FAM targets early December to appoint Harimau Malaya head coach

KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is targeting early December to appoint Harimau Malaya’s new head coach, leaving the association with just over four months to prepare the national team for the 2030 World Cup-2032 Asian Cup qualifying campaign. FAM president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said the selection process was already under way, with several candidates being evaluated before the final decision is brought to the national team management committee for consideration. With the qualifiers scheduled to begin in March next year, Ab Ghani stressed that the appointment could not be delayed further, particularly as the national team are currently under the guidance of interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe. "We need to make a decision before the end of November or, at the latest, by early December because the qualifiers will begin in March next year. "We cannot afford to wait too long as the new coach will need sufficient time to assess the players, identify the areas that need improvement and put together a team capable of competing in the qualifying campaign. "Once everything has been finalised, we will issue an official announcement on the appointment of Harimau Malaya's new head coach," he told Scoop when contacted. Ab Ghani also confirmed that Cheng Hoe's current contract expires on Nov 25, with the former national head coach expected to remain in charge for Malaysia's two international friendlies against China on Nov 14 and 17. The association is also working towards appointing a head coach for the national under-23 squad ahead of next year's SEA Games, which Malaysia will host. Ab Ghani indicated that the announcement could coincide with the unveiling of FAM's new technical director, although the association has yet to finalise the latter appointment. "We will also announce the under-23 head coach for the SEA Games, and there is a possibility that the announcement will be made at the same time as the appointment of FAM's new technical director. "We have received applications and CVs from interested candidates, but we are not simply looking at their qualifications or coaching experience. "We also need to assess their capabilities, whether they are suitable for the respective roles, their understanding of our football culture and the needs of Malaysian football, as well as other important considerations," he added. - October 30, 2026 The post FAM targets early December to appoint Harimau Malaya head coach appeared first on Scoop .