Iryan Fandi
Personal information
Full name Iryan bin Fandi Ahmad
Date of birth (2006-08-09) 9 August 2006
Place of birth Singapore
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, left-back
Team information
Current team
 Hougang United
Number 68
Youth career
2021–2022 Lion City Sailors
2022– Hougang United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Hougang United 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 April 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 March 2023

Iryan bin Fandi Ahmad (born 9 August 2006), more commonly known as Iryan Fandi or mononymously as Iryan, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United.

Early life

Iryan suffers from asthma which resulted in fainting spells while playing football when he was in Anglo-Chinese School (Junior). As such, he frequented the hospital and was cut from the school team. Iryan then played rugby and competed for Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) up to when he was in Secondary 3. He tried to play football in secondary school for Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) but was rejected due to a lack of technique. Iryan then started working on his techniques and started gymming. Eventually in Secondary 3, he was accepted into the school team.[1]

His asthma condition is now under control and is able to complete 90 minutes but still requires an inhaler pump before warm-ups.[1]

Club career

Lion City Sailors

Iryan joined the Lion City Sailors under-16 team before making a move to Hougang United at the start of 2022.[1]

Hougang United

Iryan, an Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) student is also a member of the Hougang United under-17 team.[2] As a star performer in the Football Association of Singapore's Centre of Excellence Under-17 league, Iryan started in all 14 matches, kept 6 clean sheets and scored twice as Hougang finished second.[1]

Iryan was named on the bench for the senior side for the first time on 19 February, against Albirex Niigata (S) in the 2023 Community Shield. The match ended in a 3–0 defeat which saw Hougang United finishing as a runner-up.[3] He was named on the bench ahead of a Singapore Premier League match against Balestier Khalsa on 26 February 2023. At aged 16, Iryan made his senior professional and Singapore Premier League debut against Tampines Rovers on 16 April 2023. Iryan conceded a penalty in the 100th minute which resulted in a controversial 1–1 draw. Iryan is the fourth and last son of Fandi Ahmad to make his professional debut.

Style of play

Iryan plays as a left-footed centre-back, noted for his physicality, commitment, speed and, robustness. Cited by Robert Eziakor, head coach of the Hougang under-17 team, Iryan was compared to Singapore national team captain Hariss Harun with such physicality in the region. His father, Fandi Ahmad mentioned fearlessness was what sets Iryan apart from his brothers. Iryan is not afraid to get stuck in, fly into tackles and win headers.[1]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 April 2023.[4]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hougang United 2023 Singapore Premier League 1020002050
Career total 1020002050

Personal life

Iryan is the youngest son of Singaporean footballer Fandi Ahmad and South African model Wendy Jacobs. His two oldest brothers, Irfan and Ikhsan, are also footballers playing for BG Pathum United.[5] He has an older sister Iman and an older brother Ilhan who plays for Deinze.[6] His grandfather, Ahmad Wartam, was an ex-national goalkeeper.[7] Hafiz Abu Sujad and the national team's physiotherapist Nurhafizah are the cousins of his father Fandi Ahmad.[8]

Honours

Hougang United

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Football: Youngest Fandi son Iryan plays catch up with band of brothers". The Straits Times. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Rad like dad: How Fandi Ahmad, Jack Neo and Edmund Chen bond with sons over same careers". The Straits Times. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 "2023 Community Shield". Singapore Premier League. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Iryan Fandi at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Spotlight on adidas footballers Marc and Ilhan – sons of Singapore legends". Yahoo Sports. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  6. ↑ Toh, Ziyi (16 October 2021). "Fandi Ahmad's Wife Wendy Jacobs Laments How Fast Her 5 Gorgeous Kids Have Grown Up; Here's What They've Been Up To". 8 Days. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Fandi Ahmad's father, former national goalkeeper Ahmad Wartam, dies". The New Paper. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Nerves no longer freeze rising son". AsiaOne. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
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