Kiatisuk during his time leading the Thai national team to victory in the 2016 AFF Cup. Photo:AFF.

Thailand suffered a 1-4 defeat against India in their opening match of Group A at the 2019 Asian Cup on the evening of January 6th. The Thai team finished the first half 1-1 thanks to an equalizer from Dangda, but conceded three more goals to the South Asian side in the second half.

The disappointing result has led many Thai fans to demand the return of legend Kiatisuk Senamuang to replace Milovan Rajevac. Many have visited the website.InstagramKiatisuk's statement expressing his aspirations caused a surge in comments. Some even suggested that Kiatisuk take on the position of President of the Football Association of Thailand.

These are the appeals from Thai fans in Kiatisuk's latest post.

Kiatisuk is synonymous with the successes of Thai football. As a player, he won the AFF Cup three times, the SEA Games gold medal four times, and finished fourth twice at the Asian Games. When he transitioned to coaching, "Thai Zico" led his national team to two AFF Cup titles, one SEA Games gold medal, and a fourth-place finish at the 2014 Asian Games. In addition, he guided Thailand to the final qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.

Beyond his achievements, Kiatisuk is also considered the mentor and trainer of Thailand's current generation of players. This was a crucial factor in Thailand's success during his time leading the U23 and senior national teams.

Thailand's chances of advancing in the Asian Cup are becoming very slim. The heavy defeat not only leaves them at the bottom of Group A after the first round, but also puts them at a disadvantage in terms of goal difference – a crucial factor when considering the best third-placed team. Thailand's remaining two opponents, Bahrain and the host nation UAE, are considered even stronger than India.