Mohd Amri Yahyah

Mohd Amri bin Yahyah also known as Amri Yahyah (nicknamed "Ketua Kampung Likas" in Sabah and "MR17" in Selangor) is a Malaysian former professional footballer who ended his career as a footballer with Sabah football club in December 17, 2023.

He has also represented the Malaysian national team.

Amri plays mainly as a forward but can also play as an attacking midfielder.

Amri spent most of his successful career at Selangor where he made 427 appearances scoring 138 goals.

Amri rifled home the first in the 51st minute and added his second with an expertly taken shot from a tight angle 10 minutes later.

The veteran striker completed his hattrick with another breathtaking effort by chipping the ball beyond the reach of KDA FC goalkeeper Ifwat Akmal in the 72nd minute.

Coach Ong Kim Swee, said to reporters that Amri's hattrick at the age of 41 will be difficult to emulate.

Born in Tanjung Karang, Selangor, Amri signed a contract with Selangor F.C. in 2001 and helped the outfit to the treble (Premier League Malaysia, Malaysian FA Cup and Malaysia Cup) in 2005.

Amri became a cult hero when he scored a golden goal against Sabah in the 2002 Malaysia Cup Final.

The right-footed player represented Malaysia in the 2003 Sea Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, the Afro-Asian Games Hyderabad, India in October 2003, and also in the 2004 Tiger Cup helping Malaysia to finish third.

He was made the Selangor team captain in the 2009 Malaysia Super League campaign.

Amri is a versatile player, having played in a number of different positions including as a defender, winger, defensive and attacking midfielder, and striker.

His following grew significantly after scoring a brace for Malaysia Selection in a pre-season exhibition match on 18 July 2009, against English champions Manchester United.

The latter ran out 3–2 winners.

He had another successful career with Johor Darul Ta'zim from 2014 until 2016 making 103 appearances scoring 22 goals.

On 16 December 2023, Amri announced his retirement via Sabah's official social media.

The 2023 Malaysia Super League final league match against Kedah Darul Aman is his last match as a professional footballer.

Amri has played more than 600 matches in his career scoring 188 goals for club and country.

Amri completed his transfer to Johor Darul Ta'zim for 2014 season of Malaysia Super League, with a monthly salary reported to be around RM 85,000.

Johor Darul Ta'zim became the Malaysian Super League champions, narrowly overtaking Amri's former club Selangor by a mere 3 points on the last day of the league.

Even after his transfer, Amri remained popular with the Selangor fans until his ultimate faux pas - celebrating a goal against Selangor by dancing in full view of its supporters.

It was rumoured that he did this to spite the Football Association of Selangor.

Selangor went on to win the game 4–1.

He later apologised, which Selangor fans spurned, as he was booed upon his return to Shah Alam Stadium to face Selangor.

Some furious supporters even tossed bottles at him when he came over to the Selangor section to applaud them.

Amri reportedly shed tears after that insult.

However, he remains hugely popular with Malaysian fans in general.

On 16 December 2016, Amri signed a one-year contract with newly promoted club Melaka United for an undisclosed fee after his contract with Johor Darul Ta'zim expired.

On 21 February 2017, Amri made his debut for Melaka United in a 2–0 win over Kelantan playing for 90 minutes.

On 14 February 2017, Amri scored a winning goal for his side in Malaysia FA Cup campaign over PKNS.

In May 2017, Melaka United announced that Amri Yahyah was returning to his former club Selangor in the mid-season transfer window.

Amri made his league debut in 0–2 defeat against Pahang on 24 May 2017.

Amri scored his league goal on 22 July 2017 in a 1–0 win over Kelantan.

His second league goal came from 2–1 win over Johor Darul Ta'zim on 5 August 2017.

Amri Yahyah departed Selangor at the end of the 2019 season.

At the end of January 2020, Amri joined the Sarawak United for the start of Malaysia League 2020 season.

During the 2021 transfer window, Amri, now 40, signed for Sabah on 18 February 2021.

It makes the twentieth seasons for Amri in the domestic competition.

On 25 April 2022, during the Malaysian Super League match against Kedah Darul Aman Amri set a league record by scoring a hattrick.

Now aged 41, the former international started the game after injury to striker-in-chief Neto Pessoa and he repaid the faith with a hattrick in the second half.