{{Short description|Malaysian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{family name hatnote|Gan (颜)|lang=Chinese}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Brendan Gan | image = Brendan Gan in November 2023.png | image_size = | caption = Brendan playing for Malaysia in 2023 | fullname = Brendan Gan Seng Ling | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|6|3|df=y}} | birth_place = Sutherland, Australia | height = 1.80 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Sutherland Sharks | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1999 | youthclubs1 = Marton Hammers | youthyears2 = 2000–2007 | youthclubs2 = Sutherland Sharks | youthyears3 = 2008–2009 | youthclubs3 = Sydney FC | years1 = 2008 | clubs1 = Sutherland Sharks | caps1 = 15 | goals1 = 6 | years2 = 2008–2011 | clubs2 = Sydney FC | caps2 = 38 | goals2 = 5 | years3 = 2011 | clubs3 = Bonnyrigg White Eagles | caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = | clubs4 = | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 2012 | clubs5 = Sabah | caps5 = 19 | goals5 = 2 | years6 = 2013 | clubs6 = Rockdale City Suns | caps6 = 22 | goals6 = 3 | years7 = 2014–2016 | clubs7 = Kelantan | caps7 = 31 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2018–2019 | clubs8 = Perak | caps8 = 28 | goals8 = 5 | years9 = 2020–2023 | clubs9 = Selangor | caps9 = 60 | goals9 = 12 | years10 = 2024–2025 | clubs10 = Kuala Lumpur City | caps10 = 16 | goals10 = 2 | years11 = 2025– | clubs11 = Sutherland Sharks | caps11 = 5 | goals11 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2014 | nationalteam1 = Malaysia U23 | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2016–2024 | nationalteam2 = Malaysia | nationalcaps2 = 38 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | club-update = 17 June 2025 | nationalteam-update = 26 March 2024 | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}} {{MedalCountry|{{fb|MAS}}}} {{MedalCompetition|King's Cup}} {{Medal|RU|2022|}} }}
'''Brendan Gan Seng Ling''' ({{zh|s=颜兴龙|t=顏興龍|p=Yán Xìng Lóng}}; born 3 June 1988) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National Premier Leagues NSW club Sutherland Sharks. Born in Australia, he plays for the Malaysia national team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mens.nplnsw.com.au/2025/07/04/mid-season-signings-dominate-npl-mens-nsw-competition/|title=Brendan Gan returning to the Sutherland Sharks|date=4 July 2025|publisher=NPL Men’s NSW}}</ref>
==Club career== [[File:Brendan Gan.jpg|thumb|right|Brendan with Sydney FC in 2008.]]
Gan began playing football for his local club, Marton Hammers before signing for the Sutherland Sharks in 2000 when he was twelve years old, progressing through their youth grades to make his senior debut for the club in 2008. He made 15 league appearances scoring 6 goals, and 3 appearances in the Finals Series.<ref>[https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=188226736&client=0-4719-59464-65250-6246105 Player Profile - Brendan Gan], mygameday.app. Accessed 1 October 2024.</ref> It was this debut season that shot Gan to prominence within the local media which brought with it a growing reputation to match.<ref>[http://soccernsw.com.au/index.php?id=17&tx_ttnews%5BpS%5D=1206972000&tx_ttnews%5BpL%5D=2591999&tx_ttnews%5Barc%5D=1&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=3&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=458&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=16&cHash=5ee44cece4 Brendan Gan – living the dream], soccernsw.com.au. Accessed 8 May 2024.</ref> His performances eventually led to his being crowned the New South Wales Premier League player of the year, winning the Gold Medal award for the competition.<ref>[http://soccernsw.com.au/index.php?id=17&tx_ttnews%5BpS%5D=1220191200&tx_ttnews%5BpL%5D=2591999&tx_ttnews%5Barc%5D=1&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=3&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1343&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=16&cHash=abd46ae4c6 2008 Gold Medal Dinner a huge success as Brendan Gan scoops major award], soccernsw.com.au. Accessed 8 May 2024.</ref>
===Sydney FC=== Gan was than signed by Sydney FC for their inaugural National Youth League squad ahead of competition from rival A-League clubs.<ref>[http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/80081,gan-im-only-here-for-a-year.aspx Gan: I'm Only Here For A Year]</ref><ref>[http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/86448,sydneys-gan-set-for-homecoming.aspx Sydney's Gan set for homecoming], au.fourfourtwo.com. Accessed 8 May 2024.</ref> On 28 November 2008, he made his debut for Sydney FC against Queensland Roar with a 5-minute cameo where he turned heads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/kosmina-turns-to-young-gan-20081128-gdt4jg.html|title=Kosmina turns to young Gan|first=Sebastian|last=Hassett|date=28 November 2008|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/soccer/gans-the-man-most-likely-to-soar/1376891.aspx |title=Gan's the man most likely to soar |access-date=4 December 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714082442/http://stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/soccer/gans-the-man-most-likely-to-soar/1376891.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 7 December, he scored the winning goal in the 78th minute for Sydney FC against Newcastle Jets to give them their first win in 7 games.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24764427-5000940,00.html Brendon Gan helps lift Sydney FC to victory over Newcastle Jets], foxsports.com.au. Accessed 8 May 2024.</ref>
Gan was given his full senior debut on 13 December against the Central Coast Mariners.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.smh.com.au/sport/kosmina-to-give-brendan-gan-full-debut-20081212-6xc1.html |title=Kosmina to give Brendan Gan full debut |access-date=3 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522043859/http://news.smh.com.au/sport/kosmina-to-give-brendan-gan-full-debut-20081212-6xc1.html |archive-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He scored his second senior goal against Melbourne Victory with a long range strike from outside the penalty area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/gan-lights-up-sydneys-darkest-days-20081230-gdt831.html|title=Gan lights up Sydney's darkest days|first=Sebastian|last=Hassett|date=30 December 2008|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Brendan scored his third senior goal against Wellington Phoenix with a powerful header from a corner. This goal gave Sydney FC a 2–0 win over Wellington and placed them on the top of the table, leapfrogging Gold Coast United. On 2 December 2010, in only his second start for the season, he scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win, once again against Wellington Phoenix. He was released from Sydney, along with several other players at the end of Sydney's 2011 AFC Champions League campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1056395/Sydney-FC-player-clean-out|title=Sydney FC player clean out|date=14 May 2011|publisher=SBS – The World Game|access-date=14 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515061340/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1056395/Sydney-FC-player-clean-out|archive-date=15 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Bonnyrigg White Eagles=== Gan signed for Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the NSW Premier League,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nswpl.com.au/index.php?id=554&tx_ttnews%5=5359&tx_ttnews%5=537&cHash=e169e412b0|title=Bonnyrigg White Eagles snap up Brendan Gan|date=4 July 2011|publisher=NSW Premier League|access-date=4 July 2011}}</ref> and made his debut in the Round 15 game against Sydney United.<ref>{{FootballNSW|5345|Bore draw at Edensor Park|accessdate=4 July 2011}}</ref>
===Sabah FA=== On 17 November 2011, Gan moved to Malaysian club, Sabah as one of the two foreign players allowed in the 2012 Malaysia Super League. Brendan, alongside his fellow countrymen, Michael Baird signed a one-year contract with Sabah.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/former-rising-star-given-another-chance-for-shot-at-glory-20111117-1nl6h.html Former rising star given another chance for shot at Glory], smh.com.au. Retrieved 18 November 2011.</ref>
===Rockdale City Suns=== In January 2013, he returned home to signed with NSW Premier League side Rockdale City Suns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/1340379/malaysian-stint-pays-off-for-gan/|title=Malaysian stint pays off for Gan|first=Michael|last=Carayannis|date=6 March 2013|website=St George & Sutherland Shire Leader}}</ref>
===Kelantan FA=== In November 2013, Gan returned to Malaysia and signed a three-year contract with Malaysia Super League club Kelantan ahead of the 2014 season. He was supposed to be registered as a local player for Kelantan but did not get the approval from FAM because according to FAM, any player to be registered as a local player is required to have Malaysian identity card or passport. On 6 April, he officially obtained an identity card as a Malaysian and was registered by Kelantan as a local player during the April 2014 transfer window.<ref>[http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/3875/transfer-zone/2013/11/23/4426321/transfer-news-kelantan-want-brendan-gan-as-local-player Transfer News: Kelantan want Brendan Gan as local player], goal.com. Retrieved 23 November 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://my.news.yahoo.com/kafa-way-sign-brendan-gan-local-player-230000904.html|location=malaysia|work=Yahoo.com|title=KAFA will find a way to sign Brendan Gan as a local player|access-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129064054/https://my.news.yahoo.com/kafa-way-sign-brendan-gan-local-player-230000904.html|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.astroawani.com/news/show/brendan-gan-sedia-lepas-kerakyatan-australia-demi-liga-malaysia-26011|location=malaysia|work=astro awani.com|title=Brendan Gan sedia lepas kerakyatan Australia demi Liga Malaysia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://my.news.yahoo.com/kafa-way-sign-brendan-gan-local-player-230000904.html|location=malaysia|work=Sinar Harian|title=Brendan Gan sah milik Kelantan|access-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129064054/https://my.news.yahoo.com/kafa-way-sign-brendan-gan-local-player-230000904.html|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Gan made his debut during the match between Kelantan against Terengganu which ended 1–1. In the first match of the 2015 Malaysia Super League, Gan suffered a serious torn ACL in his right knee that would keep him out for most of the 2015 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnfcasia.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/2287953/kelantans-gan-ruled-out-for-season-ahead-of-lionsxii-game |work=ESPN FC.com |title=Kelantan's Brendan Gan ruled out for season ahead of Lions XII game |date=10 February 2015 |access-date=12 February 2016}}</ref> In September 2016, Brendan suffered another ACL injury, this time in his left knee which keep him out for 10 months, ruling him out for the 2016 AFF Championship where he was released by the club at the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnfcasia.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/2829807/malaysias-brendan-gan-to-miss-aff-suzuki-cup-with-second-acl-injury|work=ESPN FC.com |title=Malaysia's Brendan Gan to miss AFF Suzuki Cup with second ACL injury |date=12 September 2016 |access-date=13 September 2016}}</ref>
=== Perak FA === After making his recovery from a long term ACL injury, On 15 December 2017, Gan signed with Perak.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}} On 24 February 2018, Gan played his first football match in over a year during a league match against Pahang FA. He would than played in the club 2019 AFC Champions League preliminary round 2 match against Hong Kong club, Kitchee where he played the entire 120th minute helping the club to progress to the final play-off round against Korean Ulsan Hyundai. On 8 February 2019, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Kedah FA.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
===Selangor=== On 1 December 2019, Gan officially joined Malaysia Super League club Selangor. In July 2021, Gan was diagnosed with testicular cancer and missed the rest of season.<ref>[https://themalaysianreserve.com/2021/07/27/brendan-gan-diagnosed-with-testicular-cancer/ Brendan Gan diagnosed with testicular cancer], The Malaysian Reserve, 27 July 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2022/02/768946/unbreakable-brendan Unbreakable Brendan], New Straits Times, 6 February 2022.</ref> In June 2022, he made his return in a 7–0 over Sarawak United, scoring a brace.<ref>[https://www.hmetro.com.my/arena/bola-sepak/2022/06/853757/brendan-sudah-kembali Brendan sudah kembali], Harian Metro, 20 June 2022.</ref> He was appointed as Selangor's captain since 2021. At the end of the 2023 Malaysia Super League season, Selangor confirmed Gan's departure with them after spending four seasons together.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
=== Kuala Lumpur City === On 1 April 2024, Gan signed for rivals club Kuala Lumpur City. He scored his first goal on 21 June in a 3–0 away league win against Negeri Sembilan. On 26 September 2024, during the 2024–25 ASEAN Club Championship group stage match against Indonesian club Borneo Samarinda, Gan scored the only goal in the match to secure all 3 points.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Azharie |first=Farah |date=2024-09-27 |title=Brendan's strike keeps KL City's ACC hopes alive {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2024/09/1111379/brendans-strike-keeps-kl-citys-acc-hopes-alive |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=NST Online |language=en}}</ref>
=== Sutherland Sharks === After spending nearly eleven years in Malaysia, on 15 July 2025, Brendan returned to Australian to signed with hometown club Sutherland Sharks which competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW
==International career== === Youth === Gan made his first appearances with Malaysia as an overage player with the Malaysia U23 team against Yemen U23 in a preparation for the 2014 Asian Games.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}
=== Senior === Gan later debuted for Malaysia national team on 24 March 2016 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Malaysia end World Cup qualifying campaign with 2-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/03/134978/malaysia-end-world-cup-qualifying-campaign-2-0-defeat-saudi-arabia|date=25 March 2016|publisher=New Straits Times Online|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> He scored his first international goal on 14 July 2019 in a 2–1 victory over Thailand during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match.<ref>[https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2019/11/539140/brendan-gan-dedicates-goal-his-newborn-son Brendan Gan dedicates goal to his newborn son] - New Straits Times, 19 November 2019.</ref>
Gan was called up to the Malaysia's squad for the 2022 AFF Championship where he played in all of the six matches for Malaysia.
In January 2024, Gan was called up by head coach Kim Pan-gon to the Malaysia's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He make his only debut in the tournament playing the entire match in the last group stage fixtures in a 3–3 draw to South Korea on 25 January.
==Personal life== Gan was born in Australia to an Australian mother and Malaysian Chinese father from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
==Career statistics== ===Club statistics=== {{updated|match played 1 July 2025.}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/brendan-gan/68632/|title= Brendan Gan |website=Soccerway|publisher=Perform Group|access-date=1 October 2016}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! colspan=3 | Club performance ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Cup ! colspan=2 | League Cup ! colspan=2 | Other ! colspan=2 | Total |- ! Season !! Club !! League ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals ! Apps !! Goals |- |- |- ! colspan=3 | Australia ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Cup ! colspan=2 | Other ! colspan=2 | Asia ! colspan=2 | Total |- |2008||Sutherland Sharks||NSW Premier League||15||6||3||0||colspan="4"|–||18||6 |- ! colspan=3 |Total !15!!6!!3!!0!!colspan="4"|–||18||6 |- |2008–09||rowspan="4"|Sydney FC||rowspan="4"|A-League||9||2||colspan="6"|–||9||2 |- |2009–10||19||1||3||0||colspan="4"|–||22||1 |- |2010–11||10||2||colspan="4"|–||0||0||10||2 |- |2011–12||0||0||colspan="6"|–||0||0 |- ! colspan=3 |Total !38!!5!!3!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!0!!0||41||5 |- |2011||rowspan="1"|Bonnyrigg White Eagles||rowspan="1"|NSW Premier League||9||2||1||0||colspan="4"|–||10||2 |- ! colspan=3 | Malaysia ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | FA Cup ! colspan=2 | Malaysia Cup ! colspan=2 | Other ! colspan=2 | Total |- |2012||rowspan="1"|Sabah||rowspan="1"|Malaysia Super League||19||2||1||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||21||2 |- ! colspan=3 | Australia ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | Cup ! colspan=2 | Other ! colspan=2 | Asia ! colspan=2 | Total |- |2013||rowspan="1"|Rockdale City Suns||rowspan="1"|National Premier Leagues||22||3||4||0||colspan="4"|–||26||3 |- ! colspan=3 | Malaysia ! colspan=2 | League ! colspan=2 | FA Cup ! colspan=2 | Malaysia Cup ! colspan=2 | Asia ! colspan=2 | Total |- |2014||rowspan="3"|Kelantan||rowspan="3"|Malaysia Super League||13||0||2||0||8||0||colspan="2"|–||23||0 |- |2015||1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0 |- |2016||17||0||1||0|||5||0||colspan="2"|–||23||0 |- ! colspan=3 |Total !31!!0!!3!!0!!13!!0!!colspan="2"|–||47||0 |- |2018||rowspan="2"|Perak||rowspan="2"|Malaysia Super League||12||1||1||0||10||1||colspan="2"|–||23||2 |- |2019 |16||4||5||1||8||2||1||0||30||7 |- ! colspan=3 |Total !28!!5!!6!!1!!18!!3!!1!!0||53||9 |- |2020||rowspan="4"|Selangor||rowspan="4"|Malaysia Super League||10||4||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||11||4 |- |2021 |11||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0 |- |2022 |16||5||3||0||7||0||colspan="2"|–||26||5 |- |2023 |23||3||2||1||4||0||colspan="2"|–||29||4 |- ! colspan=3 |Total !60!!12!!5!!1!!12!!0!!colspan="2"|–||77||13 |- |2024–25||rowspan="1"|Kuala Lumpur City||rowspan="1"|Malaysia Super League||16||2||1||0||4||1||2{{efn|Appearances in ASEAN Club Championship}}||1||23||4 |- ! colspan=3 | Career total !234||37||27||2||43||3||2||0||306||42 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 26 March 2024}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/63510/Brendan_Gan.html |title=Brendan Gan |publisher=National Football Teams |date=7 September 2016 |access-date=7 September 2016 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! colspan=4 | Malaysia national team |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |2016||7||0 |- |2019||8||1 |- |2021||5||0 |- |2022||4||0 |- |2023||6||0 |- |2024||7||0 |- !Total||37||1 |}
====International goals==== :''As of match played 14 November 2019. Malaysia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Brendan goal.'' {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition |- !scope=col|No. !scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |- !scope=row|1 |14 November 2019||Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia||align=center|14||{{fb|THA}}||align=center|'''1'''–1||align=center|2–1||2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |- |}
==Honours==
=== Club === '''Perak''' * Malaysia Cup: 2018 * Malaysia FA Cup runner-up :2019 * Malaysia Charity Shield Runner-up: 2019 '''Sydney FC''' * A-League Premiership: 2009–10 * A-League Championship: 2009–10 '''Selangor''' * Malaysia Cup runner-up: 2022
=== International === '''Malaysia''' *King's Cup runner-up: 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2022/09/834395/harimau-malaya-lose-kings-cup-final-after-penalty-shootout-heartbreak|title=Harimau Malaya lose King's Cup final after penalty shootout heartbreak|date=25 September 2022|access-date=26 September 2022|first=Ooi Kin|last=Fai|location=Chiang Mai, Thailand|website=nst.com.my|publisher=New Straits Times|archive-date=26 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926080933/https://www.nst.com.my/web/20220926080933/https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2022/09/834395/harimau-malaya-lose-kings-cup-final-after-penalty-shootout-heartbreak|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *Malaysia Cup Most Valuable Player : 2018 *Malaysia Super League Team of the Season: 2019
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Malaysia|Biography|Sports|Association football}} {{Authority control}}
{{Malaysia squad 2023 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gan, Brendan}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Australian people of Chinese descent Category:Sportspeople of Chinese descent Category:Australian people of Malaysian descent Category:A-League Men players Category:Sydney FC players Category:People from the Sutherland Shire Category:Soccer players from Sydney Category:Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC players Category:Sabah F.C. (Malaysia) players Category:Rockdale Ilinden FC players Category:Kelantan F.C. players Category:Selangor F.C. players Category:Kuala Lumpur City F.C. players Category:Malaysia Super League players Category:21st-century Malaysian sportsmen Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games Category:People who lost Australian citizenship Category:Australian emigrants to Malaysia Category:Malaysian people of Chinese descent Category:Malaysian men's footballers Category:Malaysian expatriate men's footballers Category:Asian Games footballers for Malaysia Category:2023 AFC Asian Cup players Category:Sutherland Sharks FC players Category:National Premier Leagues players Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia Category:Malaysian expatriate sportspeople in Australia Category:Malaysia men's international footballers Category:Naturalised citizens of Malaysia