PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) new chief executive officer (CEO) Luis Garcia (pic) has made his goal at the club clear – he wants to build a lasting legacy in Malaysian football and inspire a new generation of talent for the nation.
And the former Liverpool and Spain midfielder, who started his duties with the Southern Tigers on April 1, is committed to shaping the future of the country’s game through JDT – from the grassroots level to the AFC Champions League.
“The idea is, when things are going well, you don’t change too much. But we’re always looking to improve – not just at the top level, but at the academies too,” said Garcia, who is also a La Liga Ambassador.
“His Royal Highness (Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Johor Regent and JDT owner) is always thinking about what more can be done to make the team, and the state, more competitive. We want to strengthen our grassroots, not only for Johor but for the entire country.”
JDT have continued to dominate the domestic scene by winning their 11th consecutive league title, third straight FA Cup and also the Charity Shield.
They are also making their presence felt in the region, after reaching the last 16 of the AFC Champions League where they lost to Thai club Buriram United 0-1 on aggregate.
Garcia hopes they can go one better next season.
“We went out by just a goal – it was a tough game, but a good result. Next season, our objective is to reach the quarter-finals. But most importantly, we have to be consistent.”
Garcia is passionate about using his position to elevate Malaysian football on the global stage and hopes to see a Malaysian player break into the elite European leagues one day.
“As a La Liga ambassador, I want to help young talents believe they can get there. I hope one day we’ll see a Malaysian player competing in La Liga. That would be incredible.”
Garcia singles out young JDT star Arif Aiman as an example of what’s possible – and the kind of inspiration young players need.
“Arif is a special talent. If young players see him as a mentor, someone to look up to, that’s crucial. We want our players to compete at the highest level. And I believe we’ll see more of that in the future.”
