was lack of time for preparation, while also being doubted because of his lack of coaching experience. Nonetheless, in the 2018 World Cup, he registered history by helping Japan to beat Colombia 2–1, the first ever defeat of a CONMEBOL team to an Asian side. His brilliant tactics continued to be demonstrated when Japan held Senegal in a 2–2 draw. His Japan lost 0–1 to Poland in the final group match, but as Japan received lesser yellow cards than Senegal, Japan controversially qualified to the knockout stage, becoming the only Asian team to do so in the 2018 World Cup. However, his Japan lost 2–3 to Belgium despite having led 2–0, thus were eliminated from the tournament. Nishino is scheduled to step down once his current term expires at the end of July, following the World Cup. Nishino consented to take charge of the Thailand's senior and under-23 national sides on 17 July 2019, became the first Asian to coach Thailand, and on 24 January 2020, this contract has been extended until 2022. On 29 July 2021, Football Association of Thailand announced that it had parted ways with Nishino, which was later explained due to Thailand's poor performance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. Career statistics Club International Managerial statistics Honours Manager Kashiwa Reysol J.League Cup: 1999 Gamba Osaka J.League Division 1: 2005 Emperor's Cup: 2008, 2009 J.League Cup: 2007 Japanese Super Cup: 2007 AFC Champions League: 2008 Individual Japan Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2019 Player Japan Soccer League Best Eleven: 1985–86 Manager J.League Manager of the Year: 2000, 2005 AFC Coach of the Year: 2008 References External links Japan National Football Team Database 1955 births Living people Waseda University alumni Sportspeople from Saitama (city) Association football people from Saitama Prefecture Japanese footballers Japan international footballers Japan Soccer League players Kashiwa Reysol players Japanese football managers J1 League managers Kashiwa Reysol managers Gamba Osaka managers Vissel Kobe managers Nagoya Grampus managers Japan national football team managers 2018 FIFA World Cup managers Association football midfielders Japanese expatriate football managers