"November 23 will open a new era, because that is the day Japanese coach Masatada Ishii officially leads the Thai national team, replacing Mano Polking, the Brazilian head coach of German origin," Thai newspaper Thairath reported about the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) officially appointing coach Masatada Ishii to the "hot seat" of the country's national team.
Coach Masatada Ishii (right) was officially appointed to the "hot seat" of the Thai national team (Photo: AP).
The Thai newspaper also said that coach Masatada Ishii will start his new job next week (November 28), aiming to win a ticket to the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup despite the "War Elephants" being in a difficult situation after losing to China in the opening match and currently ranking third in Group C.
In the immediate future, the Japanese coach will be tested in his new role with a friendly match between Thailand and Japan on January 1, 2024, and immediately after that will enter the 2024 Asian Cup Finals, also taking place in January 2024.
Mr. Masatada Ishii has never coached a national team, but is highly regarded by the FAT for helping Japan's Kashima Antlers finish second in the FIFA Club World Cup, as well as helping Thai team Buriram United win two consecutive Thai championships in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.
Also in these two seasons, Buriram United also won both the National Cup and the Thai League Cup.
"Team building style of play is the philosophy of the Japanese coach. It is to focus on putting great pressure on the opponent's field, increase the speed and when the ball is intercepted, it will switch to an attacking state like a lightning bolt," Siam Sport commented on the playing style of coach Masatada Ishii.
"We have to go to the World Cup, Thai football fans and all stakeholders have big dreams of seeing the Thai national team advance to the World Cup finals.
The higher the expectations, the more pressure there will be on coach Masatada Ishii in the remaining four matches in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup," the Thai newspaper added about the pressure ahead for the new Japanese coach.
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