Best known for winning three Malaysia Cups, two Charity Shields and one FA Cup while with Selangor in the 1990s, the English-born Worden was also credited with having spotted and “made” numerous players.
PJ City coach P Maniam said he would always remember Worden for the trust he placed in the young centreback to play in the starting-11 for Selangor in 1991, and later on, in the national team.
While Maniam admitted he had his doubts at being pushed higher up the pitch, Worden – who later went on to coach Singapore and Myanmar – had faith in his young protege’s style of play and that he could deliver the goals.
Worden saw Maniam’s penetrating runs and decided he had potential as an attacking midfielder. It was a gamble which paid off handsomely when Maniam scored nine goals in the 1991 season – and ended as Selangor’s top scorer.
“He was one of the best coaches in Malaysia and he could really bring a player to another level,” said Maniam.
“He was like my second father. I’m proud to say I’m in this position today because of him,” said Maniam, who added that Worden introduced him to coaching.
A former Burnley and Preston North End player, Worden, who was Selangor’s technical director in 2004, asked Maniam to coach the Under-19 side the next year – thus giving him his big break in coaching as well.
Former national striker and coach Dollah Salleh reminisced about the close relationship he and his former national strike partner, Zainal Abidin Hassan, had with Worden in the early 1990s.
“Ken used to discuss everything with us. Very often, he would come to me and Zainal to ask about line-ups,” said Dollah, who currently coaches Sri Pahang.
“He worked the players hard during training, but he was a real professional. That’s one thing special about Ken, and I really salute him for that,” added the former Selangor boss.
Another former Selangor coach, K Gunalan, described Worden as a “very good motivator” who knew which buttons to push to get the best out of each of his players.
“He liked to provoke you to make you a better player,” said Gunalan.
He also remembered Worden for leading Selangor to success in the 1995 Malaysia Cup.
Not only did it mark the Cup’s return to Selangor after eight years, the victory was sweeter because it was won at the team’s new home – the Shah Alam Stadium, which had only opened its doors a year earlier.
“I think he was one of the most successful coaches we’ve had, and a lot of people are really going to miss him.”
Malaysian football legend and former Selangor captain Soh Chin Ann said Worden was a disciplinarian and no-nonsense coach who was passionate on the field and a true gentleman outside.
“He was a sincere man who had a good relationship with his players and cared for them,” said Chin Ann, who is president of the ex-state and ex-national footballers’ association.
“Although I did not have the privilege to train under Worden, we did play in opposing teams during our annual veteran fellowship football matches with the Western Australian ex-international team in Kuala Lumpur and Perth,” he said.