{{short description|Bruneian footballer}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}} {{Malay name|Najib|Tarif}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Najib Tarif | fullname = Mohamad Najib bin Haji Tarif | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|02|05|df=yes}} | birth_place = Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei | height = {{convert|1.70|m|abbr=on}} | position = Midfielder, defender | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2007–2008 | caps1 = | goals1 = | clubs1 = NBT | years2 = 2008–2010 | caps2 = | goals2 = | clubs2 = AM Gunners | years3 = 2011–2012 | caps3 = | goals3 = | clubs3 = MS PDB | years4 = 2012–2026 | caps4 = 149 | goals4 = 1 | clubs4 = DPMM | nationalyears1 = 2005–2014 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalteam1 = Brunei U21 | nationalyears2 = 2011 | nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | nationalteam2 = Brunei U23 | nationalyears3 = 2008–2024 | nationalcaps3 = 30 | nationalgoals3 = 1 | nationalteam3 = Brunei | club-update = | ntupdate = | image = DPMM-Kasuka 4 December 2022 (Players) 10.jpg | caption = Najib with DPMM in 2022 }}
Lance Corporal '''Mohamad Najib bin Haji Tarif''' (born 5 February 1988) is a Bruneian former footballer who played as a midfielder or defender.
==Club career== Starting out with the likes of NBT FC and AM Gunners of the Brunei Premier League, Najib's performances at the 2012 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy as team captain prompted a move from MS PDB to royalty-owned club DPMM FC who were playing in the S.League.<ref>{{cite web|title=MS PDB bag 1st win in DST league|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2012/03/28/ms-pdb-bag-1st-win-dst-league|date=28 March 2012|publisher=The Brunei Times|accessdate=31 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402213944/http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2012/03/28/ms-pdb-bag-1st-win-dst-league|archivedate=2 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=DPMM FC get fresh legs|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2012/04/05/dpmm-fc-get-fresh-legs|date=5 April 2012|publisher=The Brunei Times|accessdate=31 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605091412/http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2012/04/05/dpmm-fc-get-fresh-legs|archivedate=5 June 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
After appearing only seven times in the 2015 season, Najib's club head coach Steve Kean advised him to switch to the left-back position for him to gain playing time (as he has done to Helmi Zambin and Aminuddin Zakwan Tahir). A season-ending injury to first-choice Sairol Sahari meant that he would be relied on much more heavily in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sairol out for the season|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2016/04/28/sairol-out-season|date=28 April 2016|publisher=The Brunei Times|accessdate=28 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502011805/http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2016/04/28/sairol-out-season|archive-date=2 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Najib became the starting left-back for DPMM's 2017 campaign which ended in a disappointing 8th place, leading to the dismissal of coach Steve Kean.<ref>{{cite web |title=DPMM FC AND GARENA YOUNG LIONS SHARE SPOILS|url=https://www.brusports.com/2017/05/14/dpmm-fc-and-garena-young-lions-share-spoils/|date=14 May 2017|publisher=BruSports News|accessdate=31 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Steve Kean, One-on-one: The reduction of foreign players in the S.League is "hard to understand"|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/steve-kean-one-one-reduction-foreign-players-sleague-hard-understand|date=20 December 2017|publisher=FourFourTwo Singapore|accessdate=31 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213135131/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/steve-kean-one-one-reduction-foreign-players-sleague-hard-understand|archive-date=13 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was back on the sidelines with the arrival of Suhaimi Anak Sulau in the following season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Behe and Iggy strike for Warriors but DPMM come back to earn SG Cup dra|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/behe-and-iggy-strike-warriors-dpmm-come-back-earn-sg-cup-draw?page=0%2C1|date=23 August 2018|publisher=FourFourTwo Singapore|accessdate=31 August 2018}}</ref>
Najib regained his place at the start of the 2019 campaign under Adrian Pennock.<ref>{{cite web |title=DPMM FC off to a winning start (2019)|url=http://modasys.net/3g/index.php/sports/local-sports/35304-dpmm-fc-off-to-a-winning-start-2019.html|date=4 March 2019|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=16 July 2019}}</ref> He was rotated with Abdul Mu'iz Sisa for the position on the left of Pennock's 3-5-2 formation, becoming the starter towards the second half of the season. He became Singapore Premier League champion with DPMM by September of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/dpmm-spl-champions-as-hougang-stumble|title=DPMM SPL champions as Hougang stumble|publisher=The Straits Times|date=16 September 2019|accessdate=30 September 2019}}</ref>
Despite playing in the occasional advanced left-sided role for DPMM, Najib's first league goal for the club did not come until 4 July 2021 when he scored one of the 15 unanswered goals against Rimba Star FC in the Brunei Super League.<ref>{{cite web |title=DPMM FC cruise to emphatic victory|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/dpmm-fc-cruise-to-emphatic-victory/|date=6 July 2021|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=5 July 2021}}</ref>
In 2022, DPMM competed domestically at the 2022 Brunei FA Cup, managing to advance to the final of the competition with Najib appearing regularly at the left side of the lineup.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anticipation builds over FA Cup battle|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/anticipation-builds-over-fa-cup-battle/|date=3 December 2022|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=6 December 2022}}</ref> On 4 December, DPMM overcame Kasuka FC 2–1 in the final, handing them their second ever Brunei FA Cup trophy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crown Prince joins group photo session with DPMM FC|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/crown-prince-joins-group-photo-session-with-dpmm-fc/|date=6 December 2022|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=6 December 2022}}</ref>
After 14 years of playing for DPMM, it was announced by the club that he would not be retained after the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=DPMM releases Ramadhan Sananta, and will release Michel Americo and Najib Tarif.|url=https://www.dpmmfc.club/news/dpmm-releases-ramadhan-sananta-and-will-release-michel-americo-and-najib-tarif-2978932.html|date=13 May 2026|publisher=DPMM FC|accessdate=15 May 2026}}</ref> He subsequently announced his retirement from football on 31 May.<ref>{{Cite instagram |user=najibhjtarif |date=31 May 2026|postid=DY_jzJPEpkg|title=As my contract with DPMM FC has come to an end today, I would like to officially announce my retirement from football.|access-date=31 May 2026}}</ref>
==International career==
Najib has played for Brunei Under-21 since 2005,<ref>{{cite web |title=ASEAN U-21 Championship 2005 (Piala Hassanal Bolkiah)|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asean-u21-05.html|date=22 June 2005|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|accessdate=31 March 2015}}</ref> and is the only player to have played in 4 Hassanal Bolkiah tournaments, winning the trophy in 2012. He regards his injury-time free-kick against Cambodia in that year's opening match as the best goal he has ever scored.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brunei skipper: It's the best goal I've ever scored|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2012/02/27/brunei-skipper-its-best-goal-ive-ever-scored|date=27 February 2012|publisher=The Brunei Times|accessdate=31 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402215218/http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2012/02/27/brunei-skipper-its-best-goal-ive-ever-scored|archivedate=2 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Najib scored in Brunei Under-23's first match against Timor-Leste at the 2011 SEA Games football tournament, but the team lost 1–2. He then played in all five matches as Brunei finished fifth in their group.
Najib's full international debut for the Wasps came in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup qualification held in the Philippines where he played in all three games. He was also ever-present for Brunei's AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying campaigns in 2012 and 2014. For the 2016 edition he was deployed at left-back, but did not finish the game due to injury which would keep him out of the rest of the games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fatigue, injuries contribute to loss|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2016/10/24/fatigue-injuries-contribute-loss|date=24 October 2016|publisher=The Brunei Times|accessdate=24 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024214700/http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2016/10/24/fatigue-injuries-contribute-loss|archive-date=24 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Najib was in the list for the 2016 AFC Solidarity Cup but initially did not travel with the rest of the squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2016/11/01/helmi-azwan-join-team-afc-solidarity-cup|title=Helmi, Azwan join team for AFC Solidarity Cup|publisher=The Brunei Times|date=1 November 2016|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101103139/http://www.bt.com.bn/sports-national/2016/11/01/helmi-azwan-join-team-afc-solidarity-cup|archivedate=1 November 2016|accessdate=15 November 2016}}</ref> Nevertheless, he recovered and made the starting lineup for the opening match, and kept his place at left-back for the whole tournament as Brunei finished in fourth place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Laos claim AFC Solidarity Cup third place|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc-solidarity-cup-2016/laos-claim-afc-solidarity-cup-third-place|date=14 November 2016|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|accessdate=15 November 2016}}</ref>
Najib linked up with the Brunei national team for the two-legged 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying matches against Timor-Leste in early September 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minister urges national team to make impact at AFF Suzuki Cup qualifier|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/minister-urges-national-team-to-make-impact-at-aff-suzuki-cup-qualifier/|date=30 August 2018|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=31 August 2018}}</ref> He started the first leg at left-back in a 3–1 loss on 1 September in Kuala Lumpur.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/aff-suzuki-cup-football/935614/timor-leste-a-step-closer-to-reaching-aff-suzuki-cup/|title=Timor Leste a step closer to reaching AFF Suzuki Cup|publisher=Fox Sports Asia|date=2 September 2018|accessdate=11 September 2018|archive-date=2 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902111528/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/aff-suzuki-cup-football/935614/timor-leste-a-step-closer-to-reaching-aff-suzuki-cup/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He kept his place in a more advanced role on the return leg at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium a week later and scored the only goal of the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brunei win 1-0 against Timor Leste but miss out on AFF final round|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-win-1-0-against-timor-leste-but-miss-out-on-aff-final-round/|date=9 September 2018|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=11 September 2018}}</ref> His winning goal gave Brunei their first ever home win for an international game, but the scoreline was not enough to qualify for the Suzuki Cup competition proper.
In June 2019, Najib was due to link up with the national team for the 2022 World Cup qualification matches against Mongolia, but pulled himself out of contention.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brunei national team set to miss nine key players|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-national-team-set-to-miss-nine-key-players/|date=4 June 2019|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=18 June 2019}}</ref>
Najib played in three friendly games for Brunei in 2022, against Malaysia away in May and against both the Maldives and Laos home in October.<ref>{{cite web |title=One match at a time|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/one-match-at-a-time/|date=13 June 2022|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=11 November 2022}}</ref> He also played in both matches of the 2022 AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup qualifying against Timor-Leste, where the Wasps prevailed 6–3 on aggregate to qualify for the regional tournament for the first time in 26 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=BRUNEI QUALIFY FOR AFF CUP|url=https://www.brusports.com/2022/11/09/brunei-qualify-for-aff-cup/|date=9 November 2022|publisher=BruSports News|accessdate=November 11, 2022}}</ref> In the group stage, he played twice against powerhouses Thailand and Indonesia, both resulting in losses for Brunei.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brunei lose to Thailand in AFF meet|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-lose-to-thailand-in-aff-meet/|date=21 December 2022|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=30 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Brunei lose 7-0 to Indonesia|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-lose-7-0-to-indonesia/|date=27 December 2022|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=30 December 2022}}</ref>
Although named in the 25-man Brunei squad for the 2026 World Cup qualification matches against Indonesia in October 2023,<ref>{{Cite instagram|user=fa.bruneidarussalam|date=9 October 2023|postid=CyLmRFKBmAI|title=Here's the 25 players that will be representing Brunei Darussalam in the World Cup Qualifiers|access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> as well as featuring in previous friendly matches in the year, Najib was left out of the matchday squad in both games. He was restored in the national team setup in June 2024 when the team was made up of almost entirely DPMM FC and led by their current head coach Rui Capela against Sri Lanka for two matches. He was fielded in both games as the Wasps claimed a double victory over the Lankans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brunei beat Sri-Lanka 1-0 in international friendly|url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-beat-sri-lanka-1-0-in-international-friendly/|date=12 June 2024|publisher=DPMM FC|accessdate=12 June 2024}}</ref>
Under caretaker coach Jamie McAllister, Najib was selected for both the play-offs for the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualification and the 2024 ASEAN Championship qualification.<ref>{{Cite instagram |user=fa.bruneidarussalam |date=5 September 2024|postid=C_iDTDNyvE5 |title=Called up national team squad list for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: Brunei v Macau|access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite instagram |user=fa.bruneidarussalam |date=8 October 2024|postid=DA1-tzthD6x |title=Here are the 23 players called up to represent Brunei Darussalam match against Timor Leste.|access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref> He managed two starts against Timor-Leste for the latter assignment in October which finished 0–1 in aggregate to the opponents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Timor-Leste qualify for ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024|url=https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/timor-leste-qualify-for-asean-mitsubishi-electric-cup-2024/|date=15 October 2024|publisher=ASEAN Football Federation|accessdate=16 October 2024}}</ref>
===International goals=== :''Scores and results list Brunei's goal tally first.''<ref name="NFT">{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/33341/Mohd_Najib_Tarif.html|title=Tarif, Mohd Najib|publisher=National Football Teams|accessdate=18 October 2018}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;" ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || 8 September 2018 || Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei || {{fb|TLS}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 1–0 || 2018 AFF Championship qualification |}
==Honours==
===Team===
;NBT FC * B-League Premier Two: 2004<ref>{{cite web|title=NBT FC Wins Premier 2 Championship Crown|url=http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Aug04/290804/nite29.htm|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|date=29 August 2004|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041227110552/http://www.brudirect.com/DailyInfo/News/Archive/Aug04/290804/nite29.htm|archivedate=27 December 2004|accessdate=11 April 2025}}</ref> ;DPMM FC * S.League: 2015 * Singapore Premier League: 2019 * Singapore League Cup (2): 2012, 2014 * Brunei FA Cup: 2022
===International=== *Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy: 2012
===Individual=== {{See also|Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei}} * 50x50px Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 2012)<ref>{{cite web |title=Sultan sees HBT stars as nucleus of national team|url=http://www.sultanate.com/news_server/2012/6_apr_1.html|date=6 April 2012|publisher=Borneo Bulletin|accessdate=21 September 2022}}</ref> * 50x50px General Service Medal (Police)
==Personal life== Najib has nine siblings, one of which is Na'im Tarif who plays for MS PPDB.<ref>{{cite web|title=HRH Crown Prince with the champs|url=http://www.bt.com.bn/frontpage-sports-national/2016/03/03/hrh-crown-prince-champs|date=3 March 2016|publisher=The Brunei Times|accessdate=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306023936/http://www.bt.com.bn/frontpage-sports-national/2016/03/03/hrh-crown-prince-champs|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Liga Super DST: MS PDB kecewakan Kota Ranger|url=https://mediapermata.com.bn/liga-super-dst-ms-pdb-kecewakan-kota-ranger/|date=20 December 2018|publisher=Media Permata|accessdate=12 July 2019}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{NFT|33341}} *{{Soccerway|new_id=tarif-najib/dEeG6qhM|id=najib-tarif/241515|archive=20240927225427}} *{{Scorebar|najib-tarif/241515}} *{{Sofascore|najib-tarif/1024194}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Najib Tarif}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Bruneian Muslims Category:Bruneian police officers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Bruneian men's footballers Category:Brunei men's international footballers Category:Brunei Super League players Category:Singapore Premier League players Category:Malaysia Super League players Category:DPMM FC players Category:Footballers at the 2011 SEA Games Category:SEA Games competitors for Brunei Category:21st-century Bruneian people