Football Tribe SEA Editor
Thai League side Samut Prakan City are targetting former Kashima Antlers and Omiya Ardija boss Masatada Ishii.
This announcement suggests that Sporting Director Tetsuya Murayama, who took temporary charge of the team for the second half of last season, will not continue as the head coach. It is likely that Murayama has a hand in this move to bring his countryman to Bang Phli.
Ishii took charge of Kashima Antlers back in 2015, having previously served as assistant manager for three years prior. He won the club’s first J-League title in seven years in 2016, before departing the club during the 2017 season.
The coach didn’t fare as well in his next job and was unable to save Omiya Ardija from relegation in 2017. Ishii left the club after his fifth-place finish wasn’t enough to see the Squirrels return to the top tier of Japanese football, as they lost in the promotion playoff.
Meanwhile, the club has also announced the signing of Buriram United defender Nattaphon Malapun on loan for the 2020 season. The center-back has spent the last three seasons on loan at Chonburi and Prachuap respectively.