Masatada Ishii back in Thailand: New coach for BG Pathum United!

Masatada Ishii back in Thailand: New coach for BG Pathum United!

The football scene in Thailand has reached a moment of crisis: Masatada Ishii, until recently coach of the Thai national team, was fired by the Football Association of Thailand (FA Thailand) on October 21, 2025. This decision came after a somewhat surprising run of two wins against Chinese Taipei in qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup. Although the results in qualifying were positive, Ishii was unable to meet the association's expectations, which was primarily reflected in a lack of long-term strategic direction. According to Vietnam, issues such as neglect of top-performing domestic players and failures in major tournaments such as the 2024 ASEAN Cup and 2025 King's Cup were key.

The Ethiopian Football Association ultimately argued that Ishii's style of play was no longer compatible with their long-term objectives. Another drawback was the painful 3-1 defeat against Turkmenistan, which significantly affected the Thais' chances of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup. In the same two years that Ishii coached the team, he managed just 16 wins in 30 games, a winning percentage of 53%, as Football Tribe reports. The coach, who previously worked successfully in the Japanese J.League and coached teams such as Kashima Antlers and Omiya Ardija, had led Thailand to the round of 16 of the 2025 Asian Cup in Qatar.

The return to the Thai League

After his release, Ishii now plans to return to the Thai League and take over BG Pathum United. The hope is that his many years of experience will help strategically strengthen the team and advance squad development. This could be an important step for the team, which is at a turning point, to bring a breath of fresh air and overcome its previous failures. With a good hand, he could provide decisive impetus to recover from the current situation.

The FA Thailand announced that it would appoint a new coach in the near future. “We would like to thank Ishii for his hard work and dedication,” reads an official statement from the association. Two important games are scheduled almost simultaneously in November: a friendly against Singapore on the 13th and an Asian Cup 2027 qualifier in Sri Lanka on the 18th. This represents a real challenge as the Thai selection needs to reorient itself.

Different perspectives and upcoming challenges

In an Instagram post, Ishii said he felt he was being treated unfairly and called the decision an “act of dishonesty.” These different representations raise questions about transparency in the decision-making process, while the FA Thailand has cited technical inconsistencies as the reason for the split. In the turbulent region of Asian football, where other nations such as South Korea and China are also affected by coaching changes, the Thai colors are also under pressure to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, as Der Farang also notes.

The Changsuek are now at a crossroads and must set the right course for the coming period. It remains to be seen how the new coach, who will be appointed soon, will lead the team. What is clear is that the future of many players and the direction of Thai football will be heavily influenced by this decision. It remains exciting to see what dynamics the coming months will bring.