While many players take advantage of the off-season to unwind, Everton Under-16s coach Jose Baxter has taken his summer break in a different direction—working with the Malaysian national team.
Baxter, a graduate of the Everton Academy and the youngest player to represent the club in the Premier League, has taken up a joint-role as assistant coach to Malaysia’s head coach Peter Cklamovski. Cklamovski previously served under Ange Postecoglou during Australia’s 2015 Asian Cup triumph.
Balancing duties at Everton’s Finch Farm with his new role, Baxter has joined Malaysia for his first international camp, spending the initial week in Johor before relocating to Kuala Lumpur. The national squad is preparing for a crucial Asian Cup Group F qualifier against Vietnam at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Tuesday.
Speaking to evertonfc.com from Kuala Lumpur, Baxter revealed how the opportunity came about—thanks to Everton legend Tim Cahill.
“It all started with Tim!” Baxter explained. “He knows Peter really well from their time with Australia and recommended me when they were looking for a third coach.
“After a few good chats with Peter, everything was arranged. Everton was really supportive, and the timing worked perfectly.”
Known for embracing challenges, Baxter was excited by the chance to grow outside his comfort zone. “You only improve by being around the best. I’ve always admired how Postecoglou managed, and Peter was a key part of that success. He’s also had great results in Asia, including with FC Tokyo.”
“I want to keep learning, and this experience has already been so valuable. Working with international players in a high-performance environment has been incredible.”
He also praised the support staff around Cklamovski. “Everyone’s been so welcoming—Matt Smith, John Crawley, Craig Duncan, and Aidil Zafuan, who brings massive experience as a former international himself. And there’s Technical Director Tan Cheng Hoe, who brings further depth.”
Baxter credited the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Ismail Idris—whom Cahill advises—for driving an ambitious vision for Malaysian football. “He’s passionate about building a legacy, and it’s already making a real impact. I’m really grateful to the Crown Prince, Peter, Tim, and Everton’s Gareth Prosser and Carl Darlington for supporting my development.”
Baxter, who made his Everton senior debut at just 16 years and 191 days in 2008, will return to Merseyside after Tuesday’s match. He’ll continue his work at Everton while rejoining the Malaysian squad for future international windows, including qualifiers in October.
“Everton remains my full-time job,” Baxter emphasized. “But these camps offer huge potential—not just for me, but for Everton too. We can share best practices, and maybe even plan a tour out here one day.”
“Once you see what they’re trying to build in Malaysia, it’s really inspiring.”
Currently ranked 131st by FIFA, Malaysia recently played back-to-back friendlies against Cape Verde—ranked 72nd. Baxter believes those matches were key to building momentum.
“The first thing that stands out is how much quality the boys have—and how respectful and eager they are to learn,” he said.
“There’s no ego in this group. Against Cape Verde, we competed well in and out of possession. We’ve identified things to work on, but in the short time we’ve had together, the players have responded brilliantly.
“We’re all excited now for the Vietnam qualifier.”
