Gabriel Quak

Gabriel Quak Jun Yi (, born 22 December 1990) is a Singaporean former professional footballer who played as a winger. He represented the Singapore national team.

Club career

Young Lions

Gabriel began his professional football career with Young Lions in the 2008 S.League season. On 19 February, he make his professional debut coming on a substitution in a match against Sengkang Punggol. Gabriel scored his first career goal in a 3–1 lost against Super Reds on 26 May.

Gabriel was one of the Young Lions players involved in an on-pitch fight with Beijing Guoan Talent players in their S.League match on 7 September 2010. He was charged by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) for gross misconduct and bringing the game into disrepute and was banned for four months and fined S$1,000 for his part in the brawl.^[2] Quak missed the 2010 Asian Games as a result of the ban.

LionsXII

On 5 December 2011, the FAS announced that Gabriel was to join the newly formed LionsXII for the 2012 Malaysia Super League. National service commitments however meant that Quak failed to make a single appearance throughout the 2012 season.^[3] He was de-registered in the mid-season transfer window.

Gabriel returned to the LionsXII squad for the 2013 season. He made his long-awaited debut against PKNS on 15 January.^[4] He made 15 appearances in all competitions as the Lions won the 2013 Malaysia Super League.

The left-footed Gabriel was switched to the right side of attack for both club and country for the 2014 season.^[5] He scored his first LionsXII goal in a 3–0 win over DRB-Hicom in the Malaysia FA Cup on 21 January. He scored his first league goal, an opener against newly promoted side PDRM FA, as Lionsxii defeated them 5–3.^[6]

On the opening day of the 2015 season, Gabriel scored the Lionsxii's first goal of the season, helping the Lionsxii win their opening match 5–3 against PDRM FA.^[7] Similarly, in the LionsXII's opening game in the Malaysia FA Cup on 28 February, Gabriel scored the 3rd goal in a 4–0 win against minnows Kedah United to push the LionsXII into the round of 16.^[8] In the round of 16, Gabriel scored a goal against SPA in a 4–0 win to send the team to the quarter-finals. He helped LionsXII to win the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup.

Geylang International

Following the dissolution of the LionsXII, Gabriel signed for Geylang International in January 2016. He make his debut on 15 February in the Eastern Derby match against Tampines Rovers in a 3–3 match. On 1 April, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 league match against Warriors FC, ending a long goalscoring drought.

Matsumoto Yamaga trial

After Geylang International and Matsumoto Yamaga signed a MOU,^[9] Quak together with fellow winger Shawal Anuar went on a one-week trial with the J2 League side.^[10]

Royal Thai Navy

On 2 February 2018,Gabriel signs for Thai League 1 side Royal Thai Navy and fill up their ASEAN import slot ahead of the In the upcoming 2018 season. On 11 February, Gabriel made his starting debut against Ubon UMT United. He started as the 1st eleven in the 1st 2 matches but was substituted at half time in both matches.^[11][12] Gabriel scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 thriller win against Sukhothai

In total, Gabriel scored 4 goals and created 1 assist in 24 games for the Thai side which were relegated eventually.^[13]

Warriors FC

In January 2019, Gabriel signed for Warriors FC for the 2019 season despite receiving lucrative offers from overseas club in order to spend more time with his young family.^[13] During the 2019 Singapore Cup, Warriors' captain Khairul Nizam was injured and Gabriel took over the captaincy for the competition.^[14]

Lion City Sailors

In January 2020, Gabriel joined the newly privatised Singapore club, Lion City Sailors. He make his debut for the club in a league match against Tanjong Pagar United where he assisted Andy Pengelly in a 1–1 draw.

In 2021, Gabriel won the league 'Goal of the Year' for his volley goal in the 4–1 win over Balestier Khalsa on 18 April during the FAS Awards Night.^[15]

On 15 April 2022, Gabriel make his AFC Champions League debut against eventual winners from Japan, Urawa Red Diamonds in a 4–1 lost. On 24 April, he provided an assist to Pedro Henrique in a 3–2 win over Chinese side Shandong Taishan. Gabriel was then released by Lion City Sailors on 28 November 2022.^[16] He departed after scoring 29 goals across three seasons for the Sailors, as well as winning the Singapore Premier League 'Player of the Year' award in 2020.^[16]

Hougang United

Following his release from Lion City Sailors, Gabrel signed for Hougang United on 18 January 2023 to boost the range of attacking options in head coach Firdaus Kassim's squad. The 32-year-old joins his fifth Singapore Premier League club in his 11th SPL season. On 19 April 2024, he extended his contract until the end of the 2024–25 season. On 4 June 2025, Gabriel was released by the cheetahs upon the expiry of his contract, ending his career with the cheetahs with 9 goals and 7 assists.

International career

Youth

Gabriel has played for Singapore at Under-15, Under-18 and Under-23 levels. He represented Singapore in the Lion City Cup, AFF U15 Tournament, Asian Youth Games Qualifiers, AFC U18 Qualifiers, VFF Cup and Southeast Asian Games.^[17]

Senior

Gabriel earned his first international cap in a friendly match against Laos on 7 June 2013, scoring a goal on his debut.^[18] His first competitive goal came in an upset 2–1 win over Syria in a 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification match on 15 October 2013. He is the first Singapore-born Chinese player to feature regularly for the national team in 7 years since Goh Tat Chuan despite the ethnic Chinese forming the majority of the population.^[19]

Gabriel scored a goal and recorded an assist during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification match in a 6–2 over Myanmar.

Others

Singapore Selection Squad

He was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor’s Cup to be held on 6 May 2017.^[20]

Personal life

Gabriel was born on 22 December 1990 to Alan, a technical associate at a building consultancy and Juet May, an early childhood educator in 1990.^[21] He has a younger sister, Gu Ting.

Gabriel received his primary school education at Catholic High School and went to Guangyang Secondary School. He graduated with a diploma in Industrial and Operations Management from Republic Polytechnic.^[22][23]

Gabriel is married and has three children.^[24][14]

Career statistics

Club

. Caps and goals may not be correct.^[25]

• Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
• Young Lions withdrew from the Singapore Cup and Singapore League Cup in 2011 due to scheduled participation in the 2011 AFF U-23 Youth Championship.

International statistics

International goals

Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.^[29]

U22 International goals

Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.^[29]

U19 International goals

Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.^[29]

Statistics accurate as of match played 12 October 2018

Honours

Club

LionsXII

• Malaysia Super League: 2013
• Malaysia FA Cup: 2015

Lion City Sailors

• Singapore Premier League: 2021
• Singapore Community Shield: 2022

International

Singapore

• Lion City Cup: 2006
• Southeast Asian Games Bronze Medal: 2009, 2013

Individual

• Singapore Premier League Player of the Month: May 2019^{[citation needed]}
• Singapore Premier League Player of the Year: 2020^[30]
• Singapore Premier League Team of the Year: 2020
• Singapore Premier League Goal of the Year: 2021^[15]

References

1. ^ "FAS names 2014 LionsXII squad list". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
2. ^ "Young Lions, Beijing Guoan players banned, fined". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
3. ^ "Quak's raring to go in Season 2". The New Paper. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
4. ^ "Selangor PKNS 1–0 LionsXII: Listless Lions fall to first defeat of season". Goal. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
5. ^ "Gabriel aims to continue scoring". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
6. ^ "Ruthless Lions march on to FA Cup second round". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
7. ^ "Singapore LIONSXII 5 - 3 PDRM Match report - 2/7/15 Super League - Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
8. ^ "Malaysia FA Cup: Fandi fires up LionsXII"
9. ^ "Geylang International FC signs MOU with Matsumoto Yamaga FC". mynewsdesk.com. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
10. ^ "Eye-opener for Quak and Shawal in Japan". tnp.sg. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
11. ^ "Chonburi vs Navy". Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
12. ^ "Navy vs Ubon UMT". Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
13. ^ Lee, David (2019-03-01). "Football: Three players to watch in the 2019 Singapore Premier League". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
14. ^ Lee, David (2020-12-13). "Football: Not satisfied with Player of the Year award, Gabriel Quak eyes more trophies". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
15. ^ Lee, David (2021-10-12). "Football: Hougang win big at FAS Awards Night as Tomoyuki Doi and Clement Teo named best player and coach". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
16. ^ Ganesan, Deepanraj (28 November 2022). "Football: Stars, key backroom staff depart Lion City Sailors". The Straits Times
17. ^ "Quak Jun Yi – Football". TeamSingapore.com.sg. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
18. ^ "Wing wonders Quak and Faris looking to cement national team spots". Football Association of Singapore. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
19. ^ "More Chinese and Indian football players wanted". The Straits Times. 10 November 2013.
20. ^ "SINGAPORE SELECTION SQUAD FOR THE SULTAN OF SELANGOR'S CUP REVEALED - The Football Association of Singapore". www.fas.org.sg. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
21. ^ "Gabriel's wish? A place in the first XI". The New Paper. 26 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013.
22. ^ "Quak Eyes 2014 Step Up As LionsXII Senior". FootballOpod. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
23. ^ "Rapport – Republic Polytechnic corporate newsletter (January 2009)". Republic Polytechnic. p. 15. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
24. ^ "Engaged, for the new year". The New Paper. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014.
25. ^
26. ^ "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2012 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
27. ^ "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2013 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
28. ^ "LionsXII fixtures and results for 2014 season". LionsXII. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
29. ^ "Quak, Gabriel". National Football Teams. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
30. ^ "Gabriel Quak named SPL Player of the Year at FAS Awards Night 2020 – Football Association of Singapore". Retrieved 2021-07-30.

External links

• Tnp.sg
• Goal.com
• Goal.com
• Todayonline.com
• Fas.org.sg
• Junpiterfutbol.com
• Axrosstheline.com