"We need to select a coach that is most familiar with the Thai national football team, so we picked coach Ishii who is very experienced," Nualphan said in a statement on her Facebook page.

 

Polking leaves after guiding Thailand to back-to-back AFF Cup titles while the War Elephants are second in Group C of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

They opened their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to China PR before beating Singapore 3-1 on Tuesday. They face group leaders Korea Republic when the qualifiers resume in March, 2024.

 

Ishii's first task, however, will be to guide Thailand in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, with the Southeast Asian side drawn in Group F alongside Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyz Republic and Oman.