JAKARTA - The coach of the Thailand national team, Alexandre Polking, has officially received a contract extension. The Thai Football Federation (FAT) trusts the 45-year-old tactician to handle The Elephant War until 2023.
This news was shared via FAT's official Facebook account on Friday, February 4. Polking was offered a new contract because of his success in leading Thailand to win the 2021 AFF Cup.
"The official association has extended Alexandre 'Mano' Polking's contract as head coach of Changsuek (Thailand) until 2023," the FAT said in a statement.
The 45-year-old coach succeeded in presenting the AFF Cup title after defeating Indonesia in the final 6-2 on aggregate. The details are that Indonesia lost 0-4 in the first leg and only drew 2-2 in the second leg.
At the beginning of his contract extension, Polking was immediately tasked with getting the War Elephant team into the 2023 Asian Cup. The task was given after Thailand failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
"We have three important games in June. That we have to qualify for the final (Asian Cup 2023) is the first target (for Alexandre Polking)," wrote FAT.
Thailand is ranked fourth in the standings in the Asian zone 2022 World Cup Qualifiers in Group G which is filled with the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. The result made them have to play a qualifying match to qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup.
The 2023 Asian Cup Qualification group draw will be held on February 24 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Meanwhile, the qualifying matches will be held centrally from 8 to 14 June 2022.
Referring to the FIFA rankings as of December 23, 2021 before being updated on February 10, 2022, Thailand is now included in the two-round pot of the draw. While Indonesia is currently in the fourth pot.
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