AFF Cup-winning coach K. Rajagobal will always remember the late Ken Worden, who gave the former international a break in coaching in the 1990s.
Best known for guiding Selangor to trophies in the Malaysia Cup (1995, 1996 and 2002), Charity Shield (1996 and 2002) and the FA Cup (1991) between 1990-2002, English-born Worden was also credited with having spotted numerous players, who went on to represent Harimau Malaya.
As a national coach between 1992-93, Malaysia recorded one of their best results by edging Australia 1-0 in the 1992 Indonesia Independence Cup. It remains to be Harimau Malaya's only win over the Socceroos.
Under Worden, Malaysia also won the 1992 Vietnam Invitational Championship and the 1993 Merdeka Cup.
Among the known names who played under Worden for Selangor and Harimau Malaya were Azman Adnan, P. Gunalan, Yusri Che Lah, Nidzam Jamil, P. Maniam, Zainal Abidin Hassan, Dollah Salleh, Mehmet Durakovic and Rajagobal.
And all of them became successful coaches after retirement.
Rajagobal was already a semi-retired player when Worden hired him as his assistant at Selangor in 1991. The 65-year-old also assisted Worden when he was coaching the national team and again for the Red Giants between 1994-1996.
In 1995, Rajagobal returned to the game briefly when Selangor did not have enough players for their pre-season friendlies in Indonesia. It was because several players from Selangor were serving suspensions for indiscipline.
"I am very grateful to Worden. He opened up opportunities for me in coaching. I am now a successful coach, thanks to him. I was with PKNS when Worden saw my potential, and he told me to join him at Selangor. I immediately accepted it without an appointment letter," said Rajagobal, who guided Malaysia to the 2009 Sea Games and 2010 AFF Cup crowns.
"We had a good thing going at Selangor and the national team as we managed to guide both teams to memorable victories.
"When Selangor were in Indonesia for friendly matches in 1996, Worden told me to put on my boots and play for the team again. We did not have enough players then. "It was great to play for Selangor again after so many years. I was 39 years old then, and I played a few matches."
Rajagobal said Worden was very driven towards winning matches and trophies.
"He was very passionate about football. He always wanted to win. Everyone who had played under him became a quality player. He was an excellent teacher," said Rajagobal, who is now coaching Brunei.
"He was a disciplinarian and no-nonsense coach who was passionate on the field and a true gentleman outside."
PJ City FC coach P. Maniam is thankful that Worden had given him a break at Selangor.
Maniam was initially a centre-back, but Worden tried him out as an attacking midfielder. The switch turned out to be a masterstroke as Maniam scored nine goals in the 1991 season for Selangor.
"Worden had a special ability in helping players' progress in the game. He was like a father to me. He used to come over to my house to celebrate Deepavali with my family.
"Other players would tease me during training as they knew Worden treated me like his son.
"I am proud to say I am in this position today because of him. He even offered me a job at Selangor when I was going to retire as he was a technical director then.
"I do implement his coaching philosophy at PJ City. As a coach, he offered simple solutions for complex issues. A truly great coach, he will always be remembered for his contributions to Selangor and the national team," Maniam added.