Arif Aiman Hanapi

Arif Aiman bin Mohd Hanapi (born 4 May 2002) is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim and the Malaysia national team.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Mohd Hanapi is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Arif Aiman. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Arif Aiman Hanapi
Personal information
Full name Arif Aiman bin Mohd Hanapi
Date of birth (2002-05-04) 4 May 2002
Place of birth Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward, winger
Team information
Current team
 Johor Darul Ta'zim
Number 42
Youth career
2015–2017 Mokhtar Dahari Academy
2018–2020 Johor Darul Ta'zim
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Johor Darul Ta'zim II 6 (0)
2020– Johor Darul Ta'zim 54 (10)
International career‡
2021– Malaysia 15 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 September 2022

Arif Aiman began his senior club with Johor Darul Ta'zim after playing for the youth club few years back. In 2021, he won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2021 National Football Awards ceremony and create the nation's history after become the youngest player (19 years old) ever chosen as MVP, surpassing teammate Safawi Rasid, who was 21 when he was selected as MVP in 2018. He was also named Best Striker and Most Promising Player in that year’s awards.[2] He is known to be the next wonderkid in SouthEast Asia.

Club career

Youth career

Arif Aiman's talent was discovered during the Mykids programme in 2011/12, and he later joined the squad that won IberCup Costa Del Sol in 2015. He then decided to leave AMD at the end of 2018 to join JDT Academy in order to increase his playing opportunities. After playing for JDT in the Youth and President's Cups, he caught the attention of Malaysia U18 squad coach, Bojan Hodak, in early 2019.[3]

Arif Aiman is a product of the National Football Development Programme of Malaysia (NFDP) from 2015 to 2017 and then Johor Darul Ta'zim Academy. He played in all levels of the academy including JDT IV, JDT III, JDT II until he became a regular for the first team.

2020 season

Arif Aiman made his senior debut with Johor Darul Ta'zim II on 29 February 2020 in the 2020 Malaysia Premier League.[4] He played 73 minutes in a 3-1 away win against Negeri Sembilan.[4] On 14 March 2020, he made his debut with the first team against Felda United in the Malaysia Super League. He scored his first goal for the club against Kuching City F.C. in a 1-0 win in the Malaysia Cup.

2021 season

Arif Aiman made his first appearances in the 2021 season against UiTM after his fellow teammate Safawi Rasid was subbed off because of a knee injury. He also scored in that match. Arif was named in the 25 best ASEAN wonderkids in football.[5] On 22 June 2021, he made his debut in AFC Champions League in a 0-1 loss against Japanese club Nagoya Grampus.

2022 season

On 30 April 2022, As Johor desperately needing a win to qualify for the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League group stage, during the last kick of the match, he crossed the ball into the ball which leads to Park Yong-woo to accidentally score an own goal which Johor won the game 2-1 and qualified to the knockout stage as group leaders.

On 5 August 2022, Arif Aiman score his first Senior hat-trick for JDT during the 2022 Malaysia FA Cup semi-finals match against Penang.

On 28 November 2022, he scored a goal in a friendly match against Borussia Dortmund in Johor last match of 2022.

He has been so prominent during the season that he has been eyed by many overseas clubs, including several top K-league sides and J-league club Kashiwa Reysol. It’s learnt that several European scouts and agents were monitoring him too.

2023 season

On 2 February 2023, he started off his pre season well in Dubai which during the match against FC Lokomotiv Moscow, he ran past behind the goalkeeper and scored the only goal in the game. On 24 February 2023, he won the 2023 Malaysia Charity Shield for the third time in his career.

International career

Arif made his first appearance for Malaysia in an unofficial friendly match against Kuwait on 23 May 2021 at the age of 19 years 19 days.[6] His official debut is against Bahrain on 29 May 2021. His first competitive match with Malaysia is against Vietnam in a 2022 World Cup Qualifier as a substitution in the 61st minute and end up losing 1-2.[7]

Style of play

Arif Aiman usually plays in the position of a winger who provides the chance for his front line. He is known for his pace, agility, and dribbles that can handle 1-3 opponents while in possession and can play both feet.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 13 May 2023[8]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Johor Darul Ta'zim II 2020 Malaysia Premier League 60—60
Total 60—60
Johor Darul Ta'zim 2020 Malaysia Super League 20—11——31
2021 Malaysia Super League 212—1015[lower-alpha 3]0—363
2022 Malaysia Super League 21344517[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0388
2023 Malaysia Super League 105[lower-alpha 3]—105
Total 541044163120108717
Career total 601044163120109317
Notes
  1. Malaysia FA Cup
  2. Malaysia Cup
  3. Appearances in the AFC Champions League
  4. Appearances in the 2022 Piala Sumbangsih

International
As of matches played 26 September 2022.[9]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Malaysia 202180
202270
Total150

Honours

Johor Darul Ta'zim

Malaysia

Individual

References
  1. "Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi FM 2021 Profile, Reviews". FM 2021 | Team, Player, League Review. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. "JDT winger Arif Aiman wins 2021 MVP award". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  3. "Youth Football Malaysia at Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  4. Liga Premier Malaysia 2020 - Negeri Sembilan 1-3 Johor Darul Ta'zim II - CMS FAM.
  5. "NXGN 2021: The 25 best ASEAN wonderkids in football". Goal.com. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  6. HarimauMYstats
  7. "Malaysia vs. Vietnam - Football Match Summary - June 11, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  8. Arif Aiman Hanapi at Soccerway
  9. Arif Aiman Hanapi at National-Football-Teams.com
  10. "Johor Darul Ta'zim win 8th consecutive Malaysia Super League title". ESPN. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  11. "Keputusan pemenang ABK 2021 Anugerah Bola Sepak Kebangsaan". Mysumber (in Malay). 22 December 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
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