Biography
Who is Irfan Bachdim?
Early life and football roots
Irfan Bachdim Haarys Bachdim was born on August 11, 1988, in Amsterdam. His father, Noval, is an Indonesian national born in Malang who moved to the Netherlands in the 1980s. His mother, Hester van Dijk, is a Dutch national. Irfan grew up in Amsterdam and lived there until adulthood. He comes from a family with deep ties to the sport.
His father played for PS Fajar Lawang in the 1980s. His grandfather, Ali, played for Persema Malang and a military team, PSAD Jakarta, while serving in the Indonesian Navy. Irfan began his own football career at SV Argon in 1997. He later joined the Ajax Youth Academy in 1998, where he trained alongside other young players like Ryan Babel. He returned to SV Argon after three years, where he became a top scorer in the youth league.
Club career in Europe and Asia
In 2003, scouts from FC Utrecht recruited Irfan. He played for their junior team and made his debut in the top-tier Eredivisie league against VVV-Venlo in February 2008. After leaving FC Utrecht, he signed with HFC Haarlem in 2009. He eventually moved to Indonesia in 2010 to join Persema Malang after being scouted by coach Timo Scheunemann during a charity match. He played as a winger or second striker for the club. After facing management issues in the league, he sought opportunities abroad.
He signed with the Thai club Chonburi FC in 2013. In 2014, he moved to Japan to play for Ventforet Kofu, becoming a well-known Indonesian player in the J. League. He later joined Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in 2015. In 2017, he returned to Indonesia to play for Bali United. During his time in Bali, he became a fan favorite, known for his sideline dribbles and goals. He helped the team win the 2019 Liga 1 title. After leaving Bali United, he played for PSS Sleman starting in 2020 and later joined Persis Solo in 2021, where he made his debut against PSIM Yogyakarta.
International play and media career
Irfan debuted for the Indonesian national team in 2010 at the AFF Championship. He scored two goals in the tournament and helped the squad reach the final. He remained a regular selection for the team until late 2019. He was also called up for training under coach Shin Tae-yong in 2020. His international career included participation in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games and qualifications for the 2012 Olympics.
Beyond his athletic career, Irfan is a well-known celebrity in Indonesia. He has appeared in various commercials for brands like Pocari Sweat, Nike, and Suzuki. He married Jennifer Kurniawan, a model and the sister of his former teammate Kim Kurniawan, on July 8, 2011, in Germany. The couple met while exploring professional opportunities in Indonesia in 2010.
Birthday and age
Irfan Bachdim was born on August 11, 1988, which makes Irfan 38 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Irfan shares the date with 57 other famous people.
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