Brendan Gan
Brendan Gan Seng Ling (simplified Chinese: 颜兴龙; traditional Chinese: 顏興龍; pinyin: Yán Xìng Lóng; born 3 June 1988) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder and captain for Malaysia Super League club Selangor and the Malaysia national team.
| Gan with Sydney FC in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brendan Gan Seng Ling | ||
| Date of birth | 3 June 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Sutherland, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Selangor | ||
| Number | 88 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1999 | Marton Hammers | ||
| 2000–2007 | Sutherland Sharks | ||
| 2008–2009 | Sydney FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008 | Sutherland Sharks | 15 | (6) |
| 2008–2011 | Sydney FC | 38 | (5) |
| 2011–2012 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles | 9 | (2) |
| 2012 | Sabah | 19 | (2) |
| 2013–2014 | Rockdale City Suns | 22 | (3) |
| 2014–2016 | Kelantan | 31 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Perak | 28 | (5) |
| 2020– | Selangor | 39 | (10) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014 | Malaysia U23 | 5 | (0) |
| 2016– | Malaysia | 27 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 January 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 January 2023 | |||
Club career
Brendan began playing football for his local club, the Marton Hammers before signing for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old, progressing through their youth grades to make his senior debut for the club in 2008. He made 15 league appearances scoring 6 goals, and 3 appearances in the Finals Series.[1] It was this debut season that shot Gan to prominence within the local media which brought with it a growing reputation to match.[2] He did not disappoint with dazzling performances week in week out which eventually led him to being crowned the New South Wales Premier League player of the year, winning the Gold Medal award for the competition.[3]
Sydney FC
He was signed by Sydney FC for their inaugural National Youth League squad ahead of competition from rival A-League clubs.[4][5]
On 28 November 2008, Gan made his debut for Sydney FC against Queensland Roar with a 5-minute cameo where he turned heads. [6][7]
On 7 December, he scored the winning goal in the 78th minute for Sydney FC against the Newcastle Jets to give them their first win in 7 games.[8]
Gan was given his full senior debut on 13 December against Central Coast Mariners.[9] He scored his second senior goal against Melbourne Victory with a long range strike from outside the penalty area.[10]
Gan scored his third senior goal against Wellington Phoenix with a powerful header from a corner. This goal gave Sydney FC a 2–0 win over Wellington and placed them on the top of the table, leapfrogging Gold Coast United.
On 2 December 2010, in only his second start for the season, he scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win, once again against Wellington Phoenix.
He was released from Sydney, along with several other players at the end of Sydney's 2011 Asian Champions League campaign.[11]
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Gan signed for Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the NSW Premier League,[12] and made his debut in the Round 15 game against Sydney United.[13]
Sabah FA
On 17 November 2011, Brendan joined the Malaysian club, Sabah as one of the two foreign players allowed in the 2012 Malaysia Super League. Brendan, alongside his fellow countrymen, Michael Baird signed a one-year contract with Sabah.[14]
Rockdale City Suns
Brendan signed with Rockdale City Suns FC NSW Premier League the next season since no contract extension was offered by Sabah. With this opportunity, he confirmed his intention to return to the A-League.[15]
Kelantan FA
In November 2013, Brendan returned to Malaysia and signed a three-year contract with Kelantan. He was supposed to be registered as a local player for Kelantan but did not get the approval from FAM because according to FAM any player to be registered as a local player is required to have Malaysian identity card or passport. On 6 April, he officially obtained an identity card and was registered by Kelantan as a local player on April transfer window.[16][17][18][19]
He made his debut during the match between Kelantan against Terengganu which ended 1–1. In the first match of the 2015 Malaysia Super League Gan suffered a serious torn ACL in his right knee that would keep him out for most of the 2015 season.[20] In September 2016 Gan suffered another ACL injury, this time in his left knee which keep him out for 10 months, ruling him out for the 2016 AFF Championship.[21]
Selangor
On 1 December 2019, Brendan officially joined Malaysia Super League club Selangor. On July 2021, Brendan was diagnosed with cancer and missed the rest of season.[22][23] In June 2022, he made his return in a 7-0 over Sarawak United, scoring a brace.[24] He was appointed as Selangor’s captain since 2021.
International career
Brendan made his first appearances with Malaysia as an overage player with the under 23 team against Yemen in a preparation for the 2014 Asian Games. He later debuted for Malaysia senior team on 24 March 2016 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Saudi Arabia.[25] He scored his first international goal in a 2-1 victory over Thailand during the 2022 World Cup qualification.[26]
Personal life
Brendan was born in Australia to an Australian mother and Malaysian father from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
Career statistics
Club statistics
- As of match played 26 November 2022.[27]
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Australia | League | Cup | Other | Asia | Total | |||||||
| 2008 | Sutherland Sharks | NSW Premier League | 15 | 6 | 3 | 0 | – | 18 | 6 | |||
| Total | 15 | 6 | 3 | 0 | – | 18 | 6 | |||||
| 2008–09 | Sydney FC | A-League | 9 | 2 | – | 9 | 2 | |||||
| 2009–10 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | 22 | 1 | |||||
| 2010–11 | 10 | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |||||
| 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 38 | 5 | 3 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 41 | 5 | |||
| 2011 | Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC | NSW Premier League | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 10 | 2 | |||
| Total | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 10 | 2 | |||||
| Malaysia | League | FA Cup | Malaysia Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
| 2012 | Sabah | Malaysia Super League | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |
| Total | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |||
| Australia | League | Cup | Other | Asia | Total | |||||||
| 2013 | Rockdale City Suns FC | National Premier Leagues | 22 | 3 | 4 | 0 | – | 26 | 3 | |||
| Total | 22 | 3 | 4 | 0 | – | 26 | 3 | |||||
| Malaysia | League | FA Cup | Malaysia Cup | Asia | Total | |||||||
| 2014 | Kelantan | Malaysia Super League | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | – | 23 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2016 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | 23 | 0 | |||
| Total | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | – | 47 | 0 | |||
| 2018 | Perak | Malaysia Super League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | – | 23 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 7 | ||
| Total | 28 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 9 | ||
| 2020 | Selangor | Malaysia Super League | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 11 | 4 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2022 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | – | 26 | 5 | |||
| Total | 37 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | – | 48 | 9 | |||
| Career total | 199 | 32 | 24 | 1 | 39 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 264 | 36 | ||
International
- As of match played 10 January 2022[28]
| Malaysia national team | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals | |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 1 | |
International goals
- As of match played 14 November 2019. Malaysia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Brendan goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 November 2019 | Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia | 14 | Thailand | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
Kelantan
- Malaysia Cup runner-up: 2013
Perak
- Malaysia Cup: 2018
- Malaysia FA Cup runner-up : 2019
Selangor
- Malaysia Cup runner-up: 2022
Malaysia
- King's Cup runner-up: 2022[29]
References
- ^ Player Profile - Brendan Gan
- ^ Brendan Gan – living the dream
- ^ 2008 Gold Medal Dinner a huge success as Brendan Gan scoops major award
- ^ Gan: I'm Only Here For A Year
- ^ Sydney's Gan set for homecoming
- ^ Hassett, Sebastian (28 November 2008). "Kosmina turns to young Gan". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Gan's the man most likely to soar". Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
- ^ Brendon Gan helps lift Sydney FC to victory over Newcastle Jets
- ^ . Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- ^ Hassett, Sebastian (30 December 2008). "Gan lights up Sydney's darkest days". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ . SBS – The World Game. 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ^ "Bonnyrigg White Eagles snap up Brendan Gan". NSW Premier League. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ Bore draw at Edensor Park - Football NSW Article
- ^ Former rising star given another chance for shot at Glory Retrieved at 18 November 2011
- ^ Carayannis, Michael (6 March 2013). "Malaysian stint pays off for Gan". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader.
- ^ Transfer News: Kelantan want Brendan Gan as local player Retrieved at 23 November 2013
- ^ . Yahoo.com. malaysia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Brendan Gan sedia lepas kerakyatan Australia demi Liga Malaysia". astro awani.com. malaysia.
- ^ . Sinar Harian. malaysia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Kelantan's Brendan Gan ruled out for season ahead of Lions XII game". ESPN FC.com. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ "Malaysia's Brendan Gan to miss AFF Suzuki Cup with second ACL injury". ESPN FC.com. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
- ^ Brendan Gan diagnosed with testicular cancer - The Malaysian Reserve, 27 July 2021.
- ^ Unbreakable Brendan - New Straits Times, 6 February 2022.
- ^ Brendan sudah kembali - Harian Metro, 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Malaysia end World Cup qualifying campaign with 2-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia". New Straits Times Online. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ Brendan Gan dedicates goal to his newborn son - New Straits Times, 19 November 2019.
- ^ "Brendan Gan". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ "Brendan Gan". National Football Teams. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ Fai, Ooi Kin (25 September 2022). "Harimau Malaya lose King's Cup final after penalty shootout heartbreak". nst.com.my. Chiang Mai, Thailand: New Straits Times. from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.