Kiatisak resigns as football coach
Kiatisak resigns as national team coach
Kiatisak Senamuang has quit as coach of the Thai national football team.
“I’d like to thank all for the moral support given to me during the past four to five years when I had the highest honour of working as coach of the Thai national team,” Kiatisak posted on his Instagram account yesterday.
‘‘Today, I announce the end of my role as coach of the Thai national team.”
The move came after Thailand suffered two heavy defeats in the 2018 World Cup qualifying rounds.
The Thais were defeated 4-0 by Japan in Saitama on Tuesday after losing 3-0 to Saudi Arabia in Bangkok last week.
Kiatisak was first appointed coach of the national U23 team in 2013 before taking charge of the full national team the following year.
>> Football Association of Thailand president Somyot Poompunmuang said he was shocked by Kiatisak Senamuang’s resignation as coach of the national side yesterday.
“I’d like to thank everyone for all the moral support given to me during the past 4-5 years when I had the highest honour of working as coach of the Thai national team,” Kiatisak posted on his Instagram account yesterday.
“I today announce the end of my role as coach of the Thai national team. I will clear my work and submit it back to the employer within 90 days. I’d also like to thank my players, staff, fans and family.”
The decision came after Thailand suffered two massive defeats in the 2018 World Cup qualifying round.
The War Elephants were beaten 4-0 by Japan in Saitama on Tuesday after losing 3-0 to Saudi Arabia in Bangkok last week.
They are at the bottom of Group B of Asia’s final qualifying stage for the 2018 World Cup with six losses and one draw.
They are out of contention for a ticket to Russia 2018 with three matches remaining.
“I am stunned by Kiatisak’s resignation,” said Somyot.
“I did not think that he would resign today. I’d have liked to have a meeting with him [before he quit]. I’d like to thank him for making Thais happy.”
Somyot was apparently upset after the losses to Saudi Arabia and Japan, saying “changes are inevitable”.
Kiatisak resigned after it was reported that the FAT wanted former Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri to replace him.
However, Somyot yesterday rubbished the reports saying it was just a joke he had with Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, owner of Leicester City, when he sacked Ranieri recently.
To add spice to the matter, former Thailand coach Winfried Shaefer is in town.
But the German, who is unemployed after parting ways with Jamaica, said he was in Thailand for holiday.
One of Thailand’s best striker of all time, Kiatisak, 43, is arguably the most successful coach of Thailand ever.
He was appointed coach of the national U23 side in 2013 and guided them to win back the SEA Games title that year.
He was then assigned to take charge of the full national team the following year and steered them to two back-to-back Suzuki Cup titles in 2014 and 2016.
Kiatisak also led the Thai U23 team to fourth place at the 2014 Asian Games.
When he was caretaker coach of the full national team, he took them to a memorable 5-1 win at China that prompted a riot by angry Chinese fans.
The protest led to the sacking of Antonio Camacho as coach of China.
Meanwhile, former West Ham United and Chelsea striker Carlton Cole has signed for Indonesia’s Persib Bandung, the club announced.
Cole, 33, joined Persib just two weeks after his former Chelsea teammate and ex-AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder Michael Essien signed for the club — the highestprofile player to make the move to Indonesia for years.