Former Thailand head coach Masatada Ishii has returned to club football less than two weeks after being controversially dismissed by the Football Association of Thailand (FAT).
The Japanese tactician has been appointed coach of Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United, making the Rabbits his third club in Thailand after successful spells at Samut Prakan City and Buriram United.
Ishii, 58, brings with him plenty of experience in coaching in the J-League with clubs such as Kashima Antlers and Omiya Ardija. He achieved excellent results with Antlers, winning the J-League YBC Levain Cup in 2015, and following that up with the J-League and the Emperor’s Cup in 2016. He also led Kashima to a runners-up finish in the Fifa Club World Cup in 2016.
Ishii began his coaching career in Thailand in 2019 and led Samut Prakan to a sixth-place finish in Thai League 1. He was named Buriram coach in the second leg of the 2021-2022 season and guided the Thunder Castle to two Thai League 1 titles, two FA Cups, and two League Cups in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons.
Ishii took on the role of head coach for the Thai national team in 2023, leading the War Elephants to the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 finals in Qatar. He also guided Thailand to the 2024 King’s Cup title and a runners-up spot at this year’s edition.
Ishii’s appointment came at a challenging period for the Rabbits, who have been struggling for consistency this season.
The Rabbits are fifth in the T1 standings after nine games, having already lost three times this season. They are also struggling in the AFC Champions League Two, fighting to make it through the group stage after just three points from three games in Group H.
His first match in charge will be against Chonburi in Thai League 1 on Sunday.
Ishii’s shock dismissal as Thailand coach came just days after he guided the War Elephants to back-to-back victories over Taiwan that revived the team’s hopes of reaching the 2027 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia.
Englishman Anthony Hudson, the U23 technical director, was named as his replacement.
Venue change
The 33rd Southeast Asian Games men’s football Group A matches will be played at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium instead of Tinsulanonda Stadium in Songkhla due to security reasons.
The programme has also been reshuffled, with Group A matches now taking place on Dec 4, 7 and 11 to avoid clashing with the opening ceremony, which will take place at the stadium on Dec 9. Group A games were previously scheduled to take place on Dec 1, 5 and 9.
Thailand are in Group A along with Cambodia and Timor-Leste.
All Black attire
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has sent a letter to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Asean Football Federation (AFF) asking for permission to change the national team kit to all black as a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.
The FAT also requested a minute’s silence to be observed before all domestic league games and Thailand’s matches.
The national team will return to action during the Nov 10-18 Fifa Day, with a warm-up match against Singapore on Nov 13 and an Asian Cup qualifier against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Nov 18.