KUALA LUMPUR – Former Harimau Malaya head coaches Kim Pan-gon and Tan Cheng Hoe have been linked with potential moves to established Super League clubs, according to sources.
A highly placed source within the football fraternity told Scoop that Pan-gon has once again been approached by 33-time Malaysia Cup champions Selangor FC, with negotiations this time believed to be more advanced than in previous attempts.
Pan-gon had previously been linked with Selangor, and the South Korean tactician has returned to the spotlight following speculation that he could join the Red Giants after former head coach Nidzam Jamil resigned from his role last season.
However, the move failed to materialise at the time.
“The deal being offered to Pan-gon is much better than what was proposed previously, and he appears more interested in joining Selangor this time,” said the source.
“Both parties recently held a meeting, and once Pan-gon signs the contract, Selangor are expected to make an official announcement as soon as possible.”
When contacted, Selangor team manager Mahfizul Rusydin Abdul Rashid declined to comment on the speculation.
He said the club’s immediate focus is on preparations for their Super League clash against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) Stadium this Sunday.
Selangor are currently under the guidance of Christophe Gamel, who was appointed interim head coach after the club sidelined Katsuhito Kinoshi in September.
Pan-gon is no stranger to local football fans, having led the national team from 2022 to 2024. The 56-year-old left Harimau Malaya in July 2024 to join South Korean outfit Ulsan HD, but parted ways with the club just a month later.
Meanwhile, Tan Cheng Hoe, who was recently appointed technical director of the national team, is expected to sign with Terengganu FC in the coming days.
Cheng Hoe, who served as Harimau Malaya head coach from 2018 to 2022, is understood to be the leading candidate for the role at the Turtles, ahead of several other notable names including Nafuzi Zain, E Elavarasan, Hairuddin Omar and Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan.
“A meeting has already taken place with Cheng Hoe, and he is expected to sign his contract with Terengganu in the coming days. It appears the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is currently holding him back, but Terengganu are prepared to meet the buy-out clause in his contract,” the source added.
Terengganu, who are currently fifth in the Super League standings with 18 points, have been without a head coach since Badrul Afzan was dismissed following a run of inconsistent performances. – December 31, 2025