Selangor Football Club has officially announced the appointment of Jun Marques Davidson as the new Assistant Head Coach of the Red Giants for the 2024/25 season.

Jun Marques Davidson brings with him a wealth of experience both as a player and a coach. A former professional footballer, Marques' playing career took him across several top-tier clubs in Japan, including Omiya Ardija, Albirex Niigata, Vissel Kobe, C'dole Sapporo, and Tokushima Vortis. Starting his career in Japan's J2 League in 2002 at the age of 19, he played a pivotal role in Omiya Ardija’s promotion to the J1 League in 2005. His professional career spanned over a decade, making 86 appearances for Omiya Ardija alone.

In addition to his successful career in Japan, Marques also enjoyed stints in the United States, playing for Charlotte Independence in the USL Championship and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer (MLS).

After retiring from playing in 2017, Marques transitioned into coaching, starting with his first club, Omiya Ardija, where he worked with the youth teams (U-7 to U-11). His coaching journey then took him to China in 2019, where he served as the coach for Guangzhou R&F FC's under-9 squad, before moving on to a role as Assistant Coach at Shijiazhuang Ever Bright FC in 2020. In recent years, he has worked with Kogishima United FC’s U-15 and U-18 teams in Japan and was appointed Director of Development at Shaanxi Union FC in early 2024.

According to Katsuhito Kinoshi, the club Head Coach, it was a combination of Marques' experience, attitude, and alignment with the team’s football philosophy that made him the ideal candidate for the role.

"Before agreeing to join Selangor FC, I set a condition to bring an assistant coach from either Japan or Europe. The management agreed to this condition, and that’s why I chose to bring Marques Davidson on board. His personality and extensive coaching experience; not only in Japan but also in China and the United States, make him a perfect fit for our team," said the gaffer.

Kinoshi’s relationship with Marques dates back to 2002, when they were both at Omiya Ardija. From the start, Kinoshi saw potential in Marques, not just as a player but as a future coach. "I’ve known him since he was a player, and even then, I could sense he had the potential to become a great coach due to his attitude and work ethic. We later worked together at a development academy in China, and during that time, we exchanged many ideas about football. I found that Marques truly understands the football philosophy I want to bring here at Selangor FC," he added

"Marques speaks English very well, which will make communication during training sessions and discussions much easier. Moreover, he has an open and broad-minded approach to life and football, which aligns well with the inclusive and progressive culture we are striving to create. Other than that, his aggressive mindset on the pitch is something I highly value, and an important element in the way I want the team to play, and Marques embodies that spirit. His style of play and coaching will complement our strategy perfectly,” Katsuhito Kinoshi explained the reason behind the appointment.

We are thrilled to welcome Jun Marques Davidson to the Red Giants family. His wealth of experience and coaching expertise will undoubtedly enhance our staff and help propel the team to even greater heights. We look forward to the positive impact he will bring, and wish him every success as we continue our journey forward together.

Demi Kebanggaan!