The coach of Malaysia’s national football team announced his resignation on Saturday just days after his squad was thrashed 10-0 by the UAE during a World Cup qualifying match.
Dollah Salleh’s tenure as head coach comes to a premature end after he signed a two-and-a-half year contract in July last year, in a bid to lift the team out of the doldrums.
The defeat to the UAE was Malaysia’s largest ever, with Salleh opting to use two of his substitutions on replacing his goalkeepers at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
“Who can accept a 10-0 defeat? That is why I quit,” Salleh said.
“Historically, it is the worst ever defeat for the national team.”
IN PICTURES: UAE hit Malaysia for 10 in dazzling World Cup qualifying display
The national team has come under increasingly harsh criticism for failing to perform in recent months.
In June, Malaysia suffered a 6-0 loss at the hands of Palestine during a World Cup qualifier.
Following Dollah’s resignation, the Football Association of Malaysia announced the appointment of veteran Malaysian footballer and manager Ong Kim Swee as interim coach and hinted they may hire a foreigner to lead the team in the future.
Malaysia is set to play against another regional heavyweight, Saudi Arabia, next Tuesday.
While it is a tough time for Malaysian football, the result ensured the UAE extended their perfect start in the group, and Mahdi Ali’s men next face Palestine on Tuesday.
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