The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) announced on its website on Wednesday (July 17^th) that Mr. Akira Nishino, the former chief of Japan’s national football, has now been officially appointed the new head coach of Thailand’s national football team and the U23.

The FAT went on to say that Mr. Nishino “will lead the ‘War Elephants’ to compete in the upcoming World Cup 2022 Asian Qualifiers round 2, Sea Games and the AFC U23 Championship 2020 Finals.”

The FAT described Nishino’s appointment as “a historic milestone for Thai football” as he will be the first ever Asian head coach “to helm Thailand National Team.”

The official signing ceremony and press conference is scheduled in Mr. Nishino’s homeland of Japan on July 19^th. The association said it will hold the first press conference in Thailand on the day Mr. Nishino arrives back in Bangkok.

News of the possible appointment broke earlier in June, followed by a picture of Mr. Nishino and FAT president Pol. Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung together, although Mr. Nishino was reported by Japanese media to have swiftly denied that he had accepted the offer.

Mr. Nishino, 64, is known to favour an attacking philosophy since he became Japan’s national football team head coach for the Russian World Cup in April 2018. The team has had impressive results with Japan making it to the first knock-out round of 16 teams but lost to Belgium, 3-2.