Luis García's Unexpected Return to Football Emotion as Johor Darul Ta'zim CEO
Luis García thought he'd left the intense emotions of professional football behind when he retired. But as CEO of Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim, watching his team make Asian Champions League history brought tears to his eyes he never expected to feel again.
From Player to Executive
García's journey from the pitch to the boardroom wasn't accidental. After retiring in 2016 (following a brief comeback from an initial 2014 retirement), he deliberately prepared for football's business side. He completed a UEFA master's, sporting director courses, and coaching badges—though coaching itself never appealed to him. "I suffered a lot on the pitch," he explains, preferring the strategic challenges off it. His playing career spanned Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, and stints in Greece, Mexico, India, and Australia, giving him what he calls "a different vision based on what I have lived in three different continents."
His current role came through an unexpected connection. Former player Kiko Insa connected him with Tunku Ismail Idris, the crown prince of Malaysia and owner of Johor Darul Ta'zim. García was impressed by the prince's football knowledge and ambitious vision for the club. "He's very active, inquisitive," García says. "He genuinely knows the game, what he wants."
Building a Football Powerhouse in Malaysia
Johor Darul Ta'zim has transformed under the prince's ownership since 2013, winning 12 consecutive league titles and becoming Southeast Asia's top-ranked club according to Opta. García's role involves implementing the club's vision while drawing on his European experiences. Key elements of their approach include:
- Maintaining a squad of 37 players to handle approximately 70 games annually across multiple competitions
- Implementing a consistent 3-5-2 formation while adapting tactics for Champions League matches
- Building community connections through school visits, hospital programs, and growing attendance from 13,000 in league games to 30,000 for Champions League matches
- Developing commercial partnerships with major brands like Nike and Toyota
- Operating with European-style intensity despite being in what some might dismiss as "just Malaysia"
"We have the full structure: coaches, analysis, assistants, fitness staff, dead ball, digital," García emphasizes. "The vision was in place; I said these are the things we have to do to get there."
The Emotional Connection
What García didn't anticipate was how deeply he'd reconnect with football's emotional side. Watching Johor Darul Ta'zim become the first Malaysian team to reach the Asian Champions League quarter-finals—defeating Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-2 on aggregate—brought back feelings he thought were gone forever. "When I saw them jumping with joy, having been with them every day, sharing the long journeys from Malaysia to Vietnam and back, on to Japan, and then saw them win I got that emotion again," he recalls.
The team's current achievements are remarkable:
- 105-game unbeaten league run (just three games from the world record)
- First Malaysian team to reach Asian Champions League quarter-finals
- Consistent domestic dominance with a decade of league titles
- Growing international recognition and attendance
Looking Forward
García remains connected to his former clubs, following Barcelona and Liverpool matches even while managing his responsibilities in Malaysia. He still plays for Liverpool's legends team and maintains that nothing compares to returning to Anfield. His perfect seven-a-side team from former teammates includes Victor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Sami Hyypiä, Steven Gerrard, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, and Ronaldinho—though he laughs when reminded that's eight players.
For Malaysian football overall, García sees progress but acknowledges the distance from European standards. "Kuala Lumpur are working well, Kuching, Selangor... we all need those teams to improve," he says, noting that Malaysia currently has only one Champions League spot. His focus remains on developing Johor Darul Ta'zim's talent, particularly young Malaysian star Arif Aiman, whom he describes as "the pearl of Malaysia" who "could play in Europe easily."
Key Takeaways
- Former star Luis García found unexpected emotional reconnection to football as CEO of Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim
- The club has become Southeast Asia's top-ranked team with 12 consecutive league titles and a historic Champions League quarter-final appearance
- García deliberately prepared for football management through extensive education while avoiding coaching roles
- Johor Darul Ta'zim operates with European-style intensity and structure despite its Malaysian location
- The team's 105-game unbeaten league run approaches the world record while maintaining domestic dominance
— Editorial Team
