Malaysia national under-22 football team

Malaysia U-22
Nickname(s)	Harimau Muda; (Young Tigers)
Association	Football Association of Malaysia
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	AFF (Southeast Asia)
Head coach	E. Elavarasan
Captain	Mukhairi Ajmal
Home stadium	National Stadium, Bukit Jalil
FIFA code	MAS
First colours	Second colours

Malaysia national under-22 football team (also known as Malaysia Under-22, Malaysia U-22 or Malaysia B-22) represents Malaysia in international football competitions including in the SEA Games of the 2017 edition. It is managed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). This team was created for the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship qualification, 2017 SEA Games and participated in the 2019 AFF U-22 Youth Championship.^[1]^[2]

History

After Harimau Muda project disbanded in 2015, FAM needed a fresh start for the U-23 team where a new set of players was brought in for the team with the creation of SEA Games Project 2017 team which was then announced as the national under-22 team.^[1]^[3] The players in the current team mainly consist of players with age around 18 to 21 years old where the oldest players will be below the age requirement of 22 years old when 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia started.^[1] With bigger pool of players within age of 18-22, the team will also play in other age-restricted tournament as the younger side such as U-21 and U-22 when needed.^{[citation needed]}

The team is considered to be the feeder team for the Malaysia national football team. It is for players under the age of 22 and less. Also in existence are national teams for Under-19s, Under-16s and Under-14s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, hence it is possible for one to play for the U-22s, senior side and then again for the U-22s.^{[citation needed]}

Frank Bernhardt era

Frank Bernhardt has been announced as the new head coach for the newly created Malaysia under-22 national football team in preparation for 2017 Southeast Asian Games. The 46-year-old began his new job as national under-22 boss on Monday at Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) headquarters in Kelana Jaya. His first task is to pick an assistant from four candidates—Hassan Sazali, P. Maniam, Reduan Abdullah and Azlan Johar. And then Bernhardt will choose a squad of 25 players to work with ahead of the SEA Games football tournament on home soil in August 2017.^[4]

25 players, including President's Cup players from DRB-Hicom and Sime Darby were picked to join the U22 national team third training camp.^[5]

Tournament records

AFC U-22 Championship

Note: AFC U-22 in 2013.

AFC U-22 Championship Record								AFC U-22 qualification Record						Head coach
Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2013	did not qualify							5	3	0	2	17	7	Ong Kim Swee
Total	Best: None	–	–	–	–	–	–	5	3	0	2	17	7

SEA Games

Note: All Malaysian participants from U-22 since 31 March 2016 are only for SEA Games.

SEA Games Record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
2017	Runners-up	2/11	6	5	0	1	11	5
Total	Best: Runners-up	1/1	6	5	0	1	11	5

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

**Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy record

Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy
Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
2002	Third Place	5	2	0	3	13	9
2005	Group Stage	4	2	0	2	3	7
2007	Third Place	4	1	1	2	4	7
Total	Best: Third Place	13	5	1	7	20	23

Recent results

Win Draw Lose

2019

AFF U-22 Youth Championship (17–26 February)

18 February 2019 (2019-02-18) Group stage	Malaysia	0–1	Cambodia	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
18:30 UTC+7		Report	Rosib 62'	Stadium: Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh Attendance: 3,875 Referee: Nguyễn Hiền Triết (Vietnam)

20 February 2019 (2019-02-20) Group stage	Indonesia	2–2	Malaysia	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
15:30 UTC+7	Marinus 52' Witan 77'	Report	Nik Akif 62' Hadi 86'	Stadium: Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh Attendance: 600 Referee: Steve Supresencia (Philippines)

22 February 2019 (2019-02-22) Group stage	Malaysia	1–0	Myanmar	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
18:30 UTC+7	Hadi 45'	Report		Stadium: RSN Stadium Attendance: 115 Referee: Sivakorn Pu-udom (Thailand)

2023

Merlion Cup (24-26 March)

24 March 2023 (2023-03-24) Semi Final	Cambodia	2–4	Malaysia	Singapore
17:00 UTC+8	Lim Pisoth 36' Sieng Chanthea 51'	Report	Haqimi Azim 13' V. Ruventhiran 30' Fergus Tierney 62' Najmudin Akmal 73'	Stadium: Jalan Besar Stadium Referee: Clarence Leow (Singapore)

26 March 2023 (2023-03-26) Final	Hong Kong	1–2	Malaysia	Singapore
21:15 UTC+8	Lau Ka Kiu 80'	Report	Najmudin Akmal 74' Safwan Mazlan 79'	Stadium: Jalan Besar Stadium Referee: Ahmad A'Qashah (Singapore)

2023 Southeast Asian Games (29 April - 17 May)

3 May 2023 GS	Malaysia	5-1	Laos	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
				Stadium: Prince Stadium

6 May 2023 GS	Malaysia	0-2	Thailand	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
				Stadium: Prince Stadium

8 May 2023 GS	Malaysia	1-2	Vietnam	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
				Stadium: Prince Stadium

11 May 2023 GS	Malaysia	7-0	Singapore	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
				Stadium: Prince Stadium

Players

Current squad

The following 20 players were called up for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.^[6]
Caps and goals correct as of: 24 March 2023, after the match against Cambodia.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Sikh Izhan	(2002-03-23) 23 March 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Negeri Sembilan
23	1GK	Azim Al-Amin	(2001-09-20) 20 September 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Kuala Lumpur City

2	2DF	V. Ruventhiran	(2001-08-24) 24 August 2001 (age 23)	1	1	Selangor
3	2DF	Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili	(2003-11-30) 30 November 2003 (age 20)	1	0	Terengganu
4	2DF	Azrin Afiq	(2002-01-02) 2 January 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Kedah Darul Aman
5	2DF	Harith Haiqal	(2002-06-22) 22 June 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Selangor
6	2DF	Azam Azmi	(2001-02-12) 12 February 2001 (age 23)	1	0	Terengganu
14	2DF	Zikri Khalili	(2002-06-25) 25 June 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Selangor
21	2DF	Safwan Mazlan	(2002-02-22) 22 February 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Terengganu

7	3MF	Mukhairi Ajmal (captain)	(2001-11-07) 7 November 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Selangor
8	3MF	Adam Farhan	(2004-03-04) 4 March 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Johor Darul Ta'zim
10	3MF	Aliff Izwan	(2004-02-10) 10 February 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Selangor
13	3MF	T. Saravanan	(2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 23)	0	0	Kuala Lumpur City
15	3MF	Fergus Tierney	(2003-03-19) 19 March 2003 (age 21)	1	1	Chonburi
17	3MF	Syahir Bashah	(2001-09-16) 16 September 2001 (age 23)	1	0	Selangor

11	4FW	Najmudin Akmal	(2003-01-11) 11 January 2003 (age 21)	1	1	Johor Darul Ta'zim
18	4FW	Daryl Sham	(2002-11-30) 30 November 2002 (age 21)	0	0	Johor Darul Ta'zim
19	4FW	Muslihuddin Atiq	(2002-07-20) 20 July 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Terengganu
20	4FW	Aiman Afif	(2001-02-18) 18 February 2001 (age 23)	1	0	Kedah Darul Aman
22	4FW	Haqimi Azim	(2003-01-06) 6 January 2003 (age 21)	1	1	Kuala Lumpur City

Team officials

Coaching staff
Roles	Names
Head coach	E. Elavarasan
Assistant coach	Juan Torres Garrido
Fitness coach	Park Ji-hyeon
Goalkeeping coach	Yong Wai Hwang

Management and supporting staff
Roles	Names
Manager	Yusof Mahadi
Assistant manager	vacant
Physiotherapist	Haris Zafran Ahmad Haraman
Masseur	Ahmad Ramzi Ahmad Zaini
Kitman	Sukri Haimi
Video analyst	Ahmad Hilmi Abdul Latiff
Doctor	Ridzuan Azmi

Head coaches

Frank Bernhardt (2016–2017)^[7]
Ong Kim Swee (2017)
E. Elavarasan (2022–)

Head coaches records

As of 25 March 2017

Malaysia national football team head coaches
Name	Country	Period	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA	GD	Win %
Frank Bernhardt	Germany	2016–2017	14	5	5	4	17	18	−1	035.71
Ong Kim Swee	Malaysia	2017	6	5	0	1	11	5	+6	083.33
E. Elavarasan	Malaysia	2023–	5	3	0	2	12	8	+4	060.00

Honours

Regional

Southeast Asian Games
- Silver medals: 2017

Others

Merlion Cup
- Winner: 2023^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Lim Say Heng (19 February 2016). "Football to revert to U-23 format after 2017 SEA Games". TNP. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
^ Martin Martinez (15 February 2019). "AFF U-22 Championship 2019: Malaysia schedule, time table, matches". FOX Sports Asia. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ Nik Afiq (25 November 2015). "FAM Terminates Harimau Muda Program". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
^ "SEA Games gold medal in sights of new Malaysia U22 coach Bernhardt". ESPN FC. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
^ Nik Afiq (27 April 2016). "Bernhadt Calls Up 25 Players For Next 2017 Sea Games Project Squad Training Camp". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
^ "Senarai 26 Pemain Harimau Malaya B-22 ke Kem Latihan Pusat Bermula 18 Mac 2023" (in Malay). Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
^ Nik Afiq (31 August 2016). "Malaysia U22 players Prefer Call-Up Approach". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
^ "Malaysia juara Piala Merlion" (in Malay). Harian Metro. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.

External links

[2017SEAGamesKLU22Format-1] Lim Say Heng (19 February 2016). "Football to revert to U-23 format after 2017 SEA Games". TNP. Retrieved 2 December 2016.

[2] Martin Martinez (15 February 2019). "AFF U-22 Championship 2019: Malaysia schedule, time table, matches". FOX Sports Asia. Retrieved 28 March 2019.

[3] Nik Afiq (25 November 2015). "FAM Terminates Harimau Muda Program". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 September 2016.

[4] "SEA Games gold medal in sights of new Malaysia U22 coach Bernhardt". ESPN FC. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.

[5] Nik Afiq (27 April 2016). "Bernhadt Calls Up 25 Players For Next 2017 Sea Games Project Squad Training Camp". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 September 2016.

[6] "Senarai 26 Pemain Harimau Malaya B-22 ke Kem Latihan Pusat Bermula 18 Mac 2023" (in Malay). Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.

[7] Nik Afiq (31 August 2016). "Malaysia U22 players Prefer Call-Up Approach". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 September 2016.

[8] "Malaysia juara Piala Merlion" (in Malay). Harian Metro. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]