PETALING JAYA: Former national football team coach Kim Pan-gon could be set for a return to Malaysian football, this time at club level as the South Korean tactician is close to sealing a deal with Selangor.
Pan-gon, who coached Malaysia from 2022 to 2024, is understood to be in advanced talks with the Red Giants, with sources within the local football fraternity indicating that the appointment is nearing completion.
He is also expected to bring in his own coaching staff should the move materialise.
A source close to the club said negotiations are at an advanced stage.
“Yes, the rumours you are hearing are true. There is a strong possibility he will join Selangor. We were told that several players who worked with him during his national team days convinced him to be part of the Red Giants’ project,” said the source.
Pan-gon shares a particularly close rapport with Selangor winger Faisal Halim, with their bond evident during the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar.
When the 27-year-old, fondly known as Mickey, was the victim of an acid attack in May, 2024, Pan-gon was among the first to visit him.
Two months after the incident, Pan-gon stepped down as national coach, citing personal commitments, a decision that drew criticism from then Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin.
A month later, Pan-gon took up a coaching role with South Korean powerhouse Ulsan Hyundai, prompting Hamidin to publicly question the sincerity of his reasons for resigning.
Questions were also raised during Pan-gon’s press conference over his resignation when he said he could not disclose certain matters because it would be ‘’dangerous’’ to do so.
He later clarified that his wording was inaccurate due to his limited command of English.
He explained that he was referring to tactical and team-development issues that could have given opponents an advantage if revealed publicly.
During his tenure with the national team, Pan-gon took charge of 35 matches, recording 19 wins, seven draws and nine defeats.
At Ulsan Hyundai from 2024 to 2025, he led the club to the K-League title in 2024 and guided them to a runners-up finish in the Korea Cup in the same year.
Another Super League side, Terengganu, were also believed to be interested in Pan-gon but are understood to be exploring alternative options due to financial considerations.
If confirmed, Pan-gon’s return is expected to generate excitement among Malaysian football fans, who will be eager to see what he can bring to Selangor.
