“Due to my other responsibilities and commitments, I have decided to take a step back and hand over the control of JDT to the top management of the club,” he said on Facebook.

Tunku Ismail will remain the owner of the Southern Tigers, but would be less involved in their day-to-day operations.

“I wish the club and everyone all the best,” he said.

Tunku Ismail took control of the football club in 2012 and under his leadership, JDT won eight straight league titles and became the first Southeast Asian football club to emerge as champions of the AFC Cup in 2015.

This year, JDT became the first Malaysian team to reach the AFC Champions League knockout stage.

In March, Tunku Ismail expressed interest in buying Spanish football club Valencia from Singapore businessman Peter Lim.

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