Hector Hevel

Hector Alexander Hevel Serrano (born 15 May 1996) is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim. A former Dutch youth international, he played for the Malaysia national team twice. However, he is currently suspended from all football related activities after being sanctioned by FIFA in September 2025 for providing forged documents related to his Malaysian ancestry.

Club career

AEK Larnaca In January 2017, Hevel signed with Cypriot First Division club AEK Larnaca, where he played 74 league matches and scored five goals over three and a half seasons. During his tenure, he contributed to the team's success in winning the 2017–18 Cypriot Cup and the 2018 Cypriot Super Cup.

FC Andorra In October 2020, Hevel joined FC Andorra, competing in Spain's Segunda División B. He played a pivotal role in the team's promotion to the Segunda División in the 2021–22 season, making 83 league appearances and netting 11 goals during his time with the club.

FC Cartagena In June 2023 Hevel signed a contract with fellow Spanish Segunda División side FC Cartagena, where he made 15 league appearances.

Guangxi Pingguo Haliao On 4 January 2024, Hevel signed with China League One club Guangxi Pingguo Haliao.

Portimonense As of February 2025, Hevel signed with Portuguese club Portimonense S.C., where he has made six appearances in the Liga Portugal 2.

Johor Darul Ta'zim On 23 June 2025, Hevel was announced as the latest signing for Malaysian Super League side Johor Darul Ta'zim.

International career In March 2025, it was reported that Hevel had been called up to the Malaysia national team due to claims of eligibility through descent. His club Portimonense announced his call-up on social media, indicating that he would join the Malaysia squad for the upcoming international fixtures. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed his participation in the squad preparing for the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Hevel made his international debut for Malaysia on 25 March 2025 in a 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Nepal, held at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri. He started as a central midfielder and scored the opening goal in the 29th minute, a deflected long-range strike that gave Malaysia a 1–0 lead in the first half. The goal capped off an organised build-up sequence and effective second-ball control. Hevel expressed gratitude for the support from teammates and coaching staff, stating that the short acclimatisation period required him to quickly adapt through active communication and training-ground collaboration. He described the debut as one of the most memorable moments of his career and conveyed excitement about contributing to Malaysia’s footballing ambitions.

In September 2025, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Hevel, and six other Malaysian heritage players were sanctioned by FIFA due to falsification and forgery of documents regarding the seven players' eligibility to play for Malaysia in the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Vietnam. Each player was fined CHF 2,000 (around MYR 10,560) and were suspended from all football related activities for 12 months. FAM has confirmed it will file an appeal against FIFA's ruling.

Style of play Hevel is recognised for his technical proficiency and positional versatility in midfield. Capable of operating in both central and attacking roles, he contributes to ball distribution, build-up play, and transitional phases. His style of play is marked by spatial awareness, accurate passing, and tactical intelligence.

Personal life Born in Netherlands, Hevel claimed to be of Malaysian descent through his grandfather, who was said to originally hail from Malacca, Malaysia.

FIFA recently launched an investigation through its Disciplinary Committee where it was found that Hevel's grandfather was born in The Hague, Netherlands, not in Malacca, Malaysia.

Career statistics Club

International

+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoals Malaysia 2025 2 1 Total 2 1

Scores and results list Malaysia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hevel goal. + List of international goals scored by Hector Hevel No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 25 March 2025 Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri, Malaysia 1–0 2–0 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Honours AEK Larnaca Cypriot Cup: 2017–18 Cypriot Super Cup: 2018

Johor Darul Ta'zim Malaysia Charity Shield: 2025