11/02/2025
What do you think about the Football Association’s decision to part ways with "Ishii" as the coach of Thailand's national team?
The announcement that the Football Association of Thailand has parted ways with Masatada Ishii, the head coach of Thailand’s national football team, quickly became a hot topic within the Thai football community. The news shocked fans of the "Changsuek" team nationwide. The technical management team of the Football Association, led by Dr. Charnwit Pholchiwin (Vice President), Piyapong Piew-on (Board Member), and Ekaphol Pholnavi (Secretary-General), held a meeting with Ishii before informing him of the decision to terminate his contract. The reason cited was the mismatch between his team-building approach and the assessment made by the technical department, as well as his overall performance since taking charge in December 2023. During this period, Ishii led the team to 16 wins in 30 matches, resulting in a win rate of 53%.
Following the news, Ishii posted a heated message on his personal social media in Japanese, stating that the Football Association had called him for a discussion and informed him of the contract termination. However, Ishii expressed that he was not ready for such a conversation and suggested they discuss it another time. Subsequently, news spread that he was fired, and Ishii criticized the involved parties, stating that they “lacked sincerity.” This sparked intense debate among Thai fans, many of whom disagreed with the association’s decision, pointing out that Ishii's performance had not been disastrous. Under his leadership, the Thai national team achieved notable results, such as drawing with top Asian teams like South Korea and Saudi Arabia on their home turf. Additionally, he led the team to rise to 96th in the FIFA World Ranking.
Many Thai fans also praised Ishii's development approach and dedication to the team. However, there were also those who supported the Football Association's decision, citing key disappointments such as losing the 2024 ASEAN Cup to Vietnam, failing to defend the King’s Cup title after a defeat to Iraq in September, and the poor start to the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers with a loss to Turkmenistan. Despite leading the group, the team still needs to fight for top spot in the group to secure a place in the final rounds. Some fans also questioned his decision-making on player selection, wondering why certain in-form players were not called up to the national team.
Amarin TV would like to invite fans to vote on whether they agree with the Football Association’s decision to remove "Ishii" as head coach of the Thai national team.
Join the poll and express your opinion via the – available for free on iOS and Android, or visit: [link removed].
