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Hassan Sunny

Singaporean footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hassan Sunny
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Hassan Abdullah Sunny (born on 2 April 1984), commonly known as Hassan Sunny, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Singapore Premier League club Albirex Niigata (S).

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As of 2025, Hassan Sunny is the first and only player in the history of the Singapore Premier League to have won four league titles with four different clubs. He achieved this feat with Tampines Rovers in 2011, Warriors FC in 2014, Lion City Sailors in 2021, and Albirex Niigata (S) in 2023.[3]

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Club career

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Geylang United

In 2003, Sunny joined Geylang United from the National Football Academy. He was nominated for S-League Young Player of the Year.[4]

Young Lions

In 2004, Sunny joined the newly-formed Young Lions Football Club. Sunny joined alongside Baihakki Khaizan, Shahril Ishak and Khairul Amri, a group known as the "NFA Gang of Four" for playing together since their early teens.[5]

Geylang United

After completing the National Service in Singapore, Sunny returned to Geylang United in 2006.

Tampines Rovers

In January 2008, Sunny joined Tampines Rovers, rivals of Geylang United. He made his debut on 1 March in a 1–1 draw against Balestier Khalsa. In March 2011, he marked his 100th appearance for the club, the same year in which Tampines Rovers secured both the S.League and the Singapore Community Shield titles.

Singapore Armed Forces (Warriors)

In December 2011, Sunny joined the Singapore Armed Forces FC. Sunny later played in the AFC Cup against Indonesian the club Semen Padang in a 3–1 defeat on 5 March 2013. He registered his first clean sheet in the competition in a 1–0 victory over Indian club Churchill Brothers on 10 April 2013. He participated in the 2014 S.League season when the Warriors FC won the league title.[6] He went on to became the first goalkeeper to win the S.League 'Player of the Year' award in 2014.[7]

Army United

Sunny joined Army United for the 2015 Thai Premier League season, making his debut in a 1–0 win over Royal Thai Navy.[8] In November 2015, he signed a new two-year contract with the club Army United[9] The Daily Telegraph ranked him 18th in its list of the top 20 goalkeepers worldwide in 2016. Following Army United’s relegation from Thai League 1 in December 2016, he was released, bringing his two-year tenure with the club to a close.[10]

Home United

Following his release from the Thai League side, Sunny signed for S.League side Home United on 6 January 2017. He was named club captain for the 2017 season.[6]

Gainare Tottori trials

On 10 February 2017, Sunny joined Japanese third-tier (J3) club Gainare Tottori. He played for Gainare in two friendly matches.[11]

Return to Army United

After the end of the 2017 S.League season, Sunny re-signed for Army United in December 2017 and played for them during the 2018 Thai League 2 season. He made his return to the club in the club's season opener against Nongbua Pitchaya on 10 February 2018, facing off against another Singaporean goalkeeper, Izwan Mahbud, who was also making his debut.[12] On 30 June 2019, Sunny made his 100th appearance for the club in a 2–1 win over Kasetsart.[13]

Lion City Sailors

After 2 seasons with Army United, Hassan penned a 2-year deal with Lion City Sailors in January 2020. In his first season, he kept 5 clean sheets in 11 matches before the league was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hassan went on to win the 2021 Singapore Premier League title with the club.[14]

On 19 February 2022, Sunny helped the Sailors win the 2022 Singapore Community Shield.[15] During the club's 2022 AFC Champions League group stage campaign, he kept 3 clean sheets in 6 matches. Sunny made his AFC Champions League debut on 15 April 2022 against J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds. He left the club at the end of the season.

Albirex Niigata Singapore

On 16 December 2022, Albirex Niigata (S) announced it had signed Hassan on a 2-year contract until 2024, his sixth club in the Singapore Premier League.[16] On 8 June 2023, Sunny signed a 1-year contract extension until the end of the 2024–25 season.[17] In his first season at the club, he won the 2023 Singapore Premier League title, becoming the first and only player in the league's history to win the league titles with 4 different clubs - also winning the league Golden Gloves with 9 clean sheets.

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International career

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Youth

Sunny kept goal for the Singapore U23 team that participated in the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam. Hassan's first appearance for Singapore came in August 2003 during a friendly match against the Japanese Olympic team. Hassan was part of the Singapore U23 squad at the 2007 SEA Games, which won the team a bronze medal.

Senior

Hassan had to wait until 18 February 2004 for his first cap for the Singapore national team, which came against India in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[18] In January 2010, Hassan was selected to participate in the 2010 King's Cup, where he played in all three matches against Thailand, Denmark and Poland. On 9 August 2014, Hassan captained Singapore on the country's independence day in a goalless draw against Hong Kong. On 14 October, he captained Singapore to a 2–2 draw against Macau. On 13 June 2016, Hassan was chosen as the starting goalkeeper against two-time FIFA World Cup winners Argentina in a friendly match where he conceded two goals before being subbed out for Izwan Mahbud in the 50th minute.[19] Hassan won his 75th cap for the Lions in early September 2018 against Mauritius.[20] On the 18th of August 2024, Hassan retired from international football after 115 caps over 20 years.[21]

Media headlines in Indonesia and Singapore for his performances

Hassan was selected for the 2020 AFF Championship that took place in December 2021, featuring in all of Singapore's games and making 20 saves throughout the entire tournament. On 25 December 2021, Hassan made 11 saves for the Lions against Indonesia but got sent off in the 118th minute of extra time after a last-man tackle on Irfan Jaya. The Lions lost 4–2 in the end. He was later voted into the "Team of the Tournament" for his performance in the entire tournament.

On 24 September 2022, 18 years on from that World Cup qualifier against India in Goa in his international debut, he earned his 100th cap against the same opponents in the 2022 VFF Tri-Nations Series.[22]

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against China at the Singapore National Stadium, Singapore was down by two goals when they conceded a penalty. Hassan made a penalty save, denying Wu Lei from scoring. The game later ended in a 2-2 draw.

Media headlines in China

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Thailand, where the opponents were one goal short of qualifying for the next round, Hassan performed 11 saves.[23] Although Singapore ultimately lost to Thailand 3–1, the result meant that Thailand did not progress to the next round, and China, the next runner-up in the group, qualified instead.[24]

Hassan's performance during the match impressed many Chinese viewers and received significant publicity on Chinese social media platforms. Many Chinese football fans complimented his saves and showed their appreciation and support by patronizing his nasi padang stalls and sending him money via the QR code displayed for payment at his stalls.[25][26][27] He was also mobbed by fans during a family trip to Shanghai following the game.[28]

Retirement

On 18 August 2024, Hassan announced his retirement from the national team via an Instagram post. [29] Hassan continued to play for Albirex Niigata in the Singapore Premier League.[18]

Others

Singapore Selection squad

Hassan was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for the Sultan of Selangor's Cup held on 6 May 2017.[30]

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Sponsorship and media

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Hassan has a sponsorship deal with sportswear and equipment supplier Puma.

"I am happy to receive such recognition, but I was simply doing my job [at the game between Singapore and Thailand]. In terms of results, the game was not something to be proud of. However, for me, it feels great to receive such recognition from another country."

– Hassan being grateful for the support he received from Chinese football fans[31]

Following Hassan's performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, allowing China's national football team to qualify for the next round of the qualifiers, Hassan went viral on numerous Chinese social media platforms, with his Nasi Padang stall being visited by numerous Chinese fans and tourists in a show of support. Numerous monetary donations were also made to the stall by Chinese fans.[32][33][34][35] Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam also praised Hassan for his performance and recognition on social media.

Following a scam attempt involving the QR code at his Nasi Padang stall, in a social media post, Hassan asked his fans to stop sending money via that QR code.[36] Hassan said he would be donating the money already sent to charity, as it did not belong to him; he stated that he was "doing his part for the community".[37][38]

In June 2024, Hassan flew to Shanghai at the invitation of real estate firm CapitaLand, where he and his family were mobbed by Chinese football fans. Hassan made unscheduled appearances at three CapitaLand malls in Shanghai and also visited the children's football club HiKicker Youth FC.[39]

Personal life

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According to an interview, Hassan started playing football competitively when he was 11, captaining his school, May Primary School.[40] He later went on to represent the Braddell Secondary School football team.[40] Hassan started playing football as a midfielder, only switching to playing as a goalkeeper due to an asthma attack he suffered when he was 12.[40] He also quipped that his happiest football memory was that, back in 1999, he scored the winning goal from the halfway line in a game that ended 2–1.[40][41]

Hassan has stated that his favorite goalkeepers are Manuel Neuer and Joe Hart.[42]

Hassan owns two Nasi Padang stalls, both named Dapur Hassan, in Tampines, Singapore; he opened his first stall with his family in October 2021.[43] On 22 August 2023, he opened his second stall at Tampines.[44]

In July 2024, after Chinese football fans donated funds to his stall in appreciation for his performance against Thailand, he donated $10,000 to the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home, a children’s shelter in Singapore, helping fund its 2024 CharityFest. [45]

In February 2025, he launched his own minimalist apparel line, Has & Co., debuting the brand at the FOMO Weekend Market in Singapore. [46]

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Career statistics

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Club

As of match played on 16 June 2024
More information Club, Season ...
  • Young Lions are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
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Honours

Club

Tampines Rovers

Warriors

Lion City Sailors

Albirex Niigata (S)

International

Individual

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See also

References

External links

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