Muhammad Faris Ramli

Muhammad Faris bin Ramli (born 24 August 1992) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Tampines Rovers and the Singapore national team.

A forward, Faris primarily plays as a winger. In 2012, Faris made it to the top 52 of Nike's 'The Chance' competition, a worldwide talent hunt for young players. However, he was not drafted in the selection of the final 16 in Barcelona. Faris played for the Young Lions prior to featuring for LionsXII in the Malaysia Super League.

Early life and education Faris studied in Loyang Primary School and Loyang Secondary School and Temasek Polytechnic. His brother Fuad Ramli had two stints in the Singaporean league with Geylang International. Club career Young Lions Faris began his professional football career with Young Lions in the 2010 S.League.

LionsXII In December 2012, the Football Association of Singapore announced that Faris was to join the LionsXII for the 2013 Malaysia Super League. He had his most prolific season yet in 2015, scoring 11 goals in all competitions, 8 in the MSL and 2 in the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup, which was won by the LionsXII, and 1 in the 2015 Malaysia Cup. He had scored the first goal in the 3–1 win over Kelantan that brought the Malaysia FA Cup to Singapore. His 8 goals in the league was good enough to see him finish the season as the LionsXII's top scorer in the league.

Home United In 2016, although courted by high spending Tampines Rovers as well as Malaysia Super League clubs, Pahang and Selangor, Faris instead choose to signed for Home United for the 2016 S.League campaign after the LionsXII was disbanded following the conclusion of the 2015 MSL season.

Although he was once again wooed by some MSL sides, Faris chose to extend his contract with Home. He also has a further 4 goals in 6 games in the 2017 AFC Cup, helping his team become the first team to qualify for the zonal semi-finals. In the 9–3 defeat of Brunei DPMM he scored 4 and assisted another 4. He eventually finished as the joint local top-scorer of the league with Shahril Ishak, amassing 11 goals in the league. In total, Faris scored 21 goals and 21 assists in all competitions. He nominated for an S.League Player of the Year.

PKNS On 5 January 2018, Faris signed a contract with Malaysia Super League club PKNS based in Shah Alam. He scored his first goal for his new club in a 3–4 defeat to Kedah FA. He finished his first season as joint-second top scorer for his team with 6 league goals.

Perlis After speculations of a move to Perak, in January 2019, Faris signed a contract with newly promoted Malaysia Premier League club, Perlis. He was also linked up again with former PKNS teammates Safee Sali as well as Khyril Muhymeen, whom joined the club in December 2018. However, after revelation of Perlis financial difficulties and subsequent exclusion from the Malaysian league, Faris opted to terminate his contract in January 2019.

Hougang United After Faris terminated his contract with Perlis, he returned to Singapore and signed with Singapore Premier League side, Hougang United on 7 February 2019. He made his debut in the opening match and scored his first goal in penalty against Tampines Rovers in a 5–1 defeat on 21 April 2019.

Faris was consistent in the year and was the top local-born goal scorer in the 2019 Singapore Premier League season, winning the Player of the Year award.

Terengganu In January 2020, Faris signed for Malaysia Super League side Terengganu ahead of the 2020 season. On 29 August 2020, he scored his first league goal of the season in a 4–0 victory against Sabah. On 25 September 2020, he scored a brace in a 4–0 victory against PDRM. He made only 10 appearances before leaving the club.

Lion City Sailors On 21 January 2021, Faris returned to Singapore to signed with Lion City Sailors after leaving Terengganu. He won the league title in his first season at the club.

Faris started off the 2022 season on a sour note as he missed out on the first game against Hougang United due to contracting COVID-19. It was only until the Sailors' 10th league match when manager Kim Do-Hoon gave Faris his first start of the season in the league. He scored his first goal of the season against Balestier Khalsa in June 2022 but remained largely used as a substitute until Kim left the club in August. His successor, Luka Lalić, also used Faris as a substitute in his first two games, in which Faris bagged 2 assists apiece. Faris managed to make the starting lineup in the next game against Hougang United, in which he scored 2 goals in a 9–4 thrashing victory. However, as the Sailors suffered a massive dip in form in the closing stages of the season, Faris, too, struggled badly, missing several crucial chances. In the penultimate round of the league, he was told that he would be leaving the Sailors next season. Faris managed to score a brace against Young Lions on the final day of the 2022 season, ending off his 2022 league campaign with the Sailors with just 5 goals.

In the domestic cup tournament Faris scored in the first cup match against Balestier Khalsa. However, the Sailors were knocked out at the group stage after a defeat against Albirex Niigata (S).

Faris scored against Borussia Dortmund in a friendly match which was considered a farewell goal.

Tampines Rovers On 18 January 2023, Faris signed for Tampines Rovers ahead of the 2023 season. In his first 4 games with Tampines, he has been in the starting 11 and has scored a goal in each of the consecutive four matches.

On 24 May 2024, Faris scored his 100th professional career goal in a 4–2 league win over Balestier Khalsa.

International career Faris made his first international debut on 9 September 2014 against Hong Kong. He scored his first international goal against Cambodia on 17 November 2014 at the Yishun Stadium. By early March 2017, he had garnered 29 caps for Singapore.

Selangor Selection squad As a player of PKNS in the 2018 Malaysia Super League season, Faris was selected as part of the Selangor Selection squad for the 2018 Sultan of Selangor's Cup that was held at the Shah Alam Stadium. He came on as a substitute for his PKNS teammate, Zac Anderson on the 60th minute. Selangor eventually won the match 1–1 (5–3) on penalties after he scored the winning penalty.

Career statistics

Club

. Caps and goals may not be correct.

Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues. Young Lions withdrew from the 2011 and 2012 Singapore Cup, and the 2011 Singapore League Cup due to participation in AFC and AFF youth competitions.

International goals As of match played 5 September 2019. Singapore score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ramli goal.

U23 International goals Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 12 July 2012 Kaharudin Stadium, Pekanbaru, Indonesia 3–0 3–0 2013 AFC U-22 Championship qualification 2. 17 September 2014 Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong, South Korea 2–3 3–3 2014 Asian Games 3. 4 June 2015 Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore 1–1 1–2 2015 Southeast Asian Games 4. 8 June 2015 Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore 2–0 3–1 2015 Southeast Asian Games 5. 5 December 2019 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines 4–0 7–0 2019 Southeast Asian Games6. 5–0

Honours

Club

LionsXII Malaysia Super League: 2013 FA Cup Malaysia: 2015

Lion City Sailors Singapore Premier League: 2021 Singapore Community Shield: 2022

Tampines Rovers

Singapore Community Shield: 2025

Individual Malaysia Super League: Best Asean Player of the Year: 2018 Singapore Premier League Player of the Year: 2019 Singapore Premier League Team of the Year: 2019 Singapore Premier League Player of the Month: February/March 2023