Johor Darul Ta'zim's Hariss Harun

In this series termed 'Lions Abroad', we take a look at some of Singapore's footballing stars who ply their trade overseas

What’s there not to say about Hariss Harun that hasn’t already been said. A tenacious midfielder who is not just known for his footballing skills but also his leadership.

Hariss is truly one of Singapore’s most successful players playing abroad. His time at MSL (Malaysian Super League) side Johor Darul Ta'zim has only continued to yield more silverware for the Singapore captain.

In his time in Malaysia he has won the MSL five times including this year’s edition and also has an AFC Cup under his belt among other countless trophies. But it’s not just the trophies that make Hariss special.

The fact that JDT appointed him as vice-captain speaks volumes about his ability as a footballer and also a leader. His attitude off the pitch is one that echoes humility.

Most coaches in Singapore would never hesitate to bring up his name as an example for younger local players to emulate given his professionalism.

Fandi Ahmad will most definitely be banking on Hariss’ leadership and skill as Singapore look to have a deep run in the AFF Championships this November.

If anyone needs a reminder of this midfield maestro’s ability, then the clip below will serve as a reminder.

Moreover this season’s MSL saw the midfielder help JDT finish the league with an impressive 23-point cushion over their closest challengers Perak, but need to improve quickly if they want to repeat the league and cup double from last season.

This was because the defending Malaysia Cup Champions JDT, saw their 10-game winning streak unexpectedly snapped when they fell 1-2 to MISC-MIFA in their 2018 Malaysia Cup opener though Hariss did not feature for JDT against MISC-MIFA.