News Singapore Premier League • January 18, 2021
Singapore stalwart Shahril Ishak joins Hougang United
Shahril Ishak in action for Lion City Sailors in 2020
SINGAPORE, 18 JANUARY 2021 – Hougang United have made one of the highest-profile transfers for the upcoming 2021 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season with the signing of Shahril Ishak.
The veteran Singapore attacker, who turns 37 later this month, will make the Cheetahs his fifth SPL club for his 13th domestic season following the expiry of his contract with the Lion City Sailors. Shahril becomes their seventh new signing after Mukundan Maran, Kaishu Yamazaki, Afiq Yunos, Idraki Adnan, Aizil Yazid and Tomoyuki Doi.
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One of Singapore’s most-decorated players ever at international level, and regarded as one of the finest the nation has ever seen, Shahril has been capped 138 times for the Lions – only behind Daniel Bennett’s 142 – and was part of the teams that triumphed in the 2004, 2007 and 2012 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championships. He was named the Most Valuable Player for the tournament in 2012 and bagged the AFF Player of the Year gong in 2013.
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Known for his guile and razor-sharp instincts, Shahril’s intelligence and skill has seen him flourish wherever he has been at since making his professional debut with the Young Lions in 2003. Regarded as one of the best local prospects then, Shahril went on to play for Home United and Warriors FC, winning the S.LEAGUE Player of the Year in 2010 with the former. He also had stints in Indonesia with Persib Bandung and Medan Chiefs, while he helped the LionsXII to the Malaysia Super League title in 2013.
Shahril scored thrice in nine games for the Sailors last season and his vast experience and know-how should prove to be of benefit to Hougang, who are looking to bounce back from last season’s sixth-place finish.
