Football in Thailand

Last updated

Flag of Thailand.svg
Football pictogram.svg
Football In Thailand
1st game in Country
Flag of Thailand.svg Ministry of Education XI vs British in Bangkok XI Flag of the United Kingdom.svg [1]
(1900)
Governing body Football Association of Thailand
Top leagues (National Leagues) Thai League 1
Thai League 2
Thai League 3
Futsal Thai League
Thai Women's League
FA Cup Thai FA Cup
League Cup Thai League Cup
Thai League 3 Cup
Season starter Thailand Champions Cup
International
1st international
Flag of Thailand.svg Siam 4-0 Flag of France.svg French Indochina
(Saigon; 16 April 1930)
Men's team Thailand
Women's team Thailand ♀
Boys' team (youth) Thailand U-17
Thailand U-20
Thailand U-21
Thailand U-23
Girls' team (youth) Thailand U-17 ♀
Thailand U-20 ♀
Stadium Rajamangala Stadium
(Capacity: 51,552)
International honours
AFF Championship Gold medal icon.svg Gold (7) – 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022 (men's)
AFC Women's Cup Gold medal icon.svg Gold (1) – 1983 (women's)

Football is the most popular sport in Thailand. [2] [3] Although the professional football leagues are new to Thai people, football was introduced to Thailand as far back as 1897. Many Thais also watch football on local and paid-cable TV. Many matches, especially those in the English FA Premier League can be watched free on local channels. Thai channels broadcast every match of the 2006 World Cup.

Contents

Football in Thailand is organised by Football Association of Thailand (FAT).

In 2007, Thailand co-hosted the Asian Cup 2007 with three other countries. This was the second time the event had been held in Thailand, the first being in 1972.

The most popular football clubs in Thailand are Premier League clubs Liverpool and Manchester United and Thai League 1 club Buriram United. [4]

History

Football was introduced into Thailand in 1897 by the Siamese-English Students. After that Football was popular in the Royal students and the Armies. First Association football matches in Thailand was held in 1900 by the English people in Siam between Bangkok Team against Ministry of Education Team. The result is 2-2. [5] In 1901 student association football tournament by Ministry of Education has established.

In 1915, first official association football club tournament in Siam was officially founded. It's call "The Royal Golden Trophy". Later this tournament becomes to Kor Royal Cup. Later the first national team match has begun. The match between Siam National Team and Royal Sports Club by the English Players. The winner are the Siamese Footballer by 2-1

In 1916, King Vajiravudh founded "The Football Association of Thailand under Patronage of His Majesty the King."

The first Siamese match against National Team as long as can be founded by historical evidence was in 1930, between Siam and French Indochinese Union Team with the state visit of King Prajadhipok. The result is the big win for the Siamese for 4-0. [6]

After the 1932 Revolution. The Royal Golden Trophy has been stopped by the Political reason as Khana Ratsadon is anti-imperialism ideology political group, the tournament replaced by The DPE Students Cup (DPE - Department of Physical Education) after 1934.

After that the association joined the FIFA in 1925 and AFC in 1957.

Thailand national football team joined Olympic Games first time in Australia in 1956.

The first football stadium, Suphachalasai Stadium, was built in 1935. King's Cup, the first football cup was introduced in 1968. And then two years later, Queen's Cup, a national cup competition, started in 1970.

Thai football competitions

Leagues and tournaments

League competitions in Thailand include :

(See also: Thai football league system for the additional detail about league system.)

Domestic Cup competitions

International Cup competitions

Other competitions

Youth football

Youth football is very popular in Thailand, with several competitions and clubs being active. Bangkok Youth League provides the top level of youth football in Bangkok with a membership that includes teams from Thai Premiership Academies, such as BEC Tero and Chonburi Sharks, as well as local and International Academies such as iPlay Soccer Schools. It provides a structured, competitive environment for over 1000 players aged 6–16 years. Bangkok Soccer League is a youth football club organised for children attending international schools in Thailand and provides regular football for over 500 kids, both Thai and expat. 555

Support

A 2022 telephone poll conducted for The Nation found that 31.16% of respondents watched the English Premier League (17.33% of whom described themselves as hardcore fans) and 29.60% watched the Thai League 1 (9.59% of whom described themselves as hardcore fans). [4] A 2023 poll conducted by the NIDA Poll Research Centre found that 61.52% of respondents followed the Premier League and 53.80% followed the Thai League 1. [7]

Polling consistently shows that Buriram United is by far the most supported club in the Thai League 1. Polling also consistently shows that Liverpool and Manchester United are by far the most supported Premier League clubs in Thailand.

Compared to other countries outside the United Kingdom, Leicester City has a notable following in Thailand due to the fact that it is owned by Thai businessman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. However, it is still not one of the most popular clubs in Thailand.

English Premier League

NIDA Poll Research Centre (2023) [7]
Club %
Arsenal 5.27%
Chelsea 7.09%
Liverpool 31.79%
Manchester City 5.72%
Manchester United 34.59%
Other1.37%
None14.17%
The Nation (2022) [4]
Club %
Arsenal 3.85%
Chelsea 9.37%
Leicester City 2.82%
Liverpool 31.32%
Manchester City 2.95%
Manchester United 30.42%

Thai League 1

NIDA Poll Research Centre (2023) [7]
Club %
BG Pathum United 4.46%
Buriram United 36.13%
Chiangrai United 2.97%
Chonburi 3.79%
Khon Kaen United 2.01%
Muangthong United 11.67%
Port 12.49%
Sukhothai 1.41%
Other3.88%
None21.19%
The Nation (2022) [4]
Club %
BG Pathum United 2.97%
Buriram United 32.43%
Chonburi 4.73%
Muangthong United 11.49%
Port 6.49%

Thai notable players

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangkok United F.C.</span> Association football club in Thailand

True Bangkok United Football Club is a professional football club based in Pathum Thani province, Thailand. Known as Bangkok University Football Club until 2009, the club was relegated from the 2010 Thai Premier League only four years after winning their first league title in 2006. In 2012 they were promoted to Thai League 1, after finishing third in the 2012 Thai Division 1 League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port F.C.</span> Football club

Port Football Club, formerly known as Port Authority of Thailand, is a Thai professional football club based in Khlong Toei district of central Bangkok. They compete in the Thai League 1 and are one of the most successful clubs in Thai football, having won the Kor Royal Cup 8 times and the Queen's Cup 6 times. In 2009 Thai Port added the Thai FA Cup to their list of honours. In 2010, the club was triumphant again as they won the newly introduced Thai League Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Army United F.C.</span> Association football club in Thailand

Army United Football Club was a Thai professional football club under the stewardship of the Royal Thai Army based in the Din Daeng District of Bangkok. It was one of the oldest football clubs in Asia, until it was discontinued at the end of the 2019 season after 103 years in existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buriram United F.C.</span> Thai football club

Buriram United Football Club is a Thai professional football club based in Buriram. The club has played at the top level of Thai football for the majority of their existence and competes in the Thai League 1. The club was founded in 1970 as PEA FC before being reformed as Buriram PEA and Buriram United in 2010 and 2012 respectively. Their home stadium is Chang Arena, which has a capacity of 32,600.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thai League 1</span> Association football league

The Thai League 1, often referred to as T1, is the highest level of the Thai football league system. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai League 2. Seasons typically run from August to May, with each team playing 30 games: two against each other team, one home and one away. It is sponsored by Toyota Motor Thailand and therefore officially known as the Hilux Revo Thai League. In the Thai League, most games are played on Saturday and Sunday evenings, occasionally being played on Wednesday and Friday evening fixtures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muangthong United F.C.</span> Football club

Muangthong United Football Club is a Thai professional football club based in Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi province. The club plays in the Thai League 1, the top-flight football league of Thailand. Muangthong United has participated in the highest level of the Thai football league system since 2009 after having won the Thai Division 1 League title in 2008.

Kor Royal Cup, known as the Yai Cup until 1963, was the highest level of club football competition which competed in the tournament in Thailand from 1916 to 1995. It was founded by the Football Association of Thailand in 1916. Department of Performing Arts was the first team that won this competition.

This page details football records in Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attaphol Buspakom</span> Thai footballer and coach (1962–2015)

Attaphol Buspakom, nicknamed "Tak" ; 1 October 1962 – 16 April 2015) was a Thai retired national footballer and football manager. He was given the role at Muangthong United and Buriram United after TTM Samut Sakhon folded after the 2009 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BG Pathum United F.C.</span> Association football club

BG Pathum United Football Club is a Thai professional football club based in Pathum Thani province and is managed by BG Sports Company Limited which is a subsidiary of Bangkok Glass Public Company Limited. BG Pathum United participates in the Thai League 1.

The 2009 Kor Royal Cup was the 76th Kor Royal Cup, an annual football match contested by the winners and runners-up of the previous season's Thailand Premier League competitions. The match was contested at Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, on 1 March 2009, and contested by 2008 Thailand Premier League champions Chonburi, and PEA as the winners of the 2008 Thailand Premier League. The game ended in a 1–0 winning for Chonburi – the goal coming from Suree Sukha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Thai FA Cup final</span> Football match

The 2011 Thai FA Cup Final was the 18th final of the Thailand's domestic football cup competition, the FA Cup. The final was played at Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on 11 January 2012. The match was contested by Muangthong United, who beat Songkhla 6–5 (PSO.), in their semi-final, and Buriram PEA who beat Army United 2–0 in the match. The match was won by Buriram PEA, defeating Muangthong United 1–0 after extra time through a goal scored by Frank Acheampong.

The 2012 Kor Royal Cup was the 77th Kor Royal Cup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Thai Premier League and Thai FA Cup competitions. The match was played at Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, on 11 March 2012, and contested by 2011 Thai Premier League champions Buriram United, and 2011 Thai Premier League runners-up Chonburi, as Buriram also won the 2011 Thai FA Cup.

The 2013 Kor Royal Cup was the 78th Kor Royal Cup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Thai Premier League and Thai FA Cup competitions. The match was played at Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, on 23 February 2013, and contested by the 2012 Thai Premier League champions Muangthong United, and Buriram United, the winner of the 2012 Thai FA Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Thai FA Cup final</span> Football match

The 2012 Thai FA Cup Final was the 19th final of Thailand's domestic football cup competition, the FA Cup. The final was played at Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on 4 November 2012. The match was contested by Army United, who beat Police United 2–1 in their semi-final, and Buriram United who beat Bangkok Glass 2–0 in the match. After Goran Jerković opened the scoring in 37th minute, Goran Jerković equalised in the 62nd, before Issarapong Lilakorn the different beater to army united and Buriram United beat Army United 2–1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Buriram United F.C. season</span> Buriram United 2015 football season

The 2015 season is Buriram United's fourth season in the Thai Premier League. The club enters the season as the TPL Champion, and will participate in the Thai Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Kor Royal Cup and the AFC Champions League. The season covers the period from 20 December 2014 to 26 December 2015.

The 2015 Kor Royal Cup was the 80th Kor Royal Cup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Thai Premier League and Thai FA Cup competitions. The match was played at Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, on 24 January 2015, and contested by 2014 Thai Premier League champions Buriram United, and Bangkok Glass as the winner of the 2014 Thai FA Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Thai FA Cup</span> Football tournament season

The Chang FA Cup 2016 is the 23rd season of Thailand knockout football competition. The tournament is organized by the Football Association of Thailand.

U-19 Thailand Championship, commonly known as Coke Cup Thailand by title sponsor Coca-Cola, is an annual nationwide youth under-19 association football tournament. It is the largest scale youth amateur sport event in Thailand, even as soccer continues to gain more attention.

Yotsapon Teangdar, simply known as Toey, is a Thai retired professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.

References

  1. "บทความ มร.สมิธ ผู้ยิงประตูแรกในสยาม".
  2. Murray, Leigh (6 March 2011). "Managing in Asia: Bryan Robson Brings His Game to Thailand Soccer - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  3. "The rise and fall of Thai soccer - The Nation". Nationmultimedia.com. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40018126
  5. "ฝากเรื่องราวไว้กับน้อง ๆ (๘๑) : คณะฟุตบอลแห่งชาติสยาม (๑)".
  6. "บทความ ทีมชาติสยามมีชัยเหนืออินโดจีนฝรั่งเศส".
  7. 1 2 3 https://www.huahintoday.com/sports/manchester-united-and-buriram-united-emerge-as-thailands-most-loved-football-clubs/