Malaysia "changes" its squad: 7 European stars arrive, determined to "take revenge" on Vietnam!

After the humiliating defeat at the AFF Cup 2024, Malaysian football is showing drastic moves to reform and regain its position in the region. Most notably, the plan to naturalize a series of players of European origin promises to create a completely new look.

The failure in the group stage of the AFF Cup 2024 has dealt a heavy blow to the ambitions of Malaysian football. Witnessing the remarkable progress of regional rivals, especially Vietnam and Indonesia with successful naturalization policies, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) could not sit still. They decided to "play big" by speeding up the naturalization process of players, with the goal of winning tickets to the final round of the Asian Cup 2027.

This information was revealed by Tunku Ismail Idris, Chairman of Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) Club and former Chairman of FAM, on his personal page. Accordingly, FAM has identified 6-7 potential European players to add to the squad. The support from the Malaysian government in speeding up the naturalization process shows the high determination of this country.

Although the specific identities of the players have not been officially announced, according to many sources, the names being targeted are all playing in the top European national championships, especially in the Southern European region. Some of the players mentioned include Josh Brownhill (Burnley), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea), Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers), Marcus Tavernier (AFC Bournemouth), Milan van Ewjik (Coventry City), Zian Flemming (Burnley FC) and Jamie Shackleton (Sheffield United).

In addition to naturalizing players of European origin, Malaysia is also considering short-term solutions by naturalizing striker Bergson da Silva (Brazil) and winger Manuel Hidalgo (Argentine origin). These are considered quality additions, helping to strengthen the team.

According to Tunku Ismail, the naturalized players will be deployed in various positions on the field, from center back, left back, central midfielder, midfielder to striker. This shows that Malaysia wants to "renew" the entire squad, upgrading the quality in all three lines. The selection of players to play in top European leagues shows that Malaysia's ambition is not only to compete in the region but also to reach the continental level.

Malaysia's determination to strengthen its squad with naturalized players is for nothing other than the goal of winning a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup finals. In the qualifying round, Malaysia is in Group F with Vietnam, Laos and Nepal. Only the top team in the group will advance. This means that Malaysia has identified Vietnam as a direct competitor and is determined to defeat us.

The confrontations between Vietnam and Malaysia are always tense and dramatic. With the strong addition of naturalized players, the upcoming matches promise to be even more exciting and unpredictable. This will be a real test of the strength of the Vietnamese team under the guidance of Coach.

Malaysia’s bold move is a warning to Vietnamese football. Regional rivals are increasingly investing heavily to close the gap. Malaysia’s naturalization of a series of high-quality players shows that they are serious about their goal of reaching the continental level.

Vietnamese football needs to continue investing in youth training, improving the quality of domestic tournaments and having appropriate development strategies to maintain its position in the region. The confrontations with a completely "reformed" Malaysia will be a good opportunity for us to prove our strength and continue to improve ourselves.

Malaysia’s ambition in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers is clear. They are putting all their efforts into building a strong squad, ready to compete with the continent’s top opponents. The upcoming matches between Vietnam and Malaysia promise to be extremely attractive and dramatic. This is also the motivation for Vietnamese football to continue to strive and develop, aiming for higher goals.

Pham Ly Duc: 1m82 tall, 22 years old has been the pillar of HAGL, replacing Doan Van Hau? Đình Như22:15:36 07/03/2025Pham Ly Duc is no longer a name that is too strange to Vietnamese football fans. He plays as a central defender, born in 2003 and has a height of 1m82. The young player played impressively in his first appearance in the V.League 2024/2025.