KUALA LUMPUR: Football development expert Tom Byer has cautioned Malaysia against relying on high-profile coaching appointments to improve the national team, stressing that sustainable youth development is essential for long-term success.
His remarks come amid reports linking Japan national team coach Hajime Moriyasu to the Harimau Malaya head coach position. However, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has yet to confirm any approach or appointment.
Byer, who is known for his work in grassroots football development, said appointing a new coach might improve results in the short term but would not resolve the underlying structural weaknesses in Malaysian football.
In a post on LinkedIn, he said changing a national team coach could influence the outcome of a tournament, while a comprehensive youth development strategy could shape an entire generation of players.
He also questioned the effectiveness of appointing a Japanese coach to manage local and heritage players through multiple translators, arguing that such an approach overlooked the broader requirements for achieving high performance in football.
FAM is currently reviewing its options following Malaysia’s third-place finish in this year’s FIFA ASEAN Cup. The national team secured the bronze medal after defeating Vietnam 1-0.
Moriyasu, who guided Japan at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, remains under contract with the Japan Football Association until after next year’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Go Oiwa is expected to succeed him following the tournament.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounding a potential appointment has also drawn attention to the financial implications of hiring a high-profile coach.
Football agent Effendi Jagan Abdullah estimated that leading Japanese coaches could command monthly salaries ranging from US$30,000 to US$60,000 (approximately RM122,440 to RM244,880). However, Moriyasu’s personal salary expectations have not been confirmed.
-NST
