Shahar-ud-Din Abdullah

For almost two decades Shahar-ud-Din Abdullah was one of the best football strikers in Malaysia and had a lengthy career at both the domestic and international level. In 1964 Abdullah joined Penang FA’s youth team before making his senior début with the side in 1967. From 1970 to 1973 he played for Penjara FC and returned to play for Penang from 1974 to 1982. With Penang he won two editions of the Burnley Cup (1964–65, 1966), three editions of the Malaysia Kings Gold Cup (1966, 1968, 1969), the Malaysia Cup (1974), and the Malaysia League title (1982). Abdullah also enjoyed success at Penjara with three Malaysia FAM Cup wins (1970, 1971, 1973).

Abdullah played in 70 matches for the Malaysia national football team from 1967 to 1974 and scored 39 goals. He was part of Malaysia’s squad for the football tournament at the 1972 München Olympics. He played in all three of Malaysia’s matches including scoring the opening goal in the team’s 3–0 win against the United States. Two years later Abdullah played for Malaysia at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran where the team won the bronze medal. In 2004 the Olympic Council of Malaysia inducted all the squad from the 1972 München Games into their Hall of Fame.