Ex-Harimau Malaya coach Cklamovski joins Beckham’s Salford City

PETALING JAYA: Salford City FC have appointed former Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski as their new men’s first-team manager, the English League Two club announced today.

The announcement of the Australian’s appointment comes just hours after the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed a series of departures involving senior Harimau Malaya officials, including Cklamovski and national team CEO Robert Douglas Friend.

Salford City, which competes in the fourth tier of the English football league system, is owned by a consortium led by former Manchester United players David Beckham and Gary Neville.

“I’m here with a great opportunity to do something special, and it’s a great challenge,” said Cklamovski.

“The owners have lofty ambitions, and the club has big aspirations. That resonates with me.”

Salford’s chief football adviser Paul Scholes praised Cklamovski for his “exciting, attacking football”.

“But he’s not just about scoring goals — he’s also obsessed with keeping clean sheets,” said the Manchester United legend.

“He wants his teams to be ruthless and to have a clear identity, and that’s something we’re excited to bring to the club.”

Cklamovski, 47, is widely regarded for his attacking, high-intensity style of play and strong emphasis on youth development, having worked across the J-League system and international football.

His coaching career includes assistant roles under Ange Postecoglou with Australia and Yokohama F. Marinos, where they won the J1 League title in 2019.

He later managed Shimizu S-Pulse, Montedio Yamagata, and FC Tokyo before taking charge of Malaysia at the start of last year.