Kiatisuk Senamuang achieved the unique distinction of winning the AFF Championship as both a player and a manager, cementing his status in Thai football history. Born in 1973 in Khon Kaen, the forward recorded 251 goals in 339 club appearances over an eighteen-year career that spanned Malaysia, Singapore, England, Vietnam, and his home country.
Playing Career and International Dominance
Known to fans as "Thai Zico" in honour of his Brazilian idol, Kiatisuk secured 131 caps and scored 70 goals for Thailand between 1992 and 2007, both standing as national records. His club journey included a stint at Huddersfield Town in 1999 under manager Steve Bruce. He later enjoyed significant success in Vietnam, winning multiple V.League 1 titles with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai.
National Team Management
In 2013, Kiatisuk assumed the role of caretaker head coach for the Thailand senior team before being appointed permanently. He guided the U-23 side to a gold medal at the 2013 SEA Games, adding to the four golds he claimed as a player.
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Throughout his coaching career, Kiatisuk held positions at various clubs including Chonburi, Chula United, and Bangkok. He returned to Vietnam to manage Hoàng Anh Gia Lai on multiple occasions, including a 2020 appointment where he held the top spot in the V.League 1 table during the 2021 season before the pandemic necessitated the cancellation of the competition.
Academic Background
Kiatisuk holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Dhurakij Pundit University and a Master of Business Administration from Chandrakasem Rajabhat University. His personal transition into professional sports followed a brief tenure as a police officer, with his aptitude for languages demonstrated by his fluency in Vietnamese acquired during his playing time in the country.
Fast facts
- Born: 11 August 1973, Khon Kaen
- International Appearances: 131
- International Goals: 70
- Career Club Goals: 251
- Nickname: Thai Zico
- Education: Dhurakij Pundit University, Chandrakasem Rajabhat University
- AFF Championship titles as player and coach: Yes
Questions readers ask
Why is Kiatisuk called Zico?
Friends gave him the nickname in honour of his favourite Brazilian football idol.
Did Kiatisuk play for an English club?
Yes, he joined Huddersfield Town in 1999, though he did not feature in the first team squad.
How many SEA Games gold medals did he win?
He won four gold medals as a player between 1993 and 1999 and one as a coach in 2013.
