Iqbal Hussain

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Iqbal Hussain

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Mohamed Iqbal bin Hamid Hussain

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|06|06|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Singapore

| height = {{height|m=1.86}}{{Soccerway}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Geylang International

| clubnumber = 16

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2012

| clubs1 = Gombak United

| caps1 = 7

| goals1 = 3

| years2 = 2013

| clubs2 = LionsXII

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2013–2015

| clubs3 = Courts Young Lions

| caps3 = 48

| goals3 = 9

| years4 = 2016–2019

| clubs4 = Hougang United

| caps4 = 62

| goals4 = 12

| years5 = 2020

| clubs5 = Geylang International

| caps5 = 14

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2020–2021

| clubs6 = Chennai City

| caps6 = 10

| goals6 = 3

| years7 = 2021

| clubs7 = Balestier Khalsa

| caps7 = 6

| goals7 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2013

| nationalteam1 = Singapore U23

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2013–

| nationalteam2 = Singapore

| nationalcaps2 = 9

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 23:43, 10 October 2021 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 21 March 2019

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|SIN}}}}

| years8 = 2023–

| clubs8 = Geylang International

| caps8 = 23

| goals8 = 6

}}

Mohamed Iqbal bin Hamid Hussain (born 6 June 1993), more commonly known as Iqbal Hussain is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a winger or striker for the Singapore Premier League club Geylang International and the Singapore national team.

Club career

=Gombak United=

Iqbal started his career at Gombak United where he scored 2 goals in 7 league games in the 2012 S.League.

=LionsXII=

In 2013, He joined Malaysia Super League club LionsXII after Gombak United withdrew from the S.League at the end of the 2012 season.{{cite web|title=Fazrul, Iqbal join LionsXII's Malaysia football adventure|url=http://axrosstheline.com/2012/11/fazrul-iqbal-join-lionsxiis-malaysia-football-adventure.html|website=AXrossTheLine|access-date=24 November 2014|date=21 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201230214/http://axrosstheline.com/2012/11/fazrul-iqbal-join-lionsxiis-malaysia-football-adventure.html|archive-date=1 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}

=Young Lions=

Restricted to one league appearance in the 2013 season and in need for match experience leading to the Southeast Asian Games, he was de-registered in April 2013 and joined under-23 developmental side Courts Young Lions in the S.League. He scored a total of 8 goals in 44 games during his 3 years stint with the club.{{cite web|title=LionsXII trio join Courts Young Lions|url=http://axrosstheline.com/2013/04/lionsxii-trio-join-courts-young-lions.html|website=AXrossTheLine|access-date=24 November 2014|date=11 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141201230059/http://axrosstheline.com/2013/04/lionsxii-trio-join-courts-young-lions.html|archive-date=1 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}

=Hougang United=

In 2016, he joined Hougang United. Although he did not have much playing time

due to his National Service, Iqbal worked hard and impressed when he got to play and he even got a recall to the national team in 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-striker-iqbal-hussain-23-called-up-for-lions-friendly-against-bahrain|title=Football: Striker Iqbal Hussain, 23, called up for Lions friendly against Bahrain|date=2016-08-24|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2018-01-03|language=en|archive-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103143752/http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-striker-iqbal-hussain-23-called-up-for-lions-friendly-against-bahrain|url-status=live}} In total, he finished the season with 6 goals, 8 assists in 24 games across all competitions. He even earned an S.League Goal of the Year nomination. His performances led to a contraction extension into the 2017 S.League season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hgfc.com.sg/retained-iqbal-hussain/|title=Retained: Iqbal Hussain – Hougang United Football Club|website=www.hgfc.com.sg|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-01-03|archive-date=14 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014154535/http://www.hgfc.com.sg/retained-iqbal-hussain/|url-status=live}} However, due to his NS commitments, Iqbal was hardly able to make himself available for the Cheetahs, missing huge chunks of the season.{{Cite news|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/hougang-looking-end-barren-spell|title=Hougang looking to end barren spell|date=2017-09-08|work=The New Paper|access-date=2018-01-03|language=en|archive-date=3 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103133620/http://www.tnp.sg/sports/singapore-football/hougang-looking-end-barren-spell|url-status=live}} After serving his NS in August 2017, Iqbal started featuring more prominently for the club. His efforts paid off as he was offered a contract extension for the 2018 S.League season.

== Trials at Sukhothai F.C. ==

He went for trials in Thailand where he was offered a contract with Thai League 1 side, Sukhothai. However, the deal collapsed at the last minute.{{cite web|title=Sukothai deal fall thru last minute|date=14 March 2020|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-almost-left-in-limbo-geylangs-iqbal-hussain-wants-to-soar-again-with-eagles|access-date=21 March 2020|archive-date=21 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321134147/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-almost-left-in-limbo-geylangs-iqbal-hussain-wants-to-soar-again-with-eagles|url-status=live}}

=Geylang International=

He signed for the Eagles for the 2020 Singapore Premier League season{{cite web|title=Iqbal Hussain signed for Eagles|date=14 March 2020|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-almost-left-in-limbo-geylangs-iqbal-hussain-wants-to-soar-again-with-eagles|access-date=21 March 2020|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002050135/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-almost-left-in-limbo-geylangs-iqbal-hussain-wants-to-soar-again-with-eagles|url-status=live}} and scored twice in his 2nd appearance for the team.{{cite web |title=Match result - Geylang vs Young Lions |url=http://spl.sg/fixtures?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F384%2Fmatch%2F56761%2Fsummary%3F |access-date=21 March 2020 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002050136/https://spl.sg/fixtures?&WHurl=%2Fcompetition%2F384%2Fmatch%2F56761%2Fsummary%3F |url-status=live }}

= Chennai City =

Iqbal became the first Singaporean to play in the I-League when he signed for Chennai City FC in December 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-12|title=Football: Lions forward Iqbal set to strut his stuff in India with Chennai City|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-lions-forward-iqbal-set-to-strut-his-stuff-in-india-with-chennai-city|access-date=2021-03-31|website=The Straits Times|language=en|archive-date=11 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211135125/https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-lions-forward-iqbal-set-to-strut-his-stuff-in-india-with-chennai-city|url-status=live}}[https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/chennai-city-fc/10/ Chennai City FC players (A to Z)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211135911/https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/chennai-city-fc/10/|date=11 December 2021}} Worldfootball.net. Retrieved 26 March 2021.{{cite news |last1=Pandab |first1=Manas Ranjan |title=I- League 2020-21: Chennai City FC First Kit Unveiled |url=https://footballexpress.in/i-league-2021-chennai-city-first-kit-unveiled/ |access-date=12 March 2021 |work=footballexpress.in |date=8 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117011519/https://footballexpress.in/i-league-2021-chennai-city-first-kit-unveiled/|archive-date=17 November 2021}} In the final game of the season, Iqbal scored the winner in the 94th minute to help his team finish 2-1 winners over already relegated NEROCA FC for his 3rd goal in 3 games.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-26|title=Chennai City ends season with win|url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/Sports/2021/03/26003403/1283166/Chennai-City-ends-season-with-win.vpf|access-date=2021-03-31|website=dtNext.in|language=en|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515115908/https://www.dtnext.in/News/Sports/2021/03/26003403/1283166/Chennai-City-ends-season-with-win.vpf|url-status=dead}} He scored 3 goals and made 2 assists in 10 games to help his team starve off relegation.{{Cite web|last=Singh|first=Dilenjit|date=2021-03-31|title=Singaporean forward Iqbal Hussain eyes a longer stint in India|url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/singaporean-forward-iqbal-hussain-eyes-longer-stint-india|access-date=2021-03-31|website=The New Paper|language=en|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414104517/https://www.tnp.sg/sports/singapore-football/singaporean-forward-iqbal-hussain-eyes-longer-stint-india|url-status=live}}

= Balestier Khalsa =

After a great stint with the I-League side Chennai City FC in India, Iqbal returned to his home country and signed for the Singapore Premier League side Balestier Khalsa for the remainder of the 2021 season.{{Cite web|title=Iqbal Hussain returns to Singapore with Balestier Khalsa - Football Association of Singapore|url=https://spl.sg/iqbal-hussain-returns-singapore-balestier-khalsa|access-date=2021-07-18|website=spl.sg|language=en|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517165355/https://spl.sg/iqbal-hussain-returns-singapore-balestier-khalsa|url-status=live}} He made his first start for the Tigers in a 3–2 loss to developmental side Young Lions.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2021-07-31 |title=Football: Young Lions finally notch a win in SPL this season, at the 13th time of asking {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-young-lions-finally-notch-a-win-in-spl-this-season-at-the-13th-time-of |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}

= Returned to Geylang International =

After a year of being a free agent, he re joined his former club, Geylang International for the 2023 season.

International career

Iqbal Hussain was part of the Singapore national under-23 team that won the bronze medal at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.

Iqbal Hussain was called up to the senior team in July 2013.

Iqbal represented Singapore U23 at the 2014 Asian Games.{{cite web|title=Mohamed Iqbal bin Hamid Hussain|url=http://www.myactivesg.com/team-singapore/athletes/m/mohamed-iqbal-bin-hamid-hussain|publisher=Sport Singapore|access-date=24 November 2014|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002050151/https://www.teamsingapore.sg/teamsg-athletes|url-status=live}}

He made his senior international debut in the 35th minute of a friendly match against Papua New Guinea on 6 September 2014.{{cite web|author=Muhammad Yazid|title=Six S.League players earn international debut|url=http://www.sleague.com/news-features/news/2014/september/six-s-league-players-earn-international-debut/|publisher=S.League|access-date=24 November 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115727/http://www.sleague.com/news-features/news/2014/september/six-s-league-players-earn-international-debut/|url-status=usurped}}

He earned the last of his seven Lions caps in 2019.

On 12 September 2023, Iqbal returns to the Singapore squad and was on the starting line up against Chinese Taipei making his first cap since 2019. He had earned praises for his performance throughout the match.

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 10 May 2023}}. Caps and goals may not be correct.

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|S.League !colspan="2"\|Singapore Cup !colspan="2"\|Singapore League Cup !colspan="2"\|Asia !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="2"\|Gombak United \|2012 \|7	2	3	1	1	0	colspan='2'\|—	11	3
Total !7	2	3	1	1	0	0	0	11	3
Club !Season !colspan="2"\|Malaysia Super League !colspan="2"\|Malaysia FA Cup !colspan="2"\|Malaysia Cup !colspan="2"\|Asia !colspan="2"\|Total
rowspan="2"\|LionsXII \|2013{{cite web\| url=http://lionsxii.sg/fixtures-and-results/?league=malaysia-super-league-2013\| title=LionsXII fixtures and results for 2013 season\| publisher=LionsXII\| access-date=22 March 2014\| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216204656/http://lionsxii.sg/fixtures-and-results/?league=malaysia-super-league-2013\| archive-date=16 February 2018\| url-status=dead}} \|1	0	0	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	1	0
Total !1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
rowspan="1" \|Club ! rowspan="1" \|Season ! colspan="2" \|S.League ! colspan="2" \|Singapore Cup ! colspan="2" \|Singapore League Cup ! colspan="2" \|Asia ! colspan="2" \|Total
rowspan="4" \|Young Lions \|2013 \|19	2	1	0	3	1	colspan="2" \|—	23	3
2014 \|25	4\|



\| colspan="2" \|—	25	4
2015 \|4	2\|



\| colspan="2" \|—	4	2
Total !44	8	1	0	3	1	0	0	52	9
rowspan="5" \|Hougang United \|2016 \|18	4	1	0	5	2	colspan="2" \|—	24	6
2017 \|13	3	3	0	2	0	colspan='2'\|—	18	3
2018 \|19	4	2	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	21	4
2019 \|12	1	2	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	14	1
Total !62	12	8	0	7	2	0	0	77	14
rowspan="2" \|Geylang International \|2020 \|14	2	0	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	14	2
Total !14	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	2
rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|I.League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Asia !colspan="2"\|Total
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="2" \|Chennai City FC \|2021 \|10	3	0	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	10	3
Total !10	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	3
rowspan="1" \|Club ! rowspan="1" \|Season ! colspan="2" \|S.League ! colspan="2" \|Singapore Cup ! colspan="2" \|Singapore League Cup ! colspan="2" \|Asia ! colspan="2" \|Total
rowspan="2" \|Balestier Khalsa \|2021 \|6	0	0	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	6	0
Total !6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
rowspan="3" \|Geylang International \|2023 \|23	6	0	0	0	0	colspan='2'\|—	23	6
2024–25 \|13	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	1
Total !36	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	36	7
colspan="2"\|Career Total !180	32	9	0	10	3	0	0	199	35

Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.

International statistics

=International caps=

class="wikitable"

! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition

align=center|4

12 Sept 2023

Bishan Stadium, Singapore

align=center|3-1 (win)

Friendly

= U19 International caps =

class="wikitable" ! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition
align=center\|1	31 October 2011	Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia	{{fbu\|19\|MAC}}	align=center\|0–0 (draw)	2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification
align=center\|2	2 November 2011	Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia	{{fbu\|19\|AUS}}	align=center\|0–1 (lost)	2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification
align=center\|3	4 November 2011	Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia	{{fbu\|19\|CHN}}	align=center\|0–11 (lost)	2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification
align=center\|4	8 November 2011	Petaling Jaya Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia	{{fbu\|19\|IDN}}	align=center\|0–3 (lost)	2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification