Selamat Hari Lahir, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Hassan!
Legasi Lagenda ingin mengucapkan selamat hari kelahiran ke-62 kepada Dato’ Zainal Abidin Hassan!
Seorang legenda serba boleh, cemerlang bermain di bahagian pertahanan dan sebagai penyerang, Zainal membuat penampilan sulung beliau bersama Harimau Malaya di Pestabola Merdeka 1980 dan berjaya menjuarai kejohanan tersebut pada 1986. Beliau menjaringkan gol pertama untuk pasukan kebangsaan di Piala Raja Thai 1981 apabila menentang Pakistan, di mana Malaysia malangnya tewas 2-3.
Zainal telah bermain di pelbagai kejohanan antarabanga termasuk Sukan SEA, Sukan Asia, dan Piala Tiger 1996, di mana beliau dinobatkan “Most Valuable Player”. Pada 2021, Zainal dimasyur sebagai anggota Kelab Abad FIFA yang mengiktirafkan 116 caps beliau.
Pada peringkat domestik, Zainal mencipta nama bersama Selangor dan Pahang sehingga beliau bersara pada tahun 1999. Beliau telah menjuarai Piala Malaysia empat kali bersama Selangor – 1981, 1982, 1986 dan 1997 – dan dua kali bersama Pahang – 1983 dan 1992.
Setelah beliau bersara, Zainal terus menabur bakti dalam bidang kejurulatihan. Beliau telah menyumbang kepada kelab lama beliau sebagai ketua jurulatih dan membantu Pahang memenangi Liga Super Malaysia pertama mereka pada tahun 2004 dan Piala Malaysia pada tahun 2014.
Zainal telah meraih kejayaan beliau dalam arena bola sepak Malaysia melalui kerja keras dan dedikasi terhadap sukan tersebut. Semoga segala pencapaian beliau sentiasa dikenang dan menjadi inspirasi kepada generasi akan datang.
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Legasi Lagenda would like to wish a happy 62nd birthday to Dato’ Zainal Abidin Hassan!
The versatile legend, excellent as defense as well as striker, made his debut for Harimau Malaya at the 1980 Merdeka Tournament and eventually won the tournament in 1986. He scored his first goal for the national team at the 1981 King’s Cup in Thailand during a match against Pakistan, where Malaysia unfortunately lost 2–3.
Among the various international tournaments he played in include the SEA Games, the Asian Games and the 1996 Tiger Cup, where he was crowned Most Valuable Player. In 2021, Zainal was inducted into the FIFA Century club, commemorating his 116 caps.
On the domestic side, Zainal Abidin Hassan made a name for himself playing for Selangor and Pahang until he retired in 1999. He won the Malaysia Cup four times with Selangor – 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1997 – and twice with Pahang – 1983 and 1992.
After retiring, Zainal delved straight into coaching. He has given back to his clubs as head coach including leading Pahang to win the first Malaysian Super League title in 2004 and the Malaysia Cup in 2014.
Zainal has earned his successes in the Malaysian football scene through hard work and dedication. We hope that his achievements will always be remembered and become an inspiration for generations to come.
