Twelve months ago, FourFourTwo put together our first annual feature on who we consider the 15 best football managers in Southeast Asia. A year later we've done it again and it includes some first-timers, some familiar faces and a new No.1...
1. Kiatisuk Senamuang (Thailand)
It’s been another good 12 months for Thailand as they ramp up their preparations for the Suzuki Cup. While many of the other favoured nations continue to implode through questionable appointments, obscure preparation and ordinary results, it’s been steady as she goes for the defending regional champions.
Undefeated in competitive matches since the second leg of the last Suzuki Cup final, the Thais have only lost twice in their past 12 matches overall – a narrow defeat to perennial Asian heavyweights South Korea in a Bangkok friendly in late March and then last week’s defeat to Qatar in another friendly ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
Despite that recent hiccup, the Thai squad has continued to be both strengthened and deepened, with a distinctive style now firmly in place. The War Elephants will also be favoured to defend their Suzuki Cup crown when the 2016 edition kicks off in November.
No other coach on this list has a record as impressive as the man known universally as ‘Zico’ and he justifiably sits atop our annual tally of the leading ASEAN mentors for the first time.
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