At a press conference, Pan Gon said he was stepping down due to personal commitments.
Pau Marti Vicente will take over as acting head coach of Harimau Malaya in the meantime.
Pan Gon credited the team’s achievements during his tenure to the unwavering support of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Harimau Malaya fans, coupled with the dedication of the coaching staff.
“My hope is that the FAM, the government and all Malaysians will continue to support and encourage the national team to achieve the goal of qualifying for the Asian Cup for the second consecutive time.”
From the get-go, he said he had aimed to establish a proactive football philosophy for the Malaysian national team, focusing on controlling and dominating the game.
He also paid tribute to the national players, saying they had developed strong character and mentality, which were reflected in their matches.
“For the rest of my life, I will always remember the blue skies of Malaysia, the clouds and trees, the friendly, lovely, bright Malaysian people, the taste of nasi lemak, and the smell of durian, all of which I love.
“Now, as a half-Malaysian, I will always support the Malaysian national team and be proud of Malaysia wherever I go,” he said.
Meanwhile, FAM deputy president Yusoff Mahadi said Pan Gon was the only member leaving the coaching staff, and that Pau will be supported by assistant head coach E Elaravasan.
“This means the entire team will remain, except for coach Kim. All other coaching staff members will remain in their positions,” Yusoff said.
The South Korean’s contract as Harimau Malaya coach was set to expire at the end of 2025.
In March, however, Bernama quoted a source as saying Pan Gon and his team of coaches were prepared to call it quits over their disappointment with the national team’s situation.
Pan Gon later dismissed the report as inaccurate, saying that his “mission with the Harimau Malaya squad is not over”.
Pan Gon helped transform Harimau Malaya’s fortunes at the international level, leading them to qualify on merit for the Asian Cup after 42 years and emerge as runners-up in the 2022 Thai King’s Cup and 2023 Merdeka Football tournament.
The 55-year-old also oversaw Malaysia’s surge in the world rankings from a lowly 154th spot to their best-ever placing of 130th.