KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed US$50,000 (RM218,000) monthly wage for former Vietnam coach Park Hang Seo has sparked debate, with calls for the FA of Malaysia (FAM) to reconsider before committing to such an expensive deal.
Football agent Effendi Jagan Abdullah described the sum as excessive, especially considering that Hang Seo hails from this region and is currently without a team.
According to Effendi, a more reasonable salary for a coach of Hang Seo's calibre would be around US$30,000 (RM130,000).
"I think RM218,000 is too much because he's from this part of the world, and we need to assess his achievements.
"If it's up to RM218,000, that's too high. Vietnam could afford it as they split the cost with private companies.
"If FAM were to offer him a two-year contract, we'd be paying over RM5 million just for his salary.
"It's not worth it. For that amount, we could secure a better-qualified coach from Europe.
"I'm not questioning his ability, just his salary. He's currently without a team, so he might be holding out for a higher wage.
"We also need to remember that every coach has their own playing style. Hang Seo did well in Vietnam, but he might struggle here due to the different footballing environment," said Effendi.
BH Sukan reported that FAM would need to be prepared to pay more than double the salary of their former coach, Kim Pan Gon, if they are serious about bringing in Hang Seo.
This is because Hang Seo's salary exceeds Pan Gon's, with FAM previously paying the former coach less than US$20,000 (RM87,000) per month.
Pan Gon is now with South Korean side Ulsan Hyundai.
According to Vietnamese portal VN Express, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) paid Hang Seo RM218,000 a month during his five-and-a-half-year tenure.