Thailand on Friday officially signed Germany's Winfried Schaefer, the former Al Ain coach, as coach for its national football team on a three-year contract, a top official said.
"He started work today," Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand, told AFP. "I have high hopes for him because he used to work with Cameroon and other teams."
Schaefer, 61, led Cameroon to victory in the 2002 African Nations Cup. He has also coached Al Ain, the Pro League side, and FK Baku, of Azerbaijan.
Bryan Robson, Thailand's previous coach, a former England and Manchester United captain, quit last month after less than two years in the job, citing health and family reasons.
Robson underwent surgery for throat cancer in March and has previously said doctors were optimistic he would make a full recovery.
He won 90 international caps during a glittering career, including 65 as captain, despite a string of major injuries.
But he had a patchy record with Thailand since taking over in September 2009, winning only seven of 18 matches.