Peter Reid is also the name of a Canadian elite Ironman Triathlete, but the Reid mentioned here is an Englishman involved with football or soccer.
Peter Reid arrived in Bangkok on Thursday after a 14-hour flight and checked in for his stay at the Radisson Hotel. He was shocked by lots of flashbulbs from the paparazzi in this football crazy nation. Just a day after his arrival, there were riots in Bangkok, in which the Thai police fired tear gas at the People's Alliance for Democracy protesters. This was just a coincidence and had nothing to do with him.
Thailand's players are mostly part-time and despite having dominated South East Asian football tournaments for decades, they have struggled to make an impact at a higher level.
The first World Cup was held in 1930, and from then onwards up to the next World Cup to be held in South Africa in 2010, it has been 80 years since the Thai football team has been trying hard to realize its dream of qualifying for the World Cup finals. Will Peter Reid be able to fulfill the dreams of the entire Thai nation and successfully lead the Thai team to the World Cup finals?
In a recent development this week, the Thai national team has canceled their red football jerseys to register for yellow color football jerseys.
52-year-old Reid is a pundit and a former English football player. He was the former boss of Manchester City, Sunderland, Leeds United, and Coventry City clubs. At his peak Reid was the finest midfield enforcer in Europe and was voted PFA Footballer of the Year in 1985. He replaces Charnwit Polcheewin who coached the Thai team from 2005 to June 2008.
"I want to get the right mentality here and get Thailand up the world rankings," Reid said.
Reid admits language may be a problem between him and his players but he intends to familiarize himself with Thai and the local culture.
He joked: "I'm from Liverpool; I can't even speak English very well. I don't know if I can handle Thai."
Below is the logo of Thailand national football team known as Changsuk (Thai: ช้างศึก) or "The War Elephants"
