From Peter Withe in the early 2000s to Alexandre Polking in the 2020s and the likes of Radojko Avramovic, Kiatisuk Zico Senamuang, K. Rajagopal and Park Hang-seo in between, the ASEAN Championship has witnessed a number of outstanding head coaches who have led their teams to glory.
Nine head coaches over the years have tasted ASEAN Championship success and in the upcoming ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024, we will find the 10th man who will add his name to the illustrious Roll of Honour.
ASEAN United FC throws the spotlight on the Group A head coaches. Vote for who you think will perform the best at the foot of the article!
Masatada Ishii (Thailand)
Age: 57
Nationality: Japan
Current Role Record: 14 Matches (5 Wins, 6 Draws, 3 Losses)
Masatada Ishii played as a midfielder for Kashima Antlers during his playing career, before leading the club to the J.League 1 and Emperor’s Cup titles in 2016, while also helping them become the first-ever Asian club to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final that year.
A successful foray into Thai football followed with Buriram United before he took charge of the Thailand national team this year. An unbeaten group stage in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 which included a 2-0 victory against Kyrgyz Republic, took them to the knockouts, ensuring he made a solid start to his new role.
Playing with a preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, Ishii’s side picked up a commendable draw away to Korea Republic in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March, and then Thailand defeated the Philippines and Syria to hand the Japanese tactician his first title — the King’s Cup in October — and Ishii’s War Elephants will now come into the tournament in good form on a seven-match unbeaten run.
Pau Marti Vicente (Malaysia)
Age: 41
Nationality: Spain
Current Role Record: 5 Matches (3 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss)
Pau Marti Vicente replaced Kim Pan-gon in the Malaysia hotseat in July having previously served as his assistant while also gathering experience at Barcelona B, Kitchee SC and Adelaide United prior to that.
The 41-year-old, who usually lines his team up in a 4-3-3 setup, started with silverware in the Pestabola Merdeka as Malaysia defeated the Philippines and Lebanon in September. Marti Vicente has also handed senior national team debuts to the likes of Fergus Tierney and Zhafri Yahya, further strengthening the national team pool.
Earlier this month, a 3-1 victory against Laos and a 1-1 draw away in India will give the Catalonian a boost as he gets set to mastermind Harimau Malaya’s charge at ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024.
Tsutomu Ogura (Singapore)
Age: 58
Nationality: Japan
Current Role Record: 6 Matches (1 Win, 1 Draw, 4 Losses)
Born in Osaka, Tsutomu Ogura has vast experience in various roles in Japanese football ranging from assistant coach of the Japan senior national team to assistant roles at JEF United Chiba, Ventforet Kofu and Tokyo Verdy. While at Verdy, Ogura was part of the backroom staff for the club’s promotion to the top flight after 16 years away.
The 58-year-old was also notably the Sporting Director of Yokohama F. Marinos from 2018 to 2022, during current Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou’s successful reign at the club.
Ogura replaced his compatriot Takayuki Nishigaya as the Singapore head coach in February and is yet to find the right formula, with a 3-2 win versus Myanmar this month being his only victory in six matches and the Lions head coach will now hope that his fortunes will change in the upcoming tournament.
Koji Gyotoku (Cambodia)
Age: 59
Nationality: Japan
Current Role Record: 2 Matches (1 Win, 1 Loss)
Yet another Japanese head coach in this list, Koji Gyotoku was the former head coach of Shimizu S-Pulse in his homeland before heading to Bhutan to gain cult status. The 59-year-old famously led Bhutan to the semi-finals of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in 2008.
Since 2019, Gyotoku has been in charge of various age group national teams in Cambodia and therefore has a good understanding of the nation's football scene.
He was recently appointed as the man at the helm of the senior national team, winning his first match 3-2 against Chinese Taipei before an away defeat in Hong Kong as Gyotoku’s Cambodia might just prove to be this year’s surprise package.
Simon Elissetche (Timor-Leste)
Age: 47
Nationality: Chile
Current Role Record: 4 Matches (2 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss)
Simon Elissetche will be the man in charge of Timor-Leste’s return to the ASEAN Championship after they defeated Brunei DS 1-0 on aggregate in the qualification round playoffs.
Under his guidance, the Timorese also knocked out Mongolia 4-3 on aggregate to reach the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers making it a successful start to his tenure.
The Chilean has worked extensively with various clubs in Timor-Leste while also being in charge of the national team previously in 2017. O Sol Nascente will now hope to spring a surprise at next month’s ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024.
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