Serbian tactician Risto Vidakovic has revealed he was placed on “administrative leave” by Kuala Lumpur City via a WhatsApp message, with just three matches remaining in the Liga Super Malaysia 2025/26 season.
The status of the former Lion City Sailors head coach had been a hot topic of speculation among “The City Boys” faithful. Rumors reached a boiling point after Vidakovic hinted that the recent clash against Kelantan TRW FC in Kota Bharu might be his swansong, stating his future would only be clarified once the squad returned to the Klang Valley.
Breaking his silence, the 57-year-old manager confirmed that the club’s management sent him the fateful decision via the messaging app on April 10, abruptly halting his duties.
Official documents regarding the suspension have also been forwarded to Vidakovic’s legal team. The Serbian expressed utter confusion over the timing of the boardroom maneuver, given the team’s strong position and the fact that the season is nearly over.
“I am waiting for an explanation from the club because we only asked for the reason why this decision was made,” Vidakovic revealed in an exclusive interview with Astro Arena reporter Fina Nasrom.
“What is the reason I am placed on administrative leave until the end of the season when there are only three games left? So now, I cannot work, I cannot attend training, and I cannot go to the stadium on match days. I am just waiting. I am on holiday.”
What makes the KL City management’s decision truly baffling for pundits and fans alike is the undeniable success Vidakovic has brought to the capital club this season. Under his guidance, The City Boys have been a formidable force.
Removing a manager who has just secured the club’s best points tally in half a decade—and doing so with only three matches to go—suggests massive behind-the-scenes friction between Vidakovic and the Kuala Lumpur City board.
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE-Photo
