Kedah were also keen for Tan Cheng Hoe to stay in football and offered him the role of coach which he held until October 2004.

A break from football lasting 5 years then followed with Tan's next role as manager at second-tier Malaysia Premier League club, Kedah beginning in April 2014.

[9] Surprisingly, he managed to lead Malaysia into the final after eliminating the tournament defending title as well five times champions of Thailand in the semi-finals.

Such feats not only elevated the team's standing but also secured their spot in the prestigious AFC Champions League Two for 2024/2025 season group stage.

The mutual decision for Cheng Hoe to leave was made smoother with a compensation fee received by Selangor upon his contract termination, highlighting the amicable nature of his departure.

[22] On 29 February 2024, Thai League 1 club Police Tero announced the appointment of Tan as the head coach and designated Worrawoot Srimaka as the technical director.