Former United States captain Thomas Dooley has been appointed as the new Pahang coach, bringing the end of Dollah Salleh's four-year tenure with the east coast side.
Dollah, who has an AFC Pro coaching licence, however, will be retained as team manager while former Shahzan Muda coach Tajuddin Nor will serve as technical director.
Dooley, 60, who played in the 1994 World Cup and captained the American team in the 1998 edition, was formerly the US assistant coach and Philippines head coach.
Last year, he was the sports director of Vietnam's V-League side Viettel FC.
Dooley is expected to conduct his first training session in Kuantan tomorrow.
"Dooley will officially start work with the team on Monday (tomorrow).
"He, I believe, will turn Pahang into a force this season. He did a lot for the Philippines when he was their coach," said the source.
Under his guidance, the Philippines surprised their Southeast Asian rivals by qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Pahang will be known as Sri Pahang FC next season following their FA-to-FC conversion recently.
Dooley will likely be assisted by a foreign coach.
Pahang have retained French defender Herold Goulon while Argentine forward Sergio Aguero and Englishman Lee Tuck are the new foreign signings.
Pahang may sign a defensive midfielder from Iran to beef up their team. They are also looking for a foreign signing to fill up their Asean quota.
"Aguero and Tuck will join the team next week. We have also signed several young players for the new season," he added.
Among the local signings are goalkeeper Zarif Irfan Hashimuddin (Felda United), midfielder Baqiuddin Shamsudin (UKM FC), winger Shahrul Aizad Zukifl (Terengganu) and forward Abdul Malik Mat Ariff, who is making a return to the game after taking a one-season break.