Masatada Ishii (石井 正忠, Ishii Masatada, born 1 February 1967) is a Japanese professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently manager of the Thailand national football team.

Masatada Ishii
石井 正忠
Personal information
Full name Masatada Ishii
Date of birth (1967-02-01) 1 February 1967 (age 57)
Place of birth Ichihara, Japan
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+12 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Thailand (manager)
Youth career
1982–1984 Ichihara Midori High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1988 Juntendo University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1991 NTT Kanto 43 (0)
1991–1997 Kashima Antlers 109 (3)
1998 Avispa Fukuoka 1 (0)
Total 153 (3)
Managerial career
2015–2017 Germany
2017–2018 Japan
2019–2021 Samut Prakan City
2021–2023 Buriram United
2023– Thailand
Medal record
Kashima Antlers
Winner J1 League 1996
Runner-up J1 League 1993
Runner-up J1 League 1997
Winner J.League Cup 1997
Winner Emperor's Cup 1997
Runner-up Emperor's Cup 1993
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Ishii was born in Ichihara on 1 February 1967. After graduating from Juntendo University, he joined Japan Soccer League club NTT Kanto in 1989. He played many matches from first season. He moved to Sumitomo Metal (later Kashima Antlers) in 1991. In 1992, Japan Soccer League was folded and a new league, J1 League, was founded. In 1993, the club won the 2nd place J1 League and Emperor's Cup. However he could hardly play in the match from 1996. He moved to Avispa Fukuoka in 1998. He retired at the end of the 1998 season.

Managerial career

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Kashima Antlers

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After retirement, Ishii became a coach for Kashima Antlers in 1999. He served as mainly physical coach. In July 2015, manager Toninho Cerezo was sacked and Ishii became a new manager. He was the Japanese manager of the club for the first time in 21 years since Masakatsu Miyamoto in 1994 (Except caretaker Takashi Sekizuka in 1998 and 1999). In October, the club won the champions 2015 J.League Cup. In 2016, the club won the champions J1 League and qualify for 2016 Club World Cup. He was also elected J.League Manager of the Year. At Club World Cup, the club became the first Asian team to reach the Club World Cup final. In the final, after a 2–2 draw against European champions Real Madrid after 90 minutes, they were beaten 4–2 after extra time. However the club performance is bad in 2017, he was sacked in May 2017.

Omiya Ardija

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In November in late in 2017 season, Ishii signed with Omiya Ardija (former NTT Kanto) where he began his playing career. Although he managed 3 matches, the club could not win the matches and was relegated to J2 League. He remained a manager in 2018 season and aimed to return to J1 League. However Ardija finished at 5th place in 2018 season and missed promotion to J1. He resigned at end of the 2018 season.[1]

Samut Prakan City

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On 23 December 2019, Ishii was named the head coach of Thai League 1 club Samut Prakan City.[2]

Buriram United

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2021–22: Domestic treble

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On 1 December 2021, Ishii was appointed head coach of Buriram United.[3] In 2022, the club won the champions 2021–22 Thai League 1 and qualify for 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage. During the 2021–22 season, Ishii successfully guided Buriram United to win the Thai League 1, Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup, thus completing the domestic treble for the fourth time in the club’s history.

2022–23: Domestic treble for two consecutive seasons

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The season ended with Ishii winning the first 'Double Treble' (a treble in two consecutive seasons) in Thai football history with a 2–0 Thai FA Cup Final win over Bangkok United on 28 May 2023, thus completing the domestic treble for the fifth time in the club’s history.[4]

Thailand

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On 22 November 2023, Nualphan Lamsam, team manager of Thailand national team appointed Masatada Ishii to be the new head coach of Thailand national team. Ishii replaced Alexandré Pölking who was sacked earlier. Ishii became the second Japanese head coach of Thailand, following Akira Nishino, who served for two years from July 2019.

Management style

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Tactic

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Based on 4-4-2 formation, it is characterized by aggressive tactics that use high press and short counter to break through the center. During his time as Omiya Ardija, he made good use of Genki Omae, who had a lack of scoring ability and was unsuccessful in the previous year, leading him to the league's top scorer.

Club statistics

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Club performance League Cup League Cup Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Japan League Emperor's Cup J.League Cup Total
1989/90 NTT Kanto JSL Division 2 19 0 1 0 20 0
1990/91 24 0 2 0 26 0
1991/92 Sumitomo Metal JSL Division 2 15 0 2 0 17 0
1992 Kashima Antlers J1 League - 2 0 6 0 8 0
1993 22 2 1 0 5 0 28 2
1994 30 1 1 0 1 0 32 1
1995 30 0 3 0 - 33 0
1996 1 0 0 0 10 1 11 1
1997 11 0 0 0 5 0 16 0
1998 Avispa Fukuoka J1 League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 153 3 7 0 32 1 192 4

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 8 December 2024
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Kashima Antlers   23 July 2015 31 May 2017 96 59 7 30 061.46
Omiya Ardija   6 November 2017 28 November 2018 48 22 9 17 045.83
Samut Prakan City   23 December 2019 30 November 2021 50 21 10 19 042.00
Buriram United   1 December 2021 6 August 2023 68 52 9 7 076.47
Thailand   12 December 2023 Present 15 6 6 3 040.00
Career Total 277 160 41 76 057.76

Honours

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Player

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Kashima Antlers

Manager

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Kashima Antlers

Buriram United

Thailand

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Omiya Ardija(in Japanese)
  2. ^ "Samut Prakan Appoint Masatada Ishii as new Head Coach". Football Tribe. 23 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  3. ^ ""บุรีรัมย์" ประกาศดึง "อิชิอิ" เข้านั่งกุนซือล่าแชมป์ไทยลีกสมัย 8". Thai Rath. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  4. ^ "เดือดท้ายเกม "บุรีรัมย์" 10 คน ล้างตา "แบงค็อก" ซิวแชมป์เอฟเอ คัพ ทีมแรก 3 แชมป์ 2 ปีติด". Thai Rath. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
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  NODES
Note 1