Shaharuddin Abdullah


Shaharuddin Abdullah was a Malaysian footballer. He was once one of the most feared strikers in the country, known as "Harimau Malaysia" because of his ability to score goals. He once scored 15 goals for Malaysia in the Merdeka Cup which stood as a record for a very long time. His father, Abdullah Mohammad, was a goalkeeper for Penang in the 1950s. He was a part of the Malaysian squad at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Career

Abdullah started to play football when he was nine years old. He used the Marin Sg. Gelugor field near his house to learn football skills. He helped his school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Gelugor, to win the district and inter-school championships.
In 1964 when he was 16 years old, he was selected to play for the Penang Burnley Cup team along with his brother, Namat Abdullah, Ali Bakar, Mohammed Bakar, Khalil Hashim, Cha Peng Chiang, Yap Kim Kok and N Baskaran.
Abdullah played for Malaysia in the 1972 Munich Olympics. Shaharuddin played in all three group games and scored in the 3–0 win against the United States. Overall he made 70 appearances and scored 39 international goals for Malaysia.
In 2004, he was inducted in Olympic Council of Malaysia's Hall of Fame for 1972 Summer Olympics football team.

Personal life

Namat Abdullah, his brother also played for Penang and together with his uncle, Aziz Ahmad. Shaharuddin's son, Shafiq Shaharudin, is also a professional footballer.
Shaharuddin Abdullah died on 28 December 2023, at the age of 75.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1Perak Stadium, Ipoh, Malaysia—4-01968 Merdeka Tournament
2Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—3-01968 Merdeka Tournament
3Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1-01-01969 Merdeka Tournament
4Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—1-31969 Merdeka Tournament
5Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—3-11969 Merdeka Tournament
6Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—3-11969 Merdeka Tournament
7Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—2-31969 Merdeka Tournament
8Bangkok, Thailand—2-21969 King's Cup
9Bogyoke [Aung San Stadium], Yangon, Myanmar—2-11969 SEAP Games
10Bogyoke Aung San Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar—2-11969 SEAP Games
11Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—3-11970 Merdeka Tournament
12Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—3-11970 Merdeka Tournament
13Bangkok, Thailand1-01-11970 King's Cup
14Bangkok, Thailand1-03-11970 King's Cup
15Bangkok, Thailand2-03-11970 King's Cup
16Bangkok, Thailand—3-11970 King's Cup
17Bangkok, Thailand3-08-01972 [AFC Asian Cup qualification]
18Bangkok, Thailand5-08-01972 AFC [Asian Cup qualification]
19Bangkok, Thailand8-08-01972 AFC Asian Cup qualification
20Bangkok, Thailand—2-11972 AFC Asian Cup qualification
21Bangkok, Thailand—2-11972 AFC Asian Cup qualification
22Bangkok, Thailand—2-21971 King's Cup
23Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—5-01971 SEAP Games
24Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—4-21971 SEAP Games
25Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—4-21971 SEAP Games
26Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1-23-21971 SEAP Games
27Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia2-23-21971 SEAP Games-
28Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3-23-21971 SEAP Games-
29Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1-11-21971 SEAP Games
30Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia2-04-11972 Merdeka Tournament
31Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3-04-11972 Merdeka Tournament
32Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia4-04-11972 Merdeka Tournament
33Perak Stadium, Ipoh, Malaysia—6-11972 Merdeka Tournament
34Perak Stadium, Ipoh, Malaysia—6-11972 Merdeka Tournament
35Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia2-13-11972 Merdeka Tournament
36Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3-13-11972 Merdeka Tournament
37ESV-Stadion, Ingolstadt, Germany—3-01972 Summer Olympics
38Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea1-01-31972 President's Cup
39Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea1-02-01974 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Penang
Penjara
Malaysia