Shukor Salleh

Dato' Abdul Shukor bin Salleh DSPN AMN (born 4 December 1948) is a Malaysian former professional footballer. He was a key midfield player for the Malaysia national football team during the 1970s. He was often called the "Mr.Cool" and "Malaysia Ardiles" of the Malaysian national team for the way he steered the Malaysian midfield with calm and composed way. He won the Malaysian National Sportsman Award in 1977 for his contribution to the national team. Furthermore, he was the second and the last football player after Mokhtar Dahari to be given that award. He was inducted into the FIFA Century Club in May 2021.

Career overview
Shukor Salleh was born in Tanjung Bungah, Penang in 1948. He received his early education at Tanjung Bungah Malay School, before going to Tanjung Tokong English School. He then completed his high school education at St. Xavier's Institution.

Shukor Salleh made his debut as a player with the Penang state team at the age of 18 in 1966. He went on to play for them until he was 37 in 1985.

Shukor Salleh first played for the Malaysian national team in 1970 King's Cup. He also played for the national B team from 1971 until 1972. He went on to play a total of 215 matches for Malaysia (including non 'A' matches). 172 caps is against full national team. He is the second most capped Malaysian player, behind Soh Chin Aun.

He played for Malaysia at many international tournaments including four editions of the SEA Games, two Asian Games and two AFC Asian Cup.

On 11 May 1975, Shukor is part of the Malaysia Selection that played against Arsenal FC in a friendly match which his team won by 2–0 at Merdeka Stadium.

He also was a key player in midfield to the Malaysian team that qualified to the 1980 Olympic games Moscow which Malaysia boycotted. Malaysia won the play-off against South Korea with a 2–1 score in the Merdeka Stadium.

In 2002, He was awarded Maal Hijrah Sports Figure by Penang Malay Association.

On 17 September 2014, FourFourTwo list him on their list of the top 25 Malaysian footballers of all time.

Honours
Penang
 * Burnley Cup: 1966
 * Malaysia Kings Gold Cup: 1968, 1969
 * Malaysia Cup: 1974
 * Aga Khan Gold Cup: 1976
 * Malaysian League: 1982

Malaysia
 * Bronze medal Asian Games: 1974
 * Gold Medal SEA Games: 1977, 1979
 * King's Cup: 1972, 1977
 * Merdeka Tournament: 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979
 * South Vietnam Independence Cup: 1971

Individual
 * Malaysian National Sportsman Award: 1977
 * Penang Men’s Athletes Award: 1978/1979
 * AFC Century Club Awards: 1999
 * Goal.com The best Malaysia XI of all time: 2020
 * IFFHS Men’s All Time Malaysia Dream Team: 2022

Orders

 * 🇲🇾 Malaysia
 * MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm) - SMN.svg Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1978)
 * MY-PEN Order of the Defender of State - Officer - DSPN.svg Officer of the Order of the Defender of State (DSPN) – Dato'