From Forensic Psychology to Football Coaching: How Sam Fazalur Redefined His Life

From Forensic Psychology to Football Coaching: How Sam Fazalur Redefined His Life

Picture the average 23-year-old’s resume. A recently completed Bachelor’s degree, some part-time jobs, maybe an internship, and rows of listed points that feel more like potential than experience. But every now and then, you stumble upon one that stands out; whether through an impressive academic track record, an internship at a prestigious institution, or a dedication to helping the community, some young adults just seem to be ahead of the game.

And then there’s Sam Fazalur’s resume.

It starts with the study of forensic psychology in Malaysia, and ends on the sidelines of a football pitch in the Middle East. Along the way, we see glimpses of detective work, academic research, and an unexpected leap into coaching. Truly admirable resumes are far and few between, but how often do you come across one that feels like a work of fiction? That doesn’t seem to follow any set of rules?

Having lived in five countries, pivoted careers multiple times, and walked away from certainty in search of something more fulfilling, Sam’s journey has been anything but conventional. Beyond adaptability, the polarising events of his life are tied together by a quiet determination, one that refuses to settle in the face of comfort and certainty.

A Life in Transit

Sam was born in the UAE, but his childhood was anything but rooted. Growing up, he found himself moving between France, England, the United States, and eventually back to the UAE. “It was mostly due to my dad’s job; I didn’t really have a say in it,” he explained. 

While the constant relocation often made it difficult to feel settled, it also shaped the way Sam saw the world. Growing up across continents forced him to adapt quickly, communicate across cultures, and remain open to unfamiliar ways of thinking. “I think it's just made me a very open and accepting person. In general, I don't have issues interacting with people or acclimatising myself to different cultures. And I think what it's also done for me is that it's made me open to experience new things without any bias or judgement.”

Out of all the places he’s lived, one stands out as a turning point. His time in Malaysia—unlike the others—was a decision he made for himself. It was there that Sam began to carve out something on his own terms. It was also the first time, in his words, that life started to feel like his own.

Pursuing Higher Education in Malaysia 

In 2019, Sam made the pivotal decision to pursue his psychology degree in Malaysia, marking not only the beginning of his most monumental chapter but also the first major life decision he made entirely on his own. Having to fund his education entirely out of his own pocket, Sam had limited financial flexibility and few viable options abroad. He began researching universities that could offer quality education without the burden of overwhelming student debt. He eventually narrowed his choices down to a shortlist of reputable institutions in Malaysia. “After a pretty fun process of elimination that involved flipping a coin, I landed on Heriot-Watt.”

While Sam was initially drawn to the study of psychology in a broader sense, the more he dove into the different facets of the field, the more his focus shifted. Exposure to a plethora of elective subjects and an emerging interest in niche applications would eventually lead him to discover his ideal discipline in forensics. “Forensics is something that popped up a little after I got in and I got interested in the subject,” Sam noted. “I've always wanted to do something different. I don’t want to follow the crowd.” This academic trajectory, while unanticipated, aligned with his desire to stand apart from his peers and challenge normative career expectations within the field. 

Although Sam intended to separate himself from the crowd, being the only student in multiple classrooms was still a surprise. Due to the specialised nature of his modules and the limited student cohort, Sam frequently found himself in one-on-one sessions with lecturers, an unconventional format that ultimately deepened his engagement with the material. “Being a one-student classroom isn’t all that bad,” Sam inferred. “It’s like someone trying to explain the entire depth of an ocean to you and only you. No one else gets that.” 

Having essentially an overqualified private tutor for a handful of his modules gave Sam the space to explore complex material on his own pace and terms. By the time he graduated with high honours, he had not only carved out a niche for himself in forensic psychology but also proved that a non-traditional path could lead to deep and lasting growth.

That momentum would be carried into his future, but particularly in his next step—an internship with the police, where theory would meet practice in ways he hadn’t quite anticipated.

Working With The Police

Through a personal connection, Sam secured an internship with the Royal Malaysia Police. While informal in structure, the position would give him the opportunity to gain rare insight into the daily workings of law enforcement, understand the layered nature of criminal investigations, and finally put his hard-learned theory into practice. 

During his time with the RMP, Sam experienced firsthand a wide range of operations, ranging from accompanying officers on field visits to even handling post-mortem procedures. While he’s unable to share many specifics due to confidentiality, the experience offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the realities of police work. While Sam affirmed his love for forensic psychology and law enforcement through an experience as hands-on as this, the work was intense and strenuous. By the end of his internship, he found himself confronting unexpected fatigue. “I realised that while I do like this field, I don’t see myself making a full career out of it,” he admitted. “Maybe just not right now.”

Coming off a physically and psychologically heavy few months, Sam needed a strong pivot into something new, which is where academic research came in; stumbling upon a newly opened research assistant role back at Heriot-Watt, he grabbed it without hesitation. The project was rigorous and data-heavy, but he thrived in it. Parsing through documents, analysing behavioural patterns and contributing to published work pushed him to think more critically and independently. “The experience and the exposure I got out of working in research were so immense that it still helps me to this day.”

The stark contrast between these jobs provided Sam a fuller understanding of not just what he’d been studying but what kind of work environment he thrived in. He had seen both the clinical precision of theory and the unpredictable complexity of practice. For a while, it seemed like he had found his footing. But what came next would change everything.

An Unexpected Leap Into Football

By the time Sam’s work contract had ended, he found himself at a crossroads. As fulfilling as his time in fieldwork and academic research was, they didn’t seem like sustainable, long-term options. Burnt out and uncertain, his mind began wandering to bold places.“Working in football wasn’t like my first immediate dream,” he said. “But now that I think about it, it’s been like a constant thing in the back of my head that I’ve somehow ended up repressing over the years.”

Beyond uncertainty, Sam was overwhelmed with the urgency of his visa expiring soon; staying in Malaysia for any longer would require a new source of sponsorship. The idea of returning to the UAE, after years of building a sense of belonging in Malaysia, felt like a step backward. He had finally found a support system he trusted, mentors who believed in him, and a version of life that felt steady and colourful for the first time.

Yet, even with the walls closing in on him, and at a time when strategy and practicality were essential in planning his next moves, a tiny but stubborn voice continued to echo in his mind: the fantasy of football would not leave. Unable to silence what felt like delusion, he started researching coaching structures, certification pathways and opportunities within the UAE; the more he dug, the more a career in football seemed possible. With no formal experience in the field, he reached out to a friend of his late father’s, a sporting director at Al Jazira Football Club, and asked for a chance. “When I expressed my desire to work in football, he said, ‘Okay, I’ll think about it.’ A few weeks passed with no news, and I was getting antsy. I had kind of hedged all my bets on this one thing.”

Just as Sam was coming to grips with reality, he received an unexpected offer from his father’s friend; it was conditional, Sam needed to earn his coaching badges, commit fully, and prove his dedication to the craft to secure a spot within the team. As jarring of a shift as this was, and as painful as the act of leaving behind the sense of belonging he had spent his life in search of in Malaysia, the decision was simple: “I don’t think I’ve ever said yes faster in my life.” 

After many heartfelt goodbyes, an arduous packing process, and a 7-hour flight across the Arabian Sea, Sam joined the club in August 2024. Reminiscent of when he arrived in Malaysia alone 4 years ago, he felt the weight of starting over as a newcomer once again; it had been over a decade since he called Abu Dhabi home, and foraying into a completely unfamiliar industry didn’t make things any easier; but despite everything he had to leave behind, the leap didn’t feel reckless: it felt necessary.

Life on the Pitch

Today, Sam is working as a youth academy coach at Al Jazira Football Club, focusing on players under the age of 18. His job involves helping young athletes develop their technical skills, understand match strategy, and act as a support system for them in the high-pressure realm of competitive football. In a fast-paced environment, and especially for someone new to the industry, the pressure can be relentless. “There’s this constant expectation for you and your team to do well.”

Sam splits his time between his job and his diploma coursework, often dedicating his day to studying theory and documenting field work for his coaching badges. While the adjustment from academia to coaching hasn’t been easy, the dramatic change in pace has evoked a newfound excitement for life, along with an appreciation for what it takes to work in the football industry. “You think you know football until you actually work in it,” he noted. “There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes: it’s not just about what you see on TV.” 

Despite the steep learning curve, the job has brought unexpected fulfilment; watching his players grow, seeing their confidence build, and knowing he has a part in that process has been deeply rewarding.

Looking Ahead

While coaching was never part of the original plan, Sam is all in now. When asked about where he sees himself in the next few years, he envisions a prominent coaching position at one of Europe’s top leagues; “I’m glad I can put it on record because when it does happen, you can tell people, look, he said it here first,” he confidently states.

For as ambitious and formidable as Sam’s career goals are, his overarching dream is refreshingly simple: to leave something behind and to be remembered in a positive light. “Even if it’s something as small as making sure that someone felt seen, I’ll take that.” Whether that’s through football or something else entirely, he hopes to be remembered for making an impact. 

For those looking to make a leap, the man who has made many offers some advice: “Don’t be afraid to take a shot, but learn how to aim first.”