Safuwan Baharudin

Muhammad Safuwan bin Baharudin (born 22 September 1991) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder for Malaysia Super League club Selangor, which he captains, and the Singapore national team. He is known for his aerial ability, powerful headers and defensive prowess.

Starting off his professional career as a centre-back, Safuwan's attributes and versatility also allow him to play as a right-back or defensive-midfielder when required.

Club career

Early years

Safuwan started out playing as a striker during his Institute of Technical Education years and subsequently as a midfielder at the National Football Academy (NFA). Salim Moin, his NFA Under-17 coach, was credited with switching him to the centre-back position he currently plays in.

Young Lions

Safuwan began his professional football career with S.League club Young Lions in July 2009, after he was promoted from the National Football Academy Under-18s.

Safuwan was one of the Young Lions players that got involved in an on-pitch fight with several Beijing Guoan Talent players in their S.League match on 7 September 2010. He was charged by the FAS for gross misconduct and bringing the game into disrepute, and was fined S$2,000 for his part in the brawl.

LionsXII

In December 2011, the FAS announced that Safuwan will join the newly formed LionsXII in the 2012 Malaysia Super League. The LionsXII finished runners-up in their debut season.

Safuwan formed a strong understanding with Baihakki Khaizan in central defence as LionsXII won the 2013 Malaysia Super League with the competition's best defensive record. He contributed with five goals in 26 matches. Amid interest from Thai, Indonesian and rival Malaysia Super League sides including T-Team, he put pen to paper in a new two-year deal with LionsXII in November 2013.
Safuwan capped off his league performances by becoming the first male recipient of the annual Straits Times Athlete of the Year award in 2013.

Following the departure of regular defensive partner Baihakki in 2014, Safuwan formed a new partnership with new LionsXII recruit Afiq Yunos. He also showed his versatility with lauded displays in advanced midfield and attacking roles. Safuwan's performances up front and LionsXII's poor goal scoring form led to head coach Fandi Ahmad having to consider playing him as a forward in more games. Safuwan started in an advanced midfield role behind striker Khairul Amri in a Malaysia Super League match away to Sarawak on 15 March. On 25 March, he scored a late winner over Perak to send LionsXII up to 5th in the league table. He scored his second goal in as many games four days later as LionsXII drew 1–1 with T-Team and followed it up with the opener off a Shahfiq Ghani cross against Sime Darby on 5 April.

Loan to Melbourne City

On 29 January 2015, Safuwan signed a 3-month loan contract with A-League team Melbourne City.

Safuwan earned the contract after his standout performance at a MCFC's training camp in Abu Dhabi, which was held from 10 January 2015 to 19 January 2015. He attended the training camp as part of a development opportunity arranged with the FAS. The club substantiated the decision to take Safuwan on loan with his impressive performances during the training camp, both as a centre-back and as a full-back during the club's two friendly matches in the UAE. In the friendly matches, he was pitted against several notable players, such as former Juventus striker Mirko Vučinić. He played as a substitute in the side's second friendly match with Ukrainian Premier League outfit Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, with the match concluding in a 1–1 result.

Safuwan made his debut for Melbourne City in the A-League on 7 February 2015 in the Melbourne Derby against Melbourne Victory. Safuwan scored his first goal for the club against Adelaide United on 27 February 2015. He scored his second goal just a couple of weeks later, against Western Sydney Wanderers to hand his side a 1–0 lead although they could not hang onto the lead and crash to a 3–2 defeat in the end.
Following a spine injury that he sustained in a competitive match against Wellington Phoenix, Safuwan's loan contract was allowed to lapse and was not renewed, despite earlier rumours stating that the club was interested in offering him a permanent contract. After his release, Safuwan returned to play for the LionsXII in the 2015 Malaysia Super League season.

In July 2015, it was reported that there was interest from J1 League club Yokohama F Marinos to sign Safuwan on loan for the rest of the season. Although Safuwan stated that he was open to a second move overseas, even if it was on a short-term contract, the move ultimately did not materialise, and Safuwan remained with the LionsXII.

PDRM FA

Upon the dismissal of LionsXII from the Malaysia Super League following the end of the 2015 season, Safuwan was linked with multiple Malaysian and Thai football clubs upon noting his potential availability. Safuwan signed a one-year loan deal with PDRM FA for the 2016 Malaysia Super League season in January 2016 but however was made permanent. The transfer fee was initially estimated as being about S$45,000, but was found later to be closer to S$32,000. This deal was extended for a year despite PDRM FA's relegation into the Malaysian Premier League.

Pahang FA

On 19 November 2017, Safuwan signed a contract with Malaysian Super League runners-up Pahang FA and was presented alongside Malaysian forward, Norshahrul Idlan. He scored his first goal in a 2–1 victory against ATM FA in the 2018 Malaysia FA Cup. During his time with Pahang, he helped the club win the 2018 Malaysia FA Cup Final before being released at the end of the 2019 Malaysia Super League season despite being contracted until 2020.

Selangor

On 12 December 2019, Safuwan signed for Selangor for the 2020 Malaysia Super League season, ensuring that he will be playing in Malaysia for the 9th season. Safuwan made his debut for the club in the opening match of the 2020 Malaysia Super League season against his former club, Pahang on 29 February 2020. He scored his first goal for the club on 3 October in a 7–0 thrashing win against one of his former club, PDRM.

During the league match against Petaling Jaya City on 2 May 2021, Safuwan suffered a cerebral concussion after a collision with an opponent where he was taken to Ara Damansara Hospital after being removed from the match to get a computer tomography scan. After examination, Safuwan was confirmed not to have suffered any brain injury and only had to undergo symptomatic treatment for a few months until he fully recovered. He returned to action on 21 August in a league match against Perak where he will need to wear a protective helmet for a year.

Before the start of the 2022 Malaysia Super League season, Safuwan was named as vice captain of Selangor. On 28 June 2022, he took another knock to his head during a match against Sabah, and was later diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury which rules him out for the season.

Negeri Sembilan

On 22 February 2023, Safuwan joined Negeri Sembilan on a free transfer and signed a six-month deal. He made his debut later that month in a 1–1 home draw against Sri Pahang in their first game of the 2023 Malaysia Super League season. On 14 May 2023, he scored his first goal for the club, and scored the winner in 87th-minute in a 2–1 victory against Kuala Lumpur City.

Following on his expiring contract on 30 June 2023, Safuwan confirmed he would not be re-signing for Negeri Sembilan, in preference for a move to another Malaysian club, or another top-flight foreign club in Thailand. He ending his six-month association with the club.

Return to Selangor

On 13 July 2023, Safuwan returned to Selangor, joining the club on a short-term deal. Two days later, he made his first official appearance on his return to the club in a 3–0 win over Penang in the league match.

Safuwan was than named as the club captain ahead of the 2024–25 season. During the 2024 Malaysia FA Cup second leg against Terengganu on 3 August 2024, Safuwan scored his first hat-trick for the club where he score 2 header goals in the 3rd and 5th minute of the match after a cross from teammate Yohandry Orozco from the corner. In the 53rd minute, he scored with his weak foot which secured his hat-trick. Selangor went on to win 6–4 on aggregate thus qualifying to the Malaysia FA Cup Final.

International career

Youth

Safuwan was part of the Singapore U23 team that won the bronze medal at the 2009 and 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

Senior

Safuwan made his international debut for Singapore at the age of 19 in a King's Cup match against Thailand on 17 January 2010.

Safuwan contributed to Singapore's then-record fourth ASEAN Football Championship win in 2012. He found himself increasingly paired with Baihakki Khaizan as regular centre-back Daniel Bennett was gradually phased out of the national team set-up.

On 31 August 2017, Safuwan scored from the penalty spot to help Singapore snatch a draw against Hong Kong.

Safuwan scored his first international hat-trick on 21 November 2018, helping Singapore to a 6-1 demolition of Timor-Leste in the 2018 AFF Championship.

Safuwan made his 100 caps for the national team on 14 December 2021 against Timor-Leste in the 2020 AFF Championship.

On 16 November 2023, Safuwan returned to the Singapore squad since June 2022 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifications match against South Korea.

Singapore Selection

Apart from national team commitments, Safuwan was also part of the Singapore Selection XI squad on several occasions. The selected squad are made up of current Singapore international footballers, as well as players currently participating in the S.League. Safuwan has appeared in all four matches that the Singapore Selection XI has played thus far, such as in the Peter Lim Charity Cup match against 2013–14 La Liga champions Atlético Madrid, a pre-season friendly match against Juventus, as well as in the 2015 Barclays Asia Trophy against Arsenal and Stoke City held in Singapore at the National Stadium.

Personal life

Safuwan is born to Baharudin Abdul Ghani and Suria Haniffa. Safuwan married Alia Qistina, an air stewardess, in 2013.

Safuwan was the first Singaporean to be featured in FIFA 15.

Career statistics

Club

* Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in England their respective leagues.

International

:''Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.''

Honours

Club

LionsXII
*Malaysia Super League: 2013
*Malaysia FA Cup: 2015

Pahang FA
*Malaysia FA Cup: 2018

International

Singapore
* ASEAN Football Championship: 2012
*Southeast Asian Games: bronze medal – 2009, 2013

Individual

*2014 Singapore Sports Awards: Meritorious Award
*2013 Goal Singapore Football Awards: Singapore Player of the Year
*The Straits Times Athlete of the Year: 2013
*Goal.com-Nike 2012 ASEAN Football Championship Under-23 Player of the Tournament
*Goal.com 2012 ASEAN Football Championship Best XI
*2011 S.League People's Choice Award
* ASEAN Football Federation Best XI: 2019

See also

* List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

References

External links

* {{Soccerway, safuwan-baharudin/82711

1991 births
Living people
Singaporean men's footballers
Singapore men's international footballers
Singapore Premier League players
LionsXII players
Malaysia Super League players
Young Lions FC players
21st-century Singaporean sportsmen
Men's association football central defenders
Singaporean people of Malay descent
A-League Men players
Melbourne City FC players
Polis Diraja Malaysia FC players
Sri Pahang FC players
Selangor F.C. players
Negeri Sembilan FC players
Singaporean expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia
Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Australia
Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia
Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia
Footballers at the 2010 Asian Games
Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games
SEA Games bronze medalists for Singapore
SEA Games medalists in football
Competitors at the 2009 SEA Games
Competitors at the 2013 SEA Games
Asian Games competitors for Singapore
FIFA Men's Century Club