Thailand U22 coach called 'stupid'

The indignant statement by Sarayuth Chaikamdee, former striker of the Thai national team, became the focus of public attention in Thailand after the men's football final at the 33rd SEA Games.

Thailand U22 lost to Vietnam in the SEA Games 33 final. Photo: Duy Hieu .

Just hours after the Thailand U22 team suffered a 2-3 defeat to Vietnam U22 at the Rajamangala Stadium on the evening of December 18th, Thai social media erupted with harsh criticism directed at the home team.

Sarayuth Chaikamdee stated: "As a coach, and like many who have never had the opportunity to stand in that position, I feel compelled to speak out. This approach is unacceptable. This coach is stupid (referring to head coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul - PV)."

The following day, the former Thai football star spoke out again, stating that he was also a fan, had posted messages of support for the team when they played well, and did not want to see their rivals win the championship on home soil.

Sarayuth Chaikamdee is one of the best strikers in Thai football history. He has played 49 times for the national team, scoring 31 goals. In his club career, Sarayuth has played for 12 different teams, including a stint in Vietnam for Pisico Binh Dinh during the 2005-2006 season.

The defeat was painful for Thai fans, as the home team led Vietnam U22 2-0 in the first half. However, losing control of the game in the second half turned their dream of a SEA Games gold medal into a major disappointment. The silver medal on home soil is considered an unacceptable outcome for a football nation that once dominated the SEA Games.

The defeat against Vietnam U22 means that the Thai men's football team continues its losing streak at the SEA Games for the fourth consecutive time, since winning the gold medal in 2017. For a team that has won the SEA Games 16 times, this long slump raises a warning sign about the future of Thai youth football.

Vietnam's emotional comeback on the magical Rajamangala night: On the night of December 18th, the Vietnam U22 team staged an emotional comeback at Rajamangala against host Thailand, winning the SEA Games 33 gold medal. Vietnamese men's football concluded 2025 like a dream with a hat-trick of regional championships at the senior, U23, and U22 levels.

Source: https://znews.vn/hlv-u22-thai-lan-bi-chui-ngu-ngoc-post1612640.html