A Reds cult hero is overseeing one of the most successful domestic football projects in the game today
Pundit and former Liverpool player Luis Garcia during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Liverpool FC and LOSC Lille at Anfield on January 21, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Luis Garcia has overseen a record-breaking run as the chief executive of Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta’zim(Image: Getty )
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Former Liverpool hero Luis Garcia is spearheading a historic Malaysian football team who are currently on a world record 113 game unbeaten run. Garcia retired from playing football in 2016 after a 19-year career where he represented the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Panathinaikos and the Reds.
The attacking-midfielder etched his name into Liverpool history by scoring the ghost goal against Chelsea which sent Rafael Benitez’s men into the Champions League final. He then played the entire 120 minutes of the Istanbul final, as the Reds launched a famous comeback against AC Milan from 3-0 down, before winning the match on penalties.
The 48-year-old is now leaving his mark on the game from the boardroom, acting as the chief executive of highly successful Malaysian outfit Johor Darul Ta’zim. He initially worked as an ambassador for his two former clubs Liverpool and Barcelona, as well as a pundit for ESPN and beIN Sports.
But, in March 2025, Garcia unexpectedly took up the role with the Malaysian giants. With Garcia at the helm and former Watford manager Xisco Munoz in the dugout, Johor Darul Ta’zim are currently on a world record streak of 113 league matches unbeaten.
They scored a whopping 117 times in 24 Malaysia Super League matches last season, conceding just 10 goals and drawing once. They are already three points clear at the top this season and are yet to concede after five fixtures.
Johor Darul Ta'zim's players celebrate with the trophy after winning against Kuching City in the opening football match of the Malaysia Super League at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, in Malaysia's Johor state on August 21, 2026.
Johor Darul Ta'zim are an unstoppable force in Malaysian football(Image: Getty )
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Garcia says his task is to grow football in the region and help the club compete against Saudi clubs in the Asian Champions League. And for those doubting their international credentials, the Malaysian champions even held Chelsea to a draw in pre-season.
The former Spain international told the Daily Mail: "[The role] sort of came out of nowhere. After playing, I had done ambassadorial work for Liverpool and Barcelona, and been working for ESPN.
"But I always wanted to look into the business side of football. I had been in meetings and was interested in that side of the game. I flew to Malaysia to meet with His Royal Highness and then it was very quick.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - May 25: Liverpool team, (L to R) Steven Gerrard, Luis Garcia and Djimi Traore Lift the European Cup after winning the UEFA Champions League Final match between AC Milan and Liverpool at Ataturk Stadium on May 25, 2005 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Garcia lifts the Champions League trophy in 2005(Image: Getty Images)
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"From that opportunity, I understood his vision, the work he is behind, the journey they have been through since 2012 and what he wants to achieve with Johor Darul Ta’zim. The amount of work, commitment and determination to make Johor Darul Ta’zim the biggest club in south-east Asia is incredible.
"You can see it straight away, winning the league 12 times in a row, reaching the Asian Champions League quarter-final last year. We are like a European club based in Malaysia, the mentality is exactly the same.
"The academy is run by coaches made in Spain. It has been perfect for me - I am extremely happy and grateful and looking forward to where we can take the club in the future."