Ikhsan Fandi

At 25 years old, Ikhsan Fandi has this physical status:

Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad (born 9 April 1999) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Norwegian First Division club Raufoss IL.

Early life and family

Ikhsan was born on September 9, 1999 at the Thomson Medical Centre in Novena, Singapore. Ikhsan is the second oldest son of Singaporean football legend Fandi Ahmad and former model Wendy Jacobs. He has four siblings, one older brother, Irfan, a clubmate of BG Pathum United, and two younger brothers, Ilhan, who plays for Albirex Niigata (S) and Irfan, one of whom plays for Hougang United under 17 years old, with the other being his sister Iman.

Ikhsan's family, who was tight-knit, football-loving family, soon sparked a passion for the sport from an early age. Ikhsan attended Woodlands' Singapore Sports School. Ikhsan graduated from the Republic Polytechnic (RP) with a diploma in sports administration.

Personal life

From 2016 to 2018, Ikhsan fulfilled his National Service (NS) responsibilities for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). During his time as Prime Minister Robert de SAF Sportsmen Scheme (MINDEF) that provides special exemptions to local athletes with flexible timetables for sports events, including representing Singapore in international competitions, he continued to play and practice professional football.

Ikhsan has stated that he enjoys swimming and visiting Sentosa's island. Two egg pratas are his new local breakfast dish. At present, Ikhsan is also the most followed Singaporean celebrity on Instagram, ahead of Badminton's world champion Loh Kean Yew and Olympic swimming goal medalist Joseph Schooling.

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Club career

With Hércules, a professional club in Spain's second division, Ikhsan and older brother Irfan Fandi had a chance to secure their first overseas trial in March 2013. However, the pair were unable to secure employment with the club due to visa issues. After wages could not be agreed to, Irfan and Ikhsan left the club because the club could not be hired.

Having secured two-year contracts with the Chilean Primera División club, the two managed to sign for Chilean side A.C. Barnechea later in 2013.

Ikhsan and Irfan joined the Chilean Primera División club Universidad Católica.

Ikhsan and his brother Irfan joined Home United together in Singapore ahead of the 2016 S.League season. He made his senior debut against Warriors FC in a 2–2 draw and came as a replacement for Khairul Nizam in the 85th minute. Around this time, he and his brother Irfan were often away for National Service (NS), and so he only managed to finish the season with 4 appearances and 0 goals.

Ikhsan will sign for the Under-23 football team, Young Lions FC, in 2017, ahead of the 2017 S.League season. Although Ikhsan has yet to play for his new club, Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, is interested in re-signing Ikhsan and his brother Irfan after they fulfill their national service obligations, it was announced on March 17th. Ikhsan has yet to make a game this season, with the club still pointless.

Ikhsan made his Young Lions debut against Tampines Rovers on April 23, 2017. When serving his national service as an infantry trooper, Ikhsan played ten league games for the Young Lions. Following the completion of the season, it was announced that Ikhsan, as well as his brother Irfan, is set for a trial with Leeds United in March.

In game week 7 against Hougang United, Ikhsan scored his first game in career. He also helped with another goal. He stayed with the Young Lions for the 2018 Singapore Premier League season, scoring 8 goals in his entire tenure with the club.

Ikhsan went to Norway in 2019 for the clubs' trials. Ikhsan was given a two-year deal with Raufoss IL, after excelling in his time there. In a friendly against Mjondalen IF on January 12, Ikhsan played his first match for the club. In the 64th minute of the 3–1 loss, he came as a substitute. In a 6–1 victory over Elverum FC on January 25, the goalkeeper scored his first goal for the club, sparking a comeback from the goalkeeper to score the third goal.

Ikhsan made his league debut against Sandefjord Fotball on April 8, 2019, replacing Anton Henningsson. In three starts in a row between May and June, he scored six goals and 1 assist in 28 games, ending his first season with Raufoss.

IK Start, a three-day trial, and a preparation camp from March 5 to 13 in Marbella, Spain, where they were scheduled to play three friendlies, all on March 1, 2020. However, Start played just one match, over fellow Norwegian side Grorud IL, a 2–0 win, but Ikhsan scored during his 75-minute outing against the newly promoted second-tier outfit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Start coach Jóhannes Hararson was enthused with his work, and he even referred to a potential transfer. However, with the league being postponed, the Norwegian Football Federation also placed a work ban on clubs until the end of the month, and the transfer window was closed on April 1st. Since the club and player were unable to decide on salary terms and contract length, the move to the IK Start eventually failed to materialize.

In his fifth appearance and first appearance of the season, Ikhsan scored in his first goal for the club in the 40th minute and his first game of the season, beating Asane on 30 August 2020. Ikhsan was keen to move away from Raufoss after only playing in 425 minutes in 11 games over 11 games for Raufoss in 2020, scoring just once.

On October 5, 2020, Ikhsan moved from Raufoss IL to FK Jerv, the Norwegian side, before the transfer window closed and the deal was signed until 2022. According to reports, FK Jerv has paid Raufoss more than US$50,000 for an Ikhsan sell-on deal. Ikhsan made his debut off the bench two days after signing in a league match against Hamkam. In a 4–2 win over his former team Raufoss on October 10, 2020, he scored his first goal for the club on his debut on his full debut. In a 2–1 victory over Ullensaker/Kisa IL, Ikhsan got off to a good start and scored in his second straight victory. He timed his run to head in a cross from the right by Ghanaian midfielder Michael Baidoo, scoring his second goal for the club in his third game and assisting his new club in their fourth straight victory in the league.

Ikhsan scored his third and fourth goals for FK Jerv in just his fifth game, leading to the club's 4–2 victory over ygarden FK with a 50th minute tap-in before heading to his second from a corner in the 64th minute. Ikhsan scored his fifth goal for the club in the club's final game of the 20201. divisjon, December 14, 2020. In the 90th minute against Stjrdals/Blink IL, he came on at halftime and equalized from close range. Since the result secured FK Jerv's place in the Norwegian second class, Ikhsan has dubbed it the "most significant of his career."

Ikhsan scored his first goal of the season on June 13th, 2021, after missing the first four games of the 2021 1. divisjon due to a fractured body, Ikhsan scored his first goal of the season just three minutes into his first appearance since being a replacement at the 72nd minute. Willis Furtado's apprehension, and his team beat Bryne FK by a score. Ikhsan continued to a poor showing, leading to Willis Furtado's cutback and finishing at equalizer. He then helped set up his team's champion in the second minute of added time, competing a one-two with Thomas Zernichow, who then back-heeled for John Olav Norheim to make it 2–1.

Ikhsan opened the scoring on his first match since returning from injury in a 1-1 draw against Struggen IF, allowing the Ikhsan to flick the ball and drive it past Simen Kjellevold Lillevik for his second goal in three matches. The 2021 season saw Ikhsan's club FK Jerv be promoted to the Eliteserien after the club won 8–7 on penalties in a promotion play-off match against SK Brann on December 16th 2021. "I'm so excited and proud of my club for winning promotion, and I'm looking forward to playing and playing well against the big boys in the Eliteserien next season."

However, there were rumors that several clubs, especially in Asia, were involved in Ikhsan after observing his performances in Norway at this time. Ikhsan left the team in the middle of the 2021-2021 season, according to their Instagram account, on a two-and-a-half year deal. FK Jerv Jerv TH2 million was charged for Ikhsan's work by BG Pathum.

Ikhsan scored 4 goals in a league match against PT Prachuap that ended 7–2. Ikhsan's 4 goal haul in 11 minutes ranked him second in the fastest goal hauls of the 21st century in top flight league football ahead of Kylian Mbappé's 13 minutes against Olympique Lyonnais on October 7, 2018, as well as Robert Lewandowski's 5 goals in 9 minutes against Wolfsburg on October 22, 2016 during the 2015–16 Bundesliga season.

Ikhsan scored his first few goals in Asia's continental competition, the AFC Champions League, on April 24, 2022 (ACL). He fought the Filipino champions, United City F.C., for a brace. In the 2022 AFC Champions League's group stage, he was assisting his club in winning the game 3–1, securing BG Pathum United's position at the top of the table. Ikhsan has scored in all BG Pathum United competitions from 2021 to 2022, with the 2 goals.

Ikhsan scored in the 38th minute to help BG Pathum clinch the 2022 Thailand Champions Cup by 32-2 victory on August 6, 2022. After beating Hong Kong's Kitchee SC 4–0, Ikhsan and his brother Irfan became the first Singaporeans to reach the AFC Champions League's quarter-finals on August 1922. With a turbo strike from outside the box, Ikhsan was the scorer for one of the goals.

International career

In the 2016 edition of the Lion City Cup, Ikhsan was third in third place. He scored a brace against Liverpool United U15. At halftime, the Singapore team was 3–0 down, but Ikhsan came on and scored a hat trick, bringing the game to a conclusion of 3–3. Both teams advanced to penalties, and Singapore lost by 5–3 on penalties to finish third.

He was called up to the Singapore national under-22 team ahead of the 2017 SEA Games and broke his duck by converting a penalty against India before thumping Brunei by two scorchers from distance in a 4–1 victory in AFC under-23 Championship qualifiers in July. At the 2017 SEA Games, he appeared in all four of the team's games, scoring one goal.

On September and September respectively, HIkhsan was called up to the national team for the friendly against Hong Kong and the 2019 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Turkmenistan. After arriving in Hong Kong for Khairul Amri in the 71st minute, he made his debut against Hong Kong. When winning his fifth cap against Mauritius on September 7, 2018, he scored his first international goal. He scored his second goal in the following game, leading Singapore to a 2–0 victory over Fiji in a friendly match. In his eighth cap against Cambodia, he scored his third goal.

Ikhsan won by 1–0 over Indonesia on November 9, his first AFF Championship appearance in the 2018 season. In a 6-1 victory over Timor-Leste in the 2018 AFF Championship, he scored his first competitive goals for Singapore, putting him on the scoreboard twice. In a 2–1 victory over Yemen in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match, he scored in his eighth goal for Singapore in just his eighteenth cap.

Ikhsan was called up to the national team for a friendly against Afghanistan and the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches held in Riyadh against Palestine, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia, as well as brothers Irfan and Ilhan. This was the first time any three brothers of the national team were called up, but Ikhsan had to withdraw from the national team due to a knee injury suffered during preseason.

Ikhsan was playing in goal in the 119th minute after goalkeeper Hassan Sunny was sent off on December 2521 in the second leg of the 2020 AFF Championship semi-final match against Indonesia. Singapore was down to eight men by this time. As the game came to an end 4–2 after extra time, Ikhsan saved a free kick and did not concede.

Ikhsan performed alongside his brothers Irfan and Ilhan against Malaysia on March 26, 2022. It was the first time the three Fandi brothers competed in a joint match for the national team together. It was also the first time in international professional football to have three brothers playing for the national team in the same tournament. In the 'Causeway Derby', Ikhsan scored a double, giving Singapore a 2–1 victory.'

On June 14-2022, Ikhsan scored his first international hat-trick, leading Singapore to a 6–2 victory over Myanmar in the final match of their Asian Cup third-round qualifiers. His hat-trick's 31 goals for the Lions, as well as his award of 18th top goal scorer in Singapore's history, brings his total number to 16 goals in 31 matches. In a 1-1 draw against India, he scored his 17th goal in his 32nd appearance for the Lions.

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