KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s prospects of appointing Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu to lead Harimau Malaya appear to be diminishing, with the experienced tactician reportedly keen to pursue a career in European club football when his contract expires next year.
Japanese publication Nikkan Gendai has played down speculation linking the 58-year-old with the vacant Malaysia job, reporting that his ambition is to manage a club in Europe.
If Moriyasu opts for a move overseas, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) may need to broaden its search for a permanent successor to Peter Cklamovski, who left the national team midway through the year.
Moriyasu had emerged as a prominent candidate for the position, fuelling hopes among Malaysian supporters that his international pedigree could help raise the national team’s standing.
Following Cklamovski’s departure, FAM appointed national team technical director Tan Cheng Hoe as interim head coach in July to maintain continuity and keep preparations for upcoming competitions on track.
Cheng Hoe, who previously led Harimau Malaya from 2018 to 2022, has since overseen two major assignments — the AFF Hyundai Asean Cup and the FIFA Asean Cup.
He guided Malaysia to the semi-finals of the AFF Hyundai Asean Cup in August before leading the team to third place in the FIFA Asean Cup earlier this month.
While those results have kept the team competitive, the question of who will take charge permanently remains unresolved, with FAM facing the task of establishing a long-term direction for Malaysian football.
According to Nikkan Gendai, Belgian club Sint-Truidense is among the potential destinations for Moriyasu as he considers his next career move.
Owned by Japanese company DMM.com, the club has established links with Japanese football and has featured players such as Wataru Endo, Takahiro Tomiyasu and Zion Suzuki.
Sint-Truidense continues to have Japanese players in its squad, a factor that could make the club an appealing destination for Moriyasu if he decides to test himself in European club management.
The report also suggested that Sint-Truidense chief executive Takayuki Tateishi had been interested in bringing Moriyasu to the club for some time and had offered him an opportunity following the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
However, no decision on Moriyasu’s future has been confirmed. His current commitment to the Japan Football Association (JFA) remains centred on the national team’s preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Should the report reflect his career ambitions, FAM could be forced to look beyond one of its most prominent potential candidates as it seeks a permanent appointment to lead Harimau Malaya. – October 18, 2026