PETALING JAYA: Former Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) coach Mario Gomez has been appointed as the new chief coach of Harimau Malaysia (national football squad), replacing Datuk Ong Kim Swee.
Kim Swee has been entrusted the task of coaching the national Under-23 squad.
The development saw the ouster of U-23 coach Frank Bernhardt from the FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) football development plans under the new leadership of FAM headed by the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
Tunku Ismail, in his first media conference after winning the presidency during FAM’s 53rd Congress here Saturday, said Gomez is given full trust and freedom to form a national team including picking his own assistants.
Tunku Ismail said close monitoring would still be done and if there were no signs of improvements in the given period, Gomez would be replaced.
“Mario Gomez has been appointed as the new national head coach and I will give him the freedom to choose his assistants. Meanwhile, Datuk Ong Kim Swee will take over the U-23 squad.
“Obviously, I will monitor his work and the performance of the national team.
“If there is no improvement in the style of game play and performance, then we have to change,” he said.
In the meantime, he explained that the dismissal of Bernhardt was due to their different ideologies and working styles.
“I can’t work with him, we have very different views and ways of working,” he added. — Bernama