Former national coach Harris is dead
FORMER national coach Allan Harris, who spent over three years coaching Malaysia, died on Thursday. He was 74.
Englishman Harris had a mixed run in charge of the national team from December 2000 to June 2004 though he did guide Malaysia to a silver medal at the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games and bronze two years later in Vietnam.
FAM issued a statement today, extending their condolences to the former Chelsea defender’s family.
“The Football Association of Malaysia extends its condolences and appreciation to Allan Harris, 74, who passed away on Thursday for his services and contribution during his tenure as national head coach from 2000 to 2004,” said FAM general secretary Datuk Hamidin Amin.
Aside from the Sea Games, Harris also led Malaysia to the semi-finals of the 2002 AFF Cup in Singapore which included memorable wins over Singapore (4-0) and Thailand (3-1) in the group stage.
However, Indonesia edged Malaysia 1-0 in the semi-finals before Vietnam won 3-1 in the thirdplacing playoff.
Harris also guided Malaysia in qualifying campaigns for the the 2002 World Cup and 2004 Asian Cup without success while finishing bottom of the four-team Merdeka Tournament in 2001.
In all, Harris was in charge of 31 international matches between February 2001 and June 2004, winning seven and losing 16 with eight draws.
One of those defeats was a 4-0 loss to Brazil in a friendly in May 2002, just a month before the South Americans lifted the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
Harris was relieved of his duties after a dismal Asian Cup qualifying campaign at the end of 2003 but returned to coach for one more match in June, 2004, a 4-0 defeat by China in a World Cup qualifier, before the expiry of his contract.