Hassan, 41, wants to hang around, not hang up gloves

A familiar face between the sticks, Hassan Sunny has been a symbol of longevity in the local game.

- Jeremiah Ong

A familiar face between the sticks, Hassan Sunny has been a symbol of longevity in the local game. As his 18th season in the Singapore Premier League draws to a close, the 41-year-old has not put a date to when he intends to retire.

"I have never wanted to stop playing football. My stance has always been to uphold my name. I wouldn't want people to say that Hassan is old, and therefore, he is not performing. It is important that I maintain my level of performance," said the Albirex Niigata goalkeeper.

In June 2023, midway through an SPL title-winning campaign with Albirex, Hassan extended his contract until the end of the 2025-26 season.

He will be 42 by the end of his contract, surpassing other veteran goalkeepers who played in the Singaporean top flight, such as David Lee (retired at 41) and having already eclipsed the likes of Shahri Rahim (39), Amos Boon (38) and Rezal Hassan (37).

Hassan, who announced his international retirement in 2024 after becoming the most-capped Lions custodian with 115 appearances, added: "I believe I can still contribute. So, I am not thinking about retirement."

But even the goalkeeping stalwart admitted that the season has been "a very long one", having played in 28 of Albirex's 30 SPL matches and conceded 62 goals in their first campaign as a local club.