JDT team celebrate their Malaysia Cup final victory recently. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) may be a dominant force in the domestic football league but that's not enough for them.
The Southern Tigers are gearing up for a major overhaul as they set their sights on greater success in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite next season.
They have consistently been a powerhouse in Malaysian football, but with continental ambitions growing stronger, changes appear to be on the horizon, starting from the dugout.
Speculation is rife that Venezuelan head coach Hector Bidoglio could be on his way out, with the club reportedly seeking a fresh direction to boost their ACL campaign.
Sources close to the club have revealed that as many as nine players could be released during the off-season as JDT aim to rejuvenate their squad with younger and hungrier talents.
Those likely to be offloaded include Brazilian wingback Murillo Henrique, midfielder Anselmo Moraes, Syrian midfielder Jalil Elias, French winger Enzo Lombardo, Colombian striker Jorge Obregon, Spanish trio Roque Mesa, Jonathan Viera, and Jese Rodriguez, as well as centrebacks Alvaro Gonzalez (Spain), Shane Lowry (Australia), and Jordi Amat (Indonesia).
Several of these players had limited involvement with the first team.
Moraes, Mesa, Gonzalez, and Viera were primarily used in the ACL Elite, while Elias, who only joined in 2024, spent much of his time out on loan. Lombardo, unfortunately, saw his season cut short due to a knee injury after just a handful of domestic appearances.
Henrique, Obregon, and Rodriguez featured more regularly across the Super League, FA Cup, Malaysia Cup, and the ACL Elite.
Meanwhile, veteran centrebacks Amat and Lowry seem poised for an exit. Amat, who joined in 2022 and has captained the team since 2023, has been instrumental in JDT’s domestic success, lifting 11 titles.
Lowry, with the club since 2021, has largely been a rotational player but has delivered solid performances when called upon.
Notably, most of the outgoing players, except for Henrique, Elias, Lombardo, and Obregon, are aged over 30, further aligning with JDT’s reported plans to inject youth into the squad.
Team owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has already hinted at sweeping changes, signalling a shift in focus toward building a younger, more competitive side for the challenges ahead.
"The ACL Elite is a very prestigious tournament. It will only get harder and tougher, but we will continue working hard and push the club forward," he shared on social media.
"Being among Asia’s elite is already an amazing achievement and a great privilege.”
With bold intentions and a clear ambition to scale greater heights in Asia, JDT fans can expect a transformative off-season as the club prepare for their next chapter.
