Football player such as Dato' M. Chandran perhaps one of the most famous name in Europe, stood among the stars of Malaysian football's finest hours. Dato’ M. Chandran is probably the most accomplished footballer Malaysia has produced, judging from the scale of honors and success he garnered in a 15-year career beginning in the early 1960s when the country was a pioneer in the then hatching continent’s organization of tournaments and quadrennial sports festivals in which football was the most popular attraction until his retirement as coach in 1974.
The skipper’s armband for both state and country was the inevitable high point of a career that was as solid as the role he played in defense. With 163 international caps and having led the national team to their highest level ever, M. Chandran has firmly etched his name in the annals of the greatest defender.
The crown of that career was country’s qualification for the 1972 Munich Olympics, disposing of the likes of South Korea and Japan in the qualifiers, an achievement that was more promising for reason his leadership as team captain. That achievement coupled along with a bronze medal at the 1974 Asian Games capped a playing career that saw him win every laurel that was obtainable to a national and state footballer.
Chandran represented the country over a 10 year period, four as its captain. He turned out for the state of Selangor over a 15 year period, five as its skipper.
For a player of his length of service to country and state, Chandran’s career was singular in being free of controversy, a feature that made for an easy transition to coach for the Selangor and national team. Chandran was coach of the national team for four years and guided the Selangor state team for five years, winning the top domestic honors in the latter role.Chandran was coach of the national team in 1982 and led them to President’s Cup, Merlion Cup, Merdeka Tournament and the Asian Games.
After his stint as a coach, he was co-opted into the technical committee of the Football Association of Malaysia, a position he holds till today.
Presently, Chandran is attached to the FIFA Development Office, Kuala Lumpur, handling financial matters that draw on his long experience in two banks where he worked until his retirement at the age of 55 in 1997.
Achievements
- 1968 Selected for Asian All Stars against Arsenal
- 1972 Malaysia National Football Team qualified in the Olympics, Munich
- 1974 Asian Games – Bronze
- 1980 Malaysia National Football Team qualified in the Olympics, Moscow
- 1988 National Football Team Coach
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