With over 136 goals scored for club and 47 for the country, Malaysian football legend Safee Sali today announced his retirement from professional football.
The 39-year old veteran and icon who is largely considered one of the greatest Malaysian football players of all time, made the announcement marking the end of his illustrious footballing career. Following a career spanning for almost two decades, Safee bid farewell and paid tribute to his fans, colleagues, clubs and sponsors who stood by and supported him over the years.
The former Harimau Malaya icon who started his professional career in 2004 went on to play at some of the best football clubs both domestically and internationally including Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT), Kuala Lumpur City FC, Selangor FC and Indonesia’s Pelita Jaya FC among others.
Equipped with his attacking prowess and lethal acrobatic abilities, the centre-forward was pivotal in the success of Malaysia winning the AFF Cup in 2010, with Safee being named the top scorer with 5 goal tally to his name in the competition. In 2022, Safee set a record as the first Malaysian football player to play in two AFC Cup finals for Kuala Lumpur City FC and Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT) in 2015.
“Safee Sali is a true legend of Malaysian football and a role model to young players across the country. His dedication, hard work, and passion for the sport has earned him a place in the hearts of Malaysians and the football community worldwide. On behalf of FAM, I would like to thank Safee for his contributions to Malaysian football and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. We have no doubt that he will continue to make a positive impact on the sport, and we look forward to his continued involvement in the development of Malaysian football.” said Yang Berbahagia Datuk Haji Hamidin Bin Haji Mohd Amin, President of the Football Association of Malaysia who was in attendance at the press conference.
Commenting on his retirement and future plans, Safee said “Football is and always will be a big part of my life but I am excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead. As I transition to the next chapter of my life, I want to use my experience and knowledge to give back to my beloved country by being an enabler for the next generation of Malaysian footballers. I’m excited to announce that I’m working on establishing a football academy that will aim to nurture young talent at the highest level. Concurrently, I’m also in the works of co-producing a documentary titled ‘SEPULUH’ which will showcase the story of my life and footballing career.“
Safee Sali’s documentary aims to share his story with the world and inspire others to chase their dreams. The storyline will not only showcase Safee's achievements but also offers an intimate glimpse into his personal life and the people who have supported him on his journey. Viewers will get to see the man behind the footballer, his family, his friends, and the people who have played a significant role in his life.
Besides joining Astro Arena as a football pundit for the national league, the football icon has several ventures in the pipeline, including the establishment of the Safee Sali Football Center, a football academy aimed at developing young talent in the country.
His goal is to use his experience and knowledge of the sport to nurture the next generation of footballers, and to help them unlock their full potential. In addition, Safee also announced the soon-to-be-launched ’Sports Tarik’, a Youtube channel dedicated to cover and amplify interesting topics, insights and personalities in the world of sports. Hosted by the athlete himself, Safee hopes to supply valuable content and engage further his fans via the channel. With these exciting ventures in the works, Safee looks forward to the next chapter of his life and is excited to see what the future holds.
