06-05-2025
Do KL City regret letting Hodak go?
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur FC must be wishing they had hung on to Croatian coach Bojan Hodak.
The man who won the Malaysia Cup for the City Boys in 2021 apart from taking them to several major finals, has proved to be a winner with Indonesian club Persib Bandung, whom he joined after leaving KL.
The astute Hodak has just guided Persib Bandung to Liga 1 triumph. His team clinched the Liga 1 title without kicking a ball after rivals Persebaya Surabaya were held to a 3-3 draw by Persik Kediri yesterday. Persib currently top the Liga 1 standings with an unassailable 64 points from 31 matches, with three more games remaining.
Hodak said he woke up to pleasant news. "Some of my players went to watch the Persebaya match, but I opted to sleep. When I woke up, I got the good news," said the burly Hodak, who also won the Liga 1 title last season with Persib.
"I'm happy to win the title again this year. I hope we can defend the title next season and also do well in the AFC Champions League 2."
But Hodak said there is a need to reinforce Persib with more players. "When your team is successful, the players will attract better offers from other clubs, so we need to be prepared."
The 54-year-old Croat has established himself as one of the top coaches in the Asean region.
He has tasted success in the M-League, guiding Kelantan to a historic treble of Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup in 2012 and Johor Darul Ta'zim to their first Super League title in 2014.
Hodak said the Liga 1 is one of the toughest competitions he has ever been involved in, and he expects it to be even more competitive next season, with rival clubs ready to challenge.
"Next season, we aim to do better. I want to push harder in the ACL 2 — we beat this season's finalists Lions City Sailors at their home ground, so I believe we can improve further in the Asian competition."
