Malaysia , May 17, 2025 – Former Everton Player Jose Baxter appointed assistant coach of Malaysia ahead of Vietnam clash in 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers
Former Everton midfielder Jose Baxter has been appointed assistant coach of the Malaysia national team ahead of their decisive match against Vietnam in the final round of 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Baxter replaces Australian assistant coach Mark Milligan, who departed last month. He will also serve as a key link with the U23 team led by head coach Nafuzi Zain.
“He’s part of our long-term vision,” head coach Peter Cklamovski said during a press conference at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) headquarters on May 15. “Initially, Baxter was involved with the U23 squad, but with Milligan’s exit, we saw the perfect opportunity to bring him into the senior team.”
Born in 1992, Baxter came through Everton’s youth academy and became the club’s youngest-ever debutant at the age of 16 years and 191 days in 2008. However, he never lived up to the early promise of being a prodigy. Baxter made only 15 appearances for Everton before moving to the Championship in 2012, playing for clubs including Tranmere Rovers, Oldham Athletic, and Sheffield United. His career ended in 2020 at US second-tier side Memphis 901.
During his time at Everton, Baxter played alongside Australian legend Tim Cahill between 2008 and 2012. Cahill currently serves as a sports advisor and international relations officer for Tunku Ismail, the Crown Prince of Johor and President of Johor Darul Ta’zim FC.
Coach Cklamovski hopes Baxter can help instill a consistent playing philosophy between the senior team and the U23 squad. Several young players have been named in the 38-man preliminary squad for the upcoming match against Vietnam on June 10 — an opportunity for Malaysia’s rising talents to gain experience with the senior setup under Cklamovski. It also serves as preparation for the 2026 AFC U23 qualifiers and the 2025 AFF U23 Championship.
Malaysia will begin their training camp on May 19 with 28 players, with eight more joining on May 25. Defender Dion Cools and midfielder Hector Hevel are set to arrive on June 1.
The Harimau Malaya will play a friendly against Cape Verde — the 72nd-ranked team in the FIFA rankings — on May 29. The two sides will also hold a closed-door training match at Bukit Jalil Stadium on June 3.
In the opening round of Group F of the final qualifying stage back in March, Malaysia defeated Nepal 2-0, while Vietnam beat Laos 5-0. Both sides are in a tight race for the top spot, which secures the only direct ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup.
Leave a Reply