Brendan Gan Seng Ling (simplified Chinese: 颜兴龙; traditional Chinese: 顏興龍; pinyin: Yán Xìng Lóng; born 3 June 1988) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Malaysia Super League club Kuala Lumpur City. Born in Australia, he plays for the Malaysia national team.

Brendan Gan
Brendan with Sydney FC in 2008
Personal information
Full name Brendan Gan Seng Ling
Date of birth (1988-06-03) 3 June 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Sutherland, Australia
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Kuala Lumpur City
Number 88
Youth career
0000–1999 Marton Hammers
2000–2007 Sutherland Sharks
2008–2009 Sydney FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 Sutherland Sharks 15 (6)
2008–2011 Sydney FC 38 (5)
2011 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 9 (2)
2011–2012 Sabah 19 (2)
2013–2014 Rockdale City Suns 22 (3)
2014–2016 Kelantan 31 (0)
2018–2019 Perak 28 (5)
2020–2023 Selangor 60 (12)
2024– Kuala Lumpur City 7 (1)
International career
2014 Malaysia U23 5 (0)
2016– Malaysia 37 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Malaysia
AFF Championship
Third place 2022
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 September 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024

Club career

edit

Gan began playing football for his local club, Marton Hammers before signing for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old, progressing through their youth grades to make his senior debut for the club in 2008. He made 15 league appearances scoring 6 goals, and 3 appearances in the Finals Series.[1] It was this debut season that shot Gan to prominence within the local media which brought with it a growing reputation to match.[2] His performances eventually led to his being crowned the New South Wales Premier League player of the year, winning the Gold Medal award for the competition.[3]

Sydney FC

edit

Gan was than signed by Sydney FC for their inaugural National Youth League squad ahead of competition from rival A-League clubs.[4][5] On 28 November 2008, he made his debut for Sydney FC against Queensland Roar with a 5-minute cameo where he turned heads.[6][7] On 7 December, he scored the winning goal in the 78th minute for Sydney FC against Newcastle Jets to give them their first win in 7 games.[8]

Gan was given his full senior debut on 13 December against the Central Coast Mariners.[9] He scored his second senior goal against Melbourne Victory with a long range strike from outside the penalty area.[10] Brendan scored his third senior goal against Wellington Phoenix with a powerful header from a corner. This goal gave Sydney FC a 2–0 win over Wellington and placed them on the top of the table, leapfrogging Gold Coast United. On 2 December 2010, in only his second start for the season, he scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win, once again against Wellington Phoenix. He was released from Sydney, along with several other players at the end of Sydney's 2011 AFC Champions League campaign.[11]

Bonnyrigg White Eagles

edit

Gan signed for Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the NSW Premier League,[12] and made his debut in the Round 15 game against Sydney United.[13]

Sabah FA

edit

On 17 November 2011, Gan moved to Malaysian club, Sabah as one of the two foreign players allowed in the 2012 Malaysia Super League. Brendan, alongside his fellow countrymen, Michael Baird signed a one-year contract with Sabah.[14]

Rockdale City Suns

edit

In January 2013, he returned home to signed with NSW Premier League side Rockdale City Suns.[15]

Kelantan FA

edit

In November 2013, Gan returned to Malaysia and signed a three-year contract with Malaysia Super League club Kelantan ahead of the 2014 season. He was supposed to be registered as a local player for Kelantan but did not get the approval from FAM because according to FAM, any player to be registered as a local player is required to have Malaysian identity card or passport. On 6 April, he officially obtained an identity card as a Malaysian and was registered by Kelantan as a local player during the April 2014 transfer window.[16][17][18][19]

Gan made his debut during the match between Kelantan against Terengganu which ended 1–1. In the first match of the 2015 Malaysia Super League, Gan suffered a serious torn ACL in his right knee that would keep him out for most of the 2015 season.[20] In September 2016, Brendan suffered another ACL injury, this time in his left knee which keep him out for 10 months, ruling him out for the 2016 AFF Championship where he was released by the club at the end of 2016.[21]

Perak FA

edit

After making his recovery from a long term ACL injury, On 15 December 2017, Gan signed with Perak.[citation needed] On 24 February 2018, Gan played his first football match in over a year during a league match against Pahang FA. He would than played in the club 2019 AFC Champions League preliminary round 2 match against Hong Kong club, Kitchee where he played the entire 120th minute helping the club to progress to the final play-off round against Korean Ulsan Hyundai. On 8 February 2019, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Kedah FA.[citation needed]

Selangor

edit

On 1 December 2019, Gan officially joined Malaysia Super League club Selangor. In July 2021, Gan was diagnosed with testicular cancer and missed the rest of season.[22][23] In June 2022, he made his return in a 7–0 over Sarawak United, scoring a brace.[24] He was appointed as Selangor's captain since 2021. At the end of the 2023 Malaysia Super League season, Selangor confirmed Gan's departure with them after spending four seasons together.[citation needed]

Kuala Lumpur City

edit

On 1 April 2024, Gan signed for rivals club Kuala Lumpur City. He scored his first goal on 21 June in a 3–0 away league win against Negeri Sembilan. On 26 September 2024, during the 2024–25 ASEAN Club Championship group stage match against Indonesian club Borneo Samarinda, Gan scored the only goal in the match to secure all 3 points.[25]

International career

edit

Youth

edit

Gan made his first appearances with Malaysia as an overage player with the Malaysia U23 team against Yemen U23 in a preparation for the 2014 Asian Games.[citation needed]

Senior

edit

Gan later debuted for Malaysia national team on 24 March 2016 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Saudi Arabia.[26] He scored his first international goal in a 2–1 victory over Thailand during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match.[27]

Personal life

edit

Gan was born in Australia to an Australian mother and Malaysian Chinese father from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.[citation needed]

Career statistics

edit

Club statistics

edit
As of match played 17 December 2023.[28]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Other Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Australia League Cup Other Asia Total
2008 Sutherland Sharks NSW Premier League 15 6 3 0 18 6
Total 15 6 3 0 18 6
2008–09 Sydney FC A-League 9 2 9 2
2009–10 19 1 3 0 22 1
2010–11 10 2 0 0 10 2
2011–12 0 0 0 0
Total 38 5 3 0 0 0 41 5
2011 Bonnyrigg White Eagles NSW Premier League 9 2 1 0 10 2
Malaysia League FA Cup Malaysia Cup Other Total
2012 Sabah Malaysia Super League 19 2 1 0 1 0 21 2
Australia League Cup Other Asia Total
2013 Rockdale City Suns National Premier Leagues 22 3 4 0 26 3
Malaysia League FA Cup Malaysia Cup Asia Total
2014 Kelantan Malaysia Super League 13 0 2 0 8 0 23 0
2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2016 17 0 1 0 5 0 23 0
Total 31 0 3 0 13 0 47 0
2018 Perak Malaysia Super League 12 1 1 0 10 1 23 2
2019 16 4 5 1 8 2 1 0 30 7
Total 28 5 6 1 18 3 1 0 53 9
2020 Selangor Malaysia Super League 10 4 0 0 1 0 11 4
2021 11 0 0 0 11 0
2022 16 5 3 0 7 0 26 5
2023 23 3 2 1 4 0 29 4
Total 60 12 5 1 12 0 77 13
Career total 222 35 26 2 43 3 2 0 293 40

International

edit
As of match played 26 March 2024[29]
Malaysia national team
Year Apps Goals
2016 7 0
2019 8 1
2021 5 0
2022 4 0
2023 6 0
2024 7 0
Total 37 1

International goals

edit
As of match played 14 November 2019. Malaysia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Brendan goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 November 2019 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia 14   Thailand 1–1 2–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

edit

Club

edit

Perak

Selangor

International

edit

Malaysia

Individual

References

edit
  1. ^ Player Profile - Brendan Gan, mygameday.app. Accessed 1 October 2024.
  2. ^ Brendan Gan – living the dream, soccernsw.com.au. Accessed 8 May 2024.
  3. ^ 2008 Gold Medal Dinner a huge success as Brendan Gan scoops major award, soccernsw.com.au. Accessed 8 May 2024.
  4. ^ Gan: I'm Only Here For A Year
  5. ^ Sydney's Gan set for homecoming, au.fourfourtwo.com. Accessed 8 May 2024.
  6. ^ Hassett, Sebastian (28 November 2008). "Kosmina turns to young Gan". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. ^ "Gan's the man most likely to soar". Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2008.
  8. ^ Brendon Gan helps lift Sydney FC to victory over Newcastle Jets, foxsports.com.au. Accessed 8 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Kosmina to give Brendan Gan full debut". Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  10. ^ Hassett, Sebastian (30 December 2008). "Gan lights up Sydney's darkest days". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  11. ^ "Sydney FC player clean out". SBS – The World Game. 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  12. ^ "Bonnyrigg White Eagles snap up Brendan Gan". NSW Premier League. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  13. ^ Bore draw at Edensor Park - Football NSW Article
  14. ^ Former rising star given another chance for shot at Glory, smh.com.au. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  15. ^ Carayannis, Michael (6 March 2013). "Malaysian stint pays off for Gan". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader.
  16. ^ Transfer News: Kelantan want Brendan Gan as local player, goal.com. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  17. ^ "KAFA will find a way to sign Brendan Gan as a local player". Yahoo.com. malaysia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Brendan Gan sedia lepas kerakyatan Australia demi Liga Malaysia". astro awani.com. malaysia.
  19. ^ "Brendan Gan sah milik Kelantan". Sinar Harian. malaysia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  20. ^ "Kelantan's Brendan Gan ruled out for season ahead of Lions XII game". ESPN FC.com. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Malaysia's Brendan Gan to miss AFF Suzuki Cup with second ACL injury". ESPN FC.com. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  22. ^ Brendan Gan diagnosed with testicular cancer, The Malaysian Reserve, 27 July 2021.
  23. ^ Unbreakable Brendan, New Straits Times, 6 February 2022.
  24. ^ Brendan sudah kembali, Harian Metro, 20 June 2022.
  25. ^ Azharie, Farah (27 September 2024). "Brendan's strike keeps KL City's ACC hopes alive | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Malaysia end World Cup qualifying campaign with 2-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia". New Straits Times Online. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  27. ^ Brendan Gan dedicates goal to his newborn son - New Straits Times, 19 November 2019.
  28. ^ "Brendan Gan". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  29. ^ "Brendan Gan". National Football Teams. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  30. ^ Fai, Ooi Kin (25 September 2022). "Harimau Malaya lose King's Cup final after penalty shootout heartbreak". nst.com.my. Chiang Mai, Thailand: New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.