New coach Milovan Rajevac, who is expected to herald a new era of football development in the country, touched down in Thailand yesterday morning.
The 63-year-old Serb, who was named as the new Thailand coach last week, arrived with his team, including assistant coach Zoran Jankovic and goalkeeping coach Sasa Todic. The fitness coach is expected to join them in the next few days.
Rajevac will be officially unveiled at a press conference this afternoon at the Football Association of Thailand headquarters.
Rajevac is replacing former Thailand striker Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang, who stepped down after a string of disappointing results in the War Elephants' World Cup qualifying campaign.
The former Red Star Belgrade defender has signed a one-year contract with an option to extend for another year.
Rajevac did not speak to the waiting media at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday and simply said all questions will be addressed during a press conference today.
Rajevac led Ghana to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup. He lasted only two games as coach of Algeria last year. He also coached Qatar and worked with Chinese club Beijing Guo'an and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli.
Rajevac's first task with the national team will be an away warm-up game with Uzbekistan on June 7. It will be followed by a World Cup qualifier against the United Arab Emirates at Rajamangala National Stadium on June 13.
Thailand are out of contention for a ticket to Russia after picking up just one point a home draw with Australia and six losses in Group B of Asia's final qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.
After the UAE match, the War Elephants will host Iraq and travel to Australia.
The other two teams in the group are Japan and Saudi Arabia who both have already beaten the Thais twice in the campaign.
The FAT yesterday confirmed that the full national squad would travel to Tashkent for the Fifa Day friendly with Uzbekistan.
The association has decided in favour of the senior team as they are scheduled to face the UAE in the World Cup qualifier less than a week later.
Meanwhile FAT technical chief Witthaya Laohakul earlier revealed that the association would name three Thai assistants to work with Rajevac's team.
"We have enlisted seven possible candidates for the three positions," said Witthaya. "We hope they can learn as much as possible from working with Mr Rajevac's team and then maybe the assistant coach can one day step up and become coach of our national team."
FAT deputy-secretary-general and spokesman Patit Su-papong said Rajevac has planned to watch all Thai League 1 teams in action in his first month in charge prior to the Uzbekistan friendly.
The FAT has already announced giving Rajevac a "free hand" in selecting the national team.