KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) is weighing whether it can afford a high-profile foreign head coach for Harimau Malaya as financial constraints threaten to delay an appointment until March 2027.
FAM president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said the national body is exploring overseas expertise, particularly from Japan, to introduce modern technology and tactical knowledge.
Tan Cheng Hoe remains interim coach while FAM considers its options.
FAM wants a coach with international tournament experience to modernise youth development and improve local coaching standards ahead of the 2030 World Cup qualifying campaign.
However, these ambitions follow corporate sponsors withdrawing or pausing partnerships after FIFA inquiries and Court of Arbitration for Sport proceedings over the eligibility of seven naturalised players.
Cheng Hoe's results in the FIFA Asean Cup and Asean Championship have fuelled debate over whether FAM should recruit from abroad or appoint him permanently.
He guided Malaysia to third place at the inaugural FIFA Asean Cup, finishing unbeaten with consecutive clean sheets and ending a 12-year winless streak against Vietnam with a 1-0 victory.
However, Malaysia lost 4-0 to Vietnam on aggregate in the Asean Championship semi-finals.
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu appears unlikely to be available.
On Saturday, Timesport highlighted Japanese daily Nikkan Gendai's report that the 58-year-old intends to pursue a career in Europe after next year's Asian Cup, with Belgian club Sint-Truidense among his potential destinations when his contract ends in February.
Moriyasu reportedly earns more than RM8.5 million annually with the Japan Football Association, while Iraq's Jesus Casas earns RM4.7 million and Australia's Tony Popovic receives around RM3.3 million.
FIFA-licensed agent Effendi Jagan Abdullah said hiring an elite coach with experience taking Asian teams to the World Cup would require substantial financial resources.
"It all depends on how much money you can pay," said Effendi.
"If you want a really good, top-level coach, someone who has experience taking Asian teams to the World Cup, like Carlos Queiroz, it is not going to be cheap. Realistically, you need to come out with at least US$100,000-US$150,000 (RM430,000-RM645,000) a month, at least.
"That is cheap, because with some top coaches, you need to pay them US$3-US$5 million on a one-year contract."
Queiroz, 73, guided Iran to three consecutive World Cups and has coached Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Japan's Nagoya Grampus Eight.
He recently parted ways with Ghana after leading the Black Stars at the 2026 World Cup.
However, Effendi cautioned that even a high-profile appointment would not guarantee success without a competitive squad.
"You want the high-profile coaches who have taken teams to the World Cup, but can they do it with our kind of quality of players? It is not only the coaches; it is also the team you have.
"You cannot just ask a top coach to go and turn around Bangladesh, for example.
"The coach will say you also must have quality. We are beginning to have some quality, but it is not going to be cheap," he said.
If overseas options prove too expensive, Effendi believes FAM should consider giving Cheng Hoe a permanent mandate.
"If the selection of foreign coaches is difficult or expensive, then for the interim, just maintain Cheng Hoe," he said.
"He has done quite well in the Asean Cup, so it might be cheaper, and it is a solid option. If they really cannot find somebody, give some confidence to Cheng Hoe.
"Give him a longer, firm, permanent contract so he can focus better and feel more secure."
With Harimau Malaya set to face China on Nov 14 and Yemen on Nov 17 in friendlies in Guangzhou, delaying an appointment could also affect preparations for matches that influence FIFA rankings and qualifying spots.
Youth and Sports Minister Dr Taufiq Johari said any appointment must deliver value for money.
"It is still under discussion. We will hold comprehensive discussions with FAM and all the stakeholders involved because the most important thing is to ensure that it delivers the best possible returns for the country," he told Bernama.
"We will carry out an overall assessment based on performance, work processes and so on, before making a decision and announcing it."
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