The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) yesterday extended national team coach Milovan Rajevac’s contract to 2020, ending months of speculation over the Serb’s future. Rajevac became the national teamin April last year after former Thailand international Kiatisak Senamuang resigned from the post. Since his appointment, Rajevac has helped Thailand retain King’s Cup top honours last year.FAT president Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang said yesterday: “We have agreed a deal with the Thai national team coach, Milovan Rajevac, and the FAT has renewed the contract for him to work for another two years.
“Rajevac will be responsible for the Thai national team which will be competing at the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.”We have extended the contract for two years but there is a clause which allows us to evaluate his performance from time to time.”Most importantly, he has been handed the task of guiding the national team to the knockout stage of next year’s AFC Asian Cup following which we will be assessing his performance again.” Rajevac said: “My first job will be to help Thailand defend their King’s Cup title successfully.”It will be a tough assignment for us this year because the event will take place during the Fifa break and all the participating countries will try to send their best teams to the competition.”The 2018 King’s Cup will be played from March 23-25 with the national teams of Gabon, Slovakia and the United Arab Emirates joining hosts Thailand at Rajamangala National Stadium.The 64-year-old Serb added that he was planning to call back the Thai players who have signed for the J-League clubs for the King’s Cup.”Right now, I cannot say who will be members of the Thai team for the AFF Suzuki Cup later this year, but for the King’s Cup, we will call all players who are playing abroad,” said Rajevac.”The King’s Cup will be played during the Fifa break so clubs have to release the players for the national team duties as per world governing body’s rules.”However, I will be observing every player in the domestic competitions to find some good players for these competitions.”The 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup, the championship for countries affiliated to the Asean Football Federation (AFF), will take place from Nov 8-Dec 15.Thailand captured their fifth regional title in December 2016 when they defeated Indonesia in the two-leg final.
