KUALA LUMPUR: Former national player and coach Datuk M. Kuppan died here today. He was 84.
The funeral will be held in Penang on Friday.
As a player, he won the Malaysia Cup in his first season with Penang in 1957 and also led the national team to victory in the Merdeka Cup that year.
He represented Harimau Malaya for eight years until 1965 and featured in 10 seasons for Penang before retiring due to an injury in 1967.
Kuppan turned to coaching and helmed the national team from 1972-78. Among those who played under him were the late Mokhtar Dahari, Datuk Soh Chin Aan and Datuk James Wong.
Malaysia lifted the Thailand King's Cup trophy in 1975 and 1976, and also the Merdeka Cup in 1976 under his tenure.
As coach of Penang (1972-74), he guided them to their fourth Malaysia Cup crown in 1974.