Aussie Peter Cklamovski is new Harimau Malaya head coach

AUSTRALIAN Peter Cklamovski has been named as the new head coach of the national football team, effective Jan 1.

Cklamovski, a 46-year-old Australian, previously managed FC Tokyo and worked under Ange Postecoglou — now head coach at Tottenham Hotspurs — during Australia’s 2015 AFC Asian Cup victory.

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.

In a statement, FAM said it also wanted Cklamovski to improve the team’s Fifa rankings to reach the top 100. Malaysia is currently ranked 132nd.

The 46-year-old takes over from Pau Marti Vicente, who was made acting head coach following the early exit of South Korean Kim Pan Gon in July.

FAM also announced today that Nafuzi Zain will be made coach of the national Under-23 squad. - December 16, 2024