Former Japan national U23 team manager Makoto Teguramori has been appointed as the new BG Pathum United head coach, the club announced on Thursday.
A Rabbits' statement said Teguramori will coach the Thai League 1 defending champions for the remainder of the 2021-22 season and the upcoming 2022 AFC Champions League group stage games.
Pathum United fell way behind current leaders Buriram United after a lengthy winless run under coach Dusit Chalermsan, who was sacked on Jan 18.
The Rabbits are now tied for fourth place with 30 points -- eight behind Buriram who have a game in hand -- after 18 matches.
The 54-year-old Teguramori began his managerial career as an assistant coach of Montedio Yamagata, Oita Trinita and Vegalta Sendai before taking on his first head coach job with Vegalta Sendai in 2008.
He led the team to the 2009 J2 League title, guiding the club back to the top flight of Japanese football after a lapse of six years. Under Teguramori, Vegalta Sendai finished second in the 2012 J1 League season, the club's best-ever position to date.
In 2014, Teguramori was named as Japan's U23 team coach and lifted the 2016 AFC U23 Championship trophy with a 100 percent win record before guiding the squad to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Teguramori's tenure with "The Samurai Blue" also includes experience as assistant head coach for the senior squad under Vahid Halilhodzic during the Asian Qualifiers for the 2018 Fifa World Cup and Akira Nishino in the finals in Russia, where Japan reached the last-16 stage.
In 2019, Teguramori returned to club football with J2 League side V-Varen Nagasaki before moving back to his former club Vegalta Sendai in 2021. Teguramori will arrive in Thailand early next month.
Kirins triumph
Estonian striker Henri Anier scored the winning goal for Muang Thong United who edged hosts Ratchaburi 1-0 in a Thai League 1 encounter on Wednesday night.
Anier pounced on a clearance as Ratchaburi goalkeeper Kampol Pathomattakul warded off a Korawit Tasa header to grab the only goal of the match shortly before the hour mark.
Ratchaburi coach Somchai Maiwilai announced his resignation immediately after the loss.
"It is a pity that we lost tonight. I take responsibility for it and announce my resignation from the post of Ratchaburi head coach," he said.
In the other game, Nakhon Ratchasima beat Chiang Rai United 1-0 with Kwame Karikari sealing three points for the Swat Cats in the 85th minute.
