Schaefer to continue Thai mission at Muang Thong United
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German trainer Winfried Schaefer has been appointed as the new coach of Thai Premier League champions Muang Thong United until the end of the season.
After reaching an agreement to end his contract as national team coach with the Football Association of Thailand, the 63-year-old German signed a sixmonth deal with the three-time TPL champions. He is scheduled to be officially unveiled as the club’s new coach at the SCG Stadium today.
The Thai club, which has a penchant for hiring trainers from abroad, did not disclose the financial details of Schaefer’s contract. However, they did reveal that the German veteran, the club’s eighth foreign coach in three years, might be offered a longterm deal if he meets the team’s target for the season.
Schaefer’s appointment as a replacement for Serbia’s Slavisa Jokanovic, who guided Muang Thong to the league title in his first season in charge last term, came after Sunday’s disappointing 11 draw at home to Osotspa. The stalemate resulted in Muang Thong being usurped at the top of the table by bitter rivals Buriram United.
Known fondly by Thai fans as “Winnie”, Schaefer boasts a CV that includes spells in charge of German sides Karlsruher and Stuttgart. He will make his bow as Muang Thong coach in Sunday’s league fixture against Bangkok Glass.
Posting on his Facebook page, Schaefer said he was relishing the opportunity to get back to the daily work of club football, and with national team players he calls “my boys”.
“The people at Muang Thong United asked me to stay a bit longer in Thailand and to help them in a notsopleasant situation. So I decided not to leave right away, but to take the chance to help a friend.
“Muang Thong United have supported [me] always and now I will try to give a bit of support back. I don’t know yet how long I will stay, but I know we will have a lot of fun.
“As Thailand national coach, I always wished I had more time to work with the players. But unfor
