Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Current AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa is leading the Confederation into a new era with his bold initiatives and campaign for unity that will lay the foundations for the continuing success of Asian football. As the popular Bahraini prepares to lead the AFC's 60th Anniversary celebrations, the-afc.com profiles a former President who was one of the most influential figures in the development of the Asian game.
The AFC's longest-serving President there are few individuals in the Confederation's illustrious history that had more of an impact in raising the level of the Asian game than Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj.
The fourth AFC President, and the first not from Hong Kong, Tunku Abdul Rahman was integral in laying the foundations for the development of the Confederation and consequently Asian football during his 19-year tenure in charge.
The first Prime Minister of Malaysia and President of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Tunku Abdul Rahman brought significant political and diplomatic skills along with a genuine zeal in improving Asian football, with his introduction of the famous Merdeka Tournament serving as a blueprint for future international events in Asia.
Youth development was a key issue for Tunku Abdul Rahman and in 1959, just one year into his tenure, he launched the Asian Youth Under 19 Championship, then known as the Rahman Gold Trophy.
During his Presidency the stature and status of the AFC increased, as did the Confederation's roots in Malaysia, with most of the AFC meetings taking place in Kuala Lumpur. Tunku Abdul Rahman was a visionary but also a realist and in 1977 he stepped down as AFC President, recognising the time had come to pass the baton on to the next generation of leaders, who would build on his achievements with a new dynamic.
With his legacy in place, Tunku Abdul Rahman resigned on December 11, 1977 with Iran's Kambiz Atabi stepping in as Acting President before another Malaysian in the form of Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah would take helm.