The Kelok Sembilan’s Journey Home
Egy Maulana Vikri is one of the most significant Indonesian talents of his generation. A left-footed, creative attacker, he operates as both an inverted winger and a “Number 10” for Liga 1’s Dewa United and the national team. His career is defined by three distinct phases: a dominant youth period that saw him anointed by The Guardian as a future star, a formative five-year journey through European football in Poland and Slovakia, and a triumphant return to Indonesia, where he has matured into one of the most productive and complete attacking players in the domestic league.
The Story So Far
Born in Medan, North Sumatra, football was a family affair for Egy Maulana Vikri. His father, Syarifuddin, was a former player who became his first coach, and his older brother also pursued a professional career. His prodigious talent was obvious from his earliest days, but his career was nearly extinguished before it began.
By his early teens, Egy’s family had grown weary of a system where scouts allegedly demanded money for spots on youth national teams—funds they did not have. His path was rescued by businessman Subagja Suihan, who, convinced of Egy’s extraordinary potential, intervened. Subagja secured Egy a place at the prestigious government-run sports school in Ragunan, eventually becoming his adoptive father and guardian, thus paving the way for his professional journey.
Freed from these barriers, Egy’s talent exploded. He dominated youth tournaments, most notably winning the 2016 Gothia Cup in Sweden, where he was named the tournament’s best player after scoring a remarkable 28 goals. This, along with being named one of the 60 best young talents in the world by The Guardian in 2017, built immense anticipation for his future.
In 2018, he embarked on a highly publicized five-year European chapter, signing with Polish club Lechia Gdańsk and being handed the coveted number 10 shirt. However, the transition to the physical, demanding European game was challenging. He struggled for first-team opportunities in Poland, making just 10 league appearances in three seasons, though he thrived with the reserve side. Seeking more consistent playing time, he moved to Slovakia, first with FK Senica—where he made 20 league appearances—and later with FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce.
In January 2023, Egy made the significant decision to return to Indonesia, signing with Dewa United. This move was not a retreat but a recalibration. He made an immediate impact, re-establishing himself as a premier domestic talent. The stats from his European tenure might seem underwhelming, but that period was instrumental in his development. He was forced to mature, developing a deeper tactical understanding, a professional mentality, and a resilience he lacked as a youth.
He returned to Liga 1 not as the raw prodigy who left, but as a more complete and astute professional. This transformation was evident in his output, as he became the top-performing local player in goal contributions during the 2024-25 season, logging 12 goals and 7 assists.
Style of Play & Tactical Analysis
Egy Maulana Vikri is a technically gifted and versatile attacking player, most effective in the final third. His primary and most natural role is that of a right-sided inverted winger. Being predominantly left-footed, this position allows him to receive the ball wide before cutting inside onto his stronger foot, where he can shoot, dribble at defenders, or deliver incisive passes. He is also highly capable of operating as a central attacking midfielder—a classic “Number 10″—a position that gives him a “free role” to roam between the lines and unlock defenses with his vision.
His standout attribute is his exceptional dribbling ability. Possessing a low center of gravity and superb close control, he navigates tight spaces with ease. This skill is famously encapsulated by his nickname “Kelok Sembilan” (The Nine Bends), which refers to a notoriously winding road in West Sumatra. The moniker, coined by a commentator, perfectly describes his sharp, unpredictable runs that leave defenders wrong-footed and have drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi since his youth.
However, Egy is far more than just a dribbler; he is an intelligent playmaker with excellent vision, consistently reflected in his high assist numbers. This creativity is complemented by a natural goal-scoring instinct, allowing him to drift from the wing into clinical finishing positions.
The primary area for development throughout his career has been his physicality. With a relatively small frame at 170 cm, he struggled against larger, more imposing defenders in Europe, where he was often “bullied off the ball.” Furthermore, he is an offensively-minded player whose defensive work rate is not a strong suit. This was a contributing factor to his challenges abroad, as many European systems demand a high defensive output from wingers—a role that did not leverage his primary strengths.
Ultimately, Egy is a “system player.” His brilliance is fully unlocked when a team’s structure is built to accommodate his unique creative talents, a luxury he has found at Dewa United but was not afforded as a young prospect in Europe.
Future Outlook
Having successfully integrated the tactical discipline and resilience from his European experience with his innate natural talent, Egy Maulana Vikri is now in the prime of his career. At Dewa United, he is a domestic superstar, a creative centerpiece, and a team leader. After dominating Liga 1 and proving his effectiveness on the continental stage in the AFC Challenge League, his trajectory is set: to continue as the main creative force for both his club and the Indonesian national team for years to come.
The Trophy Case (Honours)
Team
- Polish Cup: 2018–19
- Polish Super Cup: 2019
- AFF Championship Runner-up: 2020
- Southeast Asian Games Silver Medal: 2019
- Southeast Asian Games Bronze Medal: 2021
Individual
- Toulon Tournament Jouer Révélation Trophée: 2017
- The Guardian “Next Generation” List: 2017
- Gothia Cup Best Player: 2016
- Gothia Cup Top Scorer: 2016 (28 goals)
- Piala Soeratin Best Player: 2016
- Piala Soeratin Top Scorer: 2016
- AFF U-18 Youth Championship Top Scorer: 2017 (8 goals)
The Record (Senior Club Statistics)
| Season | Club | Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2018–19 | Lechia Gdańsk | Ekstraklasa | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Lechia Gdańsk | Ekstraklasa | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Lechia Gdańsk | Polish Super Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Lechia Gdańsk | Ekstraklasa | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Lechia Gdańsk | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | FK Senica | Fortuna Liga | 20 | 2 | 1 |
| 2021–22 | FK Senica | Slovak Cup | 6 | 0 | – |
| Total | FK Senica | 26 | 2 | 1+ | |
| 2022–23 | Zlaté Moravce | Fortuna Liga | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Zlaté Moravce | Slovak Cup | 4 | 0 | – |
| Total | Zlaté Moravce | 10 | 0 | 1+ | |
| 2022–23 | Dewa United | Liga 1 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| 2023–24 | Dewa United | Liga 1 | 30 | 8 | 7 |
| 2024–25 | Dewa United | Liga 1 | 30 | 12 | 7 |
| 2025 | Dewa United | President Cup | 3 | 1 | 0 |