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Malaysia national under-20 football team

Malaysia U-19
Nickname(s) Harimau Muda
(Young Tigers)
Association Football Association of Malaysia
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation AFF (Southeast Asia)
Head coach Frank Bernhardt
Home stadium National Stadium, Bukit Jalil
FIFA code MAS

Malaysia national under-19 football team (also known as Malaysia Under-19 or Malaysia U-19) represents Malaysia in international football competitions in AFF U-19 Youth Championship, AFC U-19 Championship and FIFA U-20 World Cup, as well as any other under-20 international football tournaments. The players in the current team mainly consist of players with age within 17 to 19 years old where the oldest players will be below the age requirement of 20 years old when the next U-20 tournament started. The team will also play in other age-restricted tournament as the older or younger side such as U-20 and U-18 when needed.

After the disbanded of Harimau Muda project, FAM needed a fresh start for the U-19 team where a new set of players was brought in for the U-23 side with the creation of SEA Games Project 2017 team with the team mainly consist of players with age around 18 to 21 years old. The set of players that still under 19 years old can then also be selected to represent Malaysia for the U-20 side tournament with the Under 19 team.

The team is considered to be the feeder team for the Malaysia national under-23 football team. It is for players aged 19 and less. Also in existence are national teams for Under-23s (Under-22s and Under-21s), Under-17s and Under-15s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, hence it is possible for one to play for the U-19s, senior side and then again for the U-19s.

After the abysmal performance of Malaysia national football team in international scene, Football Association of Malaysia created Harimau Muda Project where the under-19 side was called to represent Malaysia as a single team club called Harimau Muda C.

Harimau Muda C was formed to provide a bigger pool of players and become a feeder team for Harimau Muda B, as Harimau Muda B did to Harimau Muda A. Harimau Muda C made their debut in the 3rd Division of Malaysian football, the FAM League and fielded under-18 aged players.

The team is aimed at developing Malaysian youth players and will not recruit any foreign nationals in its squad. By entering Harimau Muda C in domestic competitions, FAM hopes to expose top Malaysia under-19 players to competitive matches, thus helping them prepare for international tournaments. As such, Harimau Muda C is one of a small number of football clubs in the world which places an age-restrictions on team members while playing in a national professional league. Harimau Muda C played in the Malaysia FAM League from 2013 to 2015 season.


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