Alan Vest, the legendary coach who led Sarawak to 1990s football glory, has passed away at the age of 86, Perth Glory announced.
KUCHING: Former Sarawak football coach Alan Vest, who masterminded the state team’s most successful era during the 1990s, has died at the age of 86.
Perth Glory Football Club, where Vest later worked as an assistant and interim manager, confirmed his passing in a statement on their official website.
The club expressed deep sorrow at the loss of the man affectionately known as “Vestie” and extended condolences to his family and friends.
Vest originally hailed from Barnsley in the United Kingdom and began his career as a player in England’s non-league football system.
He later moved to New Zealand and then Australia during the early 1970s, where he continued his playing career as a hard-working forward.
The forward earned 17 senior caps for the New Zealand national team and scored six international goals, including one on his debut against New Caledonia in 1972.
Vest transitioned into coaching and achieved legendary status in Malaysia by leading Sarawak to several major trophies.
He guided the team to victory in the 1992 Malaysia FA Cup, the 1997 Malaysia Premier League title and the 1998 Charity Shield.
These successes established his legacy as one of the most accomplished foreign coaches in the history of Malaysian football.
After concluding his time in Malaysia, Vest joined Australian club Perth Glory in 2001 as assistant to Mich d’Avray.
He helped the club secure two National Soccer League Championships and two Premierships over the following three years.
Vest transformed Sarawak from a mid-table side into a powerful contender within Malaysian football during his tenure.
His period coaching Sarawak from 1992 to 1998 is fondly remembered by supporters as the celebrated “Bujang Senang” era.
The coach’s focus on discipline, tactical structure and collective effort brought a new professional standard to the state squad.
This approach built strong confidence among the team’s players and created immense belief within the fanbase.
Vest was also renowned for his ability to spot and develop local talents who would become Sarawak football icons.
He nurtured players including Pengiran Bala, Abdul Jalil Ramli, Abu Bakar Amran, Affendi Julaihi and Abdul Razak Ismail.
By combining these home-grown stars with foreign signings like John Hunter, David Evans and Jeff Curran, he built a unified and competitive team.
This well-balanced squad became capable of challenging the very best clubs in the country during that period. – Bernama
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