KUALA LUMPUR: Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has been linked with the Harimau Malaya job by foreign media, but the FA of Malaysia (FAM) has yet to take concrete steps towards appointing a new national coach.
Japanese news portal Sakanowa, citing Vietnamese outlet Tien Phong, reported that Moriyasu's name had surfaced as FAM considers the possibility of hiring a foreign coach.
The report also suggested that Moriyasu could seek a new challenge abroad after his contract with the Japan FA (JFA) expires following the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next January.
However, there has been no confirmation that FAM has approached the Japanese coach.
FAM president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan said on Tuesday that the national body had yet to discuss its coaching options, with the matter to be considered at a later stage.
The national team is currently led by interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe, who recently guided Harimau Malaya to third place in the FIFA Asean Cup.
"There are no concrete steps from FAM's side yet. We will discuss this issue in depth," Ghani was reported as saying.
He also said the final decision would not rest with him alone, but would be discussed by the executive committee.
Moriyasu's name has attracted attention among Malaysian fans as FAM considers its options for the national team ahead of the 2030 World Cup-2032 Asian Cup qualifiers.
FAM has previously indicated that it would consider a foreign coach, while keeping open the possibility of retaining a local candidate if they can deliver results.
For now, the link between Moriyasu and Harimau Malaya remains media speculation, with no confirmed negotiations between FAM and the Japanese coach.
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