This is the second part of Coconuts’ multi-part Thai Premier League preview. For part 1, click here. Check back in soon for part 3.
Football fans in Thailand are preparing themselves for months of joy, pain, controversy, tears and excitement with the return of the Thai Premier League. Will supporters find out if Chonburi FC has what it takes to topple the mighty Muang Thong United? Can Bec Tero Sasana, Buriram United and Osotspa Saraburi bridge the gap between the top two? How will the newly promoted Ratchaburi FC, Suphanburi FC and Bangkok United fare among the big boys?
Coconuts Bangkok is taking a look at the 18 Thai Premier League teams in order to help you make sense of the field in anticipation of this year’s blockbuster season,
This first installment covers the first six teams in alphabetic order.
Army United
Rank last season: 10th
Thai FA Cup: Runners up
Club info: As the name suggests, Army United is a military sports club owned by the Royal Thai Army. The club was a founding member of the Thai Premier League in 1996. Army United was forced to scrap its policy of picking only homegrown players in 2011, as the league became more competitive. A lot of the team’s supporters are military personnel who are asked to attend home games.
Key player(s): Danny Invincible (only because of his name), Daniel Blanco.
Nickname: Gentleman Rangers
Stadium: Thai Army Sports Stadium, Phaya Thai district, Bangkok.
Prediction: Another season of mid-table obscurity.
Bangkok Glass
Rank Last Season: 8th
Thai FA Cup: Semi finals
Club Info: Founded in 2006, the club bought the franchise of Krung Thai Bank FC in 2009, who were in the TPL, thus taking Krung Thais’ place in the league. The club is run by an affiliate of the Bangkok Glass Group making it one of the wealthiest clubs in the league. In 2010 they won the Queen’s Cup and the Singapore Cup.
Key Player: Hironori Saruti
Nickname: The Glass Rabbits
Stadium: Leo Stadium, Thanyapuri, Pathum Thani
Prediction: Not enough quality to move out of mid-table.
Bangkok United
Last Season: Promoted
Thai FA Cup: Third Round
Club Info: The club started its life as Bangkok University in 1988, before changing its name to Bangkok United in 2009. Fond of casting itself as a club for the people of Bangkok, Bangkok United is partly funded by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA). The team won the TPL in 2006.
Key Player: Romain Gasmi
Nickname: Bangkok Angels
Stadium: Thai-Japanese Stadium, Bangkok
Prediction: Mid-table
Bec Tero Sasana
Rank last Season: 3rd
Thai FA Cup: Quarter finals
Club Info: Current Football Authority of Thailand (FAT) President, Worawi Makudi founded the club in 1992 as Sasana Witthaya School FC. BEC-Tero Entertainment now owns the club. Due to its consistently high league finishes, and the fact that the club has never been relegated, Bec Tero Sasana is one of the top teams in the league.
Key Player: Cleiton Silva
Nickname: The Fire Dragons
Stadium: 72-years Anniversary Stadium, Bangkok
Prediction: Top three.
Buriram United
Rank Last Season: 4th
Thai FA Cup: Winners
Club Info: In 2009, Thai politician Newin Chidchob took over the club, which was owned by the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and based in Ayutthaya. He subsequently moved it to Buriram. The club’s name was later changed from Buriram-PEA to Buriram United when it merged with Buriram FC – a club owned by Chidchob’s wife – in 2011. Buriram won the treble (league, FA Cup and League Cup) in 2011 and moved into its 24,000-seater, 400 million baht stadium that same year.
Key Player: Anthony Ampaipitakwong
Nickname: Thunder Castle
Stadium: New I-mobile Stadium, Buriram.
Prediction: Top three
Chainat FC
Rank Last Season: 14th
Thai FA Cup: Fourth round
Club Info: The newly formed club started life in the Regional League Division North in 2009. Back to back promotions in 2010 and 2011 meant Chainat played their first season in the top flight in 2012. They finished six points above the relegation zone.
Key Player: Phuwadol Suwannachart
Nickname: The Hornbills
Stadium: Khao Plong Stadium, Chainat
Prediction: Will struggle not to be relegated
Check back later for the second half of our team-by-team breakdown.
