Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has officially announced the departure of Masatada Ishii as head coach of the Thailand national football team, following a comprehensive review by the FAT’s technical committee which concluded that the team’s current direction and coaching approach were not aligned with the association’s long-term plans.
The decision was reached after a meeting held on October 21, 2025, at the FAT headquarters, attended by Dr. Charnwit Polcheewin (FAT Vice President), Piyapong Pue-on (Executive Committee Member), and Ekapol Polnavi (FAT General Secretary), who represented the technical department in discussions with the Japanese coach.
According to the FAT’s official statement, the technical committee had monitored, evaluated, and reviewed Ishii’s methods and team philosophy over the past months and found discrepancies between his tactical direction and the association’s technical framework and developmental objectives.
Masatada Ishii, who took charge of the Thai national team in December 2023, guided the “War Elephants” through 30 matches, achieving 16 wins — a 53% win rate.
While Ishii’s tenure saw moments of promise, including improved attacking discipline and several notable performances in the regional scene, the FAT’s evaluation determined that the overall progression of the team did not meet the expected benchmarks, particularly in preparation for major international tournaments such as the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup campaign.
In its statement, the FAT expressed gratitude and respect for Ishii’s contributions during his tenure, acknowledging his professionalism and commitment to developing the national squad.
“The Football Association of Thailand sincerely thanks Coach Masatada Ishii for his dedication and efforts in elevating Thai football throughout his time with the national team. We wish him and his coaching staff the very best in their future endeavors,” the statement read.
The FA Thailand confirmed that the technical committee has already begun the selection process to appoint a new head coach for the Thailand national team “as soon as possible” to ensure continuity ahead of upcoming fixtures on the November FIFA International Match Calendar.
Thailand will next play Singapore in a home friendly on November 13, 2025, before traveling to Sri Lanka for the fifth matchday of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on November 18, 2025.
Credit Photo : FA Thailand
