PETALING JAYA: Terengganu have begun a reshuffle ahead of the New Year by parting ways with head coach Badrul Afzan Razali following an inconsistent run of results this season.
They are also stepping up efforts to find a replacement for departing midfielder Nurillo Tukhtasinov of Uzbekistan.
The Turtles announced on Christmas Day that Badrul has been “rested” with immediate effect following last Tuesday’s 1-3 Super League defeat to Sabah.
“Terengganu would like to inform that the technical committee and board of directors have decided to rest Badrul Afzan Razali with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement issued on Thursday night.
“In connection with this decision, assistant coach Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan has been appointed as interim head coach until the official announcement of a new head coach.
They also appreciated Badrul for his services.
Badrul took charge midway through the 2024–2025 season by replacing Croatian Tomislav Steinbruckner.
During his tenure this season, Terengganu recorded seven wins, three draws and five defeats across all domestic competitions.
The east coast side had set ambitious targets before the season, aiming for a top-four league finish and a place in the FA Cup final.
However, they currently sit fifth in the league standings with 18 points from 12 matches, four points adrift of fourth-placed Selangor, who have a game in hand.
Terengganu’s FA Cup campaign also ended at the quarter-finals following a 5-3 aggregate defeat to Kuching City.
Adding to the club’s challenges was the departure of Tukhtasinov, who has signed for Dynamo Samarkand in his homeland.
Terengganu chief executive officer Sheikh Farouk Sheikh Mohd Al-Bajrai said: “We had already offered him a contract extension but he chose to return to his country to focus on earning a place in the national team for next year’s World Cup.
“While it was a difficult decision for the club to let go of a player who has been with us for almost three years, we wish him continued success.”
Uzbekistan, currently ranked 57th in the world, made history by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup for the first time.
The tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
