Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso spent three seasons together at Liverpool between 2004 and 2007, forging a bond that remains strong nearly two decades later. When Chelsea arrive in Malaysia for the final leg of their pre-season tour, new manager Xabi Alonso will be reunited with his former teammate. Garcia is now the chief executive of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), who welcome Chelsea to their 40,000-capacity Sultan Ibrahim Stadium this Sunday.
The two Spaniards go way back to 2004, when they both signed for Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool on the same day. Despite facing each other multiple times in the Spanish football ecosystem, that day at Anfield was the first time they met properly. Garcia recalls the early days of their partnership with humor, noting that their language skills were a point of contention. “He told me he didn’t speak English too well before our unveiling press conference,” Garcia told Sport. “I answered the first question in Spanish, as we had a translator present, and he answered in perfect English and I thought: ‘Why you little?!'”
Both players started in Liverpool’s dramatic Champions League final win over AC Milan at the end of that season and went on to play together for Spain. Garcia says they remain “really good friends” and have stayed in touch, but he insists Alonso is facing a difficult final overseas friendly. After matches in Australia and other parts of Asia against elite European opposition such as Tottenham, Juventus, and AC Milan, Chelsea’s tour ends in Johor. Joao Pedro recently scored twice as Chelsea brushed aside AC Milan, signaling the form they bring to this final test.
The match serves as a monumental moment in JDT’s history and for Malaysian football. “Chelsea is the biggest test we will face this season,” Garcia admits. “I’ll be so happy to welcome them in Johor. The stadium is going to be packed. We can’t wait to challenge ourselves against a top club, top players and it is great to face Alonso. I can assure you on Sunday we will compete. I wish him all the best at Chelsea, but even though I love him, hopefully he ends up second to Liverpool next season.”
JDT has maintained a dominant domestic presence, having not lost a league match since 2021. They are currently on a world record-equalling 108-game unbeaten run, which could soon be extended when the Malaysian season restarts in August. “Hopefully in the first game of the season we’ll break one of the most incredible records in football, that is the domestic unbeaten run,” Garcia said. “We don’t have a limit, and that motto of ‘the sky is never the limit’ is something that we repeat quite often in the dressing room.”
The club’s rapid growth is driven by the vision of the owner, the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Ismail Tunku. The club boasts top-class stadium and training facilities, which are based on Real Madrid’s aptly nicknamed White House training base. Garcia, who splits his time between Spain and Malaysia, gained his Uefa Pro Licence and sporting director licence after retiring. While he oversees commercial activities and wider planning, he leaves the coaching duties to compatriot Xisco Munoz.
Spanish influence is prevalent throughout the backroom staff and academy, where they deliver best-in-class coaching to local talent. “We want to increase the level of Malaysian football and have a fantastic academy. We brought Spanish coaches to the academy so we can get closer to the best, professional style of work,” Garcia added. He believes the success of the Spanish national team highlights the importance of long-term planning, noting that Spain winning the World Cup shows the value of having a coaching programme and a football philosophy that lasts 25-30 years.
Success on the Asian continent is also becoming a realistic prospect after JDT reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League last season. The club is eager to bridge the financial gap between themselves and the continent’s elite. “The next step is to compete in the Asian Champions League and last year was our main introduction. It was difficult against teams that have got budgets that pass over $150m and we only have $15m, so it’s quite a difference, a big gap between,” Garcia explained.
Despite these financial disparities, the club remains ambitious about its future impact. “But we want to contribute to the development of Malaysian football to reach the World Cup some day,” Garcia concluded. As the match against Chelsea approaches, the focus remains on testing their progress against a Premier League giant, providing a fitting end to a high-profile pre-season tour for both the Blues and their hosts.
Xabi Alonso (second from right) scored Liverpool’s third goal in the 2005 Champions League final
He has taken the club on an amazing journey.
