P Maniam appointed Selangor head coach

Former Selangor assistant coach P. Maniam has been appointed as Selangor head coach for next season.

The Football Association of Selangor (FAS) in its official website www.faselangor.my said Maniam, 48, would be assisted by K.Gunalan and Noor Zaidi Rohmat.

"The appointment of Maniam was also done in accordance with the licence requirement (Club Licensing Requirement) 2017 which is a requirement for the job of head coach," said FAS.

The ex-international who played for Selangor in the 1990 era has a Pro Diploma Licence from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) which is the highest coaching licence in Asia and on par with the pro licence of UEFA.

Maniam is no stranger to the Selangor players, management or coaching staff since he had been the Super League team's assistant coach from 2009 to 2015 under Irfan Bakti, Zainal Abidin Hassan, K. Devan and Mehmet Durakovic.

He has also been the acting head coach for Selangor when K. Devan and Irfan Bakti resigned in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

Before his appointment as Selangor head coach, Maniam was the head coach for AirAsia Allstars FC which played in the FAM Cup competition.

Maniam's return means Gunalan, 51, who had been the acting head coach since August when head coach Zainal Abidin Hassan was sacked, returns to his former position as assistant coach.

Former Selangor goalkeeper Azlisham Ibrahim, 43, was retained as the goalkeeper coach while Abdul Rauf Ahmad who played for Selangor from 1999-2001 was appointed the manager.

FAS Exco member Omar Ali, 56, the former Selangor President's Cup coach (2015-2016) will be assistant manager. - BERNAMA