Gabriel Quak
{{short description|Singaporean professional footballer (born 1990)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Quak}}
{{use Singapore English|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gabriel Quak
| image = Gabriel Quak 2018.jpg
| image_size = 165
| caption = Gabriel Quak in 2018
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|12|22|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Singapore
| height = {{height|m=1.78}}
| position = Winger
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = National Football Academy
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| clubs1 = Young Lions
| years1 = 2008–2011
| caps1 = 66
| goals1 = 5
| clubs2 = LionsXII
| years2 = 2012–2015
| caps2 = 80
| goals2 = 10
| clubs3 = Geylang International
| years3 = 2016–2017
| caps3 = 47
| goals3 = 6
| clubs4 = Royal Thai Navy
| years4 = 2018
| caps4 = 13
| goals4 = 3
| clubs5 = Warriors
| years5 = 2019
| caps5 = 23
| goals5 = 9
| clubs6 = Lion City Sailors
| years6 = 2020–2022
| caps6 = 59
| goals6 = 29
| clubs7 = Hougang United
| years7 = 2023-2025
| caps7 = 55
| goals7 = 9
| nationalyears1 = 2013
| nationalteam1 = Singapore U23
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2013–2022
| nationalteam2 = Singapore
| nationalcaps2 = 40
| nationalgoals2 = 6
| club-update = 29 May 2023
| nationalteam-update = 14 June 2022
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|SIN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Sea Games}}
{{Medal|Bronze|Vientiane 2009|Football}}
{{Medal|Bronze|Naypyidaw 2013|Football}}
}}
Gabriel Quak Jun Yi ({{Lang-zh|c=郭俊谊}}, born 22 December 1990) is a Singaporean professional footballer who most recently played as a winger for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United. Considered one of the best wingers in the country, he is known for his skills, speed and ability to dribble past opponents quickly.
Club career
=Young Lions=
Gabriel began his professional football career with Young Lions in the 2008 S.League season. On 19 February, he make his professional debut coming on a substitution in a match against Sengkang Punggol. Gabriel scored his first career goal in a 3–1 lost against Super Reds on 26 May.
Gabriel was one of the Young Lions players involved in an on-pitch fight with Beijing Guoan Talent players in their S.League match on 7 September 2010. He was charged by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) for gross misconduct and bringing the game into disrepute and was banned for four months and fined S$1,000 for his part in the brawl.{{cite news| url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20100922-238536.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925040650/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Sports/Story/A1Story20100922-238536.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=25 September 2010| title=Young Lions, Beijing Guoan players banned, fined| website=AsiaOne| access-date=15 March 2014}} Quak missed the 2010 Asian Games as a result of the ban.
=LionsXII=
On 5 December 2011, the FAS announced that Gabriel was to join the newly formed LionsXII for the 2012 Malaysia Super League. National service commitments however meant that Quak failed to make a single appearance throughout the 2012 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.tnp.sg/msiacup/content/quaks-raring-go-season-2 |title=Quak's raring to go in Season 2 |newspaper=The New Paper |date=2 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306175635/http://www.tnp.sg/msiacup/content/quaks-raring-go-season-2 |archive-date=6 March 2014 |df=dmy }} He was de-registered in the mid-season transfer window.
Gabriel returned to the LionsXII squad for the 2013 season. He made his long-awaited debut against PKNS on 15 January.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/match/99779/pkns-fc-vs-lionsxii/report |title=Selangor PKNS 1–0 LionsXII: Listless Lions fall to first defeat of season |website=Goal |access-date=17 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306081914/http://www.goal.com/en-sg/match/99779/pkns-fc-vs-lionsxii/report |archive-date=6 March 2013 |df=dmy }} He made 15 appearances in all competitions as the Lions won the 2013 Malaysia Super League.
File:Gabriel Quak Jun Yi 2013.jpeg
The left-footed Gabriel was switched to the right side of attack for both club and country for the 2014 season.{{cite web|title=Gabriel aims to continue scoring|url=http://lionsxii.sg/gabriel-aims-to-continue-scoring/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230150/http://lionsxii.sg/gabriel-aims-to-continue-scoring/|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=7 March 2014|publisher=LionsXII}} He scored his first LionsXII goal in a 3–0 win over DRB-Hicom in the Malaysia FA Cup on 21 January. He scored his first league goal, an opener against newly promoted side PDRM FA, as Lionsxii defeated them 5–3.{{cite web| url=http://lionsxii.sg/ruthless-lionsxii-march-on-to-fa-cup-2nd-round/| title=Ruthless Lions march on to FA Cup second round| publisher=LionsXII| access-date=17 March 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306204741/http://lionsxii.sg/ruthless-lionsxii-march-on-to-fa-cup-2nd-round/| archive-date=6 March 2014| url-status=dead}}
On the opening day of the 2015 season, Gabriel scored the Lionsxii's first goal of the season, helping the Lionsxii win their opening match 5–3 against PDRM FA.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/match/singapore-lionsxii-vs-pdrm/1985754/report|title=Singapore LIONSXII 5 - 3 PDRM Match report - 2/7/15 Super League - Goal.com|website=www.goal.com|access-date=23 May 2017}} Similarly, in the LionsXII's opening game in the Malaysia FA Cup on 28 February, Gabriel scored the 3rd goal in a 4–0 win against minnows Kedah United to push the LionsXII into the round of 16.{{Cite web | url=https://www.asiaone.com/malaysia-fa-cup-fandi-fires-lionsxii | title=Malaysia FA Cup: Fandi fires up LionsXII}} In the round of 16, Gabriel scored a goal against SPA in a 4–0 win to send the team to the quarter-finals. He helped LionsXII to win the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup.
=Geylang International=
Following the dissolution of the LionsXII, Gabriel signed for Geylang International in January 2016. He make his debut on 15 February in the Eastern Derby match against Tampines Rovers in a 3–3 match. On 1 April, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 league match against Warriors FC, ending a long goalscoring drought.
== Matsumoto Yamaga trial ==
After Geylang International and Matsumoto Yamaga signed a MOU,{{cite web|url=http://www.mynewsdesk.com/sg/epson-singapore/pressreleases/geylang-international-fc-signs-mou-with-matsumoto-yamaga-fc-1665549|title=Geylang International FC signs MOU with Matsumoto Yamaga FC|website=mynewsdesk.com|access-date=23 May 2017}} Quak together with fellow winger Shawal Anuar went on a one-week trial with the J2 League side.{{cite web|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/eye-opener-quak-and-shawal-japan|title=Eye-opener for Quak and Shawal in Japan|date=2 February 2017|website=tnp.sg|access-date=23 May 2017}}
=Royal Thai Navy=
On 2 February 2018,Gabriel signs for Thai League 1 side Royal Thai Navy and fill up their ASEAN import slot ahead of the In the upcoming 2018 season. On 11 February, Gabriel made his starting debut against Ubon UMT United. He started as the 1st eleven in the 1st 2 matches but was substituted at half time in both matches.{{cite web|title=Chonburi vs Navy|url=http://www.thaileague.co.th/official/index.php?r=Match/PrintPostMatchPDF&iMatchID=4118|access-date=12 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916132021/https://www.thaileague.co.th/official/index.php?r=Match%2FPrintPostMatchPDF&iMatchID=4118|archive-date=16 September 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Navy vs Ubon UMT|url=http://www.thaileague.co.th/official/index.php?r=Match/PrintPostMatchPDF&iMatchID=4106|access-date=12 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916131727/https://www.thaileague.co.th/official/index.php?r=Match%2FPrintPostMatchPDF&iMatchID=4106|archive-date=16 September 2018|url-status=dead}} Gabriel scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 thriller win against Sukhothai
In total, Gabriel scored 4 goals and created 1 assist in 24 games for the Thai side which were relegated eventually.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-three-players-to-watch-in-the-2019-singapore-premier-league|title=Football: Three players to watch in the 2019 Singapore Premier League|last=hermesauto|date=2019-03-01|website=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=2019-03-03}}
= Warriors FC =
In January 2019, Gabriel signed for Warriors FC for the 2019 season despite receiving lucrative offers from overseas club in order to spend more time with his young family. During the 2019 Singapore Cup, Warriors' captain Khairul Nizam was injured and Gabriel took over the captaincy for the competition.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2020-12-13 |title=Football: Not satisfied with Player of the Year award, Gabriel Quak eyes more trophies {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-not-satisfied-with-player-of-the-year-award-gabriel-quak-eyes-more-trophies |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}
=Lion City Sailors=
In January 2020, Gabriel joined the newly privatised Singapore club, Lion City Sailors. He make his debut for the club in a league match against Tanjong Pagar United where he assisted Andy Pengelly in a 1–1 draw.
In 2021, Gabriel won the league 'Goal of the Year' for his volley goal in the 4–1 win over Balestier Khalsa on 18 April during the FAS Awards Night.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2021-10-12 |title=Football: Hougang win big at FAS Awards Night as Tomoyuki Doi and Clement Teo named best player and coach {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-hougang-win-big-at-fas-awards-night-as-tomoyuki-doi-and-clementteo-named |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}
On 15 April 2022, Gabriel make his AFC Champions League debut against eventual winners from Japan, Urawa Red Diamonds in a 4–1 lost. On 24 April, he provided an assist to Pedro Henrique in a 3–2 win over Chinese side Shandong Taishan. Gabriel was then released by Lion City Sailors on 28 November 2022.{{Cite web |date=28 November 2022 |title=Football: Stars, key backroom staff depart Lion City Sailors | The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football-stars-key-backroom-staff-depart-lion-city-sailors |website=www.straitstimes.com}} He departed after scoring 29 goals across three seasons for the Sailors, as well as winning the Singapore Premier League 'Player of the Year' award in 2020.
= Hougang United =
Following his release from Lion City Sailors, Gabrel signed for Hougang United on 18 January 2023 to boost the range of attacking options in head coach Firdaus Kassim's squad. The 32-year-old joins his fifth Singapore Premier League club in his 11th SPL season. On 19 April 2024, he extended his contract until the end of the 2024–25 season. On 4 June 2025, Gabriel was released by the cheetahs upon the expiry of his contract, ending his career with the cheetahs with 9 goals and 7 assists.
International career
=Youth=
Gabriel has played for Singapore at Under-15, Under-18 and Under-23 levels. He represented Singapore in the Lion City Cup, AFF U15 Tournament, Asian Youth Games Qualifiers, AFC U18 Qualifiers, VFF Cup and Southeast Asian Games.{{cite web|url=http://www.teamsingapore.com.sg/public/teamsingapore/athlete.html?mg=20&aid=1454&sid=22&gender=0&view=Detail |title=Quak Jun Yi – Football |publisher=TeamSingapore.com.sg |access-date=12 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017202752/http://www.teamsingapore.com.sg/public/teamsingapore/athlete.html?mg=20&aid=1454&sid=22&gender=0&view=Detail |archive-date=17 October 2013 |df=dmy }}
=Senior=
Gabriel earned his first international cap in a friendly match against Laos on 7 June 2013, scoring a goal on his debut.{{cite web | url = http://www.fas.org.sg/news/wing-wonders-quak-and-faris-looking-cement-national-team-spots | title = Wing wonders Quak and Faris looking to cement national team spots | publisher = Football Association of Singapore | access-date = 30 May 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130615063555/http://www.fas.org.sg/news/wing-wonders-quak-and-faris-looking-cement-national-team-spots | archive-date = 15 June 2013 | url-status=dead }} His first competitive goal came in an upset 2–1 win over Syria in a 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification match on 15 October 2013. He is the first Singapore-born Chinese player to feature regularly for the national team in 7 years since Goh Tat Chuan despite the ethnic Chinese forming the majority of the population.{{cite news| url=https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/wanted-more-chinese-football-players-here| title=More Chinese and Indian football players wanted| newspaper=The Straits Times| date=10 November 2013}}
Gabriel scored a goal and recorded an assist during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification match in a 6–2 over Myanmar.
= Others =
== Singapore Selection Squad ==
He was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor’s Cup to be held on 6 May 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.fas.org.sg/newsroom/press-release/singapore-selection-squad-sultan-selangor%E2%80%99s-cup-revealed|title=SINGAPORE SELECTION SQUAD FOR THE SULTAN OF SELANGOR'S CUP REVEALED - The Football Association of Singapore|website=www.fas.org.sg|access-date=23 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628215629/http://fas.org.sg/newsroom/press-release/singapore-selection-squad-sultan-selangor%E2%80%99s-cup-revealed|archive-date=28 June 2017|url-status=dead}}
Personal life
Gabriel was born on 22 December 1990 to Alan, a technical associate at a building consultancy and Juet May, an early childhood educator in 1990.{{cite news|url=http://www.tnp.sg/msiacup/content/gabriels-wish-place-first-xi |title=Gabriel's wish? A place in the first XI |newspaper=The New Paper |date=26 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015162123/http://www.tnp.sg/msiacup/content/gabriels-wish-place-first-xi |archive-date=15 October 2013 |df=dmy }} He has a younger sister, Gu Ting.
Gabriel received his primary school education at Catholic High School and went to Guangyang Secondary School. He graduated with a diploma in Industrial and Operations Management from Republic Polytechnic.{{cite web|url=http://www.footballopod.com/viewarticle.aspx?id=9076 |title=Quak Eyes 2014 Step Up As LionsXII Senior |website=FootballOpod |access-date=17 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317170343/http://www.footballopod.com/viewarticle.aspx?id=9076 |archive-date=17 March 2014 |df=dmy }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rpi.sg/about/enewsletters/RAPPORT_Jan09.pdf |title=Rapport – Republic Polytechnic corporate newsletter (January 2009) |publisher=Republic Polytechnic |page=15 |access-date=17 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317181809/http://www.rpi.sg/about/enewsletters/RAPPORT_Jan09.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2014 |df=dmy }}
Gabriel is married and has three children.{{cite news|url=http://www.tnp.sg/content/engaged-new-year |title=Engaged, for the new year |newspaper=The New Paper |date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317170023/http://www.tnp.sg/content/engaged-new-year |archive-date=17 March 2014 |df=dmy }}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 17 Aug 22}}. Caps and goals may not be correct.{{Soccerway|30585|Gabriel Quak|access-date=27 March 2022}}
- Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
- Young Lions withdrew from the Singapore Cup and Singapore League Cup in 2011 due to scheduled participation in the 2011 AFF U-23 Youth Championship.
International statistics
= International goals=
:Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/52749/Gabriel_Quak.html|title=Quak, Gabriel|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=18 October 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| align=center|1. | 7 June 2013 | New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos | {{fb|LAO}} | align=center|4–2 | align=center|5–2 | Friendly |
| align=center|2. | 15 October 2013 | Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore | {{fb|SYR}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center|2–1 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| align=center|3. | 12 October 2018 | Bishan Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore | {{fb|Mongolia}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center|2–0 | rowspan=3 | Friendly |
| align=center|4. | 9 June 2019 | rowspan=2 | National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore | {{fb|Solomon Islands}} | align=center|3–3 | align=center|4–3 | |
| align=center|5. | 11 June 2019 | {{fb|MYA}} | align=center|1–1 | align=center|1–2 | ||
| align=center|6. | 14 June 2022 | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | {{fb|MYA}} | align=center | 2–0 | align=center | 6–2 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
=U22 International goals=
:Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| align=center|1. | 17 November 2011 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia | {{fb|THA}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center|2-0 (won) | 2011 Southeast Asian Games |
=U19 International goals=
:Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| align=center|1. | 5 August 2007 | Thanh Long Sports Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | {{fb|MYA}} | align=center|1–2 | align=center|1-2 (lost) | 2007 AFF U-20 Youth Championship |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan=3|Singapore national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2013 | 4 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 1 |
| Total||24||3 |
Statistics accurate as of match played 12 October 2018
Honours
= Club =
== LionsXII ==
- Malaysia Super League: 2013
- Malaysia FA Cup: 2015
== Lion City Sailors ==
= International =
== Singapore ==
- Lion City Cup: 2006
- Southeast Asian Games Bronze Medal: 2009, 2013
= Individual =
- Singapore Premier League Player of the Month: May 2019{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}
- Singapore Premier League Player of the Year: 2020{{Cite web|title=Gabriel Quak named SPL Player of the Year at FAS Awards Night 2020 – Football Association of Singapore|url=https://www.fas.org.sg/gabriel-quak-named-spl-player-of-the-year-at-fas-awards-night-2020|access-date=2021-07-30|language=en-US}}
- Singapore Premier League Team of the Year: 2020
- Singapore Premier League Goal of the Year: 2021
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|-gabriel-quak-jun-yi/30585}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131015171314/http://www.tnp.sg/tags/gabriel-quak Tnp.sg]
- [http://www.goal.com/en-sg/people/singapore/66942/gabriel-quak-jun-yi Goal.com]
- [http://www.goal.com/en-sg/match/103975/singapore-vs-syria/report Goal.com]
- [http://www.todayonline.com/sports/football/singapore-shock-syria-asian-cup-qualifier Todayonline.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032644/http://www.fas.org.sg/news/youthful-lions-stun-syria-lift-asian-cup-qualification-hopes Fas.org.sg]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131016005201/http://junpiterfutbol.com/post/64125852630/singapore-lions-stunned-the-red-eagles-at-home Junpiterfutbol.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131016155139/http://axrosstheline.com/2013/10/singapore-register-first-competitive-points-under-stange.html Axrosstheline.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Quak, Gabriel}}
Category:Singaporean men's footballers
Category:Singapore men's international footballers
Category:Singapore Premier League players
Category:Singaporean sportspeople of Chinese descent
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Men's association football inside forwards
Category:Malaysia Super League players
Category:Young Lions FC players
Category:21st-century Singaporean sportsmen
Category:SEA Games bronze medalists for Singapore
Category:SEA Games medalists in football
Category:Competitors at the 2009 SEA Games
Category:Competitors at the 2013 SEA Games