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After three titles in the first four editions of the AFF Suzuki Cup were followed by a barren 12-year run, Thailand headed into the 2014 edition of Southeast Asia's premier competition desperately crying out for an injection of new life. Fortunately for the War Elephants, former striker Kiatisuk Senamuang, the man tasked with the job of reviving Thai football, and his youthful charges -- with an average age of just 24 years -- lived up to the challenge - The rising stars to keep a close eye on at AFF Suzuki Cup 2020
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- Don't miss The John Dykes Show, with all new episodes each Friday starting Dec. 3 on Disney+ Hotstar. Click here to join the conversation! A dominant group-stage campaign would see the Thais rack up three consecutive victories over Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar, setting up a semifinal tie with Philippines, which they ultimately won 3-0 on aggregate despite being held to a 0-0 draw in the opening encounter. Coming up against Malaysia once more in the final, Thailand looked like they would be spurning a 2-0 aggregate lead as Malaysia raced to a three-goal lead inside the opening hour of the second leg before a stirring fightback -- with goals in the final eight minutes coming from Charyl Chappuis and Chanathip Songkrasin -- secured a then record-equalling fourth AFF crown. Seven years on, and ahead of the upcoming 13th edition of the tournament, we look at what the key figures from that Thai golden generation have gone on to achieve. Kawin Thamsatchanan  Having first caught the eye two years earlier as the Thais finished runners-up to Singapore, Kawin Thamsatchanan used the 2014 edition as a platform to establish himself as the region's best goalkeeper at only 24. Having being part of the Muangthong United side that reached the AFC Champions League Round of 16 in 2017, the physically-imposing Kawin earned a move to Belgium's OH Leuven although he could soon be on the move having found playing time hard to come by recently. Tanaboon Kesarat With the physicality of an old-fashioned centre-back but also boasting the technical ability of a modern day ball-playing defender, it did look like Tanaboon Kesarat could go on to become one of Thailand's greatest defenders although he was equally capable in midfield. Injuries however have not been kind to Tanaboon, who has played for four different clubs in the past five years, although -- at 28 -- there is still time for him to get his career back on track and add to his 51 caps. Sarach Yooyen  Given the influx of Thai players to Japan in recent years, it is rather surprising that Sarach Yooyen has not featured in the J1 League alongside many of his compatriots yet. As a calming presence in the midfield of the Thailand side that would also be crowned Southeast Asian champions in 2016, Sarach spent over a decade at Muangthong before moving to BG Pathum United last year, where he immediately became a Thai League 1 champion for the third time in his career. Narubadin Weerawatnodom Another one of the young Thai starlets to really shine in 2014, Narubadin Weerawatnodom will return for his first Suzuki Cup since then in the upcoming edition having been severely hampered by injuries -- which involved serious cruciate ligament issues in quick succession. An absolute force of nature from rightback at his peak, the Buriram United stalwart has done well to get back to full fitness to feature prominently once more for club and country. Charyl Chappuis  The poster boy of Thailand's golden generation, Chappuis showed why he was a FIFA U-17 World Cup winner with Switzerland in 2009 as he took the Suzuki Cup by storm after opting to switch his allegiance to his mother's country of birth. Chappuis' dynamism and keen eye for goal really stood out in 2014 as he emerged as the War Elephants' leading scorer with four goals despite not being a striker. While he has found himself in the international wilderness of late, the Port man -- now 29 -- is determined to work his way back into the national team reckoning. Chanathip Songkrasin Having largely been confined to the bench two years earlier, a 21-year-old Chanathip would establish himself as a once-in-a-generation talent for the Thais as he was named the Suzuki Cup's Most Valuable Player in 2014 -- a feat he would repeat two years later. Chanathip would pave the way for Thai footballers to earn moves to Japan as he became the first player from his country to feature in the J1 League in 2017 after moving to Consadole Sapporo, where he remains till today and has become a real crowd favourite. Adisak Kraisorn  With Teerasil Dangda, Thailand's leading striker of the past decade, missing in 2014, the burden of scoring the goals fell on the shoulders of Adisak Kraisorn and, while he did not boast the same prolific record as the former, still played an important role as the focal point in attack. Although Adisak -- now back at Muangthong after a season-long loan move to Port -- has not set Thai football alight, he remains a solid contributor each time he takes to the field and came close to equaling the Suzuki Cup's record for most goals in a match when he scored six goals in a 7-0 win over Timor-Leste last time out -- one short of Noh Alam Shah's seven from 2007. Kiatisuk Senamuang As a three-time AFF champion during his playing days, and still widely regarded as Thailand's greatest footballer, it is fitting that Kiatisuk would enjoy similar success in the tournament as a coach. The War Elephants would enjoy a real resurgence with Kiatisuk, reaching the final round of Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup for the first time ever to go with their successive Suzuki Cup triumphs. He would eventually step down in in March of 2017 after a run of poor results in their subsequent quest to qualify for Russia 2018, and is now in club football with Vietnam's Hoang Anh Gia Lai -- the team he ended his playing career with.
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