Brian Bothwell

Brian Bothwell
Bothwell in 2024
Personal information
Full name Mohammed Brian Iman Abdullah Bothwell
Date of birth (1970-11-24) 24 November 1970 (age 53)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Attacker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993 Fawkner Blues 29 (9)
1993–1994 Morwell Falcons 21 (3)
1994 Fawkner Blues 11 (4)
1994–1996 Morwell Falcons 47 (13)
1996 Fawkner Blues 7 (0)
1995–1999 Brunei (33)
2000–2002 Geylang International FC 69+ (36+)
2003 DPMM
2003–2004 Brunei (19)
2005–2006 AH United (4)
Managerial career
Geylang U18
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 April 2023

Mohammed Brian Iman Abdullah Bothwell is a former professional footballer most known for leading Brunei FA to their first Malaysian Cup title in 1999.[1][2] He won the Penang Sports Club International Soccer Sevens tournament in 2007 with the Brunei Dragons.[3]

Career

Brunei

Spending several seasons in Australia, Bothwell returned to his native Scotland after being invited to train with Celtic. Instead, however, he passed on the opportunity to become an apprentice at Sheffield United.[4] Next, the Scottish-born forward went back to Australia before transferring to Brunei FA, earning 50,000 pounds a year.[4] In 2003, the Football Association of Malaysia ratified a policy which stated that foreign players must ply their trade elsewhere for two years before they can return to Malaysia.[5] Despite this, they still allowed Bothwell to play for Brunei at the time without playing abroad for two years.[5] By 2004, Bothwell had left the team.[6]

Geylang

While lining up for Geylang from 2000 to 2002, the Australian was accused of match-fixing along with footballers William Bone, Max Nicholson and Lutz Pfannenstiel.[7] He was released on a 5775 pound bail after being catechized by the police regarding the incident. Brian was cleared of any involvement in match fixing and went on to win the league title the following season.[8]

Retiring in 2006, the former footballer opted to become a coach, getting his AFC B License and AFC Level 1 Goalkeeping license.[1] He last coached Geylang's Under-18 side.[1]

Personal life

In order to marry Malaysian Salwani Abdul Rahman Sahib, Bothwell converted to Islam.[4] Their wedding was broadcast live on television. Later, he married a Singaporean.[1]

As a child, he was a supporter of Scottish club Celtic.[4]

During his time in Australia, Bothwell lived with his parents Margaret and Brian who moved there as well.[4]

Honours

Brunei

Individual

  • Meritorius Service Medal (PJK; 13 December 1999)[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Nostalgia beckons | the Brunei Times". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Cheer up Malaysians, it's not the first time a trophy has left the country | FourFourTwo". Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  3. ^ "Brunei Dragons' roar of triumph".
  4. ^ a b c d e "There's only one Mohammed Brian Iman Abdullah Bothwell. - Free Online Library".
  5. ^ a b "FAM relax rules to let Bothwell play for Brunei".
  6. ^ "Brian tinggalkan Tebuan!".
  7. ^ "Bothwell arrested in Singapore match-fixing probe | : The World Game". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017.
  8. ^ "BBC SPORT | FOOTBALL | British footballers arrested".
  9. ^ Prime Minister's Office (13 December 1999). "National Heroes receive Meritorious Service Medals" (PDF). www.information.gov.bn. Retrieved 13 May 2024.