JDT poised for greatness despite AFC Champions League exit

Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) manager Esteban Solari has every reason to be proud. Despite seeing his team falling to a 0-5 defeat at the hands of J-League runners-up Kawasaki Frontale at the Todoroki Athletic Stadium in Japan in late November, the club boasts an impressive record under the Argentinian’s leadership. 

Sure, the Kawasaki defeat means that JDT cannot repeat its historic 2022/23 feat of reaching the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League again this season. Despite this, Solari’s record at the Malaysia Super League club remains one he can proudly write home about.  

Malaysian AFC Champions League history made

Last season, JDT qualified for the AFC Champions League Round of 16 by topping a group that included Kawasaki Frontale, K-League heavyweights Ulsan Hyundai, and the unfavoured Chinese side Guangzhou FC. By doing so, Johor became the first Malaysian team in history to reach the knockout stages of the prestigious Asian tournament.

The manager who successfully negotiated the group stage, Mexican Benjamín Mora, was not there to witness the Round of 16 match, having resigned for personal reasons three weeks before it took place. Instead, Johor’s current Technical Director, Héctor Bidoglio, was thrust in at the deep end to oversee the knockout fixture against Urawa Red Diamonds. 

The historic match against the eventual AFC Champions League winners ended in a 0-5 defeat at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, which was not the result expectant home fans had wanted. Nevertheless, The Southern Tigers had already made history.

The Esteban Solari era

Although Esteban Andrés Solari Poggio has only Johor Darul Ta’zim since January, his short reign is likely the beginning of an era. Since assuming control before the start of the current season when Bidoglio moved into the Technical Director role, he’s continued with but improved the effectiveness of the attacking 4-3-3 formation favoured by his predecessor. 

Since taking over the management of JDT’s playing affairs, the ex-Lierse, Almería and APOEL Nicosia striker has improved the style and performances of the multiple Malaysian Super League winners to a degree that its domestic dominance has almost become invincibility. 

In the 25 completed 2023 league fixtures so far, Solari has managed Johor to 24 wins, with only an August draw against KDA tarnishing his 100% league record. With only one round of league fixtures remaining in the Super League, JDT has already clinched the league for a 10th straight year. This year, how the multiple champions have done so is what stands out.

When match betting opens on the live betting sites reviewed in SBS for the final Johor fixture against Penang FC, the Southern Tigers will be overwhelming odds-on favourites to beat their 10th-placed opponents and finish the season undefeated. By doing so, Johor will end the season with 76 points, only two shy of the perfect domestic season.

JDT retain Malaysia Cup

Furthermore, JDT retained the Malaysia Cup trophy they won last season by defeating Terengganu FC 3-1 in the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday, December 8. The Johor-based club had previously overcome the same opposition in the Malaysia Super Cup in February, and they also emerged victorious against Kuala Lumpur City FC in the final of the Malaysia FA Cup in July.

JDT’s win in the Malaysia Cup final marked an unprecedented achievement, as they secured a quadruple of titles in Solari’s inaugural season in charge. A victory in the final league match against Penang on December 16 would further signify a second consecutive undefeated league season. The Southern Tigers’ last defeat occurred with a 0-1 loss against Terengganu on Matchday 10 of the 2021 campaign.

With the only Penang league fixture remaining, Solari has overseen an incredible 92 Super League goals scored by Johor, with only seven conceded. Although failure to progress past the AFC Champions League group stage this season removes a little gloss from Esteban Solari’s spectacular debut season, Johor Darul Ta’zim FC’s form under the manager means the club can attempt to rectify matters next season.

Could existing club performances in this fledgling Solari era indicate future continental success for JDT? Time will tell.