Vice President of the Football Association of Thailand (FA Thailand), Charnvit Polcheewin, said the organisation has received waves of criticism following the shock dismissal of Japanese head coach Masatada Ishii from the Thai national football team.
He urged Thai football fans to understand and accept the decision, saying it was not made lightly and only after careful and lengthy consideration.
“We expected strong criticism from fans and we accept that,” Charnvit said, adding “This decision wasn’t rushed. The technical committee weighed many factors. We were worried that, if we continued with the current setup and things went wrong, it would be too late to change course.”
FA Thailand’s announcement yesterday, that it had parted ways with Ishii, who took over as head coach in December 2023, stunned many, especially as it came just days after Thailand’s 6-1 victory against Taiwan in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
Thailand now stands on the cusp of qualification, needing only an away draw to Sri Lanka on November 18th and a win at home against Turkmenistan on March 31st next year.
Despite this strong position, FA Thailand cited differences in coaching philosophy and direction following a recent technical evaluation. Ishii’s record stood at 16 wins from 30 matches, a 53% win rate.
Charnvit acknowledged the challenge of the timing, given that only two critical matches remain in the qualification round, saying “We had to think about player selection and tactics. If a change had to be made, it had to happen now, not after we risked everything.”
Shortly after the dismissal, Ishii shared his side of the story in an Instagram post yesterday, saying the decision came as a complete surprise during what he believed would be a routine match review.
When the review was over, he was suddenly told his contract would be terminated today.
He wrote he was confused, so he refused to sign anything. The dismissal was announced in the afternoon.
“What dishonest people they are,” he wrote, thanking everyone who has supported our Thai national team so far and that he feels sorry.
Charnvit said he understands how Ishii feels as they are both coaches, “but I want to say that we’ve always treated him with respect and didn’t interfere with his work. It’s best that we part ways respectfully.”
As for Ishii’s replacement, Charnvit confirmed that FA Thailand’s technical director, Anthony Hudson, is currently the leading candidate.
The former New Zealand and USA interim coach previously managed BG Pathum United, Hudson is considered well-prepared and familiar with the Thai football landscape.
“We are reviewing the profiles of both Thai and foreign coaches,” Charnvit said. “Hudson has a strong case, but we’re also considering others, like Kiatisuk Senamuang, Sasom Pobprasert and Totchtawan Sripan, though some of them have club commitments.”
He also noted that fan-favorite foreign names, such as Park Hang-seo and Shin Tae-yong, are being evaluated as well.
Charnvit said FA Thailand plans to appoint a new head coach by early next week at the latest, adding “Whoever is chosen will need to submit a full coaching plan and be ready to take on the pressure. It’s a short time, but high stakes.”
