Earlier this morning, the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) announced the termination of its contract with national team coach Felix Dalmas, effective immediately.
The decision comes halfway through Dalmas's contract, after a series of disappointing results under his leadership, with the Cambodian team failing to secure wins in multiple matches, both at home and away.
The FFC shared the news via its official Facebook page, saying: "The executive committee of the Football Federation of Cambodia has decided to terminate the contract with national football team coach Felix Dalmas, effective immediately."
The federation also expressed its deep gratitude to Dalmas for his efforts and contributions during his current tenure, which began in April 2023, and wished him success in his future endeavours.
In conjunction with this statement, the FFC announced the appointment of Koji Kyotoku, a Japanese national who has previously led Cambodia's U-19 and U-20 teams, as interim national coach.
“Mr. Koji Kyotoku has been appointed as the interim coach of the Cambodian national team,” it said.
Although the FFC did not provide a detailed explanation for Dalmas’s contract termination, it is widely understood that the decision was made due to pressure from supporters, who have been vocal in demanding his removal due to the team’s poor performance.
Dalmas achieved notable success in his previous tenure as coach by guiding Cambodia to the semi-finals of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games—a historic first for the team.
However, his recent period in charge saw a decline in performance, despite his genuine commitment to Cambodian football and his view of the Kingdom as his second home.
Criticism of Dalmas intensified after Cambodia's losses to Pakistan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with aggregate scores of 1-0 (0-0 and 0-1) in October 2023.
Further discontent arose when Cambodia was defeated by Sri Lanka in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifiers. In the first leg, held in Sri Lanka, the match ended in a 0-0 draw. The return leg at the National Olympic Stadium on September 10 saw Cambodia lose 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in regular time.
After the match, Dalmas asserted that the players had given their all and deserved better results. He asked supporters to avoid putting excessive pressure on the team through harsh criticism, acknowledging that he was aware of the potential for his contract to be terminated due to this intense scrutiny.
Despite his departure, Dalmas urged everyone in Cambodia to continue supporting the national team and the sport, emphasising the importance of unity and mutual support in advancing Cambodian football.
“All the players are committed to playing for Cambodia and desperately want to win. Therefore, I ask fans not to exert too much pressure and to avoid discouraging them with severe criticism” he said.
“Whether it is me as the coach or a new one, success depends on our collective effort and support. If we do not help each other, no one from outside will assist us. Promoting football knowledge and the players' skills to the fans is beneficial. Cambodia is on the right path to a better future, if everyone works together,” he added.