Merdeka Cup winning coach ready to take Harimau Malaya role if offered

Former Tajikistan head coach Petar Segrt reveals good connection with FAM president, ready to fill in Kim Pan-gon’s vacant spot

10:00 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR – Former Tajikistan football head coach Petar Segrt has expressed his willingness to lead Harimau Malaya if approached by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

The 57-year-old Croatian’s response came after the sudden departure of national head coach Kim Pan-gon on July 16, citing personal commitments as the reason for the South Korean’s decision.

Pau Marti Vicente, who was Pan-gon’s assistant, was promoted by FAM to interim head coach.

His first task will be the Pestabola Merdeka, scheduled during the upcoming FIFA International match calendar from September 2 to September 10 at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil.

Vicente will be assisted by E. Elavarasan, with the South Korean crew of Park Bo-bae (assistant coach), Cho Jun-ho (goalkeeper coach), Park Ji-hyeon (fitness coach), Lim Jae-hin, and Lee Je-yeon (performance analysts) staying on.

Speaking to Scoop from Berlin, Segrt revealed that he has a good connection with FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin and secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, and he is ready to come on board if they ring him for the role.

Segrt also said that FAM has yet to reach out to him regarding the job.

“I have huge respect for Pan-gon, and I admire what he has done for Malaysian football by elevating it to become better than it was before. As a person, he was fun to chat with on and off the pitch, and we always had mutual respect for each other.

“On top of that, I also love the fans and the people in Malaysia, as they have always been hospitable whenever I drop by Kuala Lumpur. Yes, I have always wanted to give it a try in Malaysia.

“Despite receiving offers from several European clubs over the past few months, I have preferred not to be attached to any of them, as I have always wanted to coach a national team, which has always been my main priority.

“I’m still available and open to any national teams. So far, FAM has yet to contact me for anything, but I will never say no if they contact me for the role. FAM has my number, and I will never hesitate to answer their calls,” said Segrt when contacted.

For the record, Segrt has almost three decades of coaching experience across Europe and Asia, including stints in the Bundesliga, the Indonesian Premier League, and overseeing 24 games for Tajikistan since his appointment in 2022.

Under Segrt’s guidance, the Crowns recorded 11 wins and seven draws. They also lifted the 2022 King’s Cup in Thailand and the 2023 Merdeka Cup in Malaysia.

Before Segrt came on board, Tajikistan had struggled to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup in five previous attempts, but under his guidance, they made it to their maiden major tournament last year after topping a qualifying group comprising Singapore, Myanmar, and neighbouring Kyrgyzstan.

Their Asian Cup exploits, which saw them qualify for the quarter-finals, also propelled them to a historic-best FIFA world ranking of 99th.

Aside from Tajikistan, Segrt was also the head coach for Afghanistan, Georgia, and the Maldives.

He won the South Asian Football Federation Championship with the Maldives in 2018 by defeating India 2-1. – July 22, 2024

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