Tomislav Steinbruckner to coach Terengganu next season

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- Terengganu Football Club Sdn Bhd (TFCSB) technical director Tomislav Steinbruckner will almost certainly fill the vacancy left by Nafuzi Zain as head coach of Terengganu FC (TFC).

The matter was confirmed by state Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations Development Committee chairman Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah who is also a member of the TFCSB board of directors.

Wan Sukairi said that the 56-year-old coach from Croatia was TFCSB's second choice besides Nafuzi to guide the Turtles squad through the Malaysia League (M-League) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) next season.

"If coach Nafuzi doesn’t want to continue the contract, our offer will go to coach Steinbruckner, so I think it is almost certain," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the Terengganu Gemaputera XVI Sports Championship at Taman Tamadun Islam here last night.

Wan Sukairi said the TFCSB management would make the announcement soon.

"We are confident in his expertise and experience. He was with T-Team FC in 2015 and put the team in a great position.

"We hope he can continue the legacy of excellence left by coach Nafuzi Zain and lead TFC to a more glorious future," he said.

Steinbruckner began his career as a professional footballer with local club Osijek from 1984 to 1992 before moving to Belisce.

The midfielder then ended his career as a player with the Singapore Armed Forces FC club in 1999 before becoming a coach with the Croatian League club, NK Osijek in 2008.

-- BERNAMA