{{Short description|Malaysian footballer (born 1961)}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Indian name|Devan|E.Kuppusamy|notemalay=off}}{{Infobox football biography | name = K. Devan | image = | fullname = Devan a/l E. Kuppusamy | height = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1961|04|12}} | birth_place = Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia | currentclub = | position = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1980–1989 | clubs1 = Negeri Sembilan FA | caps1 = 163 | goals1 = 11 | nationalyears1 = 1981 | nationalteam1 = Malaysia | nationalcaps1 = 11 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 1991–1995 | managerclubs1 = Negeri Sembilan Indian | manageryears2 = 1996–1999 | managerclubs2 = NS Chempaka | manageryears3 = 2001–2002 | managerclubs3 = Negeri Sembilan U-23 | manageryears4 = 2003–2006 | managerclubs4 = Negeri Sembilan FA | manageryears5 = 2007 | managerclubs5 = Malacca FA | manageryears6 = 2008 | managerclubs6 = Kuala Muda Naza | manageryears7 = 2009–2011 | managerclubs7 = Selangor FA | manageryears8 = 2012 | managerclubs8 = Johor FC | manageryears9 = 2013 | managerclubs9 = Felda United | manageryears10 = 2014 | managerclubs10 = Penang FA | manageryears11 = 2015 | managerclubs11 = Negeri Sembilan FA | manageryears12 = 2016 | managerclubs12 = Kelantan FA | manageryears13 = 2017–2020 | managerclubs13 = Petaling Jaya City | manageryears14 = 2021–2023 | managerclubs14 = Negeri Sembilan | manageryears15 = 2024–2025 | managerclubs15 = Melaka | club-update = | nationalteam-update = }}
'''Devan a/l E. Kuppusamy''' (born 12 April 1961) simply known as '''K. Devan''', is a Malaysian former footballer and head coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://redgiantsarchive.com/staff/devan-e-kuppusamy/|publisher=Red Giants Archive|title=Devan E Kuppusamy|access-date=31 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031054448/https://redgiantsarchive.com/staff/devan-e-kuppusamy/|archive-date=31 October 2022|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cms.fam.org.my/v1/teamdetail/czo4OiJjbXMubnNmYyI7/F2021FLP|publisher=FAM|title=Team Detail Negeri Sembilan FC|access-date=31 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813042723/https://cms.fam.org.my/v1/teamdetail/czo4OiJjbXMubnNmYyI7/F2021FLP|archive-date=13 August 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Playing career == K. Devan born in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan is a former centre-back player of Negeri Sembilan FA from 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arenafutsal.my/k-devan-sah-kembali-ke-negeri-sembilan/|publisher=Arena Futsal|title=K. Devan sah kembali ke Negeri Sembilan |lang=Malay|date=1 December 2020|access-date=10 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017062454/https://arenafutsal.my/k-devan-sah-kembali-ke-negeri-sembilan/|archive-date=17 October 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> Before that, he also played with PB Negeri Sembilan Indians in Malaysia FAM Cup and reached the final in 1980.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/malaycuphist.html#pialafam FA of Malaysia Cup. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 Mar 2022.]</ref>
== Managerial career ==
=== Negeri Sembilan FA === K. Devan officially started his coaching career in 2004 with his former team Negeri Sembilan FA. He won the 2005-06 Malaysia Super League championship with Negeri Sembilan, as well as guiding the team to the 2006 Malaysia Cup final and 2006 Malaysia FA Cup semi-final.
=== Malacca FA === K. Devan then coaches Malacca FA in 2007
=== Kuala Muda Naza === In 2008, K. Devan coaches Kuala Muda Naza where he led the team to the Malaysia Premier League championship that year.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/5/5/sports/21150973&sec=sports| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080505233632/http://www.thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/5/5/sports/21150973&sec=sports| archive-date = 2008-05-05| title = Coach Devan s winning touch}}</ref>
=== Selangor FA === In 2009, K. Devan was signed as Selangor FA team manager and head coach. He held the roles until his resignation as head coach in September 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ww2.utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=theMessenger&y=2011&dt=0921&pub=theMessenger&sec=Sports&pg=sp_05.htm|title=K. Devan quits as Selangor coach|date=21 September 2011|website=Utusan Online - English Version|publisher=Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad|access-date=24 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724115201/http://ww2.utusan.com.my/utusan/special.asp?pr=theMessenger&y=2011&dt=0921&pub=theMessenger&sec=Sports&pg=sp_05.htm|archive-date=24 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under his guidance, Selangor FA became the Malaysia Super League champion in 2009, 2010 and also won 2009 Malaysia FA Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://axello.net/statistik-kenali-5-ketua-jurulatih-paling-berjaya-di-liga-m-sejak-1994/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112090739/https://axello.net/statistik-kenali-5-ketua-jurulatih-paling-berjaya-di-liga-m-sejak-1994/|url-status=|archive-date=12 January 2023|title=Statistik: Kenali 5 Ketua Jurulatih Paling Berjaya Di Liga-M Sejak 1994|lang=malay|date=2 December 2020|publisher=Axello.net|accessdate=12 January 2023}}</ref>
=== Johor FC === K. Devan was appointed as head coach of Johor FC for the 2012 Malaysia Super League season,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mmail.com.my/content/88110-devan-out-show-he’s-still-got-it|title=Devan out to show he's still got it|last=Deol|first=Haresh|date=28 December 2011|website=The Malay Mail|publisher=Malay Mail Sdn. Bhd|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104065343/http://mmail.com.my/content/88110-devan-out-show-he%E2%80%99s-still-got-it|archive-date=4 January 2012}}</ref> however he resigned in April 2012 after series of poor results in the league.<ref>http://football.thestar.com.my/?p=18268 {{Dead link|date=March 2022}}</ref>
=== Felda United === In early 2013, K. Devan was appointed as head coach of Felda United but was replaced by Azuan Zain in June 2013, with Felda United in poor form and in danger of being relegated with only four games remaining.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2013&dt=0722&pub=Kosmo&sec=Sukan&pg=su_02.htm|title=Azuan masih menanti penuh debar|last=Nor Aziran Yunus|date=22 July 2013|website=Kosmo! Online|language=ms|access-date=2016-07-24|archive-date=24 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724120623/http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2013&dt=0722&pub=Kosmo&sec=Sukan&pg=su_02.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Devan later was named as the new head coach of Penang FA, a team newly promoted to 2014 Malaysia Premier League, in October 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3891/features/2013/11/06/4386784/transfer-news-k-devan-takes-over-at-pulau-pinang|title=Transfer News: K. Devan takes over at Pulau Pinang|last=Zulhilmi Zainal|date=6 November 2013|website=Goal|publisher=Goal.com|language=en-MY|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref>
=== Negeri Sembilan FA === In November 2014, Negeri Sembilan announced that K. Devan will take over the 2nd tier Malaysia Premier League club for the 2015 season.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Leong|first1=Kelvin|title=Sundramoorthy leaves Negeri Sembilan after one season|url=http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/2128841/sundramoorthy-leaves-negeri-sembilan-after-one-season|publisher=ESPN FC|access-date=5 November 2014|date=5 November 2014}}</ref>
=== Kelantan FA === On 5 December 2015, Kelantan FA has unveiled K. Devan as their new head coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2015/12/15/kelantans-coaching-merrygoround-picks-up-devan/|title=Kelantan's coaching merry-go-round picks up Devan|last=K. Rajan|date=15 December 2015|website=The Star Online|publisher=Star Media Group Berhad|access-date=24 July 2015}}</ref> After an unsatisfactory performance shown by the team in the league, he decided to resign on 10 May 2016 citing personal reasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2016/05/11/devan-steps-down-from-kelantan/|title=Devan steps down as Kelantan coach after bumpy ride|last=Samuel|first=Eric|date=11 May 2016|website=The Star Online|publisher=Star Media Group Berhad|access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref> He was replaced as Kelantan FA head coach by Velizar Popov.
=== Petaling Jaya City === In December 2017, MISC-MIFA announced that Devan will take over the position as head coach of the Malaysia Premier League club for the 2018 season. Devan has already overseen the team as interim head coach when he was appointed as technical director in June 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2017/06/30/miscmifa-bank-on-coach-devan-to-turn-fortunes-around/|title=MISC-MIFA bank on coach Devan to turn fortunes around|date=30 June 2017|website=The Star Online|publisher=Star Media Group Berhad|access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref> On 16 January 2019, the club was rebranded to '''Petaling Jaya City''' in which he kept his job as head coach at the club.
=== Third spell at Negeri Sembilan === In January 2021, K. Devan was appointed as head coach in his third spell at Negeri Sembilan where he was tasked to guide the team to promotion in which he won the 2021 Malaysia Premier League title with the club and guided them back to the Malaysia Super League.
=== Melaka === In 2024, Negeri Sembilan didn't renewed his contract and thus he left the club cementing his place as a legendary figure at Negeri Sembilan. On 6 March 2024, Malaysia M3 League club Melaka took the chance to sign K. Devan as their head coach.
==Managerial statistics== {{updated|25 December 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ Managerial record by team and tenure |- !rowspan="2"|Team !rowspan="2"|Nat. !rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="5"|Record !rowspan="2"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip|W|Games won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Win percentage}} |- |align=left|Selangor |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|1 January 2009 |align=left|30 September 2011 {{WDL|116|78|21|17}} | |- |align=left|Johor |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|1 January 2012 |align=left|30 April 2012 {{WDL|17|5|4|8}} | |- |align=left|Felda United |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|1 January 2013 |align=left|30 June 2013 {{WDL|30|5|7|18}} | |- |align=left|Penang |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|1 October 2013 |align=left|31 October 2014 {{WDL|29|14|6|9}} | |- |align=left|Negeri Sembilan |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|5 November 2014 |align=left|31 October 2015 {{WDL|25|9|8|8}} | |- |align=left|Kelantan |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|5 December 2015 |align=left|10 May 2016 {{WDL|12|4|4|4}} | |- |align=left|Petaling Jaya City |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|30 June 2017 |align=left|31 December 2020 {{WDL|69|26|15|28}} | |- |align=left|Negeri Sembilan |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|1 January 2021 |align=left|31 December 2023 {{WDL|81|35|21|25}} | |- |align=left|Melaka |{{flagicon|Malaysia}} |align=left|6 March 2024 |align=left|25 December 2025 {{WDL|45|23|10|12}} | |- !colspan="4"|Career Total {{WDLtot|424|199|96|129}} ! |}
==Honours==
===Managerial===
==== NS Chempaka ==== *Malaysia Premier League (1):2000
==== Negeri Sembilan ==== *Malaysia FA Cup (1): 2003 *Malaysia Super League (1): 2005-06 *Malaysia Premier League (1): 2021
==== Kuala Muda Naza ==== * Malaysia Premier League (1): 2007-08
==== Selangor ==== * Malaysia Super League (2): 2009, 2010 * Malaysia FA Cup (1): 2009 * Malaysian Charity Shield (2): 2009, 2010
==== Melaka ==== * Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League (1): 2024–25
===Individual===
==== National Football Awards ==== *Best Coach Award : 2005-06, 2009
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120306033144/http://www.faselangor.my/index.php/component/joomleague/?func=showTeamstaff&p=1&pid=26&tsid=2 K. Devan's profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20221028150002/https://m.facebook.com/n9futbol/photos/a.163427025979/10152555709490980/?type=3 K.Devan Interview. Kelab e-Penyokong Bola Sepak N9. (N9FUTBOL.COM)]
{{Negeri Sembilan FC squad}} {{Melaka United managers}} {{Kelantan F.C. managers}} {{Selangor F.C. managers}} {{Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. managers}} {{Felda United F.C. managers}} {{Melaka F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devan, K.}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Negeri Sembilan Category:Malaysian people of Indian descent Category:Sportspeople of Indian descent Category:Footballers from Negeri Sembilan Category:Malaysian men's footballers Category:21st-century Malaysian sportsmen Category:Men's association football central defenders Category:Negeri Sembilan FC players Category:Malaysian football managers Category:Melaka F.C. managers Category:Malaysia Super League managers