Unexpectedly dismissed, the Japanese coach took a shocking action towards Thailand

Following his unexpected dismissal by the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), coach Masatada Ishii wiped all photos connected to the team from his Instagram account

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) officially announced the termination of their contract with coach Masatada Ishii, who had been leading the national team since December 2023. This decision was made after an internal meeting on October 21, 2025, at the FAT headquarters, attended by several senior officials. According to the statement, "Ishii’s coaching approach and working direction no longer align with the team's development criteria," causing the two sides to part ways.

However, the separation did not seem to happen smoothly. Right after the dismissal announcement, coach Masatada Ishii reacted strongly on social media. On his personal Instagram, the Japanese strategist claimed he was “suddenly let go” without any clear prior notice.

“The Football Association of Thailand called me at 10:00 AM to review the two matches against Taiwan. After the evaluation session ended, I was unexpectedly informed that my contract would be terminated that very day. The reason given was ‘a desire to change the team structure by age groups.’ I feel this action lacked honesty,” wrote coach Ishii.

Not only stopping at criticism, Ishii surprised many fans by deleting all photos related to the Thailand national team from his personal Instagram account. This move was seen as a harsh response from the Japanese coach following his dismissal.

While FAT expressed gratitude for Ishii’s “dedication, professionalism, and commitment” during his tenure, the coach’s strong reaction revealed a serious breakdown in their relationship. What began as a promising collaboration to revamp Thai football ended in a tense and controversial separation.

Coach Ishii had helped Thailand maintain stability with a winning rate above 50%, but FAT aimed to rebuild the team with a focus on youth and modernization. Therefore, his departure is seen as a step toward a new phase, albeit executed in a surprising manner.