Thai media is in complete shock as the Japanese coach is officially dismissed

The decision to sack Coach Masatada Ishii stunned both the Thai media and fans, as the Japanese coach’s contract was terminated in less than a year of leading the national team.

Thai football has just experienced a real shockwave when the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) officially announced the termination of the contract with head coach Masatada Ishii on October 21. The announcement posted on FAT’s official website completely surprised local fans, with many major newspapers using strong phrases like “lightning strike” or “shocking news” to describe the event.

According to FAT, the decision to part ways with Coach Ishii was made following a meeting of the Technical Committee, chaired by Dr. Chanwit Pholchiwin, Piyapong Pue-on, and Secretary-General Ekapol Pholnawi. The organization stated that the coaching change was necessary due to “differences in management methods and the development direction of the team.” Nevertheless, the association expressed deep gratitude to the Japanese coach “for his efforts in elevating the Thai national team during his tenure.”

The Thaiger commented on this: “The decision shocked fans; the Football Association announced the dismissal of Masatada Ishii - head coach of the Thai national team.” The outlet also quoted the official FAT statement, which clarified that the search for a replacement would begin as soon as possible to ensure continuity for the matches in November. Thailand will face Singapore on November 13 and Sri Lanka on November 18 in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Khaosod described the incident as “sudden and perplexing”, while revealing that the reason might stem from “Ishii’s team management strategy no longer aligns with FAT’s new vision.”According to this source, the dismissal meeting was held in person at the association’s headquarters, attended by Coach Ishii and the entire technical staff.

Meanwhile, Naewna News used the phrase “a lightning strike hitting Thai football” to describe this shock. The paper wrote: “After monitoring and evaluating by FAT’s technical team, the committee decided to terminate Mr. Ishii’s contract due to his coaching approach not matching the association’s assessment.”

Masatada Ishii was appointed head coach of Thailand’s national team in December 2023. Under his leadership, the “War Elephants” played a total of 30 matches, achieving 16 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses, scoring 58 goals and conceding 34. The highlight of his tenure was winning the 50th King’s Cup and finishing runner-up at the 2024 AVC Championship.

However, some domestic opinions suggest that Thailand has not truly progressed in playing style under Ishii, while internal team dynamics showed signs of imbalance between players competing in the Thai League and those abroad.

Masatada Ishii’s departure closes a short but emotional chapter in Thai football’s journey. Now, the biggest question is who will take over the “hot seat” of the Golden Kingdom’s national team, with less than a month remaining before the FIFA international fixtures.

An era ends, and a new phase begins – yet for many Thai fans, the shock named Masatada Ishii will be remembered for a long time.

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