PETALING JAYA: Former Penang head coach Akmal Rizal Rakhli (pic) is on the lookout for a new challenge after parting ways with the football club ahead of the new season.
Akmal was officially released by Penang yesterday after both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
Despite only managing the team for 11 matches before being sidelined, Akmal said he remains grateful for the opportunity and support given to him by the management.
“I’ve yet to receive any offers from other teams as my contract with Penang was only recently ended by mutual agreement. I may not be in their plans for next season, so they let me go earlier,” said Akmal when contacted.
“For now, I’m still waiting to see if there are any opportunities from other teams.”
Akmal first joined Penang in 2020 as an assistant to then-head coach Manzoor Azwira and played a key role in helping the team win the Premier League title and earn promotion to the Super League.
In 2021, he continued as assistant coach under Thomas Trucha, guiding Penang to an impressive third-place finish in the Super League.
He was later appointed head coach of the President’s Cup squad and led Penang’s youth side to a bronze medal at the 2022 Malaysia Games (Sukma), before being entrusted as caretaker of the senior team.
Following his departure, Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail, who took over midway through the season, is now expected to be retained as head coach for next season.
Penang finished 10th in the Super League this season with 26 points.
Earlier, the club also announced the exit of Merzagua Abderrazzak as technical director, with Rosle Md Derus stepping in to fill the role.
Also departing is Manzoor Azwira, who had served Penang for three seasons — first as head coach and later as the Under-23 squad coach.
