KUALA LUMPUR: Bosnian media are buzzing with speculation that a “Malaysian Prince” is set to invest in FK Sarajevo, but Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and his representatives have yet to confirm any deal.
Reports from outlets such as SportSport say the Johor Crown Prince, and owner of Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), is close to joining Sarajevo’s ownership group alongside current investors Vincent Tan and Ismir Mirvic.
“Negotiations with the Malaysian prince have been ongoing for around six months and are now being finalised,” Bosnian media reported, adding that Mirvic is “presently in Kuala Lumpur to wrap up talks.”
If completed, the move would mark Tunku Ismail’s first European club venture. Years ago, he came close to acquiring Spanish side Valencia, whose financial crisis invited potential new owners.
“I am here for glory, success and history,” he said at the time, as reported by Bosnian media, pledging to protect the club’s traditions rather than overhaul its identity.
Tunku Ismail’s impact on Malaysian football is beyond dispute. Since taking charge of JDT, the 41-year-old prince has overseen 11 straight Malaysian Super League titles and built a thriving youth system. His personal fortune is estimated at US$6.7 billion (about RM31.5 billion), giving Sarajevo supporters hope of both financial stability and sporting ambition.
On the field, FK Sarajevo are enduring a mixed start to their Bosnian Premier League campaign and sit in mid-table. Once a Yugoslav giant with league titles in 1967 and 1985, the club has struggled for consistency despite winning the Bosnian double as recently as 2019.
The club’s story is steeped in resilience. During the 1990s siege of Sarajevo, FK Sarajevo’s training pitch became a cemetery for war victims. In the modern era, Malaysian businessman Vincent Tan helped revive the club, investing close to €10 million (about RM50 million) from 2013 and financing a new training centre before selling most of his stake to Vietnamese entrepreneur Nguyen Hoai Nam.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
