Mokhtar Dahari

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Mokhtar Dahari
Personal information
Full name Mokhtar Dahari
Date of birth 13 November 1953(1953-11-13)
Place of birth    Setapak, Selangor, Malaysia
Date of death    July 11, 1991 (aged 37)
Playing position Striker
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1972-1987
1988		 Selangor FA
Kwong Yik Bank		  ? (177)   
National team
1972-1985 Malaysia 167 (125)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of January 20, 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Mokhtar Dahari (13 November 1953 – 11 July 1991) was a legendary Malaysian football player from Setapak, Selangor. He was one of the best players in Asia in the 1970s.


Born in Setapak, Mokhtar showed interest in playing football at an early age. He played for his school and later for his home state, Selangor FA. He was only nineteen years old when he first played for the Malaysia national football team in an international game. Mokhtar helped Selangor FA win the Malaysia Cup 10 times and scored 177 goals altogether. In international games, he helped the Malaysia national football team score a total of 125 goals in 167 caps. He was the best striker in Malaysia. His first game for Malaysia national football team was against Sri Lanka national football team in 1972.


The Merdeka Stadium was his second home. Roars of "Supermokh" was all over the crowds including the young generation who tried to imitate his move.


Along with goalkeeper R Arumugam, defenders Santokh Singh and Soh Chin Aun, midfielders Reduan Abadullah and Shukor Salleh and Mokhtar's partner upfront Isa Bakar, Mokhtar Dahari's Selangor FA and Malaysia national football team were powerful forces in the '70s.


In 1975, he represented the Malaysia national football team against English giants Arsenal F.C.. Malaysia won the game 2–0, with Mokhtar scoring both goals. After the game, Mokhtar was rumoured to have been offered a chance to play for the Gunners. He also famously scored a goal in a 1–1 draw against England national football team's B team in 1978, dribbling past half of the opposing team coached by Bobby Robson. Paul Mariner was on the scoresheet for England that day.


He won his 100th cap for Malaysia national football team when he played in a Merdeka Football Tournament match against Japan national football team in 1976. This number 10 of Selangor FA also had a friendly game against another number 10, Diego Maradona's Boca Juniors in January 1982. The match ended with a 2-1 result; won by Argentina.


Mokhtar Dahari retired in May 1986 after winning the Malaysia Cup for Selangor FA and himself the man of the match. He also gave his number 10 jersey to Raja Muda Selangor. He came out of retirement in January 1987 to play one more season for Selangor FA.


In January 1988, he joined Kwong Yik Bank and won the Selangor League that year.


Mokhtar died at age 37 of muscular dystrophy at Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) at 8:25 am on 11 July 1991. His body was laid to rest at Bukit Permai, Taman Keramat Permai Muslim cemetery.


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