:Wan Kuzain
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Malay name|Wan Kuzain|Wan Ahmad Kamal| note=on}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Wan Kuzain
| fullname = Wan Kuzain bin Wan Ahmad Kamal
| image = Wan Kuzain (1).jpg
| caption = Wan Kuzain in 2019
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|9|14}}
| birth_place = Carbondale, Illinois, United States
| height = 1.78 m
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = St. Louis City 2
| clubnumber = 75
| youthyears1 = 2015–2016
| youthclubs1 = St. Louis Scott Gallagher
| youthyears2 = 2016–2017
| youthclubs2 = Sporting Kansas City
| years1 = 2016
| clubs1 = Saint Louis FC
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017–2020
| clubs2 = Sporting Kansas City II
| caps2 = 58
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2018–2020
| clubs3 = Sporting Kansas City
| caps3 = 6
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2021
| clubs4 = Rio Grande Valley FC
| caps4 = 19
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2022–
| clubs5 = St. Louis City 2
| caps5 = 65
| goals5 = 13
| nationalyears1 = 2015
| nationalteam1 = United States U17
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| pcupdate = 21 December 2024
| ntupdate =
}}
Wan Kuzain bin Wan Ahmad Kamal (born September 14, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for MLS Next Pro side St. Louis City 2 and has played for the United States at the under-17 level.
Career
= Early =
Born and raised by his Malaysian parents{{Cite news |date=December 12, 2017 |title=Wan Kuzain One-on-one: "It'll be an honour to wear either jersey, Malaysia or US" |work=FourFourTwo |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/my/features/wan-kuzain-one-one-itll-be-honour-wear-either-jersey-malaysia-or-us |access-date=April 16, 2018}} in Carbondale, Illinois, United States, Wan Kuzain played Academy soccer with St. Louis Scott Gallagher.{{Cite web |title=Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal |url=https://www.sportingkc.com/players/wan-kuzain-wan-kamal |access-date=October 13, 2018 |website=Sporting Kansas City}} He was chosen to represent United States U-17 soccer team in 2013 and 2014 and also trained with Feyenoord Academy in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Bergabo |first=Patrick |date=August 18, 2016 |title=Swope Park Rangers sign Albelo, Hernandez, Wan Kamal and Wilkinson from Sporting KC Academy |url=https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2016/08/18/swope-park-rangers-sign-albelo-hernandez-wan-kamal-and-wilkinson-sporting-kc-academy |access-date=November 30, 2017 |publisher=Sporting KC}}{{Cite web |title=Sporting midfielder Wan Kuzain trains with Malaysia U-22 Men's National Team |url=https://www.sportingkc.com/news/sporting-midfielder-wan-kuzain-trains-malaysia-u-22-men-s-national-team |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=Sporting Kansas City |language=en}} Wan Kuzain signed with United Soccer League side Saint Louis FC on May 21, 2016.{{Cite web |title=Saint Louis FC Sign Two Academy Players - Saint Louis Football Club |url=http://saintlouisfc.com/sports/msoc/2016-17/releases/5-21-16_STLFC_Sign_Wan_Kamal_and_Stanley# |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408082142/http://saintlouisfc.com/sports/msoc/2016-17/releases/5-21-16_STLFC_Sign_Wan_Kamal_and_Stanley# |archive-date=April 8, 2017 |access-date=April 7, 2017}} While there, he spent time on loan with the club's USL Premier Development League side Saint Louis FC U23.{{Cite web |title=Statistics - 2016 Regular Season - Premier Development League |url=http://www.uslpdl.com/stats/league_instance/39413?subseason=278141&tab=league_instance_player_stats |access-date=February 25, 2018 |website=www.uslpdl.com}}
= Swope Park Rangers =
After spending time at the Sporting Kansas City academy, Wan Kuzain joined Kansas City's USL affiliate Swope Park Rangers in March 2017.{{Cite news |date=March 28, 2017 |title='Malaysian Messi' Wan Kuzain creates history with American debut |work=NST Online |url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/03/224930/malaysian-messi-wan-kuzain-creates-history-american-debut |access-date=February 25, 2018}} That same year, he became the first player of Malaysian heritage to play in the USL, and to win the Western Conference.{{Cite news |last=Hashim |first=Firdaus |date=November 8, 2017 |title=Kuzain cipta sejarah |work=BH Online |publisher=Media Prima Group |url=https://www.bharian.com.my/sukan/bola/2017/11/348442/kuzain-cipta-sejarah |access-date=November 30, 2017}}{{Cite news |date=March 28, 2017 |title='Malaysian Messi' Wan Kuzain creates history with American debut |work=New Straits Times |publisher=Media Prima Group |location=Kuala Lumpur |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/03/224930/malaysian-messi-wan-kuzain-creates-history-american-debut |access-date=November 30, 2017}}
= Sporting Kansas City =
Kuzain signed with the Sporting Kansas City first team in April 2018.{{Cite web |last=Kovzan |first=Sam |title=Sporting KC signs 19-year-old midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal as Homegrown Player |url=https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/04/13/sporting-kc-signs-19-year-old-midfielder-wan-kuzain-wan-kamal-homegrown-player |access-date=November 22, 2019 |website=SportingKC.com}} Kuzain scored his first MLS goal on June 3, 2018, against Minnesota United in a 4–1 victory.{{Cite web |last=Kovzan |first=Sam |date=April 13, 2018 |title=Sporting KC signs 19-year-old midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal as Homegrown Player |url=https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/04/13/sporting-kc-signs-19-year-old-midfielder-wan-kuzain-wan-kamal-homegrown-player |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414011007/https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2018/04/13/sporting-kc-signs-19-year-old-midfielder-wan-kuzain-wan-kamal-homegrown-player |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |access-date=October 13, 2018 |website=Sporting Kansas City}}
Kuzain's contract option was declined by Kansas City following their 2020 season.{{Cite web |title=Sporting KC announces roster moves ahead of 2021 MLS season |url=https://www.sportingkc.com/news/sporting-kc-announces-roster-moves-ahead-2021-mls-season |website=Sporting Kansas City |accessdate=February 7, 2022}}
=Rio Grande Valley FC Toros=
On March 1, 2021, Kuzain signed with USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.{{Cite web |date=March 2021 |title=Wan Kuzain Makes Move to Toros |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1149279}}
=St. Louis City 2=
International
Kuzain has trained with and represented the United States at the under-17 level in 2013 and 2014.{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2017 |title=Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal in contention for Malaysia U-23 call-up |url=https://football-tribe.com/asia/2017/03/30/wan-kuzain-wan-kamal-contention-malaysia-u-23-call/ |access-date=October 13, 2018 |publisher=Football Tribe Inc. |location=Sapporo |department=Football Tribe Asia}} He is eligible to represent both the United States and Malaysia.{{Cite news |last=Azharie |first=Farah |date=November 1, 2019 |title=Where's Wan Kuzain? |work=New Straits Times |publisher=Media Prima Group |location=Kuala Lumpur |url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2019/11/534733/wheres-wan-kuzain |access-date=November 1, 2019}} In November 2019, Kuzain was called up to train with the Malaysia under-22 national team ahead of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.{{Cite news |last=Ishak |first=Fadhli |date=November 20, 2019 |title=Footballer Wan Kuzain's poor BM a non-issue |work=New Straits Times |publisher=Media Prima Group |location=Kuala Lumpur |url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2019/11/540304/footballer-wan-kuzains-poor-bm-non-issue |access-date=November 22, 2019}} However, he was left out of the squad due to citizenship documentation issue.{{Cite news |last=Azharie |first=Farah |date=November 25, 2019 |title=Kuzain gutted not to be able to represent Malaysia |work=New Straits Times |publisher=Media Prima Group |location=Kuala Lumpur |url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2019/11/541789/kuzain-gutted-not-be-able-represent-malaysia |access-date=November 25, 2019}}
Personal life
His older brother, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, is a Malaysian politician,{{Cite web |title=Wan Kuzri, Wan Kuzain's minister brother Wan Fayhsal: 'I was more of a rugby player' {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en-my/news/wan-kuzri-wan-kuzains-minister-brother-wan-fayhsal-i-more/1x579cq4qxd9r16718ivcjrxwj |access-date=December 16, 2021 |website=www.goal.com}} while his younger brother, Wan Kuzri, is a US-based soccer player who was selected to join the provisional Malaysia national under-23 football team preparing for the 2022 AFF U-23 Championship.{{cite web |title=SENARAI 30 PEMAIN KE KEM LATIHAN PUSAT MENJELANG KEJUARAAN B-23 AFF 2022 DI PHNOM PENH, KEMBOJA {{!}} FAM |url=https://fam.org.my/news/senarai-30-pemain-ke-kem-latihan-pusat-menjelang-kejuaraan-b-23-aff-2022-di-phnom-penh-kemboja |access-date=July 28, 2022 |website=fam.org.my}}{{Cite web |date=January 22, 2022 |title=Piala AFF B-23: Wan Kuzri Kembali Sertai Kem Latihan Pusat Skuad Malaysia |url=https://www.vocketfc.com/piala-aff-b-23-wan-kuzri-kembali-sertai-kem-latihan-pusat-skuad-malaysia/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |website=VOCKET FC |language=ms}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played June 6, 2024|{{Soccerway|wan-kuzain-wan-kamal/479017|accessdate=December 21, 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Wan Kuzain |url=https://www.sportingkc.com/players/wan-kuzain-wan-kamal/ |website=Sporting Kansas City |accessdate=February 7, 2022}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes US Open Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Swope Park Rangers
|2017 |USL | 12 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 1{{efn|Appearances in playoffs}} | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2018
|USL | 20 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 2{{efn|Appearances in playoffs}} | 1 | 22 | 4 | ||
| 2019 | 25 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 25 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="2"|Sporting Kansas City II
|2020 |USL Championship | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!58 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 61 | 5 | |
| rowspan="4"|Sporting Kansas City
|2018 |MLS | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 1 | ||
| 2019
|MLS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020
|MLS | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| Rio Grande Valley FC
|2021 |USL Championship |19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | |
| rowspan="4"|St. Louis City 2
|2022 |23 | 5 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 3{{efn|Appearances in playoffs}} | 0 | 28 | 6 | ||
| 2023
|MLS Next Pro | 28 | 5 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 1{{efn|Appearances in playoffs}} | 0 | 29 | 5 | ||
| 2024
|MLS Next Pro | 14 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!65 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 71 | 14 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!148 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 159 | 23 |
Honors
Swope Park Rangers
- Western Conference: Winners (Playoffs) 2017{{Cite web |last=Villanueva |first=Araceli |date=November 5, 2017 |title=Swope Park Rangers wins back-to-back Western Conference Final titles in dramatic Penalty Shootout |url=https://www.thebluetestament.com/2017/11/5/16607898/swope-park-rangers-wins-back-to-back-western-conference-final-titles-in-penalty-shootout-usl-cup |access-date=November 30, 2017 |publisher=The Blue Statement}}
- United Soccer League Cup: Runner-up 2017{{Cite news |last=MCDowell |first=Sam |date=November 13, 2017 |title=Louisville City FC defeats Swope Park Rangers in USL Cup Final |work=The Kansas City Star |url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mls/sporting-kc/article184469663.html |access-date=November 30, 2017}}
St. Louis City 2
- Western Conference (regular season): 2022{{cite web|title=2022 MLS Next Pro Conference Standings|url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/standings/2022/conference#season=2022&live=false|access-date=December 5, 2024|publisher=MLS Next Pro}}
- Western Conference: 2022{{cite web|date=October 2, 2022|title=St Louis CITY2 Are MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference Champions |url=https://www.stlcitysc.com/news/st-louis-city2-are-mls-next-pro-western-conference-champions|access-date=December 5, 2024|publisher=St. Louis City SC}}
Individual
- USL Fans' Choice Goal of the Year: 2018{{Cite web |title=2018 Goal of the Year |url=https://www.uslsoccer.com/goal-of-the-year |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=uslsoccer.com |language=en-us}}
- USL Young Player of the Year: Finalist 2018{{Cite web |date=November 8, 2018 |title=2018 USL Awards Finalists Unveiled |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/962221-2018-usl-awards-finalists-unveiled |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=USL Championship |language=en-us}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|wan-kuzain-wan-kamal/479017}}
{{St. Louis City 2 squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuzain, Wan}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Saint Louis FC players
Category:Sporting Kansas City II players
Category:Sporting Kansas City players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Soccer players from Illinois
Category:Sportspeople from Carbondale, Illinois
Category:USL League Two players
Category:USL Championship players
Category:American people of Malaysian descent
Category:American people of Malay descent
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Homegrown Players (MLS)
Category:Rio Grande Valley FC Toros players