Biography
Who is Soh Chin Aun?
Club football achievements
Soh Chin Aun began his professional path with Malacca in 1969. In 1971, he moved to Selangor, where he played until 1978. During this period with Selangor, he secured six Malaysia Cup titles. He returned to Malacca in 1979 and later earned a League Cup championship in 1983. His domestic league appearances concluded in 1988 while captaining Malacca. He remained inactive for a short period following a suspension in 1985.
International career highlights
At 19, Soh joined the national squad for the 1969 King's Cup. He was the youngest team member during the 1971 Olympic qualifiers in Seoul. He participated in all three group matches during the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. He served as team captain for the squad that qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, although the team did not attend due to a boycott.
During the 1980 AFC Asian Cup, he helped lead Malaysia to a well-known 1-1 draw against South Korea. The AFC subsequently named him to the tournament's best team, making him the first player from Southeast Asia to receive this distinction. He retired from international duty in 1984, having accumulated 250 appearances according to the Football Association of Malaysia.
Post-retirement roles
Following his playing days, Soh transitioned into administrative and management roles within the sport. He became the chairman of the referees' committee in March 2007. Between 2007 and 2009, he served as the team manager for the national football squad.
Outside of sports, he attempted a political career in 1986, running for the Parliament of Malaysia in the Kota Melaka constituency for the Malaysian Chinese Association. He received 17,606 fewer votes than his opponent, Lim Guan Eng. In 2016, he appeared in the film Ola Bola, portraying a character based on his own experiences during the 1980 Olympic qualification campaign.
Honors and legacy
The Asian Football Confederation recognized his contributions by inducting him into the AFC Century Club in 1999. His lengthy list of awards includes the 1974 Asian Games Bronze Medal and multiple Merdeka Tournament victories. He was honored with the Ahli Mangku Negara award for his Olympic qualification efforts.
Also, he received the Knight Companion of the Order of the Crown of Pahang in 2000 and the Knight Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca in 2021. In 2014, he was inducted into the Asian Football Hall of Fame. His career is often analyzed regarding international appearance records, with different organizations citing various totals for his caps.
Birthday and age
Soh Chin Aun was born on July 28, 1950, which makes Soh 76 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Soh shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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