Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has officially announced the appointment of national futsal legend Addie Azwan Zainal as the new head coach of the Malaysia men’s futsal team, succeeding Rakphol Sainetngam.
Rakphol, 47, opted not to renew his contract, which expired on December 31, 2025, as he returns to his homeland to take up the role of Thailand’s new national futsal head coach.
Addie Azwan, who will turn 46 on June 18, 2026, has served as the assistant head coach of the national futsal team since Rakphol first took charge in August 2023. His elevation to the top job is seen as a natural progression, given his deep understanding of the current squad and the playing philosophy previously implemented.
With the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia, scheduled from January 27 to February 7, Addie Azwan is widely regarded as the most suitable candidate to lead the Harimau Malaya futsal squad into the continental showpiece.
A towering figure in Malaysian futsal, Addie Azwan represented the national team from 2002 to 2010 and remains the all-time record holder for both appearances and goals scored for the Malaysia futsal team.
His coaching pedigree spans over 15 years, beginning as assistant head coach under Maizal Hairi Marzuki (2011–2013) and Marcelo Serpa (2013–2016). He also took charge of the Malaysia women’s national futsal team in 2018, further underlining his versatility and experience within the national setup.
Addie Azwan’s first major test as head coach will come at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026, where Malaysia have been drawn into Group D. The national side will open their campaign against futsal powerhouse Iran on January 28, followed by clashes against Afghanistan on January 30 and Saudi Arabia on February 1, 2026.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals on February 3, with the semi-finals scheduled for February 5 and the final set to take place on February 7.
Credit Photo : FAM
