Akmal Rizal

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Ahmad Rakhli is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Akmal Rizal. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

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]

Akmal Rizal

Personal information
Full name	Akmal Rizal Bin Ahmad Rakhli
Date of birth	(1981-12-12) 12 December 1981 (age 43)[1]
Place of birth	Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position	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 Men's football Representing  Malaysia Malaysia U23 SEA Games 2003 Vietnam Football 2001 Malaysia Football
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 January 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 December 2013

Club career

Early career

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]

Kedah FA

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]

Selangor FA

He then played for Selangor for the 2006–07 Malaysia Super League.^[11]

Kuala Muda Naza FC

In the 2009 Malaysia Super League, he joined the new promoted Kuala Muda Naza.^[12]

Kelantan FA

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]

Perak FA

After leaving Kelantan FA, he joined Perak FA and reunited with former national team coach Norizan Bakar.^[15]

Kedah FA

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.

Sarawak FA

On 10 November 2013, Akmal Rizal officially signed a one-year contract with Sarawak FA after being released by Kedah FA.^[17]

Kedah United F.C.

In 2015, Akmal Rizal played with Kedah United F.C. in the FAM League.

International career

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]

After retirement

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]

Coaching career

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]

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	8 March 2001	Hong Kong, Hong Kong	Hong Kong	2–0	Won	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
2.	8 March 2001	Hong Kong, Hong Kong	Hong Kong	2–0	Won	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
3.	25 March 2001	Doha, Qatar	Palestine	4–3	Won	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
4.	25 March 2001	Doha, Qatar	Palestine	4–3	Won	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)
5.	11 December 2002	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Cambodia	5–0	Won	Friendly
6.	18 December 2002	Singapore, Singapore	Singapore	0–4	Won	2002 Tiger Cup Group Stage
7.	20 December 2002	Singapore, Singapore	Thailand	3–1	Won	2002 Tiger Cup Group Stage
8.	12 July 2004	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	Singapore	2–0	Won	Friendly
9.	21 June 2007	Petaling Jaya, Malaysia	United Arab Emirates	1–3	Loss	Friendly

Honours

Club

FCSR Haguenau

• Championnat de France amateur 2 : 2000^[30]

Kedah FA

• Liga Perdana 2 : 2002
• Liga Perdana 1 : runner-up 2003
• Malaysia Premier League : 2005-06

Selangor FA

• Malaysia Cup : 2008 runner-up
• Malaysia FA Cup : 2008 runner-up

Kelantan FA

• Malaysia Super League : runner-up 2010
• Malaysia Cup : 2010

International

Malaysia U-23

• SEA Games : silver 2001;^[18] bronze 2003

Individual

• SEA Games Top Scorer : 2001

Coaching

Penang U-21

• Sukma Games : silver 2022^[31]