Aidil Zafuan Explained

Aidil Zafuan
عيدالزافوان
Fullname:Mohamad Aidil Zafuan bin Abd. Radzak
Birth Date:1987 8, df=yes
Birth Place:Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Height:[1]
Currentclub:Johor Darul Ta'zim (Assistant coach)
Position:Centre-back
Youthyears1:2001–2003
Youthclubs1:Bukit Jalil Sports School
Youthyears2:2004–2005
Youthclubs2:Negeri Sembilan U19
Years1:2005–2011
Clubs1:Negeri Sembilan
Caps1:23
Goals1:11
Years2:2012
Clubs2:ATM
Caps2:21
Goals2:3
Years3:2013–2023
Clubs3:Johor Darul Ta'zim
Caps3:114
Goals3:4
Nationalyears1:2004–2006
Nationalteam1:Malaysia U20
Nationalyears2:2007–2014
Nationalteam2:Malaysia U23
Nationalcaps2:34
Nationalgoals2:4
Nationalyears3:2007–2022
Nationalteam3:Malaysia
Nationalcaps3:98[2]
Nationalgoals3:3
Pcupdate:27 September 2023
Nationalteam-Update:26 March 2022
Manageryears1:2024–
Managerclubs1:Johor Darul Ta'zim (Assistant coach)

Mohamad Aidil Zafuan bin Abd. Radzak (born 3 August 1987) also known as Aidil Zafuan, is a Malaysian retired professional footballer who last played primarily as a centre-back and is currently working as an assistant coach for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim. In his time with Johor Darul Ta'zim, he has won 26 trophies in total and making 211 appearances for the club.

Aidil is a former member of the Malaysia U23 and Malaysia U20 squad and has represented the Malaysia national team at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. He is the older of his twin, Zaquan Adha who is also a professional footballer.[3] [4]

Aidil has individually won 5 FAM Football Awards 'Best Defender Award' making him the only defender in the league to hold this record. Aidil has also won 11 Malaysia Super League title where he is the first and only player in the league history to win 10th consecutive league title with Johor Darul Ta'zim. He has also win 5 Malaysia Cup, 8 Malaysia Charity Shield, 4 Malaysia FA Cup and 1 AFC Cup.

Club career

Negeri Sembilan

Aidil Zafuan began his career with Negeri Sembilan youth team. He represented his hometown, Negeri Sembilan at 2004 Sukma Games. He won the gold medal during the tournament that took place at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium, Seremban. In 2005–06 season, he was promoted to the first team. In his season debut, Negeri Sembilan won their first Malaysia Super League title.

Malaysian Armed Forces

Aidil signed a contract with Malaysia Premier League side Malaysian Armed Forces for the 2012 Malaysia Premier League season. He won the Malaysia Premier League title in 2012 and reached the 2012 Malaysia Cup Final.

Johor Darul Ta'zim

In the 2013 season, Aidil joined the rebranded club Johor Darul Ta'zim along with his twin brother, Zaquan Adha. With JDT, he won the Malaysia Super League, Malaysia FA Cup, Malaysia Cup and historically part of JDT's 2015 AFC Cup winning team. Aidil was chosen as the club captain mid-way throughout the 2021 Malaysia Super League season after actual club captain, Hariss Harun left the club.

On 16 November 2022, He made his 200th appearance with the club in all competitions in a 1–0 away win against Sabah where he joins Safiq Rahim and Farizal Marlias to become the third player to reach this milestone[5]

International career

Youth

Aidil has represented Malaysia since he was 14 years old. He is very experienced in international youth arena. He played for the Malaysia U20 side on two AFC Youth Championship in 2004 in Malaysia as Malaysia reached the quarter-finals but was defeated by China. At the AFC Youth Championship in India, he was chosen as the captain of the team. Malaysia failed to win all three matches and only managed to score 1 goal and conceding 7 goals.

Aidil started representing the Malaysia U23 squad during 2008 Olympic Games qualifier. He continued to represent Malaysia in the 2007 Merdeka Tournament that held in Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya and managed to win the Merdeka Tournament after defeating Myanmar 3:1. He then represented Malaysia in the South East Asia Games held in Thailand. However, Malaysia failed to advance into the semi-finals after drawing against rivals Singapore. In 2009, he was selected as the captain for the national under 23 team at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games where Malaysia won their first gold medal after 20 years. In 2014, he was selected as one of the overage players for the 2014 Asian Games.

Senior

Aidil made his debut on 18 July 2007 against Cambodia where he also scored his first international goal in his debut against Cambodia. He then became one of the players from the under-23 side who were selected into Malaysia 2007 AFC Asian Cup squad. He only made his appearance in the last game against Iran where Malaysia lost 0–2.

Aidil received his first red card in international duty during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers second leg against Bahrain. As a result, he was banned by FIFA from taking part in international match for three games.

On 12 July 2016, Aidil with 71 international caps announced his retirement from international football via his football club's website and its Facebook page. He returned in 2017 and was part of Malaysia's 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup squad earning 82 international caps during the tournament.[6] In 2019, he earned his 83rd international caps against Sri Lanka.[7]

He earn his 100 appearances for Malaysia in 2020 AFF Championship against Vietnam.[8] [9] During his international career, Aidil went on to play a total of 101 matches for Malaysia and his international appearances comprise 98 'A' international matches as classified by FIFA including 3 international matches not classified as 'A'.[10]

Others

Aidil also represented the Malaysia XI (represent Malaysia for B match) squad against Chelsea at the Shah Alam Stadium on 29 July 2008. The Malaysia XI eventually lost 0–2. However, Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari praise the Malaysia XI for giving a good fight against his team.

Managerial career

After Aidil retirement at the end of the 2023 Malaysia Super League season, he would then take the coaching role as an assistant under head coach, Héctor Bidoglio at Johor Darul Ta'zim.

Career statistics

Club

[11]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Negeri Sembilan2005–06Malaysia Super League1001
2006–07Malaysia Super League100501
2007–08Malaysia Super League4004
2009Malaysia Super League3115
2010Malaysia Super League1001
2011Malaysia Super League2311040281
Total23111141502813
ATM2012Malaysia Premier League21310111334
Total21110111334
Johor Darul Ta'zim2013Malaysia Super League1515180282
2014Malaysia Super League902090200
2015Malaysia Super League151006050261
2016Malaysia Super League1617020101352
2017Malaysia Super League120005150221
2018Malaysia Super League110007050230
2019Malaysia Super League130009040260
2020Malaysia Super League811010101
2021Malaysia Super League900010100
2022Malaysia Super League50202010100
2023Malaysia Super League1000000010
Total11441614913212117
Total158161726033712727

International

[10]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Malaysia200761
2008110
200980
201030
201182
2012140
201370
201450
201540
201650
201730
201880
201950
202190
202220
Total983

International goals

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 18 July 2007 6–0 Won Friendly
2. 29 June 2011 2–1 Won 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
3. 3 July 2011 Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taiwan2–3 Lost 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

Honours

Club

Negeri Sembilan

Malaysian Armed Forces

Johor Darul Ta'zim

International

Malaysia U-18

Malaysia U-23

Malaysia

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aidil Zafuan. Official website of Johor Darul Ta'zim FC. 17 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180710011330/http://johorsoutherntigers.com.my/player/aidil-zafuan/. 10 July 2018. dead.
  2. https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/malay-recintlp.html Malaysia – Record International Players
  3. Web site: 7 AIDIL ZAFUAN. Johorsoutherntigers.com.my. 22 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180710011330/http://johorsoutherntigers.com.my/player/aidil-zafuan/. 10 July 2018. dead.
  4. Web site: Goal Asia Team of the Month – July 2013 – Centre-back: Aidil Zafuan (Malaysia, Johor Darul Takzim). Goal. 22 November 2017.
  5. Web site: 2021-02-24 . AIDIL SETS NEW MILESTONE WITH JDT – 200 APPEARANCES . 2024-04-19 . Johor Darul Ta'zim FC.
  6. https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2019/10/04/aidil-zafuan-excited-about-return-to-harimau-malaya-for-sri-lanka-friendly/1797276 Aidil Zafuan excited about return to Harimau Malaya for Sri Lanka friendly
  7. https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2019/10/527183/aidil-track-becoming-msias-most-prized-footballer Aidil on track to becoming Msia's most prized footballer
  8. https://www.sportimes.my/100-up-for-aidil/ 100 up for Aidil
  9. https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2021/12/754020/paying-price-poor-planning Paying the price for poor planning?
  10. https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/malay-azradzak-intl.html Mohamad Aidil Zafuan bin Abdul Radzak – International Appearances – RSSSF
  11. News: Aidil Zafuan. Soccerway.com. 10 December 2017.
  12. Web site: Revealed: The AFC Cup All-time XI, as voted by you!. AFC. 9 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210626035116/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-cup/latest/news/revealed-the-afc-cup-all-time-xi-as-voted-by-you. 26 June 2021. dead.