Muhammad Safawi bin Rasid (born 5 March 1997) is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim and the Malaysia national team. He is known for his free kick ability to curl the ball and ability to conjure curving long-range strikes.

Early life

Safawi lives in Kampung Bukit Chatak, Dungun and attended school at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Dungun, Dungun, Terengganu in 2010 before moving to Sekolah Sukan Bukit Nenas, Setiu, Terengganu to improve his football talent until 2014. He had played football for his school team since his first year of being a secondary school student.

Safawi has 13 siblings and most of them are involved with sports such as sepak takraw, football, and hockey. His two younger brother Syakir played for Terengganu F.C. III, and Alfi played for Kedah.

He is the ninth sibling and the pride of the Dungun people.

Club career

Youth career
By 2011, T-Team had established a football academy all over six Terengganu cities, Dungun, Marang, Besut, Kemaman, Setiu and Kuala Terengganu by their 2011 head coach, Jibang Marzuki. All the football academy players must be below 18 years old and Jibang Marzuki managed to hold a game for each team every week to ensure the best performance before going to T-Team Football Club pre-selection at the end of the year.

Safawi Rasid, who was only 15 years old when he joined the Dungun T-Team Football Club Academy, always made the first-eleven for his team on each game. He used to play as a central midfielder and loved scoring long-range shots with his left foot. His manager at the time, recalls going to his house and forcing him to attend training as he believed that Safawi had a bright future ahead. Since then, Safawi represented Terengganu's football team each year for the MSSM tournament.

When he was 16 years old, he moved to Sekolah Sukan Bukit Nenas to improve his football skills, 66 kilometres away from home. Due to his fantastic talent at the Sports School League, T-Team coach, Rahmad Darmawan selected him to attend training with the first team. Safawi quickly impressed Rahmad and soon became an integral part of the first team.

T-Team
At the age of 17, Safawi made his professional debut in the 2014 Malaysia Cup against Selangor on 13 August 2014.

Johor Darul Ta'zim
In December 2016, it was announced that Safawi had agreed to sign with champions Johor Darul Ta'zim. He was assigned the number 29.

2017 season
On 7 February 2017, Safawi featured in the 2017 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs against Gamba Osaka which his side lost 0–3. On 27 January 2017, Safawi made his league debut in a 3–1 win over Felda United after coming off from the bench.

On 15 July 2017, he scored his first goal in the Malaysian Super League for his new club in a 3–1 victory against Sarawak. At the end of the season, Safawi picked up his first Malaysia Super League and 2017 Malaysia Cup medal, helping Johor Darul Ta'zim win their 4th consecutive league title and first Malaysia Cup in their history.

2018 season
During the 2018 AFC Cup group stage, Safawi showed an impressive performance in a 3–0 victory over Persija Jakarta, scoring a stunner along the way. On 17 March, he scored his first hat-trick in a 2–3 victory in the third round of the 2018 Malaysia FA Cup against UiTM. On 14 April 2018, he scored his first goal of the Malaysian Super League season against PKNS.

2019 season

During the 2019 AFC Champions League group stages Safawi scored a curler goal against China based team Shandong Luneng that made him win the AFC Goal of the Decade.

2020 season: Loan to Portimonense
Safawi joined Portuguese Primeira Liga club Portimonense S.C. from Johor Darul Ta'zim on a season long loan. He made his debut for the U-23 side on 16 October 2020, which ended in a 3-1 loss against Sporting CP U-23. The loan was cut short at the end of December 2020 because of lack of playing time given by the coach, making Safawi leave without any first team appearances.

2021 season

During the opening match of Malaysia Super League against Kedah in Piala Sumbangsih he scored his goal for the club after return from loan spell in Portugal. However, in the next match Safawi injured his knee, making him out for three months.

2022-23 season: Loan to Ratchaburi
On 4 December 2022, Ratchaburi FC chairman Tanawat Nitikanchana has announced that the club have signed Safawi during the 2022/23 Thai League transfer window. He made his debut for the team on 21 January 2023, which ended in a 2-0 loss against Khon Kaen United F.C. On 19 March, in his 9th appearance in the league, Safawi nets his first goal in the Thai League 1 during the 2-1 win against Chonburi.

International career
Safawi made his debut for the Malaysia Under-22 in the 2016 Nations Cup. In August 2016, Safawi was called up to the Malaysian national team for the match against Indonesia. He made his debut for the senior team in the match as a starter, as Malaysia lost 0–3. He was then called up again for the 2016 Causeway Challenge against rivals, Singapore, which ended 0–0.

Before the start of the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup, Safawi was omitted from the final 23-man squad. The demotion of Safawi from Ong Kim Swee was heavily criticized by Malaysian football fans despite veteran striker, Safee Sali managing to be in the squad despite having a poor season earlier with Johor Darul Ta'zim.

During the 2017 Southeast Asian games, Safawi was selected for the 20-man squad by Ong Kim Swee. He scored the first goal of the tournament with a stunning volley from a cross by his fellow countryman Matthew Davies in a 2–1 victory against Brunei. Safawi scored his second goal of the tournament during the 3–1 victory against Myanmar. Despite receiving the silver medal after losing 1–0 during the final against Thailand, Safawi was one of the best players of the tournament and showed consistent performances throughout the tournament.

On 10 November 2017 Safawi scored his first international goal in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification against North Korea.

During Football at the 2018 Asian Games - Men's tournament at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia. Safawi was also selected for the 20-man squad by Ong Kim Swee. On 17 August, when Malaysia was playing against South Korea, he scored twice to secure a 2–1 win in their second the group match.

In November 2018, Safawi was called up to the Malaysia national squad for the 2018 AFF Championship. Safawi scored one goal in the tournament, against Vietnam in the final first leg.

On 9 December 2021, he scored his first international hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Laos in the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup group stage.

Safawi is also part of the Malaysian team that qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He played  all 3 matches against Turkmenistan, Bahrain and Bangladesh in Third Round Group E Qualification.

Career statistics

Club

International appearances

International goals

Senior
Scores and results list Malaysia's goal tally first.

Malaysia Under-23

Honours
JDT
 Malaysia Super League: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
 Malaysia Cup: 2017, 2019, 2022
 Piala Sumbangsih: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
 Malaysia FA Cup: 2022, 2023

Malaysia U-23
 Southeast Asian Games Silver Medal: 2017
Malaysia
 AFF Championship runner-up: 2018
King's Cup runner-up: 2022
Merdeka Tournament runner-up: 2023 

Individual
 AFF Championship Top Scorer: 2020
 AFC Champions League Goal Of The Decade: 2020
 Malaysia Cup Top Scorer: 2019
 Malaysia Cup Best Player: 2019
 FourFourTwo ASEAN Young player of the year: 2018
 Malaysia Football League Most Promising Player: 2016, 2018 
 Malaysia Football League Best Eleven: 2018, 2019
 Malaysia Football League Best Midfielder: 2018
 Malaysia Football League Best Striker: 2019
 Malaysia Football League Most Popular Player: 2019
 Malaysia Football League Most Valuable Player: 2018, 2019 
2018 AFF Championship: Best Eleven 
 Thai League  Dream ASEAN XI

References

External links
 Safawi Rasid website
 

1997 births
Living people
Malaysian men's footballers
Malaysia men's international footballers
Terengganu F.C. II players
Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. players
Portimonense S.C. players
Malaysia Super League players
Malaysian people of Malay descent
Safawi Rasid
Safawi Rasid
Footballers from Terengganu
Men's association football wingers
SEA Games silver medalists for Malaysia
SEA Games medalists in football
Footballers at the 2018 Asian Games
Competitors at the 2017 SEA Games
Asian Games competitors for Malaysia
Malaysian expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
Malaysian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Malaysia men's youth international footballers
사파위 라시드(1997년 3월 5일 ~ )는 말레이시아의 축구 선수로 포지션은 공격수이며 현재 조호르 다룰 탁짐에서 활약하고 있다.

선수 경력

클럽 
2015 시즌 테렝가누 FC에서 프로에 데뷔하여 2016 시즌까지 49경기 6골을 집어넣으며 2015 시즌 리그 3위 입상 및 차기 시즌 1부 리그 승격에 기여한 뒤 2017 시즌을 앞두고 1부 리그 명문팀인 조호르 다룰 탁짐으로 이적 후 2020년 포르투갈 프리메이라리가 포르티모넨스 SC로의 임대 이적을 제외하고 현재까지 101경기 47골을 터뜨리며 팀의 리그 4연패(2017년 ~ 2020년), 말레이시아컵 2회 우승(2017년, 2019년), 숨방시흐컵 4연패(2018년 ~ 2021년) 등 팀의 주축 미드필더 및 공격수로 맹활약하고 있으며 이 뿐만 아니라 2019년 말레이시아컵 득점왕 및 최우수선수상, 풋볼매거진 포포투에서 선정한 2018년 올해의 동남아시아 선수상, 말레이시아 슈퍼리그 2회 연속 베스트 11, 2018년 말레이시아 축구 최고의 미드필더상, 2019년 말레이시아 축구 최고의 공격수상, 2회 연속 말레이시아 축구 최우수선수상 등 개인상까지 휩쓰는 기염까지 토했다.

국가대표팀 
말레이시아 U-23 대표팀 소속으로 자국에서 열린 2016년 네이션스컵에 출전하여 팀의 준우승을 이끌었고 같은 해 8월 말레이시아 성인대표팀의 일원으로 인도네시아와의 친선 경기에서 국제 A매치 데뷔전을 치렀고 팀은 이 경기에서 0-3으로 완패했다.

이후 2016년 AFF 스즈키컵 23인 출전 엔트리에 합류하며 성인대표팀 데뷔 첫 국제 대회에 참가하였으나 팀은 이 대회에서 캄보디아를 상대로 조별리그 첫 경기에서 3-2의 신승을 거두었음에도 2·3차전에서 베트남과 미얀마에 연거푸 1점차로 패하며 1승 2패·B조 3위로 대회를 마감했다.

그리고 다시 U-23 대표팀에 합류 후 이듬해에 자국에서 열린 2017년 동남아시아 경기 대회에 참가하여 5경기 2골을 뽑아내며 팀의 은메달 획득에 기여했고 같은 해 11월 10일 성인대표팀 소속으로 북한과의 2019년 AFC 아시안컵 3차 예선 B조 4차전에서 국제 A매치 데뷔골을 신고했으나 팀은 이 경기에서 1-4로 패하며 4연패 수렁에 빠졌다.

그 후 다시 U-23 대표팀의 일원으로 2018년 아시안 게임에 참가하여 훗날 이 대회에서 우승을 차지한 대한민국과의 E조 조별리그 2차전에서 멀티골을 터뜨렸고 바레인과의 최종전에서도 득점포를 가동하며 팀의 16강 진출(2승 1패·E조 1위)의 일등공신으로 맹활약했으며 또 같은 해 11월 성인대표팀 일원으로 2018년 AFF 스즈키컵에도 참가하여 베트남과의 결승 1차전에서 A매치 통산 4번째 득점을 성공시키며 팀의 AFF 스즈키컵 통산 3번째 준우승에 일조한데 힘입어 이 대회 베스트 11에 선정되었다.

이후 2022년 FIFA 월드컵 아시아 지역 2차 예선 G조에서도 8경기 3골을 터뜨리며 비록 최종 예선 진출에는 실패했지만 그나마 2023년 AFC 아시안컵 3차 예선 진출에 일조하는 모습을 보여주었고 2020년 AFF 스즈키컵에서는 4경기에서 4골을 터뜨리며 필리핀의 비엔베니도 마라뇬, 태국의 차나팁 송끄라신과 티라신 댕다와 함께 공동 득점왕에 등극했지만 팀이 2승 2패·B조 3위로 조별리그에서 탈락하면서 빛이 바랬다.

그 뒤 2023년 AFC 아시안컵 3차 예선 3경기에서 2골을 터뜨리며 43년만의 아시안컵 자력 본선 진출이자 공동 개최국으로 참가했던 2007년 이후 16년만의 아시안컵 본선 진출의 쾌거를 이끌어냈다.

수상

클럽 
 테렝가누 FC
 말레이시아 프리미어리그 : 3위 (2016)

 조호르 다룰 탁짐
 말레이시아 슈퍼리그 : 우승 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
 말레이시아컵 : 우승 (2017, 2019)
 피알라 숨방시흐 : 우승 (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

국가대표팀 
  말레이시아 U-23
 네이션스컵 : 준우승 (2016)
 동남아시아 경기 대회 : 은메달 (2017)

  말레이시아
 AFF 스즈키컵 : 준우승 (2018)

개인 
 말레이시아 슈퍼리그 득점왕 : 2019
 말레이시아 슈퍼리그 최우수선수 : 2019
 포포투 선정 올해의 동남아시아 신인 선수 : 2018
 말레이시아 축구 리그 최고의 유망주 : 2016, 2018
 말레이시아 축구 리그 베스트 11 : 2018, 2019
 말레이시아 축구 리그 최고의 미드필더 : 2018
 말레이시아 축구 리그 최고의 공격수 : 2019
 말레이시아 축구 리그 최고의 유명 선수 : 2019
 말레이시아 축구 리그 최우수선수 : 2018, 2019
 AFF 스즈키컵 베스트 11 : 2018
 AFF 스즈키컵 득점왕 : 2020 (4골/비엔베니도 마라뇬, 차나팁 송끄라신, 티라신 댕다와 공동 수상)

각주

외부 링크 
 Safawi Rasid Profile  at Harimau Malaysia
 

1997년 출생
살아있는 사람
말레이시아의 남자 축구 선수
말레이시아 남자 축구 국가대표팀 선수
조호르 다룰 탁짐 FC의 축구 선수
말레이시아 슈퍼리그의 축구 선수
트렝가누주 출신
남자 축구 윙어
2018년 아시안 게임 축구 참가 선수
말레이시아의 아시안 게임 참가 선수
포르티모넨스 SC의 축구 선수
말레이시아의 해외 진출 남자 축구 선수
프리메이라리가의 축구 선수
포르투갈의 외국인 남자 축구 선수
포르투갈에 거주한 말레이시아인
2017년 동남아시아 경기 대회 참가 선수
타이 리그 1의 축구 선수