Thailand looks for foreign coach

Thailand's national football team is looking for a foreign coach after failing to qualify for the next World Cup, football officials said Wednesday.

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has been searching for replacements since Chanvit Phalajivin resigned last week after he failed to qualify for South Africa 2010.

A number of people have been approached to head the team, including Serbian coach Bora Milutinovic, who is the only man to have led five different countries to five World Cup finals.

FAT secretary general Ongart Kosinka said negotiations were ongoing and he expects to make a decision within the next week.

“We are approaching foreign coaches. We want an experienced professional coach willing to devote his time to the players,” Ongart told AFP.

Thai press reports said the FAT had already decided upon 63-year-old Milutinovic, but Ongart said he was only “one of the candidates.”

Thailand were previously coached by Aston Villa striker Peter Withe, who from 1998 to 2002 led the team to two Tiger Cup wins and the semi-finals of the Asian Games in Bangkok.