72-year-old Malaysian football legend Alif marries woman believed to be 20

After more than four decades away from professional football, Malaysian football legend Datuk Abdah Alif has entered a new chapter in his life after getting married at the age of 72.

Abdah tied the knot on Aug. 27, with the news confirmed by his younger brother, Datuk Yunus Alif, who is also a former national player and coach.

The marriage has attracted considerable attention among Malaysian football fans after photographs of Abdah and his partner, believed to be 20, circulated widely on social media.

Yunus said the marriage had received the blessing of both families.

“Alhamdulillah, they got married on Aug. 27. Both families have agreed to and blessed this marriage. We pray that the two of them will be happy,” he said.

He added that Abdah was currently spending time with his wife following the wedding and could not be reached by phone. 

“They might be on their honeymoon now, which is why he is not answering calls. What is certain is that they are indeed married, and we wish them both the very best,” Yunus said.

He also prayed that the couple would remain happy together for the rest of their lives.

“May they continue to be happy and stay together until Jannah,” he said.

Abdah remains a prominent figure in Malaysian football history, particularly for his role during the national team's golden era in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He was part of the Malaysia squad that qualified on merit for the 1980 Moscow Olympics after securing a memorable 2-1 victory over South Korea in the decisive qualifying match.

Abdah played alongside several renowned Malaysian footballers of that generation, including Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk Santokh Singh and Datuk Jamal Nasir Ismail.

However, his Olympic dream was never fulfilled after Malaysia joined a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games in protest against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.

More than 40 years later, Abdah is back in the spotlight — this time not for his achievements on the football field, but for a significant new chapter in his personal life.