Zainal Abidin Hassan – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. "Veterans put on the boots again". The Star online. Malaysia. 31 August 2007.
  3. Only 19 yet so cool. - New Sunday Times, 26 October 1980 (Page 82).
  4. http://chedinsphere.blogspot.com/2013/02/anugerah-kelab-satu-abad-afc-1999-11hb.html
  5. https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=106/edition=7184/teams/team=1890410.html
  6. Husin, Nik Naizi (16 June 2006). "Celebration of Pahang victory". The Star online. Malaysia.
  7. "Football: Surprise, surprise, Zainal's back in the red and yellow | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  8. "Merah Kuning ikat Zainal sebelum final Piala Malaysia". BH Online (in Malay). 16 December 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  9. "Zainal Abidin Hassan moves closer to taking over as Selangor coach". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  10. "Selangor's Zainal sacked as coach, K. Gunalan takes over as caretaker". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  11. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/melaka-united-unveil-zainal-abidin-hassan-head-coach
  12. Mohd Sofi Munajir, Zainal Abidin Hassan, Pertahanan Kental, Penyerang Yang Tajam dlm. 20 Tokoh Sukan, Medium Publication, Bandar Baru Bangi, 2009, pp.131.
  13. "Malaysian Football Legends: Zainal Abidin Hassan - Goal.com". Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  14. "Football: Zaiza puts honeymoon on hold to prepare for Premier League season | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
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