BANGKOK (8 March 2011) – Thai Premier League champions Muang Thong United have unveiled former Vietnam chief coach Henrique Calisto as their new man at the helm.
The Portuguese is reportedly receiving around USD30,000 (THB930,000) a month from the two-time defending Thai Premier Leauge champions making him the highest-paid coach in the TPL.
“I am looking forward to bringing success to Muang Thong. My target is to win every tournament,” said Calisto, who signed a two-year contract.
“They are a big and successful club so it was not difficult for me to make a decision when they approached me. It is a new challenge for me.”
Calisto reached super stardom in Vietnam when he guided the country to their first-ever international title at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2008.
But last year in the 2010 edition, the Vietnamese were stopped by eventual champions Malaysia.
“We will play with Latin style of football. I have been in football for more than 20 years in Portugal and 10 years in Vietnam so I know how to make my team play beautiful football and win,” Calisto said.
But Calisto came into a team lacking in confidence after losing to Chonburi in the King’s Trophy while they were also eliminated in the AFC Champions League qualifiers which promoted to the removal of Carlos Roberto Carvalho as the chief coach.
In the new Thai Premier Leage 2011 season, Muang Thong drew Bangkok Glass in their opening game of the season while last week, they were hammered 3-0 by Army United.
In the meantime, Thailand are ready to take on Palestine in the West Bank in the second-leg of the preliminary round qualifiers of the 2012 Olympic Games tomorrow.
The Thais hold a 1-0 advantage over Palestine in the first leg in Bangkok.
Kasem Jariyawatwong, the team manager of Thailand said that he has only one injured player in goalkeeper Ukrit Wongmeema.
“Our morale is good. We are ready to fight. I am confident that we will keep a clean sheet and go through to the next round,” he said.
