Hussein Aljunied (1943 – 5 March 2016), also called Habib,[1] was a Singaporean football player and manager. He was high respected as the national head coach of both Singapore and Brunei throughout the 1980s and 90s.[2]

Hussein Aljunied
Personal information
Date of birth 1943
Place of birth Singapore
Date of death 5 March 2016 (aged 73)
Place of death Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
Position(s) Forward, midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Warriors FC
International career
1970s Singapore 1+
Managerial career
1976–1977 Singapore (assistant)
1984–1986 Singapore
1983–1988 Warriors
1990–1993 Brunei
1994–1996 Tampines Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Managerial career

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In charge of the Singapore national team from 1984 to 1986.[3][4] He guided the team to both the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Final and the Malaysia League championship in 1985.[5][6] In the 1985 Merlion Cup, he also guided Singapore to a joint championship victory with Yugoslavia.[7] After his management in his home country, he had a managerial stint with the Brunei national team from 1990 until 1993.[8] Only two international matches were completed during his time in Brunei, each ending in a draw and defeat against the Philippines in 1991.[9] The majority of his work was with the Brunei representative team playing in the Malaysian Liga Semi-Pro second division.[10]

International career

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Habib was the national team's captain in 1971.[7]

Personal life and death

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Habib was fans of both Manchester United and Manchester City.[8] He had previously served with the Singapore Army as a warrant officer.

Habib had reportedly been warded at the Singapore General Hospital while suffering from a severe lung illness due to pneumonia, kidney failure and a weak heart.[8] The former head coach died on 5 March 2016, leaving behind his wife, son, three daughters, and ten grandkids.[11] Prayers were held at Sultan Mosque, where several football figures attended.[12] President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, sent his condolences.[7]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Hussein Aljunied was the 'fatherly figure' of Singapore football". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Eine Legende wird 70" [A legend turns 70] (in German). Hertha BSC. 14 November 2004. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
  3. ^ "Top soccer job splits into two". The Straits Times. 29 June 1984. p. 47 – via NewspaperSG.
  4. ^ "Skipper comes back as coach". The Straits Times. 31 December 1986. p. 37.
  5. ^ 13th SEA Games Official Report. Thailand: BASOC. 1985.
  6. ^ a b Karel Stokkermans (19 April 2002). "Malaysia 1985". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "AFC condolences on passing of Hussein Aljunied". the-AFC. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Robert, Godfrey (6 March 2016). "Hussein Aljunied - a class act as a player, coach and fan". The New Paper. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  9. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Hussein Aljunied (Coach)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Hussein enggan lanjut kontrak di Brunei". Berita Harian. 4 May 1993. Retrieved 15 June 2023.[dead link]
  11. ^ Auto, Hermes (5 March 2016). "Football: Former national coach Hussein Aljunied dies at 73 | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Former national football coach Hussein Aljunied dies". TODAY. Retrieved 25 December 2022.