Gomez Welcomes Test As National Coach - Newly-appointed national coach Mario Gomez (pic) is unfazed by the challenges of turning around Malaysia’s football fortunes.
The 60-year-old Argentine was named by new Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim to the hot seat on Saturday. Datuk Ong Kim Swee, the previous handler, will now helm the national Under-22 squad.
Gomez is not new to Malaysian fans. He is probably the most successful foreign coach to grace the M-League.
Under him, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) won two Super League titles, the 2016 FA Cup and two Charity Shields. Gomez also led JDT to become the first-ever Malaysian team to win the AFC Cup in 2015. In 2016, JDT lifted the Super League title with an unbeaten record.
Gomez’s first task is to prepare world No. 161 Malaysia for the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying tournament in June.
“I’m looking forward to this new role as the head coach of the national team. This is a big step in my 20-year coaching career. I really like this new adventure,” he said.
Gomez is no stranger working under huge expectations from fans. He was an assistant coach to compatriot Hector Cuper at Argentina’s Atletico Lanus, Spanish side Valencia and Italian giants Inter Milan.
“I’m very grateful to the Malaysian people and Tunku Ismail for having faith in me. I will do my best,” he said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment