KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) revealed that they previously rejected an application from Park Hang-seo to pave the way for Pau Marti Vincente to become the head coach of the national team.
Hang-seo, who made a name for himself during his six-year tenure (2017-2023) as the head coach of the Vietnam national football team, was one of the favourites to take over the Harimau Malaya hot seat following the abrupt departure of former national head coach Kim Pan-gon.
FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said that despite the governing body promoting Vincente – who was an assistant to Pan-gon – to the head coach position, its coaching committee is still actively searching for well-established coaches, with Hang-seo remaining on FAM’s radar for the future.
“Hang-seo did apply for the job and I rejected the application in the past, but he’s still on our radar for the future. Aside from him, other coaches applied, and I’m doing my homework by analysing all their backgrounds.
“For now, I want to give Vincente a chance and see what he can deliver for the team by the end of this year through the upcoming Merdeka Cup and AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup tournaments.
“We are actively looking at coaches who have the qualities and a better understanding of our rivals from both the Southeast Asian and Asian regions.
“It’s not like we’re going to play Brazil or Germany, so the coach we’re looking for should be a top coach who knows well about Asia.
“One thing is for sure: I will not disappoint our Harimau Malaya fans, and I will make sure to get a better coach than Pan-gon in time,” said Hamidin during a press conference at Wisma FAM yesterday.
Hang-seo became the first coach in the history of Vietnamese football to bring the team to the final round of the FIFA World Cup qualification in 2022.
His attacking philosophy also played a significant role in Vietnam’s rise in the FIFA rankings, with their position improving from world number 135 to 92 under his guidance (2017-2023).
Hang-seo was also one of the two assistant managers to Guus Hiddink at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where South Korea finished the tournament in fourth place.
Meanwhile, Vincente, when asked about FAM’s plan to bring in a more established coach, said that he is unfazed by the ongoing process, as he aims to focus on his current role and perform his due diligence.
“I’m happy with any decision being made, as I know that Datuk (Hamidin) always cares about the betterment of the national team and wants the best for football in this country.
“But this is my first job as a head coach after spending so many years as an assistant, so I want to give my best as long as I’m here. My first test will be against the Philippines in the opening match of the Merdeka tournament on September 4.
“Currently, I’m focused on the game and forming a formidable team for the tournament. For now, I want to fully focus on my role and do my due diligence,” said Vincente.
Vincente has previously served as the assistant head coach for the Hong Kong football team (2012-2013), Adelaide United FC (2013-2017), and the Barcelona under-18 team (2017-2022). – August 30, 2024