KUALA LUMPUR — Super League outfit Kedah FC is set to welcome former Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma as the club’s ambassador.
The retired footballer, who has played in both the European Championship and the World Cup, is expected to take on an ambassadorial role for the Canaries from next season onwards.
Speaking to Scoop, Kedah FC CEO Shahrul Samsudin said that the deal is 95% secured, adding that Quaresma will be arriving in Alor Setar this week to attend a friendly match between Kedah All Stars and Malaysia All Stars, scheduled for April 11.
It is understood that the Kedah All Stars team will feature players who represented the Canaries in the 1990s and early 2000s, while the Malaysia All Stars team will include former Penang player and FIFA Puskás Award winner Mohd Faiz Subri, Indra Putra Mahayuddin (who spent most of his career with Perak and Kelantan), A. Jayakanthan (Selangor), and Azmil Azali (Johor).
“As a club, we are excited to welcome Quaresma, and we look forward to having him as part of our family. The deal is almost complete, with only some paperwork to be finalised.
“When Quaresma arrives in Alor Setar this week, we will take him on a tour of our club facilities, introduce him to our players, and arrange meetings with the management. He will also be attending our friendly match between Kedah All Stars and Malaysia All Stars, and there is a high possibility that he may feature on the pitch as a guest player.
“The fans are thrilled to have such a world-class player at Darul Aman Stadium, and tickets for the match are selling fast. We hope everything goes smoothly in the coming days, and Quaresma will be a great fit for the ambassadorial role, given his global connections,” said Shahrul when contacted.
Since retiring from football in 2022, Quaresma, a versatile winger renowned for his trademark outside-foot passes (trivela) and a member of Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning squad, has been actively involved in football initiatives across the world that integrate with community engagements.
Previously, the ambassadorial role at Kedah was also linked to former Benfica and Portugal striker Nuno Gomes, who played key roles in Euro 2000, Euro 2004, and the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Deco, who featured in Euro 2004, the 2006 World Cup, and Euro 2008, was also considered for the position.
It was also reported previously that the club, currently 11th in the Super League standings, had approached Portuguese-born former Fulham and West Ham player Luis Boa Morte—who played in Euro 2004—for the ambassadorial role. – April 2, 2025