Soh Chin Ann
![]() Soh in 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | (1950-07-28) 28 July 1950 (age 74) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Alor Gajah, Malacca, British Malaya | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Centre-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1969 | Malacca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1969–1970 | Malacca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1971–1978 | Selangor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1979–1985 | Malacca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1988 | Malacca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1969–1984 | Malaysia | 219 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1989 | Malacca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Datuk Wira Soh Chin Ann DCSM DSIS DIMP AMN (or Soh Chin Aun due to misspelling by Malaysian media;[1] simplified Chinese: 苏进安; traditional Chinese: 蘇進安; pinyin: Sū Jìn'ān; born 28 July 1950) is a Malaysian former footballer who played as a defender.[2] He was affectionately known as Tauke or Towkay (Boss) by his teammates and fans. RSSSF and IFFHS recognised Soh as the player with the most international caps in men's football with 219 caps.[3][4] He formerly held the record of all-time most appearances in FIFA international recognised matches with 195 caps, before being overtaken by Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa in 2022.[5][6][7]
Club career
Soh started his football career with Malacca in 1969. He joined Selangor in 1971 and played for them until 1978 winning six Malaysia Cup titles.[8] He returned to star for Malacca in 1979 and won the League Cup title in 1983 but was inactive for two years due to a one-year suspension in 1985. He captained Malacca in 1988 which was also his last appearances in the domestic league.[9][10]
International career
National team
At the age of 19, Soh earned his full international caps for Malaysia at the 1969 King's Cup.[11] In 1971, when he played in the Olympic qualifier in Seoul, South Korea, he was the youngest member of the national team at the age of 21. He participated in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and playing all three group games.[12][13][14][15] He also was the captain of the team that qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Malaysia did not participate in boycott of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.[16] However, because of his contribution for helping Malaysia to qualify for the Olympics, he was awarded the Ahli Mangku Negara by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.[17] He later took part in the 1980 AFC Asian Cup, where his Malaysia was eliminated from the group stage, yet Malaysia produced one of the finest performance ever under his leadership, with the team gaining a famous 1–1 draw over powerhouse South Korea; Soh gained fame as well for having an exceptional tournament, allowing him to be named into the Team of the Tournament by the AFC, the first Southeast Asian to receive such honour, a record which would stand until the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[18][19]
Malaysia Selection
On 11 May 1975, Soh 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.[20][21]
Retirement
He retired from international football in 1984 and made 250 international appearances as recorded by Football Association of Malaysia.[22][23] Asian Football Confederation recognised his achievements and included him into AFC Century Club in February 1999.[24][25][26]
Post-playing career
He was appointed as the chairman of the referees' committee on 13 March 2007. He was the team manager (not head coach) of Malaysia national football team from 2007 until 2009.[27]
Political career
He once tried to make it in politics by contesting to be the Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka representing Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) of Barisan Nasional (BN) in 1986 but he suffered a defeat of 17,606 votes to Lim Guan Eng of Democratic Action Party (DAP).[28]
Election results
Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | P113 Kota Melaka | Soh Chin Aun (MCA) | 16,967 | 32.92% | Lim Guan Eng (DAP) | 34,573 | 67.08% | 52,840 | 17,606 | 76.54% |
Personal life
In 2016, he made a cameo appearance in Ola Bola as Soh Chin Aun, a character based on himself in the 1980 Moscow Olympics qualification campaign.[29]
Career statistics
International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Malaysia | 1969 | 3 | 0 |
1970 | 12 | 0 | |
1971 | 19 | 1 | |
1972 | 16 | 3 | |
1973 | 20 | 1 | |
1974 | 12 | 0 | |
1975 | 19 | 0 | |
1976 | 16 | 2 | |
1977 | 17 | 1 | |
1978 | 16 | 0 | |
1979 | 17 | 1 | |
1980 | 19 | 1 | |
1981 | 8 | 1 | |
1982 | 0 | 0 | |
1983 | 8 | 1 | |
1984 | 17 | 1 | |
Total | 219 | 13 |
- Scores and results list Malaysia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ann goal.[30]
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 May 1971 | Bangkok, Thailand | ![]() | 8–0 | 1972 AFC Asian Cup qualification | |
2 | 29 July 1972 | Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 1–2 | 1972 Merdeka Tournament | |
3 | 20 September 1972 | Seoul, South Korea | ![]() | 1–0 | 1972 President's Cup | |
4 | 22 September 1972 | Seoul, South Korea | ![]() | 1–1 | 1972 President's Cup | |
5 | 28 July 1973 | Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 1–0 | 1973 Merdeka Tournament | |
6 | 12 August 1976 | Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 5–1 | 1976 Merdeka Tournament | |
7 | 20 August 1976 | Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 2–2 | 1976 Merdeka Tournament | |
8 | 29 July 1977 | Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 5–1 | 1977 Merdeka Tournament | |
9 | 9 May 1979 | Bangkok, Thailand | ![]() | 1–1 | 1980 AFC Asian Cup qualification | |
10 | 2 November 1980 | Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 1–2 | 1980 Merdeka Tournament | |
11 | 17 April 1981 | Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | ![]() | 1–2 | Ovaltine Cup | |
12 | 19 September 1983 | Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium, Kota Bahru, Malaysia | ![]() | 7–0 | 1983 Merdeka Tournament | |
13 | 3 April 1984 | Christchurch, New Zealand | ![]() | 1–6 | Friendly |
Honours
Selangor
- Malaysia Cup: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1978
Malacca
- Malaysian League: 1983
Malaysia
- Asian Games Bronze Medal: 1974
- SEA Games: 1977, 1979
- Merdeka Tournament: 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979
- King's Cup: 1972, 1976, 1978
- Jakarta Anniversary Tournament: 1970
Individual
- AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 1980
- AFC Asian All Stars: 1982[31]
- MasterCard Asian/Oceanian Team of the 20th Century: 1998[32]
- AFC Century Club: 1999[24][25][26]
- OCM Hall of Fame: 2004[33]
- Asian Football Hall of Fame: 2014[34][35]
- Goal.com The best Malaysia XI of all time: 2020[36]
- IFFHS Men's All Time Malaysia Dream Team: 2022[37]
Records
- Malaysia national football team all-time most appearances: 219[38]
- The first men's footballers to reach 200 or more international caps (according to RSSSF and IFFHS): 219[3][4]
- 20th century most international caps in men's football (1901–2000): 219[3][4]
- The first Asian footballers to reach 100 or more international wins for national team: 108[39][40]
- The first footballers to reach 100 or more international wins for national team (1969–1984): 108[39][40]
Order
Malaysia :
Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (1980)
Pahang :
Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang (DIMP) – Dato' (2000)[41]
Selangor :
Knight Companion of the Order of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (DSIS) – Dato' (2016)[42]
Malacca :
Knight Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DCSM) – Datuk Wira (2021)[43]
See also
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- List of progression men's association football caps record
References
- ^ Chin Aun's name may be misspelt but he committed very few errors on field – The Star, 24 November 2020.M
- ^ Malaysia – Munich 1972 – FIFA.com
- ^ a b c Mamrud, Roberto (30 June 2021). "Soh Chin Ann– Double Century of International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "IFFHS ALL TIME RECORD ON PLAYERS WITH MOST GAMES". IFFHS. 15 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ "FIFA Century Club" (PDF). FIFA. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "SEVEN LEGENDS ARE NOW MEMBERS OF THE ELITE FIFA CENTURY CLUB". FAM. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Al-Mutawa reclaims title of most-capped men's player". FIFA.com. FIFA. 16 June 2022. Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ Soh not about to call it quits – The Straits Times, 12 November 1980.
- ^ Chin Aun returns as captain – The Straits Times, 29 June 1988.
- ^ 'Towkay' poser – The Straits Times, 16 January 1986.
- ^ The stars to watch. – New Nation, 21 February 1977.
- ^ XX. Olympiad Munich 1972 Football Tournament – RSSSF
- ^ Olympic Football Tournament Munich 1972 Germany FR – Malaysia at FIFA.com
- ^ Olympic Football Tournament Munich 1972 Malaysia – USA at FIFA.com
- ^ Olympic Football Tournament Munich 1972 Morocco – Malaysia at FIFA.com
- ^ "Road To Moscow 1980: The True Story Of Malaysia's Football Team That Inspired 'Ola Bola'". Says. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ "Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat".
- ^ "Vote for your best ever AFC Asian Cup defender". AFC. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ "Soh Chin Ann: The unforgettable Malaysian football icon". FIFA. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Retro Bola: Malaysia v Arsenal – Friendly 1975" (in Malay). Bazookapenaka. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ^ Arsenal FC tour of South East Asia 1975 – RSSSF
- ^ The player with the poise – Singapore Monitor – 2nd Edition, 24 October 1984.
- ^ COMMITTED TO THE GAME – Dato' Soh Chin Aun on YouTube Retrieved at 8 May 2011
- ^ a b 14 EX-INTERNATIONALS INDUCTED INTO AFC CENTURY CLUB – BERNAMA, 11 February 1999.
- ^ a b National Library of Singapore.
- ^ a b "Anugerah Kelab Satu Abad AFC 1999, 11hb Februari 1999" (in Malay). Chedinsphere. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "Malaysia sacks national football coach". Asia One. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
- ^ "What The "Ori" Ola Bola Team Looked Like And Some Facts You Didn't Know About Them". Vulcanpost. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Soh Chin Ann – Double Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "กัปตันสุโขทัย ประกาศพร้อมอัดราชบุรี อ้อนแฟนค้างคาวไฟร่วมเชียร์ในบ้านเพื่อเก็บชัย" (in Thai). Siamsport.
- ^ "Ramos, Balboa named to MasterCard CONCACAF 20th Century team". Soccer Times. 15 May 1998. Archived from the original on 21 February 1999. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ "OLYMPIC COUNCIL OF MALAYSIA/AWARDS/HALL OF FAME: FULL LIST" (in Malay). OCM. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Asian Football Confederation announces Hall of Fame inductees". Boxscorenews. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "AFC ANNOUNCES HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES". the-afc.com. The Asian Football Confederation. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ "From Raja Bola to King James, 'Spiderman' to Safiq – The best Malaysia XI of all time". Goal. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "IFFHS MEN'S ALL TIME MALAYSIA DREAM TEAM – 123". IFFHS. 17 February 2022. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ "Malaysia – Record International Players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ a b "LIONEL MESSI'S 100TH WIN WITH ARGENTINA". IFFHS. 29 September 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- ^ a b "International Caps Players with a Century of Caps". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ "Datukship for football legend Mokhtar Dahari". Utusan. 24 October 2000. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ "Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin ketuai senarai". Fuad Hadinata Yaacob (in Malay). MyMetro. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
- ^ "KPN, PTD dahului senarai 695 penerima anugerah kebesaran Melaka". Berita Harian (in Malay). 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
External links
- Malaysian torchbearers of the Olympic Flame (archived 29 September 2007)
- Profile page at Selangorfc.com (archive 28 September 2007) (in Malay)