KUALA LUMPUR – Harimau Malaya caretaker coach Pau Marti Vicente has been given a clear challenge: “Prove your worth by December, and the job could be yours.”
This ultimatum comes from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), as the former Barcelona Under-18 assistant coach continues to lead the national team after stepping in for South Korean Kim Pan-gon, who resigned unexpectedly in June after two years in charge.
Speculation has since grown over whether FAM will appoint a new foreign coach.
FAM deputy president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi acknowledged that several foreign coaches have shown interest, but the national body will only make a final decision after December, following the conclusion of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup.
In the meantime, Pau Marti has been given full control of the team to prove that he is the right man for the job.
“I can’t give a definite answer, but Pau Marti is definitely one of the candidates considered for the job of national head coach. He has an advantage because he understands our culture.
“We (FAM) have given him free rein until December to do his best for the national team. We will make a decision after that, as we begin our Asia Cup qualifiers in March.
“To go far, we need a strong coach, and this is something the national team committee is looking at closely,” said Yusoff, speaking after FAM’s 12th Executive Committee meeting for the 2021-2025 term.
In terms of securing a high-profile coach, Yusoff emphasised that money is not a concern.
“Like it or not, to manage a national team, we must be prepared to spend.
“However, the money must be well accounted for. There’s no point in spending large amounts if we don’t achieve our goals. Similarly, we could spend less and still achieve results.
“The point I want to make is that money is not the issue here. Right now, several coaches have expressed interest, but we have Pau Marti in front of us.
“Given the circumstances, the opportunity to coach the national team has fallen to him. So, we urge him to make full use of it and prove himself by December.
“If he performs well, the head coaching role could be his,” Yusoff added.
Since taking over, Pau Marti has led Malaysia to victory in last month’s Merdeka Tournament.
His next test is a Tier 1 friendly against world number 95, New Zealand, in Auckland on October 14. — October 7, 2024