Atthaphol says failure to make substitution cost him his job as Buriram United manager
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Buriram United made a shock decision to part company with long-serving coach Atthaphol Puspakom on the same day the Thai FA Cup winners became the country's first club in a decade to progress to the knockout round of the AFC Champions League.
The Thai outfit squeezed into the last-16 round of the continent’s premier club competition after snatching a 2-2 draw away to group winners FC Seoul on Wednesday, which helped them finish in second spot, ahead of China’s Jiangsu Sainty on goal difference.
However, Buriram’s achievement in becoming the first Thai side to reach the knockout round since BEC Tero Sasana’ run to the final in 2003 was quickly overshadowed.
After the Group E match in which they twice came from behind to secure a draw at Seoul World Cup Stadium, the club made the surprise decision to part ways with former national player Atthaphol, who steered them to an unprecedented treble of domestic titles just two seasons ago.
“We had an agreement, and the day has come when we have outgrown it. That’s the reason why Buriram United and coach ‘Tag’ have gone their separate ways,” club president Newin Chidchob said in a video clip posted on the club’s Facebook page.
“I would like to reassure our fans that Buriram United are the club that will continue to prosper under a system and structure as a professional football club. We will continue to grow with the system we have in place at Buriram.
“So no matter what changes we make, I promise our fans that we’ll become ‘bigger’ and ‘stronger’ than we are now.”
Atthaphol, though, revealed that his refusal to follow his bosses’ advice to make a substitution was a primary reason behind the decision to relieve him from a post he had held since 2010.
“After the game I was called in by the club’s management and asked why I had not made the change he wanted. I explained I was afraid that it might have a detrimental effect on the team, tactically, so I preferred not to make the substitution.
“However, the management saw my inaction as failing to follow club policy, which has resulted in the split. I don’t know what the future now holds for me,” said Atthaphol, who oversaw BEC Tero’s run to the final a decade ago, when they suffered a 2-1 aggregate defeat to UAE club Al Ain.
Muang Thong United, the other Thai representatives in the tournament, were dumped out of the competition after suffering a fifth consecutive defeat with a 1-0 loss at home to J-League club Urawa Red Diamonds, which left them with only a single point from six matches in Group F.
