The 2023 season was Hougang United's 26th consecutive season in the Singapore Premier League. After finishing third in the 2021 Singapore Premier League, Hougang qualified for the 2023–24 AFC Cup.
The women team played in the Women Premier league.
Review After winning the 2022 Singapore Cup, Hougang was thought to be a contender for the SPL champion.
On 6 April 2023, Hougang lost to Tanjong Pagar United FC 1–2 and was second bottom of the SPL table with the same points as Young Lions but with a better goal difference.
On 17 April, head of youth, Marko Kraljević replaced head coach Firdaus Kassim as interim head coach after the club failed to win any matches since they won the opening match in the 2023 Singapore Premier League season. Firdaus took over Kraljević's position as head of youth.
Squad
Singapore Premier League No. Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Previous club Contract since Contract end Goalkeepers 19 Zaiful Nizam O30 Geylang International 2023 2023 25 Zainol Gulam O30 Geylang International 2022 2023 Defenders 2 Anders Aplin O30 Geylang International 2020 2023 3 Jordan Nicolas Vestering U23 NFA U18 2018 2023 4 Nazrul Nazari O30 LionsXII 2016 2023 5 Naoki Kuriyama Ehime FC (J3) 2023 2023 6 Kazuma Takayama Kataller Toyama (J3) 2023 2023 17 Irwan Shah O30 Tampines Rovers 2023 2023 36 Abdil Qaiyyim Mutalib O30 Geylang International 2023 2023 Midfielders 8 Shahdan Sulaiman O30 Lion City Sailors 2023 2023 10 Kristijan Krajcek Balestier Khalsa 2022 2023 14 Umar Ramle Geylang International 2023 2023 16 Ajay Robson U23 Youth Team 2023 2023 18 Idraki Adnan Young Lions FC 2021 2023 24 Amir Zalani Home United 2021 2023 Strikers 7 Amy Recha O30 Geylang International 2022 2023 9 Fairoz Hassan O23 Albirex Niigata (S) 2023 2023 11 Hazzuwan Halim Geylang International 2023 2023 22 Gabriel Quak O30 Lion City Sailors 2023 2023 23 Sahil Suhaimi O30 Warriors FC 2020 2023 44 Đorđe Maksimović FK Radnicki 1923 (S1) 2023 2023 Players who left for NS during the season 25 Aizil Yazid U23 Albirex Niigata (S) 2021 2026 55 Farhan Zulkifli U23 Home United U19 2019 2025 Syafi’ie Redzuan U21 Players who left during the season 32 Brian Ferreira Cafetaleros de Chiapas (M3) 2023 2023 37 Zulfahmi Arifin O30 Sukhothai F.C. 2022 2023
Women's Squad No. Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Previous club Contract since Contract end Goalkeepers 1 Olivia Lee Jia Min 23 Belle Jaffar Balestier Khalsa (W) 2023 2023 28 Azreanna Azlan 2023 2023 Defenders 2 Rosnani Azman Kibi International 2023 2023 3 Angelyn Pang Yen Ping Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 4 Nurul Asyiqin Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 5 Jacklyn Lee Pei Xian Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 6 Claire Merrow-Smith 2023 2023 12 Carey Lee Shi Min 2023 2023 14 Leo Huang Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 17 Victoria Lee Chun Hui Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 19 Clara Wong Si Lin 2023 2023 20 Rena Ang En Ting Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 Midfielders 7 Deborah Chin Ngeet Ling Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 11 Winette Lim Siu Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 18 Nurul Ardian Baharrudin 21 Rochelle Chan Wan Wen Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 22 Genevieve Lee Min 2023 2023 27 Riddle Reneelyn Sison Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 Strikers 8 Raudhah Kamis Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 9 Levyn Wong Si Min 2023 2023 10 Rachel Chan Ye Ling Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 15 Siti Wan Nabilah Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 16 Nicole Lim Yan Xiu Lion City Sailors (W) 2023 2023 25 Clara Lau Shi Hui Tiong Bahru FC (W) 2023 2023 Players who left mid-season 23 Erlinawaty Dewi Balestier Khalsa (W) 2023 2023
Coaching staff
Position NameRef.General Manager Matthew Tay Team Manager Robert EziakorHead Coach (Men) Marko Kraljević (Interim)Head Coach (Women) G.SivarajAssistant Coach & Head of Youth (COE) & U21 Coach Robert EziakorGoalkeeping Coach Scott StarrU17 Coach Firdaus Kassim Tan Puay GuanU15 Coach Yuki FujimotoStrength & Monitoring Coach Syaqir SulaimanSports Trainer Thomas Pang Physiotherapist Ain Hassan Daniel Tan Shoban RahulEquipment Team Richard Lim Wan Azlan Bin Wan Adanan
Transfers In
Preseason PositionPlayerTransferred FromTeamRef Zaiful Nizam Geylang International First Team Free Tampines Rovers First Team Free Kazuma Takayama Omiya Ardija (J2) First Team Free Naoki Kuriyama Ehime FC (J3) First Team Free Brant Tan Jun Rong Lion City Sailors U21 U21 Free Nasrul Pujiyono Geylang International U21 U21 Free Umar Ramle Geylang International First Team Free Shahdan Sulaiman Lion City Sailors First Team Free Brian Ferreira Cafetaleros de Chiapas (M3) First Team Free Hariysh Krishnakumar Balestier Khalsa U21 Free Dylan Choo Tanjong Pagar United U21 U21 Free Gabriel Quak Jun Yi Lion City Sailors First Team Free Hazzuwan Halim Geylang International First Team Free Fairoz Hasan Albirex Niigata (S) First Team Free Nicole Lim Yan Xiu Lion City Sailors (W) Women Free.
Mid-season PositionPlayerTransferred FromTeamRef Djordje Maksimovic FK Radnički 1923 (S1) First Team Free Abdil Qaiyyim Mutalib Geylang International First Team Free Syed Adel Alsree Lion City Sailors U21 U21 Free
Note 1:
Loan Return Preseason PositionPlayerTransferred FromRef Young Lions FC Season loan
Note 1: Nor Hakim Redzuan release after his return
Out Preseason PositionPlayerTransferred ToTeamRef Mukundan Maran Balestier Khalsa First Team Free. 2 years contract till 2024 Ridhuan Barudin Tampines Rovers First Team Free Lionel Tan Lion City Sailors First Team Undisclosed Nazhiim Harman Geylang International First Team Free Kishon Philip First Team Free Muhaimin Suhaimi Retired First Team Free Faiz Salleh Retired First Team N.A. Yeong Siew Mei Still Aerion Women Free Foo Shini Still Aerion Women Free Deanna Lim Still Aerion Women Free Afiq Noor Tiong Bahru FC (SFL1) First Team Free Fabian Kwok Balestier Khalsa First Team Free Kaishu Yamazaki Mosta F.C. First Team Free André Moritz Retired First Team Free Jarrel Ong Albirex Niigata (S) U21 Free. U21 Free Dhaniyah Qasimah Tanjong Pagar United (W) Women Free Pedro Bortoluzo Portuguesa First Team Free Shawal Anuar Lion City Sailors First Team Free Shahfiq Ghani Geylang International First Team Free Shahril Ishak Retired First Team Free
Mid-season PositionPlayerTransferred ToTeamRef Brian Ferreira La Luz F.C. First Team Free Zulfahmi Arifin Bhayangkara First Team Free. 6 months contract till 30 April 2024
Note 1:
Loan out Preseason PositionPlayerTransferred ToRef SAFSA NS till 2023 SAFSA NS till 2023 Nikesh Singh Sidhu SAFSA NS till 2023 Aizil Yazid SAFSA NS till Jan 2025 Farhan Zulkifli SAFSA NS till Jan 2025 Hafizzuan Riduan SAFSA NS till Jan 2025 Woo Chun Wei SAFSA NS till Jan 2025 Young Lions FC Season loan
Note 1: Harhys Stewart returns on loan to GYL for another season.
Retained / Extension PositionPlayerRef Zainol Gulam 1-year extension till 2023 3 years extension till 2025 Anders Aplin 1-year extension till 2023 1-year extension till 2023 Jordan Nicolas Vestering 1-year extension till 2023 1-year extension till 2023 1-year extension till 2023 Zulfahmi Arifin 1-year extension till 2023 Kristijan Krajcek 1-year extension till 2023 1-year extension till 2023 1-year extension till 2023 1-year extension till 2023 Sahil Suhaimi 1-year extension till 2023
Friendlies Pre-Season Friendly
First Team
Team statistics
Appearances and goals
Player SPL Singapore Cup Charity Shield AFC Cup TotalApps.GoalsApps.GoalsApps.GoalsApps.GoalsApps.Goals2DF Anders Aplin13+306000502503DF Jordan Vestering14+115+10002+202414DF Nazrul Nazari20+126010603225DF Naoki Kuriyama1906010603006DF Kazuma Takayama2326210613447FW Amy Recha14+661+510+102+403178MF Shahdan Sulaiman0+30200040909FW Fairoz Hassan0+10000000010010MF Kristijan Krajcek20910101023911FW Hazzuwan Halim14+544+10104+1030414MF Umar Ramle 1+300000004016MF Ajay Robson 9+6040102+1021017DF Irwan Shah21+2050106033018MF Idraki Adnan0+200+20000+102019GK Zaiful Nizam22060105032022FW Gabriel Quak10+1360+30101+1129723FW Sahil Suhaimi16+82500+102+4034224FW Amir Zalani3+1400+10000+4022025GK Zainol Gulam200000103036DF Abdil Qaiyyim Mutalib202+2000408044FW Djordje Maksimovic1045+150064201355DF Rauf Sanizal0000000+100058FW Louka Vaissierre Tan5+101+41000+4013160MF Raimi Ishraq0+100000001063MF Hariysh Krishnakumar000000000068DF Iryan Fandi0+200+20000+205074DF Nasrul Pujiyono0+1000000010Players who have played this season but had left the club or on loan to other club32MF Brian Ferreira7+200010009037MF Zulfahmi Arifin190201030250
Competitions
Overview
CompetitionRecord Singapore Premier League Charity Shield Singapore Cup AFC Cup Total
Results summary (SPL)
Charity Shield
Singapore Premier League
Singapore Cup
Hougang won 3–0 on aggregate.
AFC Cup
Group stage
References