51 Facts About Fandi Ahmad

Fandi Ahmad is currently coaching Malaysia Super League club Sri Pahang.

Internationally with the Singapore national team, Fandi Ahmad earned 101 caps and scored 55 goals, a record he holds today, as well as winning three Southeast Asian Games silver medals while being captain from 1993 to 1997.

Fandi Ahmad has been described as a national legend for Singapore.

Fandi Ahmad has five children with his wife, South African model Wendy Jacobs, and his father is Ahmad Wartam, a former national goalkeeper.

Fandi Ahmad was ranked sixth in a list of Singapore's 50 Greatest Athletes of the Century by The Straits Times in 1999.

Fandi Ahmad's family lived in a two-room public housing flat in Hougang.

Fandi Ahmad's family was working class; Fandi had to sell nasi lemak to help support the family.

Fandi's father, Ahmad Wartam was then a goalkeeper for the national team in the 1960s.

Fandi Ahmad started playing as a goalkeeper, but switched to a midfield position under the advice of his teacher when he studied at Yio Chu Kang Primary.

At Serangoon Gardens Secondary School, Fandi Ahmad played for the school football team, but neglected his studies and was held back a year.

Fandi Ahmad then transferred to the Singapore Vocational Institute and obtained a National Trade Certificate 3.

Fandi Ahmad played for Kaki Bukit SC in the amateur National Football League, where he was spotted by Singapore FA coach Sebastian Yap.

In 1977, Fandi Ahmad was vice-captain of the Singapore Under-17 national team that won the Lion City Cup youth tournament.

Fandi Ahmad is a devout humble Muslim, avoids scandals, does not smoke or drink, and is often described as humble, filial and compassionate.

Fandi Ahmad married South African model Wendy Jacobs in 1996 and the couple have five children, namingly sons Irfan, Ikhsan, Ilhan, Iryan and a daughter Iman; the four sons are footballers.

Three of Fandi Ahmad sons is currently playing in Thai League 1 club where Ikhsan and Ilhan is playing at BG Pathum United while Irfan who used to play at BG Pathum United is currently playing his trait at Port.

Fandi Ahmad is cousins with Hafiz Abu Sujad and the national team's physiotherapist Nurhafizah.

Fandi Ahmad is the first Singaporean sportsperson to be the subject of a biography, which was released in 1993 and called The Fandi Ahmad Story.

Products Fandi Ahmad has endorsed include Lotto sportswear, Royal Sporting House sportswear, Uncle Tobys cereal, Carnation milk and energy drink Isomax.

Fandi Ahmad has served as an ambassador for national anti-smoking and anti-drug campaigns, raised funds for victims of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and participated in a Northeast Community Development Council initiative to organise community service programmes.

Fandi Ahmad joined Singapore FA in 1979 and became a regular midfield player, scoring four goals in his first Malaysia Cup season.

Fandi Ahmad enlisted for National Service in September 1980 and was given light duties, such as collecting the camp garbage, so he could continue playing for Singapore FA.

In 1981, Fandi Ahmad won the FAS Footballer of the Year award for helping Singapore FA reach the Malaysia Cup final.

Fandi Ahmad was just 19 while serving national service at the time and after the match, Boca's chief coach Vladislao Cap said he was keen on signing the Singaporean, whom he described as "a superb striker who can fit into any team".

Fandi Ahmad received offers from several Malaysia Cup teams, Indonesian side Niac Mitra, Swiss club Young Boys and Dutch side Ajax.

Fandi Ahmad is joined with compatriot, David Lee in Niac Mitra.

Fandi Ahmad helped them successfully defend their Galatama League title and was the third-highest scorer with 13 goals.

In 1983, Fandi Ahmad moved to the Netherlands and signed a two-year contract with Groningen.

Fandi Ahmad played only two full games that season and Groningen did not offer him a new contract.

The next club that Fandi Ahmad played for was Malaysia Cup side Kuala Lumpur FA, which in 1987 won its first Malaysia Cup title.

Fandi Ahmad signed a two-year contract with Greek club OFI Crete in 1990.

Fandi Ahmad then joined Pahang FA, where he reverted to playing mainly in midfield due to his advancing age.

Fandi Ahmad missed several months of games because of heel and thigh injuries, and scored three goals to help Pahang FA win the Malaysia Cup and Malaysian League Double in 1992.

Fandi Ahmad rejoined Singapore FA after it was relegated to the second tier of the Malaysian League.

Captain Fandi Ahmad played in 39 of Singapore FA's 41 games in the double-winning season, was the top scorer with 26 goals and was voted Player of the Season; he was awarded a state medal, the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat.

League season in 1996, Fandi Ahmad joins and captained Geylang United where he was the joint top scorer with 11 goals, including the equaliser that confirmed Geylang as league champions.

From 1979 to 1997, Fandi Ahmad made 101 appearances for the Singapore national football team, scored 55 goals and earned a place in the Asian Football Confederation Hall of Fame.

Fandi Ahmad started as captain of the national youth team that won the Lion City Cup in 1976 and 1977, then joined the senior national team on a tour of Russia, where he played in two friendly games and scored two goals in the second.

However, in his first international competition, the 1979 SEA Games, Fandi Ahmad did not score in four matches.

Fandi Ahmad scored against India and North Korea in the Olympic Games qualifiers, but did not score in three FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

The second SEA Games silver medal came in 1985, when Fandi Ahmad scored against Malaysia and the Philippines in the group stage, then two goals against Brunei in the semi-final.

Fandi Ahmad missed Singapore's failed attempt to qualify for the 1992 Asian Cup, having sustained a heel injury.

Fandi Ahmad played in the inaugural Tiger Cup, and scored an equaliser against Malaysia, a goal against Brunei and two against the Philippines.

Fandi Ahmad started as the assistant to Singapore's national coach, Vincent Subramaniam, for the 1999 SEA Games, where Singapore finished fourth.

Fandi Ahmad is one of seven Singaporean coaches with a professional AFC coaching diploma and is widely considered a future coach of the Singapore national football team;.

From November 2006 to March 2010, Fandi Ahmad managed Indonesian side Pelita Raya, where he adopted a youth policy that helped them win promotion from the second division, then guided the club to two mid-table finishes in the Indonesia Super League.

Fandi Ahmad was appointed as the head coach of Young Lions for the newly revamp 2018 Singapore Premier League season, replacing Richard Tardy.

Fandi Ahmad aims, together with technical director Joseph Palatsides, to enhance the pathways and structure for the development of youth players for the national teams.

Fandi Ahmad will be part of national team's coach Tatsuma Yoshida's backroom staff.

On 21 July 2022, Fandi Ahmad returned to Sri Pahang as a technical adviser.

In January 2023, Fandi Ahmad takes over as Sri Pahang coach from Malaysian legend Dollah Salleh who had taken temporary charge after the resignation of Frenchman Christophe Gamel last season.