Zainal Abidin Hassan


Zainal Abidin Hassan bin Ali is a Malaysian former footballer and current head coach.

Playing career

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. He played along with Malaysian legendary striker the late Mokhtar Dahari, R Arumugam, Soh Chin Aun and other recognised faces in Malaysian football.
In 1987, he partnered Dollah Salleh in front as they became the fierce striker for Selangor FA and Pahang FA in Malaysia Cup and also the national team in SEA Games and Merdeka Tournament. In 1996 Tiger Cup, Zainal Abidin was awarded as the MVP of the tournament. Three years later he was awarded the AFC Century Award.
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.

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 Kuantan Port-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.

Personal life

Zainal Abidin's father is of Kenyan descent. His oldest son Mohd Zaiza Zainal Abidin is also a Malaysian footballer.

Honours

As a Player

[Selangor FA]

;Malaysia Super League
;Malaysia Premier League
;Malaysia Cup
;Malaysia FA Cup
;Malaysia President Cup
;Malaysia Charity Shield

As a Coach/Manager

[Pahang FA]

;Malaysia FA Cup
;*2006, 2014
;Malaysia Cup
;*2014
;Malaysia Charity Shield
;*2014

[Selangor FA]

;Malaysia Charity Shield
;**Runner-up: 2016