*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 May 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 June 2022
Gabriel Quak Jun Yi (Chinese: 郭俊谊, born 22 December 1990) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays mainly as a winger for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United. Considered one of the best wingers in the country, he is known for his skills, speed and ability to dribble past opponents quickly.
Club career
Young Lions
Gabriel began his professional football career with Young Lions in the 2008 S.League season. On 19 February, he make his professional debut coming on a substitution in a match against Sengkang Punggol. Gabriel scored his first career goal in a 3–1 lost against Super Reds on 26 May.
Gabriel was one of the Young Lions players involved in an on-pitch fight with Beijing Guoan Talent players in their S.League match on 7 September 2010. He was charged by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) for gross misconduct and bringing the game into disrepute and was banned for four months and fined S$1,000 for his part in the brawl.[2] Quak missed the 2010 Asian Games as a result of the ban.
LionsXII
On 5 December 2011, the FAS announced that Gabriel was to join the newly formed LionsXII for the 2012 Malaysia Super League. National service commitments however meant that Quak failed to make a single appearance throughout the 2012 season.[3] He was de-registered in the mid-season transfer window.
Gabriel returned to the LionsXII squad for the 2013 season. He made his long-awaited debut against PKNS on 15 January.[4] He made 15 appearances in all competitions as the Lions won the 2013 Malaysia Super League.
The left-footed Gabriel was switched to the right side of attack for both club and country for the 2014 season.[5] He scored his first LionsXII goal in a 3–0 win over DRB-Hicom in the Malaysia FA Cup on 21 January. He scored his first league goal, an opener against newly promoted side PDRM FA, as Lionsxii defeated them 5–3.[6]
On the opening day of the 2015 season, Gabriel scored the Lionsxii's first goal of the season, helping the Lionsxii win their opening match 5–3 against PDRM FA.[7] Similarly, in the LionsXII's opening game in the Malaysia FA Cup on 28 February, Gabriel scored the 3rd goal in a 4–0 win against minnows Kedah United to push the LionsXII into the round of 16.[8] In the round of 16, Gabriel scored a goal against SPA in a 4–0 win to send the team to the quarter-finals. He helped LionsXII to win the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup.
Geylang International
Following the dissolution of the LionsXII, Gabriel signed for Geylang International in January 2016. He make his debut on 15 February in the Eastern Derby match against Tampines Rovers in a 3–3 match. On 1 April, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 league match against Warriors FC, ending a long goalscoring drought.
On 2 February 2018,Gabriel signs for Thai League 1 side Royal Thai Navy and fill up their ASEAN import slot ahead of the In the upcoming 2018 season. On 11 February, Gabriel made his starting debut against Ubon UMT United. He started as the 1st eleven in the 1st 2 matches but was substituted at half time in both matches.[11][12] Gabriel scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 thriller win against Sukhothai
In total, Gabriel scored 4 goals and created 1 assist in 24 games for the Thai side which were relegated eventually.[13]
Warriors FC
In January 2019, Gabriel signed for Warriors FC for the 2019 season despite receiving lucrative offers from overseas club in order to spend more time with his young family.[13] During the 2019 Singapore Cup, Warriors' captain Khairul Nizam was injured and Gabriel took over the captaincy for the competition.[14]
Lion City Sailors
In January 2020, Gabriel joined the newly privatised Singapore club, Lion City Sailors. He make his debut for the club in a league match against Tanjong Pagar United where he assisted Andy Pengelly in a 1–1 draw.
In 2021, Gabriel won the league 'Goal of the Year' for his volley goal in the 4–1 win over Balestier Khalsa on 18 April during the FAS Awards Night.[15]
Following his release from Lion City Sailors, Gabrel signed for Hougang United on 18 January 20232 to boost the range of attacking options in head coach Firdaus Kassim's squad. The 32-year-old joins his fifth Singapore Premier League club in his 11th SPL season. On 19 April 2024, he extended his contract until the end of the 2024–25 season.
Gabriel earned his first international cap in a friendly match against Laos on 7 June 2013, scoring a goal on his debut.[18] His first competitive goal came in an upset 2–1 win over Syria in a 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification match on 15 October 2013. He is the first Singapore-born Chinese player to feature regularly for the national team in 7 years since Goh Tat Chuan despite the ethnic Chinese forming the majority of the population.[19]
He was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor’s Cup to be held on 6 May 2017.[20]
Personal life
Gabriel was born on 22 December 1990 to Alan, a technical associate at a building consultancy and Juet May, an early childhood educator in 1990.[21] He has a younger sister, Gu Ting.