Football Association of Thailand (FAT) officially unveiled Rakphol Sainetngam, widely known as “Coach Hamee”, as the new head coach of the Thailand men’s national futsal team in a press conference held on 5 January 2026 at FA Thailand Headquarters.
The appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for Thai futsal as the association looks to raise standards and reassert its status on the continental and global stage.
FAT Vice President for Futsal and Beach Soccer, Adisak Benjasiriwan, explained the rationale behind the decision, stressing that the move was not merely about naming a new coach, but about reshaping the future of the national team.
“Today is another important milestone for Thai futsal. This is not just the appointment of a new head coach, but the opening of a new era with the goal of pushing our national team to a higher international standard,” said Adisak.
“After carefully reviewing the team’s performance and recognising how much more intense global futsal has become, we needed a leader with deep international knowledge, a systematic working approach, and, most importantly, a true heart for Thai futsal.
“After a thorough evaluation process, we agreed that Rakphol Sainetngam is the right person to drive the future of Thailand futsal. He has proven success at both club and national level, places strong emphasis on youth development, and knows how to balance young talent with experienced players. His commitment to bringing Thailand back to challenging Asia’s best on a sustainable basis was key.”
Adisak also highlighted the importance of long-term structural development, from youth levels to the senior national team, to ensure continuity, a clear identity, and long-term competitiveness.
For Rakphol, this appointment represents his second stint as Thailand’s futsal head coach, having previously led the national team to the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania in 2021.
“I feel delighted, proud, and deeply honoured to take on this role,” Rakphol said. “Thailand futsal is a world-class team with strong potential and many quality players. To be given this opportunity again is truly a great honour for me.”
Since his first tenure, Rakphol has expanded his experience abroad, coaching Vietnam’s women’s national futsal team, Indonesia league powerhouse Black Steel, and most recently Malaysia’s national futsal teams.
“Those experiences have added to my knowledge and confidence. I truly believe I can take Thailand futsal forward,” he added.
Rakphol’s first major assignment will be the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026, scheduled to take place in Indonesia from 27 January to 7 February. Thailand have been drawn into Group B alongside Vietnam, Kuwait, and Lebanon.
“The Asian Cup will be a very challenging tournament. My target is for Thailand to perform at our best, and if possible, reach the final again, just like we did two years ago,” he said.
Outlining his football philosophy, Rakphol promised noticeable changes in Thailand’s style of play.
“Defensively, we must be more aggressive and solid. In attack, we will add more speed because international futsal is played at a very high tempo. I will also introduce more modern tactical ideas to ensure we keep up with the evolution of the game.”
A highly decorated coach, Rakphol has enjoyed success across multiple levels, including guiding Thailand to the Round of 16 at the 2021 Futsal World Cup, winning six Thai League titles, one AFC Club Championship, two ASEAN club titles, an Indonesian League crown, SEA Games medals with Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, and most recently a bronze medal with Malaysia’s U19 team at the ASEAN U19 Futsal Championship in 2025.
Credit Photo : FA Thailand
