KUALA LUMPUR – Singaporean football legend Fandi Ahmad has emerged as the frontrunner to become head coach of Kuala Lumpur City FC for the 2025/2026 Super League season.
The 62-year-old, who recently led Sri Pahang FC to a runners-up finish in the Malaysia Cup, is understood to be a top candidate following reports that the Elephants may not participate in next season’s Super League.
It is also understood that several star players and coaching staff — including Fandi — have been instructed to leave the club after a proposed takeover by Genting Plantations Berhad collapsed.
Speaking to Scoop, Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) president Syed Yazid Syed Omar said the association had long admired Fandi and had always hoped to see him take charge of the City Boys.
In addition to Fandi, Syed Yazid said the club was also weighing up several other candidates, including Sulaiman Hussin, S. Balachandran, and former KL player Milomir Seslija, in the event a deal with Fandi cannot be finalised.
“I have indeed been in contact with him, but for now Fandi is still contracted to Sri Pahang.
“So, if Sri Pahang do not continue in the Super League, his name might come back into consideration.
“We want to finalise the head coach first and allow him to decide which players to bring in. We would love to retain Miroslav Kuljanac (current head coach), but his wages are beyond our budget.
“A decision will be made this month, as the contracts of KL City players are also expiring at the end of the month — so we must determine the head coach as soon as possible,” Syed Yazid said.
He added that the KLFA’s immediate priority is to address long-standing issues within the club, particularly unpaid salaries.
The association is currently in talks with four corporate entities in an effort to secure financial backing for the 2025/2026 campaign.
“I’m going to be very firm and ensure that financial issues do not occur again next season.
“To avoid these kinds of situations, we are working hard to bring four corporate entities on board so that we can be financially sustainable.
“We will disclose their identities once everything is finalised,” Syed Yazid said.
KL City finished sixth in this season’s Super League, collecting 31 points. – May 9, 2025