A former Singapore football administrator has landed a plumb job in Thailand to help the nation's efforts to qualify for the World Cup for the first time.
Benjamin Tan, the ex-deputy director of development and planning for Football Association of Singapore (FAS), is the new deputy CEO for the Premier League of Thailand (PLT) and director of club licensing.
The 39-year-old, who speaks fluent Thai and worked at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) from 2008 to 2014, began his new role on Monday.
"Besides delivering a vibrant professional league, I'm hoping to use my experience and knowledge to help the Thai national team in their efforts to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and improve football in all aspects," Tan told Today.
"I would like the Thai people and visitors to Thailand to love and be proud of Thai football and keep supporting their teams to do well in both club and international levels."
Tan was offered the job by new Thai FA president Somyos Pumpanmuang and will work with clubs to make them more commercially viable while ensuring high administrative standards in the PLT.
"I was bowled over by the energy and drive which the new Thai FA president had with his new management team," he said.
"When his offer came, it was a challenge that I couldn't refuse. I am excited and optimistic about the future of Thai football."
The PLT was founded two decades ago, in the same year that the S.League began. But Thai clubs have performed better on the regional stage thank Singaporean sides in recent years with Buriram United, Muangthong and Chonburi playing in the AFC Champions League.
In his new role, Tan could potentially face up to his home nation in November when Singapore and Thailand are expected to lock horns in the AFF Suzuki Cup, co-hosted by Philippines and Myanmar.
Thailand are defending champions and have won four Southeast Asian titles, the same number as Singapore, who beat them in the 2012 final.
Before that, the Thais will begin the last phase of AFC qualifying for the 2018 World Cup with a trip to Saudi Arabia on Sep. 1.