Malaysian politician and former professional footballer
In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Bakhtiar is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Baddrol. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Baddrol is usually employed in the right side of the midfield role, although he has often been deployed as a left-sided midfielder.[4]
He spent most of his club career with Kedah Darul Aman (formerly known as Kedah FA) starting from 2006 until end of 2021, before signing for Sabah FC on 1 December 2021 as a free transfer.[5]
He left Sabah FC and retired from football in 2023 before venturing into politics. During the 2023 Kedah state election, he was announced as the Perikatan Nasional candidate for the Gurun state constituency.
Club career
Kedah
Baddrol began his football career with the Kedah youth team. He also was part of the Kedah's 2006 Sukma Games team that won the silver medal. He was a regular throughout the tournament. His performance during theSukma Games attracted the interest of the Kedah Football Association management. Baddrol signed his first professional contract with Kedah in the 2005-06 season and made his debut in the 2006 Malaysia Cup away match against Penang.[6] Baddrol established himself in Kedah's first team, competing for his spot alongside K. Soley as a right winger and Khyril Muhymeen on the left
Nevertheless, after K. Soley left Kedah to join their local rivals, Perlis, Baddrol proved himself as one of the best young talents of the Kedah's youth team system. Starting from the 2007-08 season, Baddrol became a first-team regular for Azraai Khor's squad and performed well in each match with his ability to terrorise defenders, and his pace and trickery with the ball.
Baddrol played more than 400 matches and scored 123 goals in all competitions for Kedah, making him recognised as the club's all-time top scorer.[7][8]
In August 2011, rumours circulated that English Premier League club Wigan Athletic FC offered Baddrol a trial, but this was neither denied nor confirmed by Wigan officials.[10][11] The rumour would later eventually be dismissed as false.
Sabah FC
After playing for Kedah for almost 16 years, Baddrol signed for Sabah on a free transfer at the age of 33. He made his home debut on 4th April 2022 against Negeri Sembilan.
Baddrol bade his farewell to Sabah after having played his last match for the club in a 4–0 home win against Sri Pahang on 15 July 2023, a day after his departure was confirmed.[12] He made 42 appearances and scored 15 goals in all competitions with Sabah.[13]
Baddrol was called up by Malaysia U-23 national coach K.Rajagobal for 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos. He scored 3 goals throughout the tournament to assist the national U-23 sides to win the gold medal for the first time after 20 years since the team won it in 1989.
He made his full international debut against Kenya on 12 August 2009. He scored his first goal for the senior team in a match against Uzbekistan on 18 November 2009.
Baddrol was called up again by Ong Kim Swee to play for 2011 Southeast Asian Games squad in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was chosen as captain for the team and managed to score 3 goals throughout the tournament en route to final match against the host Indonesia which the game tied at 1-1 after extra time. During penalty shootout, Baddrol scored the decisive penalty kick and enable the team to win the gold medal twice consecutively after the last winning on 2009 SEA Games edition.
In 2018 Asian Games, he was selected as one of the overage players for the Malaysia U-23 team. He captained the team throughout the tournament and create an upset in a 2–1 win over South Korea U-23 team.[14]
Political career
Immediately after leaving Sabah FC, Baddrol returned to his home state, Kedah, and switched his career to politics by joining the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Baddrol stated his purpose for joining PAS is to defend the leadership of Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Nor, the Menteri Besar of Kedah at that time.[15] He was named as a candidate for Gurun in the 2023 Kedah state election representing the Perikatan Nasional ticket.[16][17] He won and became the Gurun assemblyman.[18]
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