Baihakki Khaizan

Singaporean footballer

Baihakki Khaizan
Baihakki Khaizan playing against Home United in a friendly match on 11 January 2014.
Personal information
Full name Baihakki bin Khaizan
Date of birth (1984-01-31) 31 January 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Football Association of Singapore (Head of planning)
Youth career
2000–2002 National Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Geylang United 20 (1)
2004–2007 Young Lions 98 (7)
2008–2009 Geylang United 46 (4)
2009–2010 Persija Jakarta 30 (0)
2010–2011 Persib Bandung 9 (0)
2011–2012 Medan Chiefs 20 (1)
2012–2013 LionsXII 31 (4)
2014 Johor Darul Ta'zim 10 (1)
2014 → LionsXII (loan) 2 (0)
2015–2016 Johor Darul Ta'zim II 52 (3)
2017 Warriors 15 (0)
2018 Muangthong United 0 (0)
2018 → Udon Thani (loan) 23 (1)
2019 Trat 26 (2)
2020 PT Prachuap 2 (0)
2020–2021 Tampines Rovers 28 (1)
Total 409 (25)
International career
2003–2021 Singapore 142[1] (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Baihakki bin Khaizan (born 31 January 1984[2]) is a Singaporean retired footballer who last played as a centre-back for Singapore Premier League club Tampines Rovers and the Singapore national team. Baihakki is known to be one of the best defenders in the Southeast Asia region during his time as a footballer. He had piled his career playing in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Along with Khairul Amri, Shahril Ishak and Hassan Sunny, Baihakki was in the pioneer batch of the National Football Academy in 2000.[3]

Baihakki is the first and only foreigner to win the FAM Football Awards 'Best Defender Award' in 2013 in which he won the 2013 Malaysia Super League with LionsXII. He has also won 3 AFF Championship with the Singapore national team and was included in the AFF Championship All-time XI in history.

Club career

Geylang United

An ever-present for Singapore so far, Baihakki rise to prominence has been an extremely swift one. He is recognised as one of the best centre-backs in the region with his tough tackling no nonsense approach often putting fear into opposition forwards. In the National Football Academy age-group squads, he caught the eye with his 1.9m stature, instinctive confidence and composure at the back.

Signing on with Geylang United in 2003,[2] Baihakki took the 2003 S.League Young Player of the Year award in his debut S.League season.[2] After learning his craft alongside former Singapore international Lim Tong Hai, a player he considers a big influence

Young Lions

In 2004, the lanky defender then moved to Young Lions ahead of the 2004 S.League season and captained the team throughout the season. Baihakki nearly missed out playing for the 2007 S.League season after MINDEF refused to release him to play as he was serving National Service. However, he got the green light after a few games into the season.

Returned to Geylang United

In 2008, he return to his previous club but again, his army conscription clashed with his football career, and thus he missed the first few games of the new season for his new team, Geylang United.

Career in Indonesia

In September 2009, Khaizan agreed terms with Indonesia Super League side, Persija Jakarta, along with his Singaporean compatriot, Mustafic Fahrudin to join them before the 2009–10 Indonesia Super League started in October. During his first season, he managed to score 3 goals in 39 appearances.

In a controversial decision, Baihakki left Persija Jakarta for fierce rivals, Persib Bandung at the end of the 2009-10 Indonesia Super League season. At Persib Bandung, he linked up with his Singaporean compatriot, Shahril Ishak, who also signed for the Indonesian club. Baihakki's stint at Persib was cut short as he was released from the club after 6 months.[4][5]

On 16 February 2011, Baihakki signed a two-year deal with Medan Chiefs worth approximately US$300,000, along with Shahril Ishak,[6] who was also released by Persib.

Return to Singapore

Baihakki returned to Singapore with newly formed team, LionsXII, that was competing in the Malaysia Super League. He scored their first ever goal in their league debut against Kelantan FA on 10 January 2012.[7] Baihakki went on to win his first Malaysia Super League title with LionsXII during the 2013 Malaysia Super League season.

Johor Darul Ta'zim

In 2014, Baihakki signed a four-year contract with Malaysian Super League team, Johor Darul Takzim.[8] After a series of unimpressive performances, he was de-registered from the squad on 18 April 2014 and replaced with Marcos Antonio Elias Santos.[9]

Loan to LionsXII

Baihakki rejoined LionsXII on loan in May 2014. As part of his release, he would not face former club Johor Darul Ta'zim in their upcoming league fixture.[10]

Baihakki featuring for LionsXII in a 2012 league match against Kuala Lumpur FA.

Return to Johor Darul Ta'zim

Baihakki returned to Malaysia and made his Johor Darul Ta'zim II debut in the 2015 Malaysia Premier League season.[9]

Warriors FC

Baihakki joins Warriors FC to play in the S.League for the 2017 campaign together with the Singapore captain, Shahril Ishak.[11] Following the end of the season, Baihakki was not offered a contract extension and was left without a club and was reportedly considering his options with offers from several clubs within the region.

Trials in Saudi Arabia

He went for a trial with Saudi Arabian second-tier side, Jeddah Club after he was set up by his agent while on an Umrah pilgrimage trip with his family. After impressing in a 5-day trial, Baihakki was offered a 4-month contract by the Saudi side until the end of the season.[12]

Career in Thailand

After declining to play in the Middle East, Baihakki was offered a contract to play with Kuala Lumpur FA.[13] However, a last minute deal was offered to him to play in the Thai League 1 and on 26 January 2018, he signed a contract with 4 time-league winner, Muangthong United ahead of the 2018 season.[13]

After signing with Muangthong United, On 5 February 2018, Baihakki was immediately loaned out to Thai League 2 side, Udon Thani.[14] He scored his first goal in a 3–0 victory against Thai Honda FC, becoming the first Singaporean to score in the Thai league.

On 11 January 2019, Baihakki signed a one-year deal with newly promoted club Thai League 1 club Trat.[14] He has racked up two goals and an assist in his first 13 games for the club.[15]

On 3 January 2020, Baihakki signed for 2019 Thai League Cup winners PT Prachuap for the 2020 Thai League 1 season.[16]

Tampines Rovers

After 2 years in Thailand, Baihakki returned to Singapore to inked an 18-month deal with Tampines Rovers on 14 June 2020. Under the terms of the contract, Baihakki would play for free this season, should the 2020 Singapore Premier League resume after being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 5 December 2020, Baihaikki scored his first goal for the club in an Eastern Derby as he scored a header in the 80th minute of the match against his former club, Geylang International to levelled the score in a 1-1 draw at Our Tampines Hub.

On April 3, 2021 in a fixture against Hougang United at the Hougang Stadium, Baihakki was sent off after receiving a second yellow in the seventieth minute from a soft push on Tomoyuki Doi. The free-kick conceded by him was ultimately scored by Shafiq Ghani as Tampines went on to lose 5-1. On 25 June 2021, he make his AFC Champions League debut against 2020 J1 League runners-up, Gamba Osaka in which they lost the match 2-0. He went on to play all six of the group stage match against 2020 K League 1 champions and 2020 Korean FA Cup winners, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Thailand club, Chiangrai United with all the match being played at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

On 1 February 2022, Baihakki announced his retirement from competitive football.[2]

International career

He made his debut for the Singapore against Hong Kong on 4 August 2003.[17] On 15 December 2004, Baihaikki scored his first goal for his country in a 2-0 win against Cambodia in the 2004 AFF Championship.

He was part of the team that won the Tiger Cup in 2005 and the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship. Then captain of the Under-23 team, he led the Young Lions out for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games in Philippines and also won a bronze medal for the 2007 edition in Korat, Thailand. He lifted the Suzuki Cup in December 2012, after scoring the eventual winner in the first leg. Singapore went on to beat Thailand 3–1 on aggregate.

Baihakki reached his milestone 100th cap in a friendly match against China on 6 September 2013.[3][18] He was inducted into the FIFA Century Club in December 2013.[17][note 1]

In March 2019, Baihakki announced his retirement from international football after amassing 134 caps for the Lions,[15] but he came back from retirement for the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.[19] He played for the Lions in a 2–2 draw against Yemen on 5 September 2019. He played his last final match for Singapore on 11 June 2021 against Saudi Arabia at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh. Baihakki has amassed 142 caps for his country.[20]

Outside football

Baihakki opened his interior design and renovation company in April 2013.[3] He launched his second business, a spa, in March 2014.[21]

Personal life

Baihakki's father, Khaizan bin Muhammad, died when he was three.[22][23] He has an elder sister and a younger brother.[24]

Baihakki is married to Norfasarie Mohd Yahya, a Singaporean flight attendant, actress and singer. They had been engaged since 1 April 2007.[25] He has two sons and two daughters.[2]

Baihakki is featured in eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020 alongside his Singapore teammate Hariss Harun. He will be the third Singaporean to be featured in a video game after Safuwan Baharudin in FIFA 15.

Related activities

After announcing his retirement on 1 February 2022, Baihakki also announced he had taken new roles with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).[2] He became the Lead of Special Projects and Ambassador with FAS in February 2022 until March 2023 where he was promoted to Head of Planning in the FAS Technical Division office.[2]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 Oct 2021. Caps and goals may not be correct.
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup 		Asia Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Geylang United 2003 20 1 - - - - — 20 1
Total 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 1
Young Lions 2004 ?? ?? - - - - — ?? ??
2005 ?? ?? - - - - — ?? ??
2006 ?? ?? - - - - — ?? ??
2007 ?? ?? - - - - — ?? ??
Total 98 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 98 7
Geylang United 2008 ?? ?? - - - - — ?? ??
2009 ?? ?? - - - - — ?? ??
Total 46 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 4
Club Season Indonesia Super League Piala Indonesia Indonesia League Cup Asia Total
Persija Jakarta 2009–2010 30 0 - - - - — 30 0
Total 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0
Persib Bandung 2010–2011 9 0 - - - - — 9 0
Total 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Medan Chiefs 2011–2012 20 1 - - - - — 20 1
Total 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 1
Club Season Malaysia
Super League 		Malaysia
FA Cup 		Malaysia Cup Asia Total
LionsXII 2012[26] 16 2 0 0 10 0 — 26 2
2013[27] 15 2 1 0 8 1 — 24 3
Total 31 4 1 0 18 1 0 0 50 5
Johor Darul Takzim 2014 10 1 - - - - — 10 1
Total 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
LionsXII (loan) 2014[28] 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Johor Darul Takzim II 2015 ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? — ?? ??
2016 ?? ?? 1 0 ?? ?? — 1 0
Total 52 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 53 3
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup 		Asia Total
Warriors 2017 20 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 24 0
Total 20 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 24 0
Club Season Thai League 1 Thai FA Cup Thai League Cup Asia Total
Muangthong United 2018 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Udon Thani F.C. 2018 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Trat F.C. 2019 26 0 3 0 0 0 — 29 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Prachuap F.C. 2020 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Club Season S.League Singapore Cup Singapore
League Cup 		Asia Total
Tampines Rovers 2020 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1
2021 14 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 20 0
Total 22 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 28 1
Career total 332 21 2 0 18 1 6 0 358 22
  • Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.

International

International goals

Score and Result list Singapore's goal tally first[1]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1. 15 December 2004 Lạch Tray Stadium, Haiphong, Vietnam  Cambodia
2–0
0–3
 2004 AFF Championship 2004 AFF Championship
2. 9 December 2008 Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia  Indonesia
1–0
2–0
 2008 AFF Championship Indonesia vs. Singapore (0:2)
3. 19 December 2012 Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore  Thailand
3–1
3–1
 2012 AFF Championship [29]
4. 13 November 2014 Yishun Stadium, Yishun, Singapore  Laos
1–0
2–0
 Friendly Singapore vs. Laos (2:0)
5. 31 March 2015 Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore  Guam
2–2
2–2
 Friendly Singapore vs. Guam - 31 March 2015 - Soccerway

Honours

Club

LionsXII

International

Singapore

Individual

Notes

  1. ^ Baihakki earned his 104th cap against Syria on 15 October 2013.
  • International caps milestones
  • 105th – Jordan, 4 February 2014 "FIFA Century Club fact sheet" (PDF). FIFA. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2014.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Baihakki Bin Khaizan - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Auto, Hermes (5 February 2022). "Football: Baihakki Khaizan takes up admin role with FAS after retiring | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Interview With Baihakki Khaizan". FAS. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  4. ^ Bolasport.com (13 April 2020). "5 Pemain Asia Tenggara di Persib Bandung, Satu Pindah dari Persija - Semua Halaman - Bolasport.com". www.bolasport.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Sepuluh Pemain Terbaik Persib-Persija - Baihakki Khaizan - Goal.com". Archived from the original on 6 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Shahril Ishak dan Baihakki Khaizan Gabung Ke Medan Chiefs | ceritasepakbola.com". Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  7. ^ "LionsXII level 1–1 against Kelantan at half-time, The Straits Times".
  8. ^ "Football: Singapore's Baihakki Khaizan joins Johor FA - Channel NewsAsia". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  9. ^ a b Dan Guen Chin (21 April 2014). "Baihakki could be back with LionsXII". Today. p. 27.
  10. ^ Dan, Geun Chin (8 May 2014). "Baihakki back with LionsXII, Johor eyeing S-League". Today.
  11. ^ "Warriors sign up Shahril Ishak and Baihakki Khaizan". TODAYonline.
  12. ^ hermesauto (2 January 2018). "Football: Ex-Lions defender Baihakki Khaizan offered contract by Saudi club, could be first Singaporean to play in the Middle East". The Straits Times. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  13. ^ a b Auto, Hermes (11 January 2018). "Football: Baihakki to sign for Thai giants Muangthong United after rejecting offer from Saudi club | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  14. ^ a b Auto, Hermes (11 January 2019). "Football: Baihakki Khaizan signs one-year deal with top-tier Thai team Trat FC | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  15. ^ a b Ganesan, Deepanraj (25 June 2019). "Baihakki Khaizan open to Lions recall after shining in Thailand". The New Paper. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  16. ^ "OFFICIAL: Singapore international Baihakki Khaizan signs for 2019 Thai Cup Winners PT Prachuap". FOX Sports Asia. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  17. ^ a b "FIFA Century Club fact sheet" (PDF). FIFA. 11 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014.
  18. ^ "China put six past hapless Lions". Goal. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  19. ^ "Football: Baihakki Khaizan, 35, makes U-turn on international retirement to join Lions squad for World Cup qualifiers". The Straits Times. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  20. ^ "Bai set to sign for Saudi second-tier club". The New Paper. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  21. ^ "Bai means business". The New Paper. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014.
  22. ^ Ding, Eric (16 May 2005). "This one's for you, Dad". Today. p. 32.
  23. ^ Wang, Meng Meng (12 May 2013). "She raised 3 kids single-handedly". The Straits Times.
  24. ^ Jose Raymond (6 February 2002). "I'm ready for S-League, says eager youngster". Today. p. 33.
  25. ^ "Diva - Netizens slam Malay celeb's bare-belly photo". 15 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  26. ^ "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2012 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  27. ^ "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2013 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  28. ^ "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2014 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  29. ^ "Singapore vs. Thailand - 19 December 2012 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  30. ^ "#trending: Retired Lions defender Baihakki Khaizan apologises for 'misunderstanding' after he is seen laughing as Singapore loses AFF Cup match". TODAY. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  31. ^ "Baihakki Khaizan wins "Best Defender" honour at FAM annual awards 2013". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2014.

External links

  • Baihakki Khaizan on Twitter
  • Baihakki Khaizan at National-Football-Teams.com