Football Tribe SEA Editor
Muangthong United head coach Alexandre Gama denied that he has extended his contract with the club, revealing that his current deal will finish in November. However, the Brazilian coach stated his intention to remain with the club, despite speculation that he has been attracting interest from overseas, and is waiting to be offered a new contract.
Thai League giants Muangthong United have had an incredibly eventful week with the departures of senior squad members Sarach Yooyen and Adisorn Promrak. These moves have made many fans pessimistic about the Kirin’s chances when the league restarts in September and has turned into speculation about the position of head coach Alexandre Gama.
In an exclusive interview with Football Tribe, Gama confirmed that the side had taken these transfer decisions without consulting him, noting that they came as a “surprise” to him as well. However, he insisted that he “knows [his] position as a coach,” and is willing to work with the players he is given by the club.
The Brazilian also remained quietly confident despite the major blow to the club, which has left them with the youngest squad in T1 composed mostly of academy graduates and without any senior national team regulars on the books. Gama was quick to remind the fans that “in 2016, when Muangthong won their last title, most of the players were 21, 22 or 23 years old,” but their relative inexperience did not stop them from being one of the strongest sides the league has ever seen.
While replicating the success of that team will be a very difficult task, Gama remained relatively neutral about the side’s expectations for the upcoming season, noting that he must first see how his team develops in pre-season.
Lastly, in regards to his own future, coach Gama has denied the story which has been doing the rounds recently, claiming that he has already extended his contract at Muangthong. “My contract finishes in November,” he clarified, “and until now, nothing has happened” with regards to an extension.
The coach also addressed the other growing story, linking him with a move to the K-League, noting that he “always receive[s] offers from other clubs” but remains committed to his current position as Muangthong United boss.
“I want to stay, but it doesn’t depend on me,” Gama noted. “It depends on Muangthong to show if they have an interest for me to stay or not.”
This situation leaves Gama in a difficult position, with the season set to begin in September and his deal to end in late November. He expressed his desire for more clarity on the subject, mentioning that “it is very good for everybody, for the players and the coach, especially for the coach, when we have a long term contract, so we can prepare the team to develop well.”
After a week of heartbreaking departures for the Muangthong United fans, a contract extension for their respected coach could be the perfect way to get the club back on track. However, as of now, Alexandre Gama and the Kirin faithful will be waiting for the club’s next big decision.