Zainal Abidin Hassan

Zainal Abidin Hassan bin Mohd Ali (born 9 November 1961) is a Malaysian football head coach and former player.

Playing career
A versatile footballer who can playing in multiple positions, Zainal Abidin is well known as the best Malaysian footballer in the 80's and 90's. His football career started with Selangor FA in 1980. At the age of 18 years 6 month, Zainal made his international debut in the 1980 Merdeka Tournament against Indonesia. He played along with Malaysian legendary striker the late Mokhtar Dahari, R Arumugam, Soh Chin Aun and other recognised faces in Malaysian football. In 1983, Pahang FA head coach, Frank Lord responsible for changing Zainal position from defender to striker and this is where the beginning of his career began, becoming one of the most respected strikers at the local and international level.

From the late 80's to early 90's, he regularly partnered with Dollah Salleh in front as they became the fierce striker for Selangor FA and Pahang FA in M-League and also the national team in SEA Games, Asian Games and Merdeka Tournament. In 1996 AFF Championship, Zainal Abidin was awarded as the MVP of the tournament captaining the national side from the centre-back position instead of his usual striking role. Three years later he was awarded the AFC Century Club Award.

During his international career, Zainal scored a total of 78 goals in 180 appearances for Malaysia (including non-FIFA 'A' international matches), according to Globe Soccer Awards in 2020. Against other nations' national 'A' teams, he scored 50 goals in 129 appearances.

He also played for Malaysia national futsal team, and was in the squad that took part in the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship in Spain.

On 3 August 2021, he was inducted into the FIFA Century Club.

Coaching career
He retired from football in 1999 and selected to coach the Malaysian youth in 2001. In 2002, he selected as the assistant coach for Malaysia senior team. He later coached Pahang FA and brought them their first Malaysia Super League title. In 2006, he guided Pahang FA to win the Malaysian FA Cup. After the contract with Pahang FA ended, he reunites with his former striker partner Dollah Salleh. This time they act as manager-coach combination for Shahzan Muda FC.

In 2011, he returns to Pahang FA as assistant manager, where he works again with Dollah, who were the current head coach. The partnership lasts until the end of 2013, when they helped Pahang win the 2013 Malaysia Cup; Pahang's first Malaysia Cup after 21 years. After Dollah left Pahang to coach PDRM FA and Ron Smith was appointed as the new Pahang head coach at the end of 2013, Zainal was appointed as his assistant head coach. But after Smith's contract was not renewed in March 2014, Zainal Abidin was appointed as Smith's replacement. With Pahang, he won the Malaysia Cup in 2014 and also Malaysia FA Cup in the same year.

In 2016, Zainal Abidin made his return to Selangor as head coach, replacing Mehmet Durakovic. This was not without controversy, as negotiations between Zainal and Selangor was made public when Durakovic was still Selangor coach, and Durakovic contract was terminated even after he won the 33rd Malaysia Cup title with Selangor in 2015. Zainal however was sacked in August the same year, after poor performances by the team in the Super League and Malaysia Cup.

Zainal Abidin next coached Penang FA from May 2017 until September 2018. In November 2018, he was unveiled as the new head coach of Melaka United. After two years with Melaka, he returned back to coach Penang again for a short period of time in 2022 season.

Personal life
Zainal Abidin's father is of Kenyan descent. His oldest brother Khalid Ali and oldest son Mohd Zaiza is also a Malaysian footballer.

Zainal has been married to Zalina binti Zaini since 1985 and they have five children. In 2023, he married his second wife, Malaysian singer Fyna Jebat. However, their marriage only lasted a few months as Zainal divorced his second wife and ended their marriage later this year.

Career statistics

 * Scores and results list Malaysia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zainal Abidin Hassan goal.

As a player
Selangor FA
 * Malaysia Super League: 1989, 1990
 * Malaysia Premier League runner-up: 1999
 * Malaysia Cup: 1981, 1982, 1986, 1997; runner-up 1980
 * Malaysia FA Cup: 1991, 1997; runner-up 1990
 * Malaysia President Cup (as Selangor Youth Team): 1988; runner-up 1987, 1999
 * Malaysia Charity Shield: 1985, 1987, 1990, 1997; runner-up 1998

Pahang FA
 * Malaysia Super League: 1992, 1995
 * Malaysia Cup: 1983, 1992
 * Malaysia Charity Shield: 1992, 1993

Malaysia
 * Merdeka Tournament: 1986
 * SEA Games: 1989

Individual
 * AFC Asian All Stars: 1982, 1985
 * Malaysian League Golden Boot
 * 1983, 1986, 1989, 1992


 * AFF Championship Most Valuable Player : 1996
 * AFC Century Club Awards: 1999

As a head coach
Pahang FA
 * Malaysia FA Cup: 2006, 2014
 * Malaysia Cup: 2014
 * Malaysia Charity Shield: 2014

Selangor FA
 * Malaysia Charity Shield runner-up: 2016

Individual
 * FAM Football Awards – Best Coach Award: 2014