K. Nanthakumar


Nanthakumar Kaliappan or better known as K. Nanthakumar is a former Malaysian footballer where he played as a defensive midfielder. He was a member of the Malaysian national team from 2002 until 2010. Nanthakumar is currently the head coach of Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League club Manjung City.

Playing career

He is renowned for his physical appearance which is always quoted to overshadow many strikers in the Malaysian League. Having a six feet tall physique, Nanthakumar is not only tough in defend but also can even score a goal for Perak FA.
He had represented Malaysia since the 2002 Tiger Cup. From then onwards, he has been a regular on the national team. He helped Malaysia to finish third in the 2004 Tiger Cup and even made a semi final appearance during the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship. Furthermore, he was chosen to be on the national team for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, where he played in all of Malaysia's matches. He was also part of the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying squad.

Managerial career

Negeri Sembilan

On 15 September 2024, Nanthakumar was appointed as the head coach of Malaysia Super League club Negeri Sembilan. He later on resigned from the position as of 12 June 2025.

Manjung City

On 16 October 2025, Nanthakumar was officially announced as the new head coach of Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League side Manjung City.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player

Perak FA
Selangor FA
MISC-MIFA