Although not as significant as the Premier League or La Liga, the Thai League One has had several good managers since its inception
In Asia, football is yet to reach the stature that the game enjoys in the European and the American continents. However, football leagues in countries such as China, Japan, India and Thailand have had many good managers over the years. In this article, our focus is on the Thai League One and the best managers the league has had since its inception.
BozidarBandovic- A Montenegrin football manager, 52-year-old BozidarBandovic is currently the head manager of Chennaiyin football club that takes part in the Indian Super League; India’s top tier football league. However, Bandovic has had great stints in the Thai Premier League. In 2014, he took charge of the Buriram United club. However, his stint ended in a year and he joined TeroSasana in 2015 and Sisaket in 2016. His first three years in the Thai League passed by without touching the trophy. In 2017, Bandovic returned to Buriram United as the head coach and led them to the league trophy. That year, Buriram United scored 86 points in the league; the highest ever in the league’s history.
The following year in 2018, Buriram United won the league title again under Bandovic’s leadership. Later on, the club reached the round of 16 of the AFC Cup and in 2019, Buriram United picked up the Thailand Champions Cup.
AttapholBuspakom- A Thai national by birth, AttapholBuspakom became a manager in 2001 when he took charge of club BecoTeroSasana. He could not lead the club to any title, but he is still only the second manager to lead a Thai club to the final match of the AFC Cup. In 2004, he left Sasana and led clubs in other countries. However, he came back to Thailand in 2009.
2009 was the year when Buspakom took charge of Muangthong United and in his first year, he won the Thai League One title. Two years later, he moved to Buriram United and made them the Thai League One champion. The same year, under his guidance, Buriram picked up the Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup. In short, a treble in 2012 with Buriram. Last but not the least, he also reached the AFC Champion League’s group stage with Buriram United.
