Baddrol bin Bakhtiar (born 1 February 1988) is a Malaysian politician and former professional footballer who has served as Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Gurun since August 2023. He is a member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition. He is also a former member of the Malaysia U-20, Malaysia U-23 and Malaysia national team squads as well as a former player of Kedah Darul Aman FC. He ended his football career as the captain of the Sabah FC team. Baddrol is usually employed in the right side of the midfield role, although he has often been deployed as a left-sided midfielder. He spent most of his club career with Kedah Darul Aman (formerly known as Kedah FA) starting from 2006 until end of 2021, before signing for Sabah FC on 1 December 2021 as a free transfer. He left Sabah FC and retired from football in 2023 before venturing into politics. During the 2023 Kedah state election, he was announced as the Perikatan Nasional candidate for the Gurun state constituency.

Club career

Kedah

Baddrol began his football career with the Kedah youth team. He also was part of the Kedah's 2006 Sukma Games team that won the silver medal. He was a regular throughout the tournament. His performance during theSukma Games attracted the interest of the Kedah Football Association management. Baddrol signed his first professional contract with Kedah in the 2005-06 season and made his debut in the 2006 Malaysia Cup away match against Penang. Baddrol established himself in Kedah's first team, competing for his spot alongside K. Soley as a right winger and Khyril Muhymeen on the left Nevertheless, after K. Soley left Kedah to join their local rivals, Perlis, Baddrol proved himself as one of the best young talents of the Kedah's youth team system. Starting from the 2007-08 season, Baddrol became a first-team regular for Azraai Khor's squad and performed well in each match with his ability to terrorise defenders, and his pace and trickery with the ball. Baddrol played more than 400 matches and scored 123 goals in all competitions for Kedah, making him recognised as the club's all-time top scorer.

Training stints and trials

On 6 April 2008, Gifted Group and Football Association of Malaysia selected Baddrol and his former Kedah teammate Mohd Bunyamin Umar for a two weeks' training stint with Chelsea FC at Stamford Bridge alongside their youngsters and more senior players such as Shaun Wright-Phillips, Tal Ben Haim, Steve Sidwell and Nicolas Anelka. In August 2011, rumours circulated that English Premier League club Wigan Athletic FC offered Baddrol a trial, but this was neither denied nor confirmed by Wigan officials. The rumour would later eventually be dismissed as false.

Sabah FC

After playing for Kedah for almost 16 years, Baddrol signed for Sabah on a free transfer at the age of 33. He made his home debut on 4th April 2022 against Negeri Sembilan. On 10 April 2022, he scored his first goal against Sarawak United of the 2022 Super League game at the Sarawak State Stadium, Sarawak. Baddrol bade his farewell to Sabah after having played his last match for the club in a 4–0 home win against Sri Pahang on 15 July 2023, a day after his departure was confirmed. He made 42 appearances and scored 15 goals in all competitions with Sabah.

International career

Baddrol, alongside his teammates Abdul Hadi Abdul Hamid, Mohd Sabre Mat Abu and Mohd Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, Muhammad Shafiq Jamal and Mohd Bunyamin Umar earned their first call-up in 2005 to the Malaysia U-20 team. He made his youth international match debut in AFC Youth Championship 2006 qualifying round on 12 December 2005 against Myanmar at Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia beat Myanmar 4–2. After qualifying to the final round in Bangalore, Baddrol however scored an own goal and Malaysia went down to Vietnam 1–2 in their opening match on 30 October 2006. Baddrol was also a part of Malaysia U-19 squad for the 2007 Champions Youth Cup. His action in a match against Chelsea wooed the Chelsea coaching staff who gave him a chance to train at Stamford Bridge. Baddrol Bakhtiar was called up by Malaysia U-23 national coach K.Rajagobal for 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos. He scored 3 goals throughout the tournament to assist the national U-23 sides to win the gold medal for the first time after 20 years since the team won it in 1989. He was called up again by Ong Kim Swee to play for 2011 Southeast Asian Games squad in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was chosen as captain for the team and managed to score 3 goals throughout the tournament en route to final match against the host Indonesia which the game tied at 1-1 after extra time. During penalty shootout, Baddrol scored the decisive penalty kick and enable the team to win the gold medal twice consecutively after the last winning on 2009 SEA Games edition. He made his full international debut against Kenya on 12 August 2009. He scored his first goal for the senior team in a match against Uzbekistan on 18 November 2009. He was also part of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games winning squad and managed to score a total 3 goals, 1 against the Timor Leste U-23 team and 2 in the semi-final against the Laos U-23 team. Baddrol captained the Malaysia U-23 team and led them into winning the gold medal at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games. He also scored three goals and scored the last kick of penalty shoot out against the Indonesia U-23 team to contribute to the second consecutive triumph. In 2018 Asian Games, he was selected as one of the overage players for the Malaysia U-23 team. He captained the team throughout the tournament and create an upset in a 2–1 win over South Korea U-23 team.

Political career

Immediately after leaving Sabah FC, Baddrol returned to his home state, Kedah, and switched his career to politics by joining the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). Baddrol stated his purpose for joining PAS is to defend the leadership of Datuk Seri Sanusi Md Nor, the Menteri Besar of Kedah at that time. He was named as a candidate for Gurun in the 2023 Kedah state election representing the Perikatan Nasional ticket. He won and became the Gurun assemblyman.

Election results

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

U23 International goals

Personal life

Baddrol was born in Sarawak and currently living in Ambangan Heights, Sungai Petani, Kedah. Baddrol's parents are from Negeri Sembilan, his father being a soldier in the Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM).

Honours

Kedah FA Individual