Revealing the new contract of coach Masatada Ishii with the Thai team

Previously, the president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) Somyot Poompunmuang proposed to sign a 3-month contract with coach Masatada Ishii (Japanese). The reason for this proposal is that the current Executive Committee of FAT, as well as Mr. Somyot himself, will withdraw at the end of February 2024.

Therefore, the contract of the Thai national team coach, according to the FAT President, cannot be longer than the current term of the FAT head.

Coach Masatada Ishii returned to Thailand on November 28, preparing to sign a contract with the Thai national team (Photo: Daily News).

This is a super unique contract, which happened to coach Mano Polking before the AFF Cup 2020. At that time, the former head coach of the Thai national team only had a 4-month contract (from October 2020 to the end of February 2021).

However, Thai media reported that coach Masatada Ishii did not agree with the 3-month contract, and it is likely that Mr. Ishii will sign a one-year contract with the "War Elephants" (nickname of the Thai team).

The Daily News of the Land of Golden Pagodas reported: "Up to now, no contract has been signed between FAT and Coach Ishii. Head of the Thai team Madam Pang is urgently contacting FAT to complete the procedures. It is expected that the contract between Coach Ishii and FAT will be for one year."

"The contract between coach Ishii and the Thai team will last until the end of the AFF Cup, the tournament held at the end of 2024," the Daily News added.

In 2024, the Thai team will have 3 official tournaments including the Asian Cup, World Cup qualifiers and AFF Cup (Photo: AFC).

Coach Masatada Ishii was appointed to replace coach Mano Polking, after Mr. Polking's Thai team disappointed with a 1-2 loss to China in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia on November 16.

With the loss to China at home, Thailand is almost eliminated from the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia. The "War Elephants" are in Group C, including South Korea, China and Singapore. In this group, South Korea is likely to lead the group, while Thailand and China compete for second place.

According to the previously proposed 3-month contract, Coach Ishii will only work with the Thai team in 4 matches, including a friendly match with Japan in early January 2024, and 3 group stage matches of the 2023 Asian Cup (taking place from January 12, 2024 to February 10, 2024).

If he signs a one-year contract, Mr. Ishii will have at least 3 official tournaments with the Thai team, including the Asian Cup, the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia (ending on June 11, 2024) and the AFF Cup.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/he-lo-hop-dong-moi-cua-hlv-masatada-ishii-voi-doi-tuyen-thai-lan-20231201114136690.htm