KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) announced today the appointment of Australian Peter Cklamovski as the new head coach of the national team.
Earlier, Timesport had reported that Cklamovski, 46, who had worked with Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou in Australia, was identified by FAM as the coach to lead Harimau Malaya.
Cklamovski was assistant to Postecoglou at the Australian team that won the 2015 Asian Cup, and he also coached J1 League side, Yokohama F. Marinos, in 2019.
The national team chief coach's post fell vacant following the sudden resignation of South Korean Kim Pan Gon in July, and Spaniard Pau Marti Vicente is now acting as interim coach.
Cklamovski will be tasked with preparing Harimau Malaya for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in March next year and improving Malaysia's world ranking.
FAM also announced today that Nafuzi Zain will be made coach of the national Under-23 squad.
Nafuzi, also 46, has a strong record in youth development, including winning three President's Cups with Kelantan, and he had elevated Terengganu and Kedah. His focus will be building a team for the 2025 Asean Under-23 Championship and Sea Games.
FAM, which is restructuring the national football set-up, will also appoint a new CEO and have an upgraded medical team utilising advanced technology to enhance players' fitness, recovery, and overall performance.
"This is part of several initiatives and changes to implement a new organisational structure for Harimau Malaya. Today, we officially announce two key individuals to lead this revolution," said FAM in a statement today.