Mohamad Izwan bin Mahbud (born 14 July 1990) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Singapore Premier League team Young Lions and the Singapore national team.
Izwan was also the captain of the Singapore Selection XI during the 2015 Premier League Asia Trophy against Arsenal and Stoke City.
Club career Young Lions Izwan began his professional football career with S.League club Young Lions in 2008 after playing at the National Football Academy.
LionsXII In January 2012, Izwan joined the newly created club, LionsXll which compete in the Malaysia Super League. During his time with the LionsXII, Izwan helped the team win the 2013 Malaysian Super League and 2015 Malaysian FA Cup titles. During his time at the club, he was seen being used as a free kick taker during some of the club matches.
Making headlines in Japan and stints with Matsumoto Yamaga On 16 June 2015, Izwan pulled a magnificent performance at the Saitama Stadium which shocked a 0–0 draw between Singapore and Japan. Izwan's heroic displays have drawn praise from Japanese fans and club coaches and also drew interest from several clubs, including newly promoted J-League 1 side Matsumoto Yamaga. Yamaga's vice-president, Yoshiyuki Kato stated that he was very impressed by Izwan's concentration and ability and gave Izwan a one-week trial at Yamaga. It was later revealed that uncertainty over his ability and the language barrier prevented Izwan from becoming the first Singaporean to play in the J.League, with the club expressing concerns that Izwan was not any better than the local players Yamaga had.
Heavily linked to Real Sociedad On 16 November 2015, Singapore goalkeeping coach, John Burridge said that David Moyes was thinking about signing Izwan to La Liga side, Real Sociedad as a back-up to first choice goalkeeper, Gerónimo Rulli but Moyes got sacked a week before so the deal didn't materialized.
Tampines Rovers In late 2015, when the decision was made by the Football Association of Malaysia to kick the LionsXII out of the Malaysian Super League, Izwan, along with former teammates Christopher van Huizen, Izzdin Shafiq, Hafiz Sujad and Firdaus Kasman linked up with former coach V. Sundramoorthy at Tampines Rovers.
Nongbua Pitchaya After spending two years with Tampines Rovers, Izwan signed for Nongbua Pitchaya on 14 December 2017, becoming the second Singaporean to play in the Thai League 2, alongside compatriot and fellow goalkeeper, Hassan Sunny, who joined Army United for a second stint. It was reported that Izwan took a pay cut to join the Thai side, underlining his fierce desire to try his talent overseas. His move to Thailand was a successful one as he was named in FourFourTwo's Thai League 2 Team of the Season at the end of the 2018 season.
Trat After spending two seasons in the Thai League 2, on 16 December 2019, Izwan signed for top-flight Thailand side Trat for the 2020 Thai League 1 season.
Hougang United On 27 June 2021, Izwan return to his home country after a long stint in Thailand by signing for the Singapore Premier League side Hougang United for the remainder of the 2021 season.
Izwan's Hougang debut didn't go as planned as the Cheetahs lost 4–1 to Tanjong Pagar United. Izwan couldn't preserve a point for his side against Albirex at home after conceding a lobbed goal by Takahiro Tezuka and ultimately lost to the title holders.
Izwan picked up his first clean sheet for the Cheetahs in a 1–0 win against Young Lions
Lion City Sailors On 8 January 2022, Izwan joined the newly privatised Singaporean club, Lion City Sailors on a 2-year contract. He was used as a backed up goalkeeper behind national teammates, Hassan Sunny. In 2023, Izwan featured in all of the cup matches which he helped the club to win the 2023 Singapore Cup.
Midway during the 2024–25 season, Izwan was chosen as the main choice goalkeeper replacing Zharfan Rohaizad after a couple of blunders throughout the season. Izwan also kept a clean sheet during the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two fixture against Chinese club Zhejiang Professional where he pulled a couples of saves in a 2–0 win. During the second leg of the AFC Champions League semi-final match at the Sydney Football Stadium on 16 April 2025, Izwan put up a couple of magnificent saves thus seeing Lion City Sailors qualified to a historical 2025 AFC Champions League Two final. Despite Maxime Lestienne's equaliser in the 91st minute of the 2025 AFC Champions League Two final against Sharjah, the Sailors finished as a runner-up after conceding in the 97th minute to finish the game in a 1–2 defeat.
Loan to Young Lions On 7 January 2026, Izwan joined Young Lions on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season. On his first match for Young Lions on 16 January, he received a red card in the 22' minute against Tampines Rovers.
Izwan was released by Lion City Sailors FC on 30 May 2026 following the conclusion of his loan spell. He is currently without a club.
International career
Izwan made his international debut for Singapore in a friendly match against Chinese Taipei on 18 July 2011. He rose to prominence in 2011 when he started in goal for Singapore as they defeated traditional rivals Malaysia over a two-leg 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier in the same month.
On 16 June 2015, Izwan made 18 saves as Singapore managed keep a clean sheet against Asian giants, Japan to a 0–0 draw in Saitama during a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier match.
On 12 June 2021, Izwan played managed to hold 3-time AFC Asian Cup winners, Saudi Arabia from scoring until the 83rd minute where Salem Al-Dawsari broke the deadlock.
On 18 November 2024, Izwan returned to the starting line-up after a 3 years absence with the national team where he played in a 3–2 loss to Chinese Taipei.
On 1 October 2026, Izwan let in 6 goals without even trying to pretend to give his team a 6-0 defeat against Malaysia during a newly created FIFA ASEAN Cup. His performance brought so many controversies and accusations of him receiving money to get Malaysia leapfrog Indonesia in the standings.
Career statistics Club . Caps and goals may not be correct.
ClubSeasonS.LeagueSingapore CupSingaporeLeague CupAsiaTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsYoung Lions200850----—50200990----—9020102405010—3002011250———250Total630501000690ClubSeasonMalaysiaSuper LeagueMalaysiaFA CupMalaysia CupAsiaTotalLionsXII20121101080—20020132101080—30020142202060—3002015000000—00Total5404022000800ClubSeasonS.LeagueSingapore CupSingaporeLeague CupAsiaTotalTampines Rovers20161804000902102017170200070260Total3506000160470ClubSeasonThai League T2Thai FA CupThai League CupAsiaTotal Nongbua Pitchaya201800----—0020193200010—330Total0000000000 Trat202030----—30Total3000000030 Samut Prakan City202030----—30Total3000000030ClubSeasonS.LeagueSingapore CupOthersAsiaTotalHougang United2021100000000100Total100000000100Lion City Sailors202280300000110202300600000602024–257000101090Total150901010260Career total16002302401002060 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
No Date Venue Opponent Result Competition1 18 July 2011 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 3-2 (won) Friendly2 23 July 2011 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 5-3 (won) 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round3 28 July 2011 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1-1 (draw) 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round4 2 September 2011 Tuodong Sports Center, Kunming, China 1-2 (lost) 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round5 7 October 2011 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 2-0 (won) Friendly6 2 September 2011 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 0-3 (lost) 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round7 1 June 2012 Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Singapore 0-1 (lost) Friendly8 8 June 2012 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 2-2 (draw) Friendly9 15 August 2012 Jurong West Stadium, Jurong, Singapore 2-0 (won) Friendly10 11 September 2012 Thuwunna YTC Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar 1-1 (draw) Friendly11 16 October 2012 Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Choa Chu Kang, Singapore 2-0 (won) Friendly12 25 November 2012 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3-0 (won) 2012 AFF Championship13 28 November 2012 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 0-1 (lost) 2012 AFF Championship14 1 December 2012 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam, Malaysia 4-3 (won) 2012 AFF Championship15 8 December 2012 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines 0-0 (draw) 2012 AFF Championship16 12 December 2012 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 1-0 (won) 2012 AFF Championship17 19 December 2012 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 3–1 (won) 2012 AFF Championship18 22 December 2012 Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 0–1 (lost) 2012 AFF Championship
Honours
Club LionsXII Malaysia Super League: 2013 FA Cup Malaysia: 2015
Lion City Sailors AFC Champions League Two runner-up: 2024–25 Singapore Premier League: 2024–25 Singapore Cup: 2023, 2024–25 Singapore Community Shield: 2022, 2024; runner-up: 2025
International AFF Championship: 2012 Southeast Asian Games: bronze medal – 2013
References
External links Lions XII profile Goal profile