Coaching debacle in Thailand: Ishii fired after defeats against Vietnam!

Coaching debacle in Thailand: Ishii fired after defeats against Vietnam!

The Thai national football team is facing major upheaval after coach Masatada Ishii was abruptly fired from his post on October 21, 2025. This decision came after a series of unfortunate results that dashed fans' hopes of another AFF Cup title. Ishii had only taken part in a technical meeting with the Thai Football Association (FAT) on the morning of the same day and was outraged by the decision. He accused the association of dishonesty and was extremely unpopular not only with the fans but also with the technical committee. According to Vietnam, Thailand's defeat in the two finals against Vietnam was a major reason for his dismissal. In total, the FAT listed seven reasons for terminating his contract, including a previous defeat against the Philippines and the disappointing performance in the King's Cup.

The situation in Thai football is tense as the national team plays against Sri Lanka on November 18 and urgently needs a new coach. The list of possible successors includes names of Korean coaches such as Park Hang Seo and Shin Tae Yong, who are currently considered favorites. The onus remains to find a suitable solution to get the team back on track. The debacle of the last few weeks, particularly the defeat in the AFF Cup, has sparked a discussion about the future direction and strategy of the Football Association.

A review: The current challenges

The recent defeat against Vietnam in the first leg of the 2024 AFF Cup, held at the Viet Tri Stadium, was particularly painful. It was Thailand's first defeat on Vietnamese soil in 27 years. Coach Ishii acknowledged his team's mistakes that led to the 2-1 defeat and admitted that these results did not meet the fans' expectations. The fans especially remembered Nguyen Xuan Son's goals, the first in the 59th minute and the second in the 73rd minute after a defensive mistake. While Thailand scored in the 83rd minute with a header from Chalermsak, it wasn't enough to equalize VSN.com.vn reported.

The last few months have been turbulent for the Thai national team. After the failed title defenses at the 2020 and 2022 AFF Cups, the team was under a lot of pressure. In addition, the team not only had to admit defeat against Vietnam, but also against Iraq in the King's Cup final and Turkmenistan in the qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup, which further fueled the critics. These defeats did not improve the already fragile mood in the team and among the supporters.

The Historical Context of Thai Football

Thai football has a long history, dating back to 1917 when the first national team was formed. Despite intensive efforts, the national team never qualified for a World Cup. But there have always been bright spots: the team has won the ASEAN Football Championship a total of seven times, most recently in 2014 and 2016. Historically, Thailand has also been a dominant force in the SEA Games, with nine wins since the first tournament in 1959.

With a view to the challenges ahead, it is FAT's top priority to set the course for a better future. Finding a new coach could be the first step in making the team competitive again. The fans and those responsible for the association hope for a new beginning that can once again unleash the potential of Thai football. Especially in the current situation, it is important that everyone involved pulls together in order to emerge stronger from these difficult times.