KIM Pan-gon has stepped down as Harimau Malaya head coach effective immediately, saying he was stepping down due to personal commitments.
The South Korean announced his resignation in a special press conference held at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) headquarters in Kelana Jaya on Tuesday (July 16).
“I have a sad message to share with everyone, today, I have decided to step down as the head coach of the Malaysian football team due to personal commitments,” he stated.
I joined in June 2022 and have experienced beautiful moments with the Malaysian fans. I want to thank them for being part of this journey.”
Pau Marti Vicente will take over as acting head coach of Harimau Malaya in the meantime.
Kim credited the team’s achievements during his tenure to the unwavering support of the FAM and Harimau Malaya fans, coupled with the dedication of the coaching staff.
“My hope is that the FAM, the government and all Malaysians will continue to support and encourage the national team to achieve the goal of qualifying for the Asian Cup for the second consecutive time,” he said.
From the get-go, Kim noted that he had aimed to establish a proactive football philosophy for the Malaysian national team, focusing on controlling and dominating the game.
He also paid tribute to the national players, saying they had developed strong character and mentality, which were reflected in their matches.
“For the rest of my life, I will always remember the blue skies of Malaysia, the clouds and trees, the friendly, lovely, bright Malaysian people, the taste of nasi lemak, and the smell of durian, all of which I love.
“Now, as a half-Malaysian, I will always support the Malaysian national team and be proud of Malaysia wherever I go,” he said.
Kim’s contract as Harimau Malaya coach was set to expire at the end of 2025.
The 55-year-old was hired in 2022 to improve the fortunes of Malaysian football and did just that from 2022 to 2023, when he led the team to 17 wins, two draws and eight defeats.
He also oversaw Malaysia’s surge in the world rankings from a lowly 154th place to their best-ever placing of 130th. – July 16, 2024
Main pic credit: Sinar Harian
