KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Cheng Hoe has labelled his appointment as the interim Malaysia football coach an “honour”, whilst calling for continued support from the fans.
No stranger to the domestic scene, Tan is now tasked with leading Harimau Malaya in the Asean Championship Cup, despite the dark clouds that continue to hover over the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
“This is an honour,” said Tan, 58.
“I hope the clubs (in Malaysia) will release their players for the Asean Championship Cup.
Tan, widely known for his diplomatic approach, stayed true to character when speaking about Malaysia’s upcoming campaign in the regional tournament.
“We will take it one game at a time, with the aim of qualifying for the next round. I hope for continued support from the fans,” he added.
The squad is expected to begin centralised training on 15 July, ahead of their opening Group B match against Myanmar on 25 July. Joining Malaysia and Myanmar in Group B are Thailand, the Philippines, and Laos, whilst Group A consists of Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste.
Tan takes over the national team following Peter Cklamovski’s departure for Salford City FC earlier this month. The managerial switch comes at a turbulent time for the national governing body, which remains riddled by a doctored documentation scandal that recently saw FAM and seven footballers fined and sanctioned.
To date, no one has been held responsible for the episode.
In a statement released earlier today, FAM said Tan’s appointment was made after taking into consideration his experience, track record, and deep understanding of the country’s football landscape.
“FAM is confident that his experience, expertise, and knowledge of local football will be an important asset in efforts to strengthen the performance of the Harimau Malaya squad,” the statement read.
Tan began his coaching career as the assistant coach of the national U-20 squad from 2005 to 2009, before stepping into the role of assistant coach for the national U-23 side from 2009 to 2010.
He also served as assistant coach of the senior national team from 2009 to 2013, returning to the position in 2017. Tan was then officially appointed as head coach of the national team from December 2017 to December 2021.
Among his most memorable successes was helping Malaysia win the 2009 SEA Games gold medal and clinch the 2010 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup whilst serving as assistant to Datuk K. Rajagobal. He also guided the nation to a runners-up finish in the 2018 AFF Cup as head coach.
At the domestic league level, he achieved major success by steering Kedah to the 2015 Premier League title, followed by triumphs in the 2016 Malaysia Cup and the 2017 Charity Shield. Under his guidance, Kedah emerged as one of the most consistent teams in the Malaysian League.
Tan also managed Selangor from 2022 to 2024 before moving abroad to Thailand to take charge of Police Tero FC. In April 2025, the Alor Setar-born coach returned to FAM when he was appointed as the national team’s technical director.
