Jakarta Casual

If social media were to run football Olivier Giroud would have long been consigned to the knackers yard, Jurgen Klopp would have been beatified by now and Mehmet Durakovic would have a job for life at Selangor.

The last few years have been pretty barren by Selangor standards as they have seen the likes of Kelantan and Johor Darul Tazim take their turn in dominating Malaysian club football. The Red Giants have had to look on as other states have invested more heavily in football and reap the rewards with trophy after trophy.

For Selangor have history. Before Saturday's Malaysia Cup Final they had lifted the famous trophy a record 32 times. No else bar Singapore comes close. But the last few years have been a veritable drought by their lofty standards. Their last league title was 2010, their last FA Cup 2009 and their last Malaysia Cup in 2005. Not a bad return for clubs like Tottenham or Liverpool but a scandalous offering for Selangor who see themselves as giants of the local game.

The run up to the final wasn't all sweetness and light with rumours abounding coach Mehmet Durakovic would be replaced come what may despite finishing second in the Super League for the third consecutive season and of course the big day out at Shah Alam Stadium against Kedah. Selangor were rumoured to have lined up his replacement and come final day Durakovic, who I saw play for South Melbourne back in the old NSL days, was a dead man walking. Selangor it seemed wanted someone to kick them on to the next stage.

Two goals from Ahmad Hazwan Bakri has perhaps changed all that, especially if the clamours on social media are to be believed.

The players to have come out in support of the coach who also played for Selangor. Indonesian winger Andik Vermansyah said 'Ultimately it is for the management to decide but I feel he should get at least another year. Winning trophies are not easy but Selangor managed to do it this year and it was done with Durakovic as coach.'

Selangor the state has given everyone the day off in celebration of their first Malaysia Cup in a decade but club officials are keeping tight-lipped over Durakovic's future with the president saying there was a lot of speculation about his future but he would say nothing until the board meet. In other denying nothing...'I'm not going to give a decision at the moment as it is still premature. I would rather discuss the matter with the (FAS) Exco members.'

History is littered with coaches being replaced after success. Look at Jupp Heynckes at Bayern Munchen or Roberto di Matteo not long after winning the Champions League for some south west London team with a Russian owner. The idea that a coach can stay a build a legacy these days seems quaint and old fashioned, a bit like Bovril and apprentices sweeping the terraces.

It is difficult to see how Selangor can improve on three second place finishes and a Malaysia Cup triumph without serious investment to match the likes of Pahang and JDT, flush after AFC Cup success. And if that is forthcoming then surely Durakovic, who has done so well with barely a pot to piss in, deserves the opportunity to splash the cash. And if no more cash is the mantra then what is to be expected of a new coach?