Fergus Tierney

Fergus Tierney

Tierney with Johor Darul Ta'zim II in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-03-19) 19 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Chonburi
Number	9
Youth career
2017–2021	Soccer Experience FC
2022	Johor Darul Ta'zim III
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–	Johor Darul Ta'zim II	17	(0)
2024	→ Chonburi (loan)	13	(1)
International career‡
2023–	Malaysia U23	12	(3)
2024–	Malaysia	6	(1)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Malaysia Malaysia U-22 Merlion Cup Winner 2023
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 December 2024

Fergus Tierney (born 19 March 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim. Born in Scotland, he represents Malaysia at international level. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Early years

Tierney was born in Glasgow in 2003, and was raised in Penang, Malaysia since childhood, which makes him a naturalized player and therefore holds a Malaysian passport. ^{[7] [8]}

Club career

Youth

Tierney started his youth career in Malaysia with Soccer Experience FC, and went on many international football trips where he would play against players from professional football academies.

In his playing days with Soccer Experience FC, he would play in Europe against academy teams like Atlético Madrid youth teams, ^[9] Osasuna Cantera, Levante Academy, ^[10] Tenerife academy, Rangers B Team and Academy ^[11] and youth teams in Southeast Asia against teams like Barcelona's Asian academies, Penang, JSSL Singapore and other regional clubs.

Over the years of travelling from Malaysia to play internationally and gain exposure and experience Tierney was invited to train with clubs like, Sunderland, Leicester City, Dundee, Goa, St Johnstone and many more.

Johor Darul Ta'zim II

After the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown was eased, Tierney who was 18 years old at that time, was invited to train with the Penang first team. He was also invited to train with Johor Darul Ta'zim and in early 2022, signed a professional contract with the Malaysia Super League giants where he was coached by former Boca Juniors player Mariano Echeverría. ^{[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]} He was part of the squad that won the 2022 Malaysia Premier League title. ^{[17] [18]}

Chonburi (loan)

On 26 July 2024, Tierney joined Thai League 2 side Chonburi on a season loan. On 9 August, 18 seconds into his debut, he scored his first goal, which is also the club's first league goal of the season in a 4–0 win against Suphanburi. On 9 December, Tierney's loan contract was terminated alongside Charlie Clough as the club decided on a change of strategy to prepare for the second half of the season.

International career

Being born in Scotland and raised in Malaysia since childhood, Tierney was eligible to play for either Scotland or Malaysia. He would eventually opt to represent Malaysia.

Youth

At only 19 years old, Tierney was called up to the Malaysia U23 squad in February 2023 and again called up in March 2023 for the Malaysian team that went on to win the Merlion Cup for the first time that was held in Singapore.

In April 2023 Tierney was selected again to the Malaysia U23 squad for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Tierney was again selected in August 2023 for the AFF U-23 Championship held in Thailand where he scored crucial goals including a double against Indonesia U23 to help his Malaysia team win 2–1 and he also helped the team reach the 3rd & 4th Playoff.

In September 2023, Tierney was selected again for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification held in Thailand and helped the Malaysia team advance from the AFC regional qualifiers and reach the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup tournament to be held in Qatar in April 2024.

In April 2024, Tierney was selected for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup tournament.

Senior

Tierney was selected for the training camp ahead of the international friendlies against Laos and India in November 2024, replacing the injured Romel Morales. He made his senior debut for Malaysia on 14 November 2024 against Laos at the PAT Stadium. ^{[19] [20]}

Tierney scored his first goal for the senior team on 8 December 2024 in the 2024 ASEAN Championship group stage match against Cambodia at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, helping to equalise the score at 2–2. ^[21]

Personal life

Tierney is the son of former PDRM, Penang and Geylang International football player and academy coach and TV pundit for Astro SuperSport, Martin Tierney and also his mother Sharon Tierney was an elite athlete who has represented Scottish Athletics national team. Also his sisters, Murron Tierney and Grear Tierney are presently competitive footballers with Soccer Experience FC senior girls/ladies team. Both Murron and Grear are licensed Asian Football Confederation youth football coaches. ^[22]

International statistics

As of 21 December 2024 ^[23]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Malaysia	2024	6	1
Total		6	1

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	8 December 2024	Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia	Cambodia	2–2	2–2	2024 ASEAN Championship

Honours

JDT II

• Malaysia Premier League: 2022
• MFL Cup runner-up: 2023

References

1. "Kenali Pemain Muda JDT Berdarah Scotland, Fergus Tierney Yang Curi Perhatian E. Elavarasan". grandstandkita.net.
2. "Tierney tidak sabar beraksi di final Piala Merlion". hmetro.com.my. 25 March 2023.
3. "Fergus Tierney Jaringkan Gol Debut Bersama Harimau Malaya". edisiviral.com.
4. "Elavarasan panggil pemain Scotland sertai latihan pusat". bharian.com.my.
5. "Tierney teruja menanti aksi final". klik.com.my.
6. "Newbies aplenty in Elavarasan's SEA Games training squad". thestar.com.my. 12 February 2023.
7. "Kenali Pemain Muda JDT Berdarah Scotland, Fergus Tierney Yang Curi Perhatian E. Elavarasan" (in Malay). Grand Stand Kita. 11 February 2023.
8. T. Avineshwaran (12 February 2023). "Newbies aplenty in Elavarasan's SEA Games training squad". The Star. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
9. "Atletico Madrid academy". competize.com.
10. "Levante academy". competize.com.
11. "x.com".
12. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
13. "Kelab penyokong setia harimau selatan". Facebook .
14. "JDT". makanbola.com. 11 February 2022.
15. "x.com".
16. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
17. "JDT WINNING". johorsoutherntigers.my. 24 February 2021.
18. "JDT". johorsoutherntigers.my.
19. "Big break for Fergus after Morales injury". New Straits Times. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
20. "Harimau Malaya beat Laos 3-1 in friendly". New Straits Times. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
21. "Malaysia's opening draw hints at trying ASEAN Championship that could follow". ESPN. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
22. "Introducing the Rising Malaysian Star with Scottish Heritage - footboom1.com".
23. "Fergus Tierney". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 9 December 2024.