Marcel Desailly’s aspirations to coach the Malaysian national team have hit a roadblock, as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has opted for a different candidate. Despite Desailly’s expressed readiness and ongoing communication with the federation, FAM President Tengku Andullah Sultan cited concerns over Desailly’s lack of coaching experience as a decisive factor.
“We will consider his candidacy, but we must also take into account that he does not have the necessary experience. He was a good player, but his coaching career is questionable. We need an experienced coach who would at the same time become our technical director,” remarked Sultan, as reported by New Straits Times.
Instead, the role has been filled by Philippe Troussier, a French coach with two years of experience in the Chinese championship. However, negotiations between Troussier and the federation hit a snag over financial terms.
The appointment comes as the Malaysian national team seeks to regroup following setbacks, including their failure to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.