Malaysia national under-23 football team (also known as Malaysia Under-23, Malaysia U-23 or Malaysia Olympic Team) represents Malaysia in international football competitions in Olympic Games, Asian Games and SEA Games, as well as any other under-23 international football tournaments. They are the strongest under-23 team in Southeast Asia, after winning the 2009 and 2011 SEA Games gold medal. Their main rivals are Indonesia and Singapore. The team is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia.
[edit] History
The team is considered to be the feeder team for the Malaysia national football team. It is for players aged 23 and less, however 3 senior players can also be selected to play. Also in existence are national teams for Under-20s, Under-17s and Under-15s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, hence it is possible for one to play for the U-23s, senior side and then again for the U-23s.
[edit] Olympic 2000
After the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) aiming to qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympic. Thus, the FAM spent about US$6 million and continue the contract of Malaysia youth coach, Hatem Souissi. Then FAM form a squad known as Olympic 2000 with a combination of 1997 youth squad and other under 23 players.
FAM decided to include Olympic 2000 as one of the team in Malaysia League. Their first match was against Johor FA in qualification match for Malaysia Premier I League. The team won their first match away 1-0 before drawing 1-1 at home to qualify for Malaysia Premier I League. However the team finishes bottom during 1998 season with only 4 win in 22 matches.[2]
The Olympic 2000 also show poor performance in international stage. They were humiliated by the Thailand Asian Games squad in a 1998 friendly match as the Thai's beat them 9-0. During the qualification matches, Olympic 2000 only manage to finish third behind Hong Kong and Japan. It is questionable among the fans how a squad who was playing together since 1995 given so much exposure and with fine talent cannot achieve the expectation.
[edit] Revival of the team on 2009 and 2011 SEA Games
[edit] 2009 Southeast Asian Games
[edit] Group A
| Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
 Vietnam |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
+11 |
10 |
 Malaysia |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
18 |
4 |
+14 |
9 |
 Thailand |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
15 |
3 |
+12 |
7 |
 Cambodia |
4 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
15 |
−10 |
3 |
 Timor-Leste |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
28 |
−27 |
0 |
[edit] Semi-finals
On July 2009, Datuk K. Rajagopal was named as the new coach of Malaysia U-23 team. Under his management, Malaysia qualified to the semi-finals of 2009 SEA Games after becoming the runners-up of Group A with only one point behind the group champion, Vietnam. Malaysia then defeated Laos 3-1 in the semi-finals, before meet Vietnam again and defeat them 1-0 in the final with an own goal scored by Mai Xuan Hop in 85th minute. This would be their fifth SEA Games gold medal and also the first great achievement for the U-23 team on 20's under Datuk K. Rajagopal that also led Malaysia to qualify for the second round of the 2010 Asian Games as one of the best four third-placed teams after a lapse of 32 years.[3][4]
[edit] 2011 Southeast Asian Games
[edit] Group A
[edit] Semi-finals
On 2011, the team then had been taken over by Ong Kim Swee. Ong Kim Swee later arranged two friendly matches against Thailand and Singapore in a preparation for the 2012 Olympics qualifiers. Malaysia later lost narrowly 2-1 to Thailand but won 2-0 against Singapore.[5][6]
Malaysia then advance to semi-finals of the 2011 SEA Games at the top of Group A after defeat the host, Indonesia by 1-0. Then, Malaysia also beat Myanmar 1-0 in the semi-finals to advance to final. In the final, they meet Indonesia again and held them into 1-1 draw until end, resulting in a penalty shoot-out which gave Malaysia won 4-3. This also be the sixth SEA Games gold medal led by Ong Kim Swee after the successful achievement on 2009.
[edit] 2012 Summer Olympics Qualification
The team then continues their success by qualifying to the third round of 2012 Olympic Asian Qualifiers after defeating Pakistan on the first round and Lebanon on the second round. Amazingly, Malaysia was the only team from Southeast Asia that qualify to the third round.
[edit] Third round
However on the third round, Malaysia lose all of their first three third round at the 2012 Olympic Asian qualifying matches, both lose 2-0 to Japan and Syria and 2-3 to Bahrain. Malaysia also lose on their second three third round to Bahrain and Japan and has been eliminated.
| Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
 Japan |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
11 |
3 |
+8 |
12 |
 Syria |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
6 |
+3 |
9 |
 Bahrain |
5 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
9 |
−1 |
9 |
| Malaysia |
5 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
13 |
−10 |
0 |
|
|
[edit] International scene
The Malaysia national football team uses the same squad for the Under-23 team and the national team under the new management of Datuk K. Rajagopal. Malaysia national football team uses players below the age of 23, together with their senior players like Safee Sali and Mohd Norhafiz Zamani Misbah. This was set for the national team to prepare the challenges ahead of them.
Malaysia used the Under-23 team for the upcoming tournament such as the Ho Chi Minh City Cup, 2010 Asian Games and 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.[7] Malaysia used this way since the Football Association of Malaysia chairman, HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah, planned this and set the plan mainly for K. Rajagopal. This is as a result after the humiliation lost 0-5 to the United Arab Emirates at the 2011 Asian Cup Qualifiers.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Tournament records
[edit] Olympic Games
| Olympic Games Record |
| Year |
Round |
Position |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GS |
GA |
 1992 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1996 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 2000 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 2004 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 2008 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 2012 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 2016 |
[to be determined] |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Total |
0/6 |
- |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
[edit] Asian Games
|
|
| Asian Games History |
| Year |
Round |
Score |
Result |
| 2002 |
Round 1 |
Malaysia 0 – 1  Oman |
Loss |
| Round 1 |
Malaysia 0 – 4  South Korea |
Loss |
| Round 1 |
Malaysia 3 – 1  Maldives |
Win |
| 2006 |
Round 1 |
Malaysia 1 – 3 Oman |
Loss |
| Round 1 |
Malaysia 1 – 3 China PR |
Loss |
| Round 1 |
Malaysia 0 – 4  Iraq |
Loss |
| 2010 |
Round 1 |
Malaysia 2 – 1  Kyrgyzstan |
Win |
| Round 1 |
Malaysia 0 – 2 Japan |
Loss |
| Round 1 |
Malaysia 0 – 3 China PR |
Loss |
| Round of 16 |
Malaysia 1 – 3  Iran |
Loss |
|
[edit] SEA Games
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
- **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
|
|
[edit] Recent results
Friendly Match
2012 Summer Olympics Qualification
2013 AFC U-22 Championship Qualification
[edit] Current squad
The following 21 players were called up for 2012 Summer Olympics Qualification on 5 February 2012.
Caps and goals updated as November 21, 2011 after the match against Bahrain U-23.
| # |
Pos. |
Player |
Date of Birth (Age) |
Caps |
Goals |
Club |
|
GK |
Khairul Fahmi Che Mat  |
January 7, 1989 (1989-01-07) (age 23) |
21 |
0 |
Kelantan FA |
|
GK |
Mohd Izham Tarmizi |
April 24, 1991 (1991-04-24) (age 20) |
5 |
0 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
|
DF |
Mahali Jasuli |
April 2, 1989 (1989-04-02) (age 22) |
22 |
1 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
DF |
Mohd Muslim Ahmad |
April 25, 1989 (1989-04-25) (age 22) |
20 |
0 |
Terengganu FA |
|
DF |
Mohd Zubir Azmi |
November 14, 1991 (1991-11-14) (age 20) |
2 |
0 |
Terengganu FA |
|
DF |
Mohd Amer Saidin |
July 25, 1992 (1992-07-25) (age 19) |
10 |
0 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
DF |
Mohd Fandi Othman |
April 25, 1992 (1992-04-25) (age 19) |
15 |
3 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
DF |
Nazirul Naim Che Hashim |
April 6, 1993 (1993-04-06) (age 18) |
1 |
0 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
DF |
Wan Ahmad Amirzafran Wan Nadris |
July 8, 1994 (1994-07-08) (age 17) |
0 |
0 |
Harimau Muda B |
|
|
MF |
Mohd Irfan Fazail |
April 12, 1991 (1991-04-12) (age 20) |
13 |
4 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
MF |
K. Gurusamy |
November 20, 1988 (1988-11-20) (age 23) |
19 |
1 |
Selangor FA |
|
MF |
Mohd Affize Faisal Mamat |
March 14, 1989 (1989-03-14) (age 22) |
2 |
0 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
MF |
Wan Zack Haikal Wan Noor |
January 28, 1991 (1991-01-28) (age 21) |
11 |
4 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
MF |
Muhamad Nazmi Faiz Mansor |
August 16, 1994 (1994-08-16) (age 17) |
10 |
1 |
Harimau Muda B |
|
MF |
Wan Zaharulnizam Zakaria |
May 8, 1991 (1991-05-08) (age 20) |
13 |
2 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
MF |
Gary Steven Robbat |
January 12, 1993 (1993-01-12) (age 19) |
12 |
6 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
|
FW |
Ahmad Fakri Saarani |
July 8, 1989 (1989-07-08) (age 22) |
22 |
2 |
Felda United FC |
|
FW |
Ahmad Hazwan Bakri |
June 19, 1991 (1991-06-19) (age 20) |
1 |
2 |
Harimau Muda A |
|
FW |
Ahmad Shakir Mohd Ali |
January 9, 1989 (1989-01-09) (age 23) |
5 |
0 |
Negeri Sembilan FA |
|
FW |
Mohd Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul |
May 27, 1991 (1991-05-27) (age 20) |
0 |
0 |
PKNS FC |
|
FW |
Mohammad Azizan Nordin |
October 4, 1992 (1992-10-04) (age 19) |
0 |
0 |
Harimau Muda A |
[edit] Recent call-ups
[edit] Previous squads
[edit] Coaching staff
| Manager |
Hamidin Amin |
| Assistant manager |
vacant |
| Head coach |
Ong Kim Swee |
| Assistant coach |
Hassan Sazali Waras |
| Fitness coach |
 Rustov Bozik |
| Goalkeeping coach |
Yong Wai Hwang |
| Physiotherapist |
Mohd Nasrul Ahmad Tajuddin |
[edit] Coaches
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Ong Kim Swee
Thailand 9–0 Malaysia 
Winners (2009, 2011)
.png)
Vietnam
74'
Indonesia
Singapore
Myanmar
Winner (1): 2007
