International: Six games without bankruptcy – ex-MSV coach Lettieri gets off to a strong start in Thailand

Muangthong United and Gino Lettieri: The professional relationship between the Thai first division club and the former coach of MSV Duisburg, which has existed since July 2024, is beginning to bear fruit.

A lot has happened since the 1:2 defeat at Swat Cat. To be more precise, Lettieri’s troops have celebrated three wins and three more draws since then. In the league, the moment is enough for seventh place.

The Thais are also still unbeaten in the AFC Champions League Two. Muangthong drew 1-1 against Malaysian representatives Selangor FC. It continues on Thursday, October 3rd, with an away game against the South Korean first division club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

In Germany, Gino Lettieri is best known for his involvement with MSV Duisburg.

With Lettieri, MSV Duisburg was promoted to the 2nd Bundesliga in 2014/2015. After a total of 59 competitive games – and only one win since promotion – it was over in November 2015. The second term was a much more unsuccessful and shorter interlude: Lettieri was brought in in November 2020 to prevent the fall into the regional league. After only two wins in twelve games, the Zebras abandoned their mission.

The Italian subsequently hired as an assistant coach at AEK Athens before joining Panevezys in September 2022. Lettieri led the club to third place and thus into the UEFA Conference League. The championship followed a year later.

Throughout the season, Panevezys only suffered one defeat and only conceded 14 goals in 36 games. “The selection of players was of course extremely important, as I couldn’t afford any major mistakes with our small budget of two million euros. Otherwise the championship would have gone to Zalgiris Vilnius once again. The series champion and FC Bayern Lithuania,” Lettieri said at the time. It was over in May 2024 and Lettieri moved on to Thailand.