Coach Mano Polking was suddenly fired right after the victory over Singapore. This surprised many fans. The person chosen to replace the Brazilian coach is Masatada Ishii.
Coach Masatada Ishii has worked in Thailand for 4 years and achieved certain success (Photo: Buriram United).
For most fans, coach Masatada Ishii is an unfamiliar name. In his career, this strategist has never led any national team. The coach, born in 1967, began his coaching career in 2015 when he led Japan's top club, Kashima Antlers.
After two years leading Kashima Antlers, Coach Masatada Ishii achieved a winning rate of up to 61.46% (winning 59/96 matches). He helped the club win the J-League championship in 2016 and finished second in the FIFA Club World Cup 2016. Also at this club, Coach Masatada Ishii won the 2016 Emperor's Cup and the 2015 Japan League Cup.
He then moved to lead another Japanese club, Omiya Ardija, for a year (2017-2018). In 2019, this strategist moved to lead Samut Prakan City. But like at Omiya Ardija, he did not achieve any success at the Thai club.
In 2021, coach Masatada Ishii moved to lead Thailand's top team Buriram United. Here, he and the club won two consecutive Thai championships in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. Also in these two seasons, Buriram United won both the National Cup and the Thai League Cup.
The Football Association of Thailand wants to orient the national team in the Japanese style (Photo: Siam Sport).
Last year, the Japanese coach was involved in a fight with an opposing player and was disciplined. However, he was still considered successful at Buriram United with a winning rate of 76.47%.
Coach Masatada Ishii just left Buriram United in August this year, before being appointed to the position of Technical Director of the Football Association of Thailand.
Remember, after the Japanese coach took the position of Technical Director, the female head of the Thai football team, Nuanphan Lamsam (nicknamed Madam Pang) admitted that she wanted to orient the team's playing style according to "Japanese football DNA". This is the long-term orientation of the Football Federation of Thailand.
Explaining the choice of coach Masatada Ishii for the "hot seat", Madam Pang admitted: "For the new coach position, we have carefully considered before deciding to appoint Mr. Masatada Ishii. This coach will take over the job of the Thai team immediately.
The reason is that the team does not have much time to prepare when the 2023 Asian Cup takes place in January next year. Besides, we have 4 remaining matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Therefore, the priority of the Football Association of Thailand is to choose someone who is knowledgeable about Thai football.
The Thai team's loss to China was the last straw that caused coach Mano Polking to lose his job (Photo: Getty).
Masatada Ishii has experience working in Thailand and Japan. Remember, Japan is a model team of Asian football. I believe coach Masatada Ishii is the right person for the Thai team."
That shows that Thai football people have long planned the direction of the national team. The dismissal of coach Mano Polking after the loss to China further pushed the appointment of coach Masatada Ishii earlier.
Coach Masatada Ishii is under a lot of pressure to help the Thai team succeed in the 2023 Asian Cup and the remaining 4 matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, he does not have much time to prepare when the 2023 Asian Cup is only a month and a half away.
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