
JDT legends Safiq Rahim, Farizal Marlias bid farewell to Southern Tigers
The Johor-born duo are widely regarded as legends, not only for their on-field success but also for their leadership and influence within the club.
18 Jun 2025 12:13pm
Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT) stalwarts Safiq Rahim and Farizal Marlias have bid farewell to the club after years of dedication to the Southern Tigers. Photo: Facebook: Johor Southern Tigers
JOHOR BAHRU - Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT) stalwarts Safiq Rahim and Farizal Marlias have bid farewell to the club after years of dedication to the Southern Tigers.
The club announced the duo's departure via a tribute on its official Facebook page, recognising their years of commitment, leadership and achievements that helped shape JDT into a dominant force in Malaysian and regional football.
Safiq, 37, joined JDT in 2013 and has been instrumental in the team's success, including captaining the side to the historic 2015 AFC Cup victory, the first time an East Asian club clinched the prestigious continental title.
Over the course of 270 appearances, the attacking midfielder netted 59 goals and provided 68 assists, helping the club secure an impressive list of honours - nine Malaysia Super League titles, seven Charity Shields, four Malaysia Cups, four FA Cups and one AFC Cup. Over the course of 270 appearances, Safiq netted 59 goals and provided 68 assists, helping the club secure an impressive list of honours - nine Malaysia Super League titles, seven Charity Shields, four Malaysia Cups, four FA Cups, and one AFC Cup. Photo: Facebook: Johor Southern Tigers
Farizal, 38, who donned the JDT jersey in 2015, on the other hand, established himself as one of the country's finest goalkeepers, keeping 102 clean sheets in 222 appearances.
His tenure saw him win 10 league titles, nine Charity Shields, five Malaysia Cups, four FA Cups and the historic AFC Cup in 2015.
The Johor-born duo are widely regarded as legends, not only for their on-field success but also for their leadership and influence within the club.
Yesterday, JDT confirmed the release of 11 players ahead of the 2025-2026 M-League season through a post on social media.
Among those released were goalkeepers Farizal Marlias and Izham Tarmizi, as well as midfield legend Safiq Rahim.
The Southern Tigers also parted ways with seven foreign players, Jordi Amat, Jese Rodriguez, Murilo Henrique, Jonathan Viera, Alvaro Gonzalez, Roque Mesa, and Anselmo de Moraes, as the club looks to refresh its squad for the upcoming campaign.
The eleventh departure is Ramadhan Saifullah, who has completed a permanent transfer to Kuching City FC, officially bringing his journey with the Southern Tigers to a close. - BERNAMA
More Like This
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
20 hours ago
- New Straits Times
JDT prep for M-League with La Liga action
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) will play newly promoted La Liga side, Levante UD, in a friendly in Spain next month. Under new head coach Xisco Munoz, the Malaysian champions will do their pre-season training abroad. "More friendly matches in Spain will be announced soon. Levante won the Segunda Division in the 2024-25 season to earn promotion to the Spanish top flight," JDT said on social media on Friday. Among the Levante stars is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Carlos Alvarez, who chalked up seven goals and 11 assists last season. His meteoric rise saw him sign a new deal with a release clause of €25 million (RM127 million). JDT, who aim to be an Asian power, plan to arrange for more matches in Spain, apart from training there.


New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Sri Pahang drop bombshell with late M-League withdrawal
KUALA LUMPUR: Sri Pahang have officially withdrawn from the 2025-26 M-League season despite being granted a national licence to compete. The Malaysian Football League (MFL) confirmed on Friday that the club submitted a formal letter dated June 16, stating their decision not to participate in the new campaign, which kicks off on Aug 8. It marks a sombre moment for Malaysian football, as Sri Pahang have a rich history, winning several domestic titles, including the Super League, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup throughout the years. Their exit leaves 13 teams in the top flight this year, among them Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), Selangor, Penang, Kuching City, Sabah, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan Darul Naim, KL City, Police and Brunei's DPMM. Melaka and Immigration, promoted from the AFL A1 semi-pro league, complete the lineup. All 13 clubs have secured the 2025-26 national licence from the First Instance Body (FIB), while DPMM's participation has been cleared by both the Asian Football Confederation and Fifa. "The confirmation of these 13 clubs sets the stage for another exciting M-League season, especially with DPMM making a comeback to local football and two AFL A1 sides entering the top flight," said the MFL. The new season will open with the Charity Shield clash between defending champions JDT and runners-up Selangor on Aug 8 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium. The FA Cup kicks off in mid-August, while the Malaysia Cup and Challenge Cup begin in January. Unlike last season's extended 14-month transition period, the 2025-26 campaign will span 10 months - part of MFL's move to align with the calendars of major international leagues. Fixtures are expected to be released soon, though scheduling remains tricky as the AFC will only conduct draws for the Asian Champions League Elite and ACL2 - involving JDT and Selangor - on Aug 15. Dates for the Asean Club Championship, also featuring both clubs, have yet to be confirmed.


Sinar Daily
3 days ago
- Sinar Daily
JDT legends Safiq Rahim, Farizal Marlias bid farewell to Southern Tigers
The Johor-born duo are widely regarded as legends, not only for their on-field success but also for their leadership and influence within the club. 18 Jun 2025 12:13pm Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT) stalwarts Safiq Rahim and Farizal Marlias have bid farewell to the club after years of dedication to the Southern Tigers. Photo: Facebook: Johor Southern Tigers JOHOR BAHRU - Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT) stalwarts Safiq Rahim and Farizal Marlias have bid farewell to the club after years of dedication to the Southern Tigers. The club announced the duo's departure via a tribute on its official Facebook page, recognising their years of commitment, leadership and achievements that helped shape JDT into a dominant force in Malaysian and regional football. Safiq, 37, joined JDT in 2013 and has been instrumental in the team's success, including captaining the side to the historic 2015 AFC Cup victory, the first time an East Asian club clinched the prestigious continental title. Over the course of 270 appearances, the attacking midfielder netted 59 goals and provided 68 assists, helping the club secure an impressive list of honours - nine Malaysia Super League titles, seven Charity Shields, four Malaysia Cups, four FA Cups and one AFC Cup. Over the course of 270 appearances, Safiq netted 59 goals and provided 68 assists, helping the club secure an impressive list of honours - nine Malaysia Super League titles, seven Charity Shields, four Malaysia Cups, four FA Cups, and one AFC Cup. Photo: Facebook: Johor Southern Tigers Farizal, 38, who donned the JDT jersey in 2015, on the other hand, established himself as one of the country's finest goalkeepers, keeping 102 clean sheets in 222 appearances. His tenure saw him win 10 league titles, nine Charity Shields, five Malaysia Cups, four FA Cups and the historic AFC Cup in 2015. The Johor-born duo are widely regarded as legends, not only for their on-field success but also for their leadership and influence within the club. Yesterday, JDT confirmed the release of 11 players ahead of the 2025-2026 M-League season through a post on social media. Among those released were goalkeepers Farizal Marlias and Izham Tarmizi, as well as midfield legend Safiq Rahim. The Southern Tigers also parted ways with seven foreign players, Jordi Amat, Jese Rodriguez, Murilo Henrique, Jonathan Viera, Alvaro Gonzalez, Roque Mesa, and Anselmo de Moraes, as the club looks to refresh its squad for the upcoming campaign. The eleventh departure is Ramadhan Saifullah, who has completed a permanent transfer to Kuching City FC, officially bringing his journey with the Southern Tigers to a close. - BERNAMA More Like This