When Chelsea arrive in Malaysia for the final leg of their pre-season tour, new manager Xabi Alonso will be reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Luis Garcia, a reunion that carries significant implications for the Malaysian football landscape. Garcia, now the chief executive of Johor Darul Ta’zim, welcomes Chelsea to their 40,000-capacity Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Sunday, a move that echoes a pivotal period in their history. The two Spaniards go back to Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool on the same day in 2004, a moment that marked the first official meeting between them.
Despite facing each other multiple times in the Spanish football ecosystem, that day at Anfield was the first time they met properly. “He told me he didn’t speak English too well before our unveiling press conference,” Garcia recalled, adding that he answered the first question in Spanish, as we had a translator present, and he answered in perfect English, prompting him to say, “Why you little?!”
Both started in Liverpool’s dramatic Champions League final win over AC Milan at the end of that season and went on to play together for Spain. Garcia states they remain “really good friends” and have stayed in touch, but insists Alonso is facing a difficult final overseas friendly. After matches in Australia and other parts of Asia against elite European football opposition such as Tottenham, Juventus and AC Milan, Chelsea’s tour ends in Johor. The match will be a monumental moment in the JDT’s history and for Malaysian football as a whole. “Chelsea is the biggest test we will face this season,” Garcia admits. “I’ll be so happy to welcome them in Johor. The stadium is going to be packed.”
We can’t wait to challenge ourselves against a top club, top players and it is great to face Alonso. I can assure you on Sunday we will compete. “I wish him all the best [at Chelsea], but even though I love him, hopefully he ends up second to Liverpool next season.”
‘We want Malaysia to reach the World Cup some day,’ Garcia added. There are also Spanish coaches throughout the backroom staff and academy, delivering best-in-class coaching to Malaysian talent.
Garcia, who splits his time between Spain and Malaysia, gained his Uefa Pro Licence and sporting director licence after retiring. However, his work also extends to commercial activities and wider planning behind the scenes, although he leaves the coaching duties to compatriot Xisco Munoz. There are also Spanish coaches throughout the backroom staff and academy, delivering best-in-class coaching to Malaysian talent. ‘We want to increase the level of Malaysian football and have a fantastic academy. We brought Spanish coaches to the academy so we can get closer to the best, professional style of work,’ Garcia added. “Spain winning the World Cup shows you the value of having a coaching programme and a football philosophy that lasts 25-30 years.”
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Xabi Alonso (second from right) scored Liverpool’s third goal in the 2005 Champions League final
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