Farhan Zulkifli Explained

Farhan Zulkifli
Fullname:Muhammad Farhan bin Zulkifli
Birth Date:10 November 2002
Birth Place:Singapore
Height:1.72m
Currentclub:Young Lions (on loan from Hougang United)
Clubnumber:37
Position:Full-back / Winger
Youthyears1:2017
Youthclubs1:NFA U15
Youthyears2:2018
Youthclubs2:Home United U16
Youthyears3:2019
Youthclubs3:Hougang United U19
Years1:2019–2023
Clubs1:Hougang United
Caps1:60
Goals1:3
Years2:2023–
Clubs2:Young Lions (loan))
Caps2:3
Goals2:2
Nationalyears1:2017–2018
Nationalteam1:Singapore U16
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2019–
Nationalteam2:Singapore U19
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019–
Nationalteam3:Singapore U23
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2023–
Nationalteam4:Singapore
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:17:14, 15 April 2019 (UTC)

Muhammad Farhan bin Zulkifli (born 10 November 2002), better known as Farhan Zulkifli or just Farhan,is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a full-back or winger for Singapore Premier League club Young Lions, whom he captains, on loan from Hougang United, and for the Singapore national team.

Club career

Hougang United

Farhan make his career debut coming on as a substitute and scored 12 minutes into his 2019 Singapore Premier League debut against Home United on 29 June 2019.[1] [2] [3] At 16 years and 231 days, he became the SPL's second-youngest ever scorer then.[4] Farhan was named in Goal Singapore's NxGn 2020 list as one of the country's biggest talents following his impressive start to life at Hougang.[5] He made a further 11 appearances for Hougang in the 2019 season.

Farhan would start both the 2020 Singapore Premier League season opener and the 2020 Singapore Community Shield.[6] However, the 2020 Singapore Premier League season hasn't been the best of years for Farhan, by his own admission. Farhan played in 12 matches and only had a solitary goal to his name.[7]

Farhan would go on to play a total of 1767 minutes in the 2021 season bagging 20 appearances however, he failed to score a goal once during the 2021 Singapore Premier League season.

2022 for Farhan could be called his breakout year as he managed to make 18 appearances for the team and scoring 1 goal during the 5–1 thrashing of Young Lions. Farhan also played a crucial role in Hougang United's triumph over Tampines Rovers in the 2022 Singapore Cup Finals, helping his team stun Tampines Rovers 3–2 to clinch the cup.[8]

Loan to Young Lions

On 12 July 2023, Farhan joined Young Lions on loan from Hougang United as he is undergoing his compulsory National Service. He was named the club captain ahead of the 2024–25 Singapore Premier League season.

International career

Farhan was first called up to the Singapore national team in 2019, for the friendly against Jordan on 5 October and the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan on 10 and 15 October respectively.[9] [10] [11]

In 2022, Farhan was called up to the national team for the 2022 AFF Championship tournament. He make his international debut against causeway rival, Malaysia.[12]

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hougang United2019Singapore Premier League91300000121
2020Singapore Premier League131001000141
2021Singapore Premier League200000000200
2022Singapore Premier League181610000242
Total602901000704
Young Lions2023Singapore Premier League70310000101
2024–25Singapore Premier League113000000113
Total183310000214
Career total7851211000918
Notes

Honours

Club

Hougang United

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dream Singapore Premier League debut for Hougang United's Farhan Zulkifli thanks to wonder goal . The Straits Times. 13 October 2019. 29 June 2019.
  2. Web site: From NFA rejection to Singapore call-up aged 16 - Inside the meteoric rise of Hougang hotshot Farhan Zulkifli Goal.com . 21 July 2022 . www.goal.com.
  3. Web site: Auto . Hermes . 2 October 2019 . Football: Fleet-footed Cheetah Farhan Zulkifli on the fast track to becoming a Lion The Straits Times . 21 July 2022 . www.straitstimes.com . en.
  4. Web site: Impact 0352: Bouncing back from disappointment . 21 July 2022 . Impact . en.
  5. Web site: From Ilhan Fandi to Farhan Zulkifli - Meet the future of Singapore . Goal.com.
  6. Web site: From Hariss Harun to Khairin Nadim - Meet Singapore Premier League's youngest debutants Goal.com . 21 July 2022 . www.goal.com.
  7. Web site: Impact 0352: Bouncing back from disappointment . 21 July 2022 . Impact . en.
  8. Web site: cue . 19 November 2022 . Football: Hat-trick hero Krajcek hails late brother after helping Hougang beat Tampines in S'pore Cup final The Straits Times . 16 December 2022 . www.straitstimes.com . en.
  9. News: Football: Fleet-footed Cheetah Farhan Zulkifli on the fast track to becoming a Lion. 2 October 2019. The Straits Times. 13 September 2019. en.
  10. News: Singapore coach tweaks squad for S. Arabia, Uzbekistan games. 27 September 2019. The New Paper. 13 September 2019. en.
  11. News: From NFA rejection to Singapore call-up aged 16 - Inside the meteoric rise of Hougang hotshot Farhan Zulkifli. Goal.com.
  12. Web site: Tan . Amanda . 20 December 2022 . Five players in Singapore squad to take part in AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 for the first time . 10 January 2023 . youthopia.sg . en-US.