Luka Jordy Hodak, a midfielder for Croatian third-tier club Trnje and son of renowned Croatian coach Bojan Hodak, has received a call-up to the Malaysian U-19 squad for the ASEAN U-19 Championship, which will take place from June 1 to June 13 in Medan, Indonesia. Hodak, born in Damansari, Malaysia, holds dual citizenship due to his mother being from Penang. He is the only European player on the squad of Nafuzija Zaina, which has garnered significant attention from Malaysian media and fans.

Hodak is seen as a valuable addition to the team, especially on the defensive side, particularly as a right back. His social media post featuring the Malaysian flag and a sand clock emoji has further piqued interest. He has been developing his game in Zagreb, having played for Trnje's youth teams and spending a season with Kustošija. This season, he has been a regular in Trnje's junior squad, with 26 appearances and seven goals in the 2025/26 season in the 2nd NL Centar, while he played 28 matches and scored one goal as a cadet in the previous season.

The call-up is particularly noteworthy due to his father, Bojan, who has a significant standing in Malaysian and Asian football. Bojan has worked in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, and China, coaching clubs like Johor Darul Ta'zima, Kelantana, Kuala Lumpur, and Persiba. He has also led the Malaysian U-19 team and currently coaches Persib in Indonesia, having won two league titles with them.

The Malaysian U-19 team will assemble for their preparations on Thursday. The squad primarily includes players from Johor Darul Ta'zima III and IV, and Selangor, including Selangor II, Selangor U-20, and Selangor U-18. Malaysia will face Singapore, Brunei, and Thailand in Group B at the ASEAN U-19 Championship. They will play their first match on June 2 against Singapore, followed by Brunei on June 5, and conclude with Thailand on June 8.