Khairul Fahmi bin Che Mat (born 7 January 1989) also known by his nickname as Apek, is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Malaysia Super League club Melaka. He is also a former member of Malaysia national team.

Khairul Fahmi also holds the record to become the only player to win the Malaysia Super League 'Best Goalkeeper' award on five occasions.

Club career Early career At his youth, Khairul Fahmi began his football career playing for Sekolah Sukan Bandar Penawar (SSBP) and Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil (SSBJ). During his school year, he was selected as the second choice goalkeeper for Malaysia U-17 at the 2004 AFC U-17 Championship.

Harimau Muda Khairul Fahmi was later chosen to be in the Harimau Muda team for the 2007–08 Malaysia Premier League. Khairul Fahmi appeared in a match against ATM FA which Harimau Muda lose 2–1.Harimau Muda pulang muram selepas tewas 1-2 kepada ATM - Utusan Malaysia (BLISS), 29 December 2007. Halfway through the season, he was dropped from Harimau Muda.KISAH YANG TIDAK DICERITAKAN - TRWFC, 3 May 2018. He signed with PKNS until the end of 2008 season.

PSV Eindhoven Youth team trials Khairul Fahmi had also impressed the Dutch club, PSV Eindhoven and went for a-week trials with the club's Under-19 and Under-23 teams. He went there with his teammate, Asraruddin Putra after they showed excellent performances in the 2007 Champions Youth Cup.

Return to Kelantan In 2008, Khairul Fahmi returned to Kelantan as a loan player from PKNS for the 2008 Malaysia Cup. In 2009 he signed a permanent deal with Kelantan and registered as the third goalkeeper for Kelantan but he did not made any appearances for the senior side.

In 2010, he finally have the chances with the senior squad due to Halim Napi retirement and a blunder from Syed Adney during their match against Kedah in 2010 Malaysia Super League. He made his league debut on 6 March 2010 in a 1–0 away win against T-Team.Keputusan TM Liga Super 2010 : T-Team 0-1 KelantanKijang Kutip Tiga Mata Pertama di Arena Lawan In his debut season, he won the 2010 Malaysia Cup. He also won The Best Young Player and Best Goalkeeper awards at the 2010 Anugerah Bola Sepak Kebangsaan 100Plus-FAM.

In 2011, Khairul Fahmi retain as Kelantan first choice goalkeeper. He ended the season with Kelantan winning their first league title, making 24 appearances and he also won the Best Goalkeeper Award for the second consecutive time.Mengenang Kejatuhan The Red Warriors Dengan Kisah Kegemilangannya - Semuanya Bola, 24 July 2018.

In 2012, Khairul Fahmi continue his fine form which saw Kelantan won their first ever treble in the Malaysian League.Lakar sejarah treble, kenali 12 pemain TRW pernah julang Kelantan pada 2012 sebelum disunting JDT He also won the Best Goalkeeper Award for the third time in a row.

Melaka United On 7 May 2018, Khairul Fahmi signed a six-month contract with Melaka United until the end of the current season. On 12 May 2018, Khairul Fahmi made his debut for Melaka United in a 0–0 draw against Perak.

On 8 February 2021, he extended his contract with the club until the end of the 2022.

Sabah In January 2022, Khairul Fahmi signed for Sabah. He make his debut on 4 March in a 1–0 lost to Negeri Sembilan. He finished his first season with 22 appearances for the club.

Khairul Fahmi was also instrumental in the club 2023–24 AFC Cup run where he helped the club to advanced to the knockout stage.

On his final game of his professional career, Khairul Fahmi captained the side on 15 May 2026 in a league match against Terengganu on 15 May 2026. He make a total of 70 appearances across all competition for the club also helping the club to win the 2026 MFL Challenge Cup in his final season.

International career Malaysia under-23 national team Khairul Fahmi made his first appearance for Malaysia under-23 at the 2010 Asian Games. He helped his team qualify into the second round but later lost to Iran, 1–3.2010 Asian Games Football Squad, Malaysia retrieved 28 December 2010 Khairul Fahmi became Malaysia's hero when he saved two penalties and they won 4–3 in the penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw against Indonesia to ensure Malaysia retained the prestigious SEA Games gold medal. Khairul Fahmi also helped his team qualify into the Men's Asian Qualifiers Preliminary Round 3 of 2012 Summer Olympics Qualification. However, Malaysia failed to win any matches in the group stage.

Senior Khairul Fahmi made his debut against Oman on 3 September 2010 replacing Sharbinee Allawee during the second half. He kept a clean sheet for the entire second half after Malaysia conceding 3 goals in the first half of the match.

In November 2010, Khairul Fahmi was called up to the Malaysia national team by coach K. Rajagopal for the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. Khairul kept a clean sheet against Thailand on a 0–0 draw. He also kept a clean sheet against Vietnam twice in the semi-finals. In the first leg of the finals, Khairul Fahmi played well against the Indonesians. The match ended a 3–0 win to Malaysia, thus earning another clean sheet to him. In the second leg of the finals held in Indonesia, Khairul Fahmi gave another outstanding performance by making numerous saves including a brilliant penalty save early in the match. The save proved to be a pivotal moment in the match in which Malaysia scored an away goal. Malaysia won on 4–2 aggregate and lifted the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup title for the first time.

Khairul Fahmi was selected for the 2012 AFF Championship. On 26 November 2012, Malaysia's opening group match against Singapore ended up with the Malaysian side losing 0–3. The Lions scored the first goal through their captain, Shahril Ishak at the 32nd-minute. Six minutes later, Ishak once again scored a goal for the Lions as a result of Khairul Fahmi's blunder at goal. In the second half, veteran Singaporean forward Aleksandar Đurić completed the rout against the Tigers with the third and final goal of the game. The match resulted in 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup holders Malaysia losing its first group match of the tournament, and Khairul Fahmi was subsequently dropped for the rest of the Tigers' campaign.

However, since Kim Pan-Gon was made in charge of the Malaysian national team in 2022, he was deemed too short to play in goal, losing his spot to taller and younger goalkeepers.

Personal life Khairul Fahmi is the fourth of five siblings. He received his early education at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Tapang, Kota Bharu. Then he entered Bandar Penawar Sports School, Johor Bahru. After that he furthered Bukit Jalil Sports School (National Sports School). He was active in sports since primary school. On 28 December 2012, Khairul Fahmi married Nur Eilunie Natasha Jaafar. They have a daughter named Kayla Elayna, and a son named Khaleel Emir.

Career statistics

Club Khairul Fahmi Che Mat - Malaysian Football League. + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupAsiaTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHarimau Muda2007–08Malaysia Premier League1000——10Total1000——10Kelantan2009Malaysia Super League00—00—002010Malaysia Super League1500080—2302011Malaysia Super League2406030—3302012Malaysia Super League20040100604002013Malaysia Super League22060110704602014Malaysia Super League2204070403702015Malaysia Super League1907060—3202016Malaysia Super League2202060—3002017Malaysia Super League1101010—1302018Malaysia Super League4020——60Total15903205201702600Melaka United2018Malaysia Super League1100060—1702019Malaysia Super League2001040—2502020Malaysia Super League900010—1002021Malaysia Super League180—90—270Total58010200—790Sabah2022Malaysia Super League2200000—2202023Malaysia Super League1402020101902024–25Malaysia Super League1203010401602025–26Malaysia Super League70102000100Total450403050700 Career total26303707502203970

International

National team Year Apps GoalsMalaysia201070201130201260201360201480201570201680201890201920202150Total 61 0

International appearances and goals1Appear as substitute. # Date Venue Opponent Result Clean Sheet Competition2010 1. 3 September Al-Wakrah, Qatar 3–0 (L) 11 Friendly 2. 4 December Jakarta, Indonesia 0–0 (D) 2 AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 3. 7 December Jakarta, Indonesia 5–1 (W) AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 4. 15 December Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2–0 (W) 3 AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 5. 18 December Jakarta, Indonesia 0–0 (D) 4 AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 6. 26 December Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3–0 (W) 5 AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 7. 29 December Jakarta, Indonesia 2–1 (L) AFF Suzuki Cup 20102011 8. 9 February Selangor, Malaysia 2–0 (W) 6 Friendly 9. 28 July Selangor, Malaysia 1–1 (D) 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification 10. 7 October Canberra, Australia 5–0 (L) Friendly2012 11. 29 February Manila, Philippines 1–1 (D) Friendly 12. 8 June Jalan Besar, Singapore 2–2 (D) Friendly 13. 12 June Selangor, Malaysia 2–0 (W) 7 Friendly 14. 3 November Hanoi, Vietnam 1–0 (L) Friendly 15. 14 November Shah Alam, Malaysia 1–1 (D) Friendly 16. 25 November Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 0–3 (L) 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup2013 17. 6 February Doha, Qatar 2–0 (L) 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification 18. 22 March Shah Alam, Malaysia 2–1 (W) 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification 19. 15 October Shah Alam, Malaysia 1–1 (D) 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification 20. 15 October Kuwait City, Kuwait 0–3 (L) Friendly 21. 15 November Manama, Bahrain 1–0 (L) 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification 22. 19 November Shah Alam, Malaysia 0–1 (L) 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification2014 23. 5 March Al Ain, UAE 1–2 (W) 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification 24. 27 April Cebu, Philippines 0–0 (D) 8 Friendly 25. 20 October Shah Alam, Malaysia 4–1 (W) Friendly 26. 16 November Hanoi, Vietnam 3–1 (L) Friendly 27. 23 November Jalan Besar, Singapore 0–0 (D) 9 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup 28. 26 November Jalan Besar, Singapore 2–3 (L) 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup 29. 29 November Kallang Stadium, Singapore 3–1 (W) 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup 30. 7 December Shah Alam Stadium, Malaysia 1–2 (L) 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup2015 31. 6 June Shah Alam Stadium, Malaysia 0–0 (D) 101 Friendly 32. 11 June National Stadium, Malaysia 1–1 (D) 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 33. 29 August Shah Alam Stadium, Malaysia 0–0 (D) 11 Friendly 34. 3 September Dubai, UAE 10–0 (L) 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 35. 8 September Shah Alam Stadium, Malaysia 1–2 (L) 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 36. 13 October National Stadium, East Timor 0–1 (W) 12 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 37. 12 November Amman International Stadium, Jordan 6–0 (L) 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification2016 38. 24 March King Abdullah Sports City, Saudi Arabia 2–0 (L) 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 39. 26 June Prince Charles Park, Fiji 1–1 (D) Friendly 40. 6 September Manahan Stadium, Indonesia 3–0 (L) Friendly 41. 11 October Shah Alam Stadium, Malaysia 1–1 (D) Friendly 42. 14 November Shah Alam Stadium, Malaysia 2–1 (W) 131 Friendly 43. 20 November Thuwunna Stadium, Myanmar 3–2 (W) 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup 44. 23 November Thuwunna Stadium, Myanmar 0–1 (L) 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup 45. 26 November Thuwunna Stadium, Myanmar 1–0 (L) 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup2018 46. 1 April Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Malaysia 7–0 (W) 14 Friendly 47. 5 July KLFA Stadium, Malaysia 1–0 (W) 15 Friendly 48. 10 September Phnom Penh, Cambodia 1–3 (W) Friendly 49. 12 October Colombo, Sri Lanka 1–4 (W) 161 Friendly 50. 16 October Melaka, Malaysia 0–1 (L) Friendly 51. 3 November Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3–0 (W) 17 Friendly 52. 8 November Phnom Penh, Cambodia 0–1 (W) 18 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup 53. 12 November Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 3–1 (W) 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup 54. 16 November Hanoi, Vietnam 2–0 (L) 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup2019 55. 20 March Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 0–1 (L) Friendly 56. 23 March Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2–1 (W) Friendly2021 57. 20 March Amman, Jordan 1–5 (L) Friendly

Exhibition matches / Malaysia XI