Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Akmal Rizal Bin Ahmad Rakhli | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | [1] | 12 December 1981||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | MP Kubang Pasu F.C. (head coach) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1998 | Kedah FA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | RC Strasbourg Academy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | Kedah FA | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
1999–2001 | RC Strasbourg | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
1999–2001 | → FCSR Haguenau (loan) | 36 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2002–2006 | Kedah FA | 53 | (38) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2006–2008 | Selangor FA | 39 | (23) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | Kuala Muda NAZA FC | 16 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | Kelantan FA | 18 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2011–2012 | Perak FA | 45 | (14) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | Kedah FA | 16 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | Sarawak FA | 5 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | Kedah United F.C. | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 242 | (107) | |||||||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1998–2004 | Malaysia U23 | 24 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2001–2008 | Malaysia | 22 [2] | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | PB Melayu Kedah | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2020–2021 | Penang (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2022–2023 | Penang U21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2023 | Penang (caretaker) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2024 | Penang | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2025– | MPKP Kubang Pasu | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 January 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 December 2013 |
Akmal Rizal Bin Ahmad Rakhli (born 12 December 1981) is a former Malaysian professional footballer who played as a forward. He is one of the batch of Malaysians to play overseas. [3]
A product of the Kedah youth academy (Kedah Piala President), Akmal made his way abroad to RC Strasbourg. He made his debut for the RC Strasbourg Academy U-21 which ended in a 3–1 win against FC Köln II, scoring 2 goals. [4] In 2000, to aid his development, the then 19-year-old forward joined FCSR Haguenau on loan. [5] He scored 11 goals in 22 games and won Championnat de France amateur 2. [6] On 20 May 2000, during RC Strasbourg's tour to Malaysia, Akmal and Peguy Luyindula helped them beat GNK Dinamo Zagreb 2–0 in friendly match at the Shah Alam Stadium. [7] He attracted the attention of former Mainz coach Jürgen Klopp. [8]
In 2002, he returned from abroad and played for his former youth club. [9] In the 2003 Liga Perdana 1, he scored 10 goals in 24 games and become runner-up with the club. [10]
He then played for Selangor for the 2006–07 Malaysia Super League. [11]
In the 2009 Malaysia Super League, he joined the new promoted Kuala Muda Naza. [12]
On 12 January 2010, he scored his first goal for Kelantan FA in a 3–0 win against Johor FA. [13] Later, he finally won his first Malaysia Cup in the 2010 Malaysia Cup Final after Kelantan beat Negeri Sembilan FA 2-1. [14]
After leaving Kelantan FA, he joined Perak FA and reunited with former national team coach Norizan Bakar. [15]
He made his second debut on 7 January 2013, appearing as a substitute in a 1–0 win against UiTM F.C.. On 8 March 2013, he scored his first season goal, against Kuala Lumpur FA. [16] He made 16 appearances with Kedah FA before he agreed to join Sarawak FA for the 2014 Malaysia Super League season.
On 10 November 2013, Akmal Rizal officially signed a one-year contract with Sarawak FA after being released by Kedah FA. [17]
In 2015, Akmal Rizal played with Kedah United F.C. in the FAM League.
He represented Malaysia U23 for the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. [18] He also represented Malaysia U23 for the Afro-Asian Games Hyderabad, India in October 2003. [19] In 2002, Akmal was called up for an international friendly match against Brazil. [20] [21] [22] He has also been called up by the Malaysia national football team coach Norizan Bakar for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. [23]
Akmal Rizal retired from playing professionally in 2016. He was the co-commentator for Media Prima Berhad. He also opened a youth football academy in hometown Jitra, while completing the coaching course. [24] [25]
On 27 December 2019, Akmal was hired to become assistant coach for Penang FC. [26] In 2022, he became head coach for Penang U-21. [27] On 7 November 2023, he became Penang caretaker for remaining of the 2023 Malaysia Super League season. [28] He were appointed as the permanent head coach of Penang for the 2024-25 season. [29]
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 8 March 2001 | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | ![]() | 2–0 | Won | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
2. | 8 March 2001 | Hong Kong, Hong Kong | ![]() | 2–0 | Won | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
3. | 25 March 2001 | Doha, Qatar | ![]() | 4–3 | Won | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
4. | 25 March 2001 | Doha, Qatar | ![]() | 4–3 | Won | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) |
5. | 11 December 2002 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 5–0 | Won | Friendly |
6. | 18 December 2002 | Singapore, Singapore | ![]() | 0–4 | Won | 2002 Tiger Cup Group Stage |
7. | 20 December 2002 | Singapore, Singapore | ![]() | 3–1 | Won | 2002 Tiger Cup Group Stage |
8. | 12 July 2004 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 2–0 | Won | Friendly |
9. | 21 June 2007 | Petaling Jaya, Malaysia | ![]() | 1–3 | Loss | Friendly |
FCSR Haguenau
Kedah FA
Selangor FA
Kelantan FA
Malaysia U-23
Penang U-21