Muhammad Shakir bin Hamzah (born 20 October 1992), better known as Shakir Hamzah or just Shakir, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays either as a centre-back or left-back for Singapore Premier League club Geylang International and the Singapore national team.
Shakir began his career with Young Lions in the 2009 S.League after graduating from the National Football Academy.
In December 2011, Shakir was named in the newly formed LionsXII squad for the 2012 Malaysia Super League. He played on the left side of defence as the Lions won the 2013 Malaysia Super League title.
In June 2013, Shakir served four days of detention for going absent without leave from his National Service. He had travelled away with the LionsXII squad for a Super League match with Pahang on 17 May without obtaining official approval.[2] He was suspended from all football activities by the Football Association of Singapore pending an investigation and was later fined S$4,000 and ordered to serve 30 hours of community service in football-related activities.[3][4]
Following the disbandment of the LionsXII, Shakir signed for S.League powerhouse Tampines Rovers on a two-year contract.[5][6]
Shakir was released by Tampines following the conclusion of the 2017 S.League season due to disciplinary issues.[7] He was subsequently signed by Home United for the newly revamp 2018 Singapore Premier League season.[8]
On 12 December 2018, Shakir signed for Malaysia Super League club, Kedah Darul Aman for the 2019 season. His first season for the Malaysian side was a success; playing as a centre back, he scored 4 goals for the club and was named in the 2019 Malaysia Super League 'Team of the Season' while also helping his side advancing all the way to the 2019 Malaysia FA Cup Final.[9] Shakir won the 2019 Malaysia FA Cup in his first season with the club.[10]
In December 2020, Shakir had joined Perak a year after joining Kedah Darul Aman.
In May 2021, Shakir left Perak after mutually consenting to termination of his contract due to Perak's financial problems.[11]
On 16 July 2021, Shakir officially signed for Tanjong Pagar United and return to Singapore Premier League. Shakir make his first appearance for Tanjong Pagar against Geylang International when Delwinder Singh was injured before the match and replaced him.[11] His debut appearance saw him scoring an own goal in a 3–1 defeat.[11]
On 21 January 2024, Shakir joined Geylang International on a free transfer ahead of the 2024–25 Singapore Premier League season. On his official debut for the club on 10 May, he scored his goal in a 2–2 draw against Balestier Khalsa with a rocket towards the top right corner of the net.
Shakir was part of the 2013 Southeast Asian Games squad which won a bronze medal. He made his senior team debut starting in the first leg of the Causeway Challenge against Malaysia on 8 June 2012. He scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw against Turkmenistan in a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification match.[12] He followed up with his second international goal in a 3–2 friendly win over Maldives at the Singapore National Stadium. It was also his second consecutive international goal.[13]
On 13 June 2017, He was locally famous for trying to score from the side of the halfway line into the back of the net against Argentina.
On 10 September 2019, Shakir scored a volley with his weak foot to secure a famous 2–1 victory against Palestine at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
In June 2021, Shakir pulled out of the Singapore team before Singapore's World Cup qualifying match against Saudi Arabia.[14] Shakir responded that he had to return to Malaysia to handle legal matters moving his family from Malaysia to Singapore.[11]
Shakir was called up to the national team for the 2020 AFF Championship held in Singapore in 2021.[15] On 14 December 2021, Shakir scored the second goal against Timor-Leste in a 2-0 win during the group stage of the tournament.[15] During the final group match against Thailand on 18 December 2021, Shakir collided with Thitiphan Puangchan in the 11th minute.[16] Shakir was stretchered out and was substituted for the match.[16] He suffered various injuries and was ruled out for the rest of the tournament.[17]
After nearly a year being injured, Shakir returned to the national team playing in the friendly against Maldives on 17 December 2022 in which he was called up to the 2022 AFF Championship squad.
Shakir was part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor's Cup held on 6 May 2017.[18]
Shakir is the son of former Singapore left-back Hamzah Haron.[8] His older brother is ex-LionsXII teammate Shahir Hamzah.[19]
Statistics accurate as of match played 5 March 2014
LionsXII