Chon Buri FC technical director Withaya Laohakul says Thai football should keep its feet on the ground and not raise expectations in the wake of the under-23 team's title triumph at the recent SEA Games in Myanmar.
Former national striker Kiatisak "Zico" Senamuang won plaudits from the country's long-suffering fans and local media after steering his young wards to their first SEA Games title in six years by beating 2011 finalists Indonesia 1-0 at the weekend in Myanmar's capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
On the back of the Games triumph, the 40-year-old Kiatisak, who became the third Thai to win gold medals in the biennial competition as both player and coach, is widely tipped to take over as the coach of the senior team.
Despite the praise being showered on Kiatisak's side - which went through the whole event unbeaten - Withaya believes the team still has plenty of work to do to be competitive at the continental level.
"We won the title, of course. But, let's not forget that it's only an 11-nation event. I would like to say that beating opponents in the region is not good enough. We did fail to defeat Cambodia in the final group match and I think we should have claimed a bigger win against Indonesia in the final than the 1-0 win.
"Yes, the team is full of talented players. They're all the products of the clubs, not the national football association. So, all the credit for the team's success must go to the clubs and the players themselves."
Withaya said the Thais would face a true test of their potential at the Asian Games
in South Korea next year where the field is far more competitive.
"We get satisfied being the No 1 in the region. We don't have any concrete plans for the future. With the SEA Games already gone, we now have to look forward to the Asian Games where we could face top teams such as Japan, South Korea or China as well as the Arab sides.
"To be honest, we're still inferior to those teams by a mile. I don't want us to dwell on the SEA Games success. It's just an illusion.
Despite the praise being showered on Kiatisak's side - which went through the whole event unbeaten - Withaya believes the team still has plenty of work to do to be competitive at the continental level.