JDT gear up for Chelsea test
KUALA LUMPUR: Thirteen years after stepping in to revive Johor football, Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has transformed Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) into a club preparing to welcome English Premier League giants Chelsea.
KUALA LUMPUR: After 13 years of revitalizing Johor football, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has elevated Johor Darul Ta zim (JDT) to a club vying for a pre-season friendly against English Premier League powerhouse Chelsea. Meeting at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Sunday, Tunku Ismail previously received a personal audience from Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
Since 2013, JDT has soared from obscurity to a Malaysian football force, boasting 12 consecutive Super League titles and an unbeaten league run since April 2021, potentially nearing a world record of 109 matches. However, the world record isn't the club's primary objective; rather, it's a byproduct of their commitment to excellence.
At the helm of this transformation is Tunku Ismail, who has modeled JDT on European football, particularly the Spanish system, bringing in former Liverpool player Luis Garcia as chief executive and former Watford manager Xisco Munoz as head coach. Munoz praises the club's facilities, which rival those in the Premier League, and credits Tunku Ismail's unyielding ambition for JDT's ascent.
For Tunku Ismail, the true legacy lies in building careers, infrastructure, and regional pride, with every competition against top-tier teams inspiring the next generation to aim high.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
