Thailand Fires Coach Rajevac after Asian Cup loss to India

The Football Association of Thailand has dismissed Milovan Rajevac as head coach after the 4-1 defeat of the national team against India in the Asian Cup.

The president of the Thai FA, Somyot Poompanmoung, had warned before the continental tournament that Rajevac’s work was in danger if he could not take the team to the second round.

He announced the decision to fire Rajevac after Sunday’s game in Abu Dhabi, even though Thailand still has group games against Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to play.

In a statement issued early Monday, he says: “It was not the format of the game that Thai FA and the supporters of the team wanted, and I hereby announce the suspension of the contract with Milovan Rajevac as coach of the Thai national team.”

Assistant Sirisak Yodyathai will assume the position of interim coach of the tournament.

Rajevac was hired as head coach of Thailand in April 2017 to replace Kiatsisak Senamuang and had been under increasing pressure since Thailand failed to defend the AFF Cup title last month, losing to Malaysia in the semifinals in the rules of goals away from home.

The 65-year-old Serbian was chosen as coach of the year of the African confederation in 2010 after guiding Ghana to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.