Wan Kuzain bin Wan Ahmad Kamal (born September 14, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for MLS Next Pro side St. Louis City 2 and has played for the United States at the under-17 level.

Wan Kuzain
Wan Kuzain in 2019
Personal information
Full name Wan Kuzain bin Wan Ahmad Kamal
Date of birth (1998-09-14) September 14, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Carbondale, Illinois, United States
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
St. Louis City 2
Number 75
Youth career
2015–2016 St. Louis Scott Gallagher
2016–2017 Sporting Kansas City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Saint Louis FC 0 (0)
2017–2020 Sporting Kansas City II 58 (4)
2018–2020 Sporting Kansas City 6 (1)
2021 Rio Grande Valley FC 19 (3)
2022– St. Louis City 2 52 (10)
International career
2015 United States U17
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 November 2023

Career

Early

Born and raised by his Malaysian parents[1] in Carbondale, Illinois, United States, Wan Kuzain played Academy soccer with St. Louis Scott Gallagher.[2] He was chosen to represent United States U-17 soccer team in 2013 and 2014 and also trained with Feyenoord Academy in 2015.[3][4] Wan Kuzain signed with United Soccer League side Saint Louis FC on May 21, 2016.[5] While there, he spent time on loan with the club's USL Premier Development League side Saint Louis FC U23.[6]

Swope Park Rangers

After spending time at the Sporting Kansas City academy, Wan Kuzain joined Kansas City's USL affiliate Swope Park Rangers in March 2017.[7][2] That same year, he became the first player of Malaysian heritage to play in the USL, and to win the Western Conference.[8][9]

Sporting Kansas City

Kuzain signed with the Sporting Kansas City first team in April 2018.[10] Kuzain scored his first MLS goal on June 3, 2018, against Minnesota United in a 4–1 victory.[11]

Kuzain's contract option was declined by Kansas City following their 2020 season.[12]

Rio Grande Valley FC Toros

On March 1, 2021, Kuzain signed with USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.[13]

St. Louis City 2

On February 7, 2022, Kuzain signed with St. Louis City 2 in MLS Next Pro.[14]

International

Kuzain has trained with and represented the United States at the under-17 level in 2013 and 2014.[3][15][4] He is eligible to represent both the United States and Malaysia.[16] In November 2019, Kuzain was called up to train with the Malaysia under-22 national team ahead of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.[17] However, he was left out of the squad due to citizenship documentation issue.[18][16]

Personal life

His older brother, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, is a Malaysian politician,[19] while his younger brother, Wan Kuzri is a US-based soccer player who was selected to join the provisional Malaysia national under-23 football team preparing for the 2022 AFF U-23 Championship.[20][21]

Career statistics

As of match played April 22, 2018[22][23]
Club Season League Playoffs League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Swope Park Rangers 2017 USL 12 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
2018 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Total 21 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 22 0
Sporting Kansas City 2018 MLS 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
2019 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
St. Louis City 2 2022 MLS Next Pro 24 5 2 0 0 -|- 26 5
2023 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 47 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 50 6

Honors

Swope Park Rangers

Individual

  • USL Fans' Choice Goal of the Year: 2018[26]
  • USL Young Player of the Year: Finalist 2018[27]

References

  1. ^ "Wan Kuzain One-on-one: "It'll be an honour to wear either jersey, Malaysia or US"". FourFourTwo. December 12, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Bergabo, Patrick (August 18, 2016). "Swope Park Rangers sign Albelo, Hernandez, Wan Kamal and Wilkinson from Sporting KC Academy". Sporting KC. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Sporting midfielder Wan Kuzain trains with Malaysia U-22 Men's National Team". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Saint Louis FC Sign Two Academy Players - Saint Louis Football Club". Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  6. ^ "Statistics - 2016 Regular Season - Premier Development League". www.uslpdl.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  7. ^ "'Malaysian Messi' Wan Kuzain creates history with American debut". NST Online. March 28, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Hashim, Firdaus (November 8, 2017). "Kuzain cipta sejarah". BH Online. Media Prima Group. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "'Malaysian Messi' Wan Kuzain creates history with American debut". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. March 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  10. ^ Kovzan, Sam. "Sporting KC signs 19-year-old midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal as Homegrown Player". SportingKC.com. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  11. ^ Kovzan, Sam (April 13, 2018). "Sporting KC signs 19-year-old midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal as Homegrown Player". Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  12. ^ "Sporting KC announces roster moves ahead of 2021 MLS season". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  13. ^ "Wan Kuzain Makes Move to Toros". March 2021.
  14. ^ "UNVEILING ST. LOUIS CITY 2'S MLS NEXT PRO ROSTER". February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal in contention for Malaysia U-23 call-up". Football Tribe Asia. Sapporo: Football Tribe Inc. March 30, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Azharie, Farah (November 1, 2019). "Where's Wan Kuzain?". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  17. ^ Ishak, Fadhli (November 20, 2019). "Footballer Wan Kuzain's poor BM a non-issue". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  18. ^ Azharie, Farah (November 25, 2019). "Kuzain gutted not to be able to represent Malaysia". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  19. ^ "Wan Kuzri, Wan Kuzain's minister brother Wan Fayhsal: 'I was more of a rugby player' | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "SENARAI 30 PEMAIN KE KEM LATIHAN PUSAT MENJELANG KEJUARAAN B-23 AFF 2022 DI PHNOM PENH, KEMBOJA | FAM". fam.org.my. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  21. ^ "Piala AFF B-23: Wan Kuzri Kembali Sertai Kem Latihan Pusat Skuad Malaysia". VOCKET FC (in Malay). January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  22. ^ Wan Kuzain at Soccerway. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  23. ^ "Wan Kuzain". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  24. ^ Villanueva, Araceli (November 5, 2017). "Swope Park Rangers wins back-to-back Western Conference Final titles in dramatic Penalty Shootout". The Blue Statement. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  25. ^ MCDowell, Sam (November 13, 2017). "Louisville City FC defeats Swope Park Rangers in USL Cup Final". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  26. ^ "2018 Goal of the Year". uslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  27. ^ "2018 USL Awards Finalists Unveiled". USL Championship. November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2021.