Shahrul Saad Explained

Shahrul Saad
Fullname:Mohd Shahrul bin Mohd Saad
Birth Date:1993 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Ipoh,Perak, Malaysia
Height:[1]
Position:Centre-back, right-back
Currentclub:Johor Darul Ta'zim
Clubnumber:3
Youthyears1:2008–2010
Youthclubs1:Perak President's Cup
Youthyears2:2011–2014
Youthclubs2:Harimau Muda B / Harimau Muda A
Years1:2011
Clubs1:Harimau Muda B
Caps1:17
Goals1:0
Years2:2012–2014
Clubs2:Harimau Muda A
Caps2:41
Goals2:0
Years3:2015
Clubs3:Felda United
Caps3:17
Goals3:1
Years4:2016–2021
Clubs4:Perak
Caps4:94
Goals4:9
Years5:2021–
Clubs5:Johor Darul Ta'zim
Caps5:29
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2012–2015
Nationalteam1:Malaysia U23
Nationalcaps1:27
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2015–
Nationalteam2:Malaysia
Nationalcaps2:58
Nationalgoals2:5
Club-Update:16 December 2023
Nationalteam-Update:26 March 2024

Mohd Shahrul bin Mohd Saad (born 8 July 1993) is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim and the Malaysia national team.

Shahrul has individually won 3 FAM Football Awards 'Best Defender Award' in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Club career

Youth

Shahrul started his career at Perak youth team. He was then transferred to Malaysia national youth setup and has played for Harimau Muda B in the 2011 Malaysia league and Harimau Muda A in the 2012 Singapore S.League. In 2014, he played 22 matches for Harimau Muda in the Australian National Premier Leagues.[2]

Felda United

In 2015, Shahrul graduated from the national youth setup and was signed by Felda United. At Felda, he was converted from a defender to a defensive midfielder by head coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim.[3] He made his debut in the second match of 2015 Malaysia Super League against Sime Darby coming on from a bench in the 81st minute. He made his first start against Johor Darul Ta'zim on 3 May 2015 and become a regular until the end of the season. His only league goal for Felda was in the final league match against Johor Darul Ta'zim, where Felda won 2–1.

Perak

In 2016, Shahrul returned to his hometown club Perak where he won the 2018 Malaysia Cup with the club and finished as Malaysia Super League runners up in 2018, hence qualified to the AFC Champions League play-off round.

Johor Darul Ta'zim

On 8 May 2021, Shahrul joined Johor Darul Ta'zim. He was given the number 32 shirt. He made his debut against Sabah in the 2021 Malaysia Cup. He also scored his first goal for Johor Darul Ta'zim in the same competition against Kelantan.

In 2024, Shahrul changed his jersey number from no.32 to no.3 after Adam Nor Azlin left the club. He debuted in the no.3 jersey during a friendly match against Singapore side, Lion City Sailors on 4 April 2023 at Bishan Stadium. During the 2024 Malaysia FA Cup first leg match on 29 June 2024 against Malaysian University, Shahrul scored Johor Darul Ta'zim 1000th goal since being rebranded in 2013 scoring the fourth goal in 5–0 win.

International career

Youth

In 2012, Shahrul made his debut for the Malaysia U23 team in the final match of 2012 Olympic qualifiers against Syria. He featured in two Southeast Asian Games (2013 and 2015) and 2014 Asian Games for the Malaysia national under-23 team. He was also a part of the 2013 Merdeka Tournament winning team and played for the 2013 Malaysia Universiade team.

Senior

Shahrul made his debut for Malaysia on 8 October 2015 in a 3–1 win against Laos.[4] [5]

On 10 September 2018, he scored his first international goal against Cambodia in a friendly.

He achieved his 50th cap against the Solomon Islands on 14 June 2023.[6] On 20 June 2023 which was also his 51st cap, he was chosen as the captain for the Malaysia national team against Papua New Guinea.[7] [8]

Shahrul was also a member of the Malaysia squad at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar.

Personal life

Shahrul has two older brother who also have played professional football, Shahrizal Saad and Syamsul Saad. Like him, both brothers have played for Perak and Malaysia national team. Shahrul even played under Syamsul when his brother was the head coach of Perak in 2016.[9]

From May to December 2023, Shahrul, along with Goh Sze Fei and Nur Dhabitah Sabri were appointed as the brand ambassadors for Nutrilite Malaysia.[10]

Career statistics

Club

[11] [12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Harimau Muda B2011Malaysia Premier League17020190
Total17020190
Harimau Muda A2012S.League190190
2014National Premier Leagues220220
Total410410
Felda United2015Malaysia Super League17110100281
Total17110100281
Perak2016Malaysia Super League1625061273
2017Malaysia Super League20210102314
2018Malaysia Super League1903080300
2019Malaysia Super League213708020383
2020Malaysia Super League1020010112
2021Malaysia Super League8080
Total9491603332014512
Perak II2021Malaysia Premier League1010
Total1010
Johor Darul Ta'zim2021Malaysia Super League003131
2022Malaysia Super League200506160371
2023Malaysia Super League90101100110
Total290609260502
Career total199102505258028415

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Malaysia201540
201690
201710
2018152
2019112
202131
202250
202330
202470
Total585

International goals

As of match played 8 June 2022. Malaysia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Shahrul Saad goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
scope=colNo.scope=col data-sort-type=dateDatescope=colVenuescope=colCapscope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetition
scope=row110 September 2018Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia171–13–1Friendly
scope=row211 December 2018Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia261–22–22018 AFF Championship
scope=row32 June 2019301–02–0Friendly
scope=row45 October 2019362–06–0
scope=row59 December 2021Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore383–04–02020 AFF Championship

Honours

Club

Perak
Johor Darul Ta'zim

2022, 2023

International

Malaysia U23

Malaysia

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shahrul Saad - Player Profile - Football. Eurosport.
  2. https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=197706637&client=0-9385-0-281020-18686124 Player Profile - National Premier Leagues.
  3. Web site: Vijhay Vick . Unlikely standout Shahrul eyeing transition into holding role . FourFourTwo . 2015-10-20 . 2016-08-01.
  4. Web site: Vijhay Vick . Possible Malaysia XI against Macau . FourFourTwo . 2016-03-28 . 2016-08-01.
  5. Web site: Malaysia down Laos 3-1 for first win of the year | New Straits Times | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News . Nst.com.my . 2015-10-08 . 2016-08-01.
  6. https://twitter.com/HarimauMYstats/status/1668958844830244865 HarimauMYstats
  7. https://twitter.com/HarimauMYstats/status/1671136156162064384 HarimauMYstats
  8. https://www.bernama.com/bm/sukan/news.php?id=2199919 Persahabatan: Harimau Malaya Belasah Papua New Guinea 10-0
  9. Web site: 2015-12-23 . Shahrul Saad: Syamsul mampu menjadi pemimpin yang berjaya – footballmalaysia . 2016-08-01 . Footballmalaysia.com.
  10. Web site: LIVE YOUR BEST with Nutrilite's Nationwide Branding Campaign AmwayNow . 2023-08-14 . amwaynow.my . en.
  11. Web site: Shahrul Saad Statistics. www.soccerpunter.com. 11 November 2017.
  12. Web site: Shahrul Mohd Saad. www.malaysianfootballleague.com. 20 June 2023.