Peter Cklamovski

Peter Cklamovski (; born 16 October 1978) is an Australian professional football manager and former player who is the manager of EFL League Two club Salford City.

Cklamovski began his coaching career in 2004 with Australia’s national youth teams, working under Ange Postecoglou at FIFA World Youth Championships and AFC Youth Championships, before moving abroad to Greece’s Panaxaiki and later joining Melbourne Victory in Australia’s premier competition, the A-League.

In 2014, Cklamovski joined Postecoglou’s staff with the Australian national team, serving as assistant coach through one of the nation’s most successful periods ever. As part of the wider coaching team, they led the Socceroos at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, guided the team to success at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup becoming champions and securing what was Australia’s first ever continental title, secured their place at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and earned qualification for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. Cklamovski also managed the Australia under-17 team in 2017, guiding them through 2018 AFC U-16 Championship qualification.

He later joined Postecoglou at Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan as assistant coach in 2018, helping the team secure the 2019 J1 League title, their first since 2004. In 2020, Cklamovski became head coach of Shimizu S-Pulse in the J1 League. He then managed Montedio Yamagata in the J2 League, where he is credited with transforming the team's style into an attacking, win-focused approach. His tenure saw the club achieve its best win percentage and points-per-game record in history while avoiding relegation and nearing promotion in 2022. Cklamovski was then signed by J1 League outfit FC Tokyo in 2023.

Cklamovski brought to an end a successful seven year spell in Japanese club football at the end of the 2024 J1 League season, taking up the position of Malaysia national team head coach in January 2025.

Early life and education Cklamovski played in Australia in the New South Wales Super League with Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Rockdale Ilinden. As a youth player Cklamovski was a Rockdale Ilinden junior and played in NSL youth league competitions with Sydney United and NSW ITC. Cklamovski was set for selection for the U17 Australian national youth team until a serious car accident caused injuries that rendered this impossible.

Cklamovski's first coaching job was at The Kings School Grammar, Sydney where he coached U14s and U16s in 2002 & 2003. He also worked at Westfields Sports High School as Head of Performance from 2002 to 2008. During this time, Cklamovski completed postgraduate degrees in Applied Science, Sports Coaching and Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science. During Cklamovski's coaching career he completed and Cklamovski also holds highest coaching accreditation, Pro License completed in 2016.

Managerial career Australia national team The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil saw Australia's group draw with three teams in the top 10 of FIFA rankings. The Socceroos were set to play-off against Chile, Netherlands and Spain. This tournament demonstrated a new way of playing for the Australian national football team (the Socceroos) under new head coach Ange Postecoglou and his coaching team including assistant coach, Peter Cklamovski.

New hope and excitement was created in the way the team played, showcasing a new generation of stars joining established greats. Following the 2014 FIFA World Cup, training camps in September, October and November were used to develop the team for 2015 AFC Asian Cup success.

The 2015 AFC Asian Cup held in Australia resulted in the first major trophy for the Australia men's national soccer team, winning the final against South Korea 2–1 with an extra-time goal scored by James Troisi in front of 76,385 fans at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

As reigning Asian Champions, the Socceroos competed at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia where they would play 2014 World Champions Germany, Cameroon and Chile in the group stage.

The following year, qualification was achieved for the FIFA 2018 World Cup but only after a grueling campaign, with the Socceroos finally clinching their place in the finals after defeating Honduras 3–1, in the AFA/CONCACAF Playoff at Stadium Australia (Sydney) on 15 November 2017, where captain Mile Jedinak scored a hat-trick.

Socceroos' head coach Ange Postecoglou announced his resignation from the role on 22 November 2017, where he would later take up an opportunity in Japanese club football with Yokohama F. Marinos.

Australia U17 While working with the Socceroos, on 5 August 2017 Cklamovski was appointed by the FFA becoming Australian U-17 national youth team head coach (the Joeys). Cklamovski created a new process across recruitment and talent ID domestically by introducing a strategy called Elite Games. This approach was designed to bring a selected group of players in every state or selected region to play in higher level games mid-week. All games were launched online for national team staff to review and Cklamovski then selected and assembled a squad for the AFC qualification stage. The Joeys qualified through the first stage of AFC qualification undefeated in Mongolia.

Yokohama F. Marinos In February 2018, Cklamovski was then approached by Ange Postecoglou to join him as his Assistant at J1 League club Yokohama F. Marinos, where together they spearheaded a football revolution in Japan through the creation of the high tempo style of play known as “Marinos Football”.

Yokohama F. Marinos developed an attacking, possession-based identity, influencing Japanese football. After an initial season of transformation, finishing just one point above relegation and reaching the Levain Cup Final losing to Shonan Bellmare 1–0 at Saitama Stadium, the foundations were set for future success.

In 2019, Yokohama F Marinos won the J1 League for the first time in 15 years.

This achievement marked the conclusion of a transformative chapter for Cklamovski alongside Postecoglou, a partnership that reshaped coaching methodology, tactical identity, and training standards within Australia and across Asia.

Shimizu S-Pulse Following success at Yokohama F Marinos winning the 2019 J1 title, J1 outfit Shimizu S-Pulse appointed Cklamovski as head coach in February 2020.

The club had experienced a decade of mediocre seasons and was recognized for a defensive orientated approach. Cklamovski was brought in to rebuild the team and implement an attacking style of play to excite the supporter base, which had been a trademark of his coaching career to date.

One week after signing his contract, a new general manager was appointed and the club lost their attacking goal scoring weapon, Brazilian striker Douglas to Vissel Kobe, who was arguably the best striker in the league at the time.

In the disrupted 2020 season affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cklamovski led Shimizu S-Pulse through a compressed J.League schedule of 33 matches over a 20-week period.

S-Pulse were developing and implementing a brand of football during the tight schedule, however, issues with player availability and squad depth led to a tough period of results.

With no relegation in the league and no player investment by the club, Cklamovski drove a strategic rebuild centred on youth development and a modern football identity. Shimizu finished top five in J1 for minutes played by U-21 and U-24 players – including the debut of Japanese international Yuito Suzuki – laying the platform for a shift and marking a season defined by resilience, innovation, and cultural transformation.

Cklamovski resigned from his role as head coach on 1 November 2020.

Montedio Yamagata On 30 April 2021, Cklamovski signed with J2 League club Montedio Yamagata and in doing so, became the first foreign head coach in the club's history.

Arriving in round 14 – where the club was sitting in the relegation zone – Cklamovksi delivered a rapid revival: a club record seven consecutive wins, a 12-match unbeaten run, and averaged 2.66 points per game which was another club record.

Across two seasons (2021 and 2022), Yamagata reached the J2 promotion play-offs, posted record goals scored and fewest conceded, plus adopted a new attacking identity which was resolute in defence.

Cklamovski’s impact extended off the pitch, where the club attracted record player transfers, experienced increased commercial growth, and implemented clear development pathways.

However, the record transfers resulted in losing many key players from the historic 2022 starting XI team including Riku Handa, Kota Yamada and Kosuke Yamazaki.

In 2023, his contract was terminated in round seven with six points on the league table, five points away from sixth position.

Cklamovski departed the club with the highest win percentage and points-per-game of any manager in the flub’s history.

FC Tokyo On 16 June 2023, Cklamovski was appointed as FC Tokyo head coach. Cklamovski immediately transformed the club’s trajectory by reigniting belief, redefining the team’s identity, and delivering instant results with a 67%-win rate and averaged 2.11 points per game in his first six matches.

Across the 2024 season, Cklamovski reshaped FC Tokyo’s footballing DNA, introducing an aggressive, energetic and entertaining style that reconnected the team with its supporters. Under his leadership, FC Tokyo fielded the youngest starting XI in the club’s history with an average age of 22.7 years, handed 12 debuts where nine were U-21, and promoted eight academy players. This identity shift was mirrored off the pitch, with attendance surging to 60,988 (club record) and an average home crowd of 34,000 which was second highest in the J.League.

On 19 November 2024, Cklamovski announced that he would be stepping down from his role as head coach of FC Tokyo at the end of the 2024 J.League season, bringing to a close a defining seven-year chapter in Japan.

Malaysia On 16 December 2024, the Football Association of Malaysia announced the appointment of Cklamovski as the new Head Coach of the Malaysia national team. Cklamovski began his duties on 5 January 2025, with the task of leading the team to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

As of 19 November 2025, Malaysia are undefeated from eight matches under Cklamovski and sit top of Group F after Match Day 5 of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Qualifiers. The National Team has surged from FIFA World No.133 to No.116 – the highest ranking in over 20 years – and ranked 3rd globally for best performing nations in 2025.

However, on 17 December 2025, FIFA voided the results of three friendlies matches due to the fielding of ineligible naturalized players, thus tarnishing Cklamovski undefeated run.

On 17 March 2026, the AFC also overturned the results of two matches in the third round qualification of 2027 Asian Cup against Nepal and Vietnam into 0–3 defeats, which resulted Malaysia not qualified to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

On 18 June 2026, FAM announced that Cklamovski and his assistants had departed from the national team by mutual consent.

Salford City On 18 June 2026, Cklamovski was appointed as the new manager of EFL League Two club Salford City.

Managerial statistics

Honours As Manager

Australia AFC Asian Cup: 2015 AFC Asian Cup (Assistant)

Yokohama F. Marinos J1 League: 2019 J1 League (Assistant)

Individual J2 League Manager of the Month: 2021 J2 League