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Thai sports media is urgently calling for the return of legends, including Kiatisuk Senamuang, to overhaul the country's football development system.
This comes following the humiliating exits of both the men's and women's U17 squads from their respective Asian Cup tournaments this year.
The frustration peaked this week after the women's U17 team suffered a crushing 0-6 defeat to defending champions North Korea in the quarterfinals and the men's U17 team finished bottom of their group at the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia after back-to-back 0-2 losses to Tajikistan and the host nation, concluding their campaign with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Myanmar.
According to Thairath, these youth football defeats were not unexpected. It noted that while the women's team lost to a much stronger opponent, the men's team failed to progress even in a group they were expected to compete.
"How many times have we gone to the continental stage with hope, only to be disappointed again, at every level of football?" the newspaper wrote.
Thairath and other major outlets, including Siam Sport, Khaosod, and Matichon, have advocated for the return of Kiatisuk alongside other former Thai football stars. Opinions on media platforms and fan forums agree that these legends are much needed to revitalize a struggling football system.
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Kiatisuk Senamuang during his stint as the head coach of Vietnamese club Hoang Anh Gia Lai in 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong |
Kiatisuk, 52, managed the Thailand national team from 2013 to 2017. This era is widely considered the golden age of modern Thai football, characterized by total dominance in Southeast Asia and an impressive run to the final qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.
Following his resignation in 2017 after failing to secure a World Cup berth, Thailand entered a prolonged period of decline, despite hiring several high-profile foreign coaches. Media reports suggest that the issues with Thai football run deeper than just the head coach position.
Thairath argues that the real reason for the current failure stems from the youth football management system, which has not met the demands of modern football. They claim that players nowadays generally lack the necessary quality to compete at the highest levels.
Since leaving the Thailand national team, Kiatisuk has dedicated the majority of his coaching career to Vietnamese football, enjoying stints with domestic clubs Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Cong An Ha Noi before stepping down in May 2024.
