OFFICIAL: Thailand appoints a new head coach after the SEA Games

The Football Association of Thailand has formally declared that Rakphol Sainetngam will serve as the head coach of the country's futsal team.

The Football Association of Thailand held a press conference to officially introduce Mr. Raksaphon Sainetngam as the head coach of the Thailand men's national futsal team at the meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Football Association of Thailand building on January 5, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

Previously, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) announced that today, December 31, 2025, is the final day for Thai coach Rakphol Sainetngam to serve as the head coach of the Malaysian futsal team after more than two years since his appointment in August 2023.

Coach Raksaphon Sainetngam has extensive experience coaching various teams, including Rattanabundit University, GHB ARBAC, Chonburi Bluewave, as well as the Thailand men's and women's national futsal teams, Vietnam women's national futsal team, Blacksteel Club in the Indonesian league, and the Malaysia men's national futsal team.

Previously, he led the Thailand national futsal team to the round of 16 at the 2021 Futsal World Cup in Lithuania, won six Thai Futsal League titles, one AFC Futsal Club Championship (Chonburi Bluewave 2017), two ASEAN Club Championships (Chonburi Bluewave 2019, Blacksteel 2023), and the 2020/21 Indonesian Championship.

Additionally, he earned a gold medal in women's futsal at the 2011 SEA Games with Thailand, a silver medal in women's futsal at the 2013 SEA Games with Vietnam, a bronze medal in men's futsal at the 2025 SEA Games with Malaysia, and most recently, led the Malaysia U19 team to third place at the ASEAN U19 Futsal Championship in Thailand at the end of 2025.

Coach Rakphol Sainetngam’s first tournament as head coach of the Thailand men's futsal team will be the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship held in Indonesia from January 27 to February 7, 2026. Thailand is in Group B alongside Vietnam, Kuwait, and Lebanon.