The surprise decision came just days after Ishii guided the War Elephants to back-to-back victories over Taiwan that revived Thailand’s hopes of reaching the 2027 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia, reports the Bangkok Post.
Unconfirmed reports from the FAT headquarters yesterday (Oct 22) said Englishman Anthony Hudson will take over the national team’s reins as interim coach.
According to the FAT, Thailand’s early exit from the World Cup second round qualifiers, the team’s failure to defend their ASEAN Championship title after losing both home and away to Vietnam, and a first-ever defeat to the Philippines in 52 years were among the main factors behind the sacking.
The Japanese tactician was also blamed for Thailand’s inability to retain their King’s Cup crown this year and for a 3-1 away defeat to Turkmenistan, which has jeopardised the country’s Asian Cup campaign.
The FAT further alleged that Ishii overlooked in-form domestic players in favour of those struggling for game time at their clubs.
The decision has ignited a firestorm across Thai football. Media reports say social media has erupted with outrage, with furious fans flooding the Facebook page of FAT president Nualphan Lamsam.
Nualphan, in a social media post yesterday, attempted to appease the angry fans and sought their understanding in the matter.
Also under fire are two senior FAT figures - vice president Dr Charnwit Polcheewin and board member “The Tuk” Piyapong Pue-on - accused of orchestrating Ishii’s ouster in what supporters are calling a “cold-blooded ambush.”
Fans argue Ishii was the best thing to happen to Thai football in years. Under his leadership, Thailand’s FIFA ranking climbed from outside the top 100 to 96, and his win rate of over 50% was the second-best of any Thai national team coach in history.
Ishii himself said he was blindsided. In a bombshell Instagram post, he revealed he had been summoned for what was supposed to be a routine performance review - only to be abruptly dismissed.
“They weren’t sincere,” he wrote, a remark that resonated deeply with fans already seething over the decision.
Attention now turns to Ishii’s succesor as the fulltime national team coach.
The frontrunner is Hudson, the Englishman who previously managed BG Pathum United and now serves as FAT’s technical director. Hudson brings international pedigree, having coached Bahrain and New Zealand.
Another name in the frame is Shin Tae-Yong, the South Korean tactician who famously guided his country to the 2018 World Cup and masterminded a shock victory over Germany.
There is also speculation that a Thai coach could be handed the reins. Former national team boss Kiatisuk “Zico” Senamuang, along with domestic stalwarts Sasom Pobpasert (PT Prachuap) and Totchtawan Sripan (Bangkok United), have all been mentioned as possible candidates.
Whoever takes charge will debut in November’s FIFA international window, with Thailand scheduled to face Singapore in a friendly on Nov 13 before travelling to Sri Lanka for their fifth Asian Cup qualifier.