Singapore striker Khairul Amri announces international retirement after 15 years, 132 caps, 32 goals
SINGAPORE — Singapore national footballer Khairul Amri, arguably the Republic’s best striker in the last decade, has announced his retirement from international football via his Instagram page on Thursday (26 September).
The 34-year-old, who currently plays club football in Malaysia with Felda United, is the only player to have scored in three Asian Football Federation (AFF) Championship finals. Singapore won on all three occasions in 2004, 2007 and 2012.
Most crucially, he plundered the all-important winning goal in the 2007 final against Thailand in the raucous Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok, stunning the favoured hosts in the 81st minute as the Lions ran out 3-2 aggregate winners.
He will retire with 132 international caps – the fourth most-capped Singapore player – as well as 32 goals for the Lions, as he seeks to spend more time with his family. His last appearance came on 11 June in a friendly against Myanmar.
‘I have given my soul every time’
Amri said in a post on his Instagram page on Thursday, “As a young boy, I had always dream to play for the national football team. Watching the likes of the veterans playing, I wanted to feel how it is like to score in front of the Kallang crowd.
“I had the chance when I made my debut in 2004 under coach Raddy (Avramovic), something that I couldn't forget for the rest of my life... It was only few years back when I achieved my 100th cap and I captained the national team on that night in Doha.
“I have given my soul every time I take on the pitch for our national team. Every sweat that drops is for our Lions.
“I am blessed to have the support of my family and fellow teammates whom I have played over the years. Just like me, they give their all to the nation.
“After 15 years and 132 caps, now is the time for me to pass the scoring boots to our young players.”
Prolific striker since young
Part of the pioneer batch of the now-defunct National Football Academy in 2000, Amri scored 54 goals in 114 games for the Young Lions before leaving for Tampines Rovers in 2008. The same year, he won the S-League Young Player of the Year accolade.
He then spent one season spell in Indonesia with Persiba Balikpapan, before signing up with the LionsXII in their inaugural Malaysian Super League (MSL) season. He would have several more stints with the Young Lions, LionsXII and Tampines, winning the 2013 S-League title with the Stags.
After 135 goals in the S-League and 35 goals for the LionsXII in the MSL, Amri joined Felda United earlier this year and has already scored seven goals in eight matches for his new club this season.
Tributes pour in from ex-teammates, FAS
Tributes have poured in from his former teammates as well as the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).
Defender Baihakki Khaizan, who also graduated from the pioneer batch of the National Football Academy, was Amri’s regular roommate during international fixtures over the last decade.
He posted a message on Amri’s Instagram post, “All the best, legend.. An honour to be your roommate for the past 10 years.”
Current national captain Hariss Harun also commented on the Instagram post, saying, “Thank you for everything and an honour to have played with you. All the best.”
And current national striker Ikhsan Fandi also chipped in, saying, “Learnt a lot just by watching you in (national team) trainings! Inshallah i can do the same or more for our country.”
In an article put up on Thursday on its official website, the FAS hailed Amri as “one of the best-ever strikers to pull on a Singapore jersey”.
“The Football Association of Singapore thanks Amri for his utmost dedication to the National Team and congratulates him on having a stellar international career as one of our finest Lions yet,” it added.
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