KUALA LUMPUR: Peter Cklamovski, who used to work with Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou in Australia, is expected to be announced as the new coach of Malaysia's national football team.
Timesport had earlier reported that the 46-year-old Cklamovski was among the candidates for the Harimau Malaya head coach position.
The outgoing Tokyo FC head coach has been seen in Kuala Lumpur, and is expected to be unveiled by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) soon.
Football pundit Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim said: "I have heard about him during my time in Australia. He's known for his work at youth level, particularly with the Australian Under-17 squad.
"He started as a fitness coach and climbed up the coaching ranks. He holds postgraduate degrees in Applied Science, Sports Coaching, and a Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science. So we can expect a lot of sports science implementation in the national team.
"He's very experienced with coaching in the Asian region, especially in Japan, and was an assistant to Postecoglou.
"I think he will be well-suited to lead Malaysia's national team, even though he's not a globally prominent name. His coaching profile and experience suit Malaysia's needs," said Zulakbal, who is an Asian Football Confederation Professional Coaching Diploma holder.
Cklamovski was a key figure in compatriot Postecoglou's coaching team, especially during Australia's victorious 2015 Asian Cup campaign and Yokohama F. Marinos' J1 League title triumph in 2019.
Though Cklamovski's time as a head coach, including his stints at Shimizu S-Pulse and Tokyo FC, has yet to yield silverware, his innovative approach and focus on player development have earned him recognition in the footballing community.
Zulakbal, who has vast experience with Australian football due to his coaching attachments Down Under, said Cklamovski could be a better fit for Harimau Malaya than hiring big-name coaches.
"If we get big-name coaches like Jose Mourinho, we would have to follow their ways, and it would take time to produce results due to major changes in how things are done here and fulfilling their demands.
"We had coaches with different styles handling the national team in the last few years. Australians are known for their laid-back approach, and this could work for Malaysian football culture."