Marko Kraljević on the sidelines, 3 October 2021
SINGAPORE, 14 OCTOBER 2021 – There will be a new man in the Balestier Khalsa dugout next season.
The AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) club announced earlier today the departure of Marko Kraljević, who took charge of their final game of the 2021 season four days earlier. The German-Croat, who turns 56 next month, has long been synonymous with the Tigers.
The Dusseldorf native played for Balestier from 1996 to 1998 and then coached their youth sides in 2007 and 2008, before he took up the head coach role at the start of the 2014 SPL (then S.League) season. Kraljević promptly led the Tigers to their first ever Singapore Cup triumph that year and was named Coach of the Year. Qualification for the 2015 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup was achieved, marking the club’s first foray into continental competition. In 2019, he left to take charge of Malaysian side Kelantan FA but his sojourn was cut short and Kraljević returned to Balestier in his former role.
Kraljević said in a club statement: “I would like to thank the players, backroom staff and the management for their constant hard work and dedication. Without each one of you, it might not have been possible. Lastly I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Thava for his support throughout my 8 years with Balestier Khalsa FC. I wish BKFC all the best and good luck.”
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