Wan Kuzain

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 SC 2 and has played for the United States at the under-17 level.

In this Malay name, there is no family name. The name Wan Kamal is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Wan Kuzain. The Arabic-derived word "bin" or "binti"/"binte", if used, means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
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
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 33 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:16, 10 May 2023 (CST)

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 in 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 SC 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
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Swope Park Rangers 2017 USL 1201000——130
2018 900000——90
Total 2110100000220
Sporting Kansas City 2018 MLS 610000——61
2019 000000——00
2020 000000——00
Total 6100000061
St. Louis City SC 2 2022 MLS Next Pro 245200-|-265
2023 700000——00
Career total 476300000506

Honors

Club

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. "Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  3. 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. "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. 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.
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