ALOR STAR: Mohd Azraai Khor Abdullah, who led Kedah to unprecedented football success, died today after suffering a stroke.
The news of his passing was shared by his son, Firdaus Zainuddin, about noon.
It is understood that Azraai was rushed to Kedah Medical Centre after suffering the stroke.
Azraai, or his birth name Khor Sek Leng, played for Kedah and the national team before he was appointed as the state's head coach.
Under his stewardship, Kedah swept all major football titles in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Kedah Youth and Sports Committee chairman Muhammad Radhi Mat Din, who is also a football legend, expressed sadness.
"Was informed about the sad news that Malaysian and Kedah legendary footballer and my comrade coach Azraai Khor Abdullah has passed away.
"My condolences to the family of Allahyarham Azraai Khor Abdullah. May his soul be placed with the righteous. Al-Fatihah," he said in a Facebook posting.
Azraai, who was born on Oct 25, 1952 started his playing career with the state's senior squad in 1970.
He also played for the national team between 1975 and 1978, and was in the 1976 Asia Cup and 1978 Asian Games squads.
He became the head coach of Kedah's President Cup squad in 1991 at the age of 39.
In 1993, Azraai was appointed as a member of the tactical team under the then Kedah head coach, Robert Rene Alberts.
He played alongside Radhi and Ahmad Sabri Ismail in a squad that dominated the domestic league.
He served as the head coach of the Kedah senior squad for five seasons from 2005 to 2009.
Azraai became the head coach of the national 'Harimau Muda' squad in 2010.
He was instrumental in Negri Sembilan's 2011 Malaysia Cup triumph.