Ndtyjky

Thai League 1

Founded	1996; 23 years ago (1996)
First season	1996–97
Country	Thailand
Confederation	AFC
Number of teams	16
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Thai League 2
Domestic cup(s)	Thai FA Cup Champions Cup
League cup(s)	Thai League Cup
International cup(s)	AFC Champions League Mekong Club Championship
Current champions	Buriram United (7th title) (2018)
Most championships	Buriram United (7th title)
TV partners	TrueVisions
Website	thaileague.co.th
2019 Thai League 1

The Thai League 1 (Thai: ไทยลีก 1), commonly known as the T1, is a Thai professional league for Football Association of Thailand clubs. At the top of the Thai football league system, it is the country's premier football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai League 2. The Thai League is a corporation in which the 16 member clubs act as shareholders. Seasons run from February to October, with teams playing 30 games each with a total of 240 games in the season. It is sponsored by Toyota and therefore officially known as the Toyota Thai League. In the Thai League, most of the games are played during Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played on Wednesdays and Fridays.

History

Origins

Before the inception of the Thai League, the highest level of club football was the Kor Royal Cup (Thai: ถ้วย ก.) which was contested in a tournament format from 1916 to 1995.

Foundation

Thai League was introduced in 1996 by the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) under the name Thailand Soccer League. Eighteen clubs who earlier competed for the Kor Royal Cup were registered to play in the first edition of a double round-robin league system.^[1]Thai Farmers Bank was crowned as the first champion of the 1996–97 Thailand Soccer League.

The Thai League originally had 10 to 12 clubs each season until 2007, when it was expanded to 16 clubs. At the end of each season, the three bottom placed clubs are relegated to the Thai Division 1 League.

Leagues integration (2007)

Most of Thai League clubs in that time were the organisation of government authorities club that based in Greater Bangkok and Metropolitan. Meanwhile, the other local clubs had competed in the semi-pro league called the Provincial League. Thai Premier League faced the issue of low attendance and lack of local loyalties while the Provincial league suffered the financial issue. In 2007, Thai League was integrated with Provincial League completely. Chonburi from the Provincial League was the first champion of the new Thailand Premier League in 2007 season.

Modern era (2009)

In 2009 season, there were significant changes in the lead to the new era of the Thai Premier League. Asian Football Confederation declared the regulations for the associations that have the intention to send the clubs to compete in AFC Champions League starting from 2011.^[2] Football Association of Thailand had to establish Thai Premier League co.ltd and forced the clubs in the top league to complete AFC Club License Criteria^[3] otherwise Thai clubs will not eligible to play in the Champions League. Clubs were forced to separate themselves from the parent organisations and registered as the independent football authorities.

The massive changes occurred in that season. Thailand Premier League renamed to Thai Premier League. Two times league champion Krung Thai Bank failed to complete the new regulations. The organisation decided to sell the club. The club was acquired by Boon Rawd and rebranded to be Bangkok Glass. Bangkok University had expelled their football club section. The club rebrand itself to Bangkok United since then. The organisation-based clubs had to relocate to find the local supporters to backup the clubs. Osotspa changed their home stadium to Saraburi Province, TOT moved to play in Kanchanaburi, Royal Navy played in Rayong Province while Thailand Tobacco Monopoly integrated to Samut Sakhon Province and rebranded to TTM Samut Sakhon.

Muangthong United were promoted from Thai Division 1 League in that season and won Thai Premier League in their first year in the top league.

Thailand Clasico

Thailand Clasico or The Classic Match of Thailand is the matchup between Muangthong United and Chonburi. It is the matchup that presents Thai football in the modern era. The name was given to the encounter of two teams due to the hype and massive atmosphere around the match. The first encounter between them happened in the 2009 Thai Premier League season. On 30 May 2009, Chonburi that was regarded as the best club in Thailand at that moment hosted the new powerhouse who were just promoted from Division 1 Muangthong United. The match was played at Nong Prue Stadium, Pattaya. Before the match, Chonburi was the leader in the table after 10 matches of the season while Muangthong followed in second with one less point. Chonburi made the lead by 2–0 in the first thirty minutes but Muangthong bounced back to win by the 5–2 result at the end. The match was full of the exciting and dramatic moments. Then, it was considered as one of the most classic matches in Thai League history. The Muangthong versus Chonburi matchup was dubbed as "Thailand Clasico" ever since then.

The first invincible

In 2012 season, Muangthong United under Serbian head coach Slaviša Jokanović, had become the first club in the league history that completed the season with an unbeaten record. Muangthong finished at the top of the final standing with 25 wins and 9 draws.

Buriram dominance

The Buriram Dominance refers to the 2013 to 2015 season, which Buriram United won Thai Premier League in three consecutive seasons as the first club in the league history. The three titles in that period included two invincible titles which Buriram United completed Thai Premier League campaign unbeaten in 2013 and 2015 season.

Rebranding (2017)

In 2017, Football Association of Thailand decided to rebrand Thai Premier League into Thai League 1. Since its inception in 1996 the Thai Premier League has relied upon local sponsorship. Re-branding initiatives seek to foster an international identity for the Thai and elevate the league globally through commitment to world class level management and marketing which incorporates multifaceted promotion through various media in order to draw attention to league competition and cups.^[4][5] This rebranding earned the Good Design Award in the Brand Identity branch from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.^[6]

Champions

Wins by club

The Invincibles

Unbeatable champions:

• 
  Muangthong United in 2012
  


• 
  Buriram United in 2013
  


• 
  Buriram United in 2015
  

Clubs

Bangkok Glass, Police Tero, Navy, Ubon UMT United and Air Force Central were relegated to the 2019 Thai League 2 after finishing the 2018 season in the bottom five places.

They were replaced by PTT Rayong, Trat and Chiangmai from Thai League 2.

Stadiums and location (2019)

Chainat Hornbill

Chiangmai

Chonburi

Chiangrai United

Nakhon
Ratchasima

Buriram
United

Prachuap

Ratchaburi
Mitr Phol

Suphanburi

PTT Rayong

Trat

Sukhothai

Bangkok Metro

Bangkok Metro teams
Bangkok United
Samut Prakan City
Muangthong United
Port

Locations of the 2019 Thai League teams

Port

Muangthong United

Bangkok United

Samut Prakan City

Football clubs in Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Stadiums (2019)

Bangkok United	Buriram United	Chainat Hornbill	Chiangmai	Chiangrai United	Chonburi
Thammasat Stadium	Chang Arena	Khao Plong Stadium	700th Anniversary Stadium	Singha Stadium	Chonburi Stadium
Capacity: 25,000	Capacity: 32,600	Capacity: 12,000	Capacity: 25,000	Capacity: 11,354	Capacity: 8,680
Muangthong United	Nakhon Ratchasima	Port	PT Prachuap	PTT Rayong	Ratchaburi Mitr Phol
SCG Stadium	80th Birthday Stadium	PAT Stadium	Sam Ao Stadium	PTT Stadium	Mitr Phol Stadium
Capacity: 15,000	Capacity: 24,641	Capacity: 12,000	Capacity: 2,700	Capacity: 12,000	Capacity: 10,000
Samut Prakan City	Sukhothai	Suphanburi	Trat
Samut Prakarn SAT Stadium	Thalay Luang Stadium	Suphan Buri Provincial Stadium	Trat Province Stadium
Capacity: 5,100	Capacity: 8,000	Capacity: 15,000	Capacity: 6,000

Records

All-time top scorers

As of 9 September 2018

Thai League

Rank	Player	Period	Goals	Apps
1	Cleiton Silva	2010–2014, 2015–2017, 2018–	119	193
2	Teerasil Dangda	2009–2014, 2015–2017, 2019–	111	247
3	Pipob On-Mo	2006–2019	108	404
4	Diogo	2015–2019	101	105
	Sarayuth Chaikamdee	2001–2004, 2007–2012, 2013–2014	101	233
5	Heberty	2014–2016, 2017–	100	134
6	Dragan Boškovic	2013–	97	161
7	Mario Gjurovski	2012–	92	192
8	Mohamed Koné	2003–2007, 2009, 2010–2014	87	177
9	Anon Sangsanoi	2006–2016	79	177
	Teeratep Winothai	2006–2008, 2009–2014, 2016–	79	260

Figures for active players (in bold).

Most appearances

As of 13 March 2017

Rank	Player	Position	Apps	Goals
1	Rangsan Viwatchaichok	MF	439	49
2	Pipob On-Mo	FW	402	108
3	Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool	GK	353	1
4	Siwarak Tedsungnoen	GK	336	0
5	Nattaporn Phanrit	DF	335	19
6	Pichitphong Choeichiu	MF	324	62
7	Narit Taweekul	GK	315	1
8	Apichet Puttan	DF	262	7
9	Kittisak Rawangpa	GK	254	0
10	Jetsada Jitsawad	DF	253	4

Figures for active players (in bold) .

Player statistics

• 
  Youngest player: Suphanat Mueanta (Buriram United) – 15 years, 8 months and 22 days (25 April 2018, Buriram United 2–1 Nakhon Ratchasima, 2018 Thai League 1)


• 
  Oldest player: Somchai Subpherm (TOT) – 51 years, 7 months and 25 days (3 November 2013, Buriram United 2–1 TOT, 2013 Thai Premier League)


• 
  Youngest scorer: Suphanat Mueanta (Buriram United) – 15 years, 9 months and 25 days (26 May 2018, Buriram United 5–0 Air Force Central, 2018 Thai League 1)


• 
  Oldest scorer: Therdsak Chaiman (Chonburi) – 40 years, 8 months and 24 days (2 June 2014, TOT 1–1 Chonburi, 2014 Thai Premier League)


• 
  Fastest scorer: Nirut Kamsawad (Port Authority) – 9 seconds (2001–02 Thai League)


• 
  Most consecutive matches scored: 10 games – Diogo Luís Santo (Buriram United) (24 September 2017 – 2 March 2018, 2018 Thai League 1)


• 
  Most consecutive unconceded matches: 6 games
  
  
  
  • 
    Siwarak Tedsungnoen (Buriram United, 2014)
  
  
  • 
    Kawin Thamsatchanan (Muangthong United, 2016)
  
  
  • 
    Kawin Thamsatchanan (Muangthong United, 2017)
  
  
  
  


• 
  All time most clean sheets: 815 minutes – Siwarak Tedsungnoen
  


• 
  Most goals in a season: 38 goals – Dragan Bošković (Bangkok United, 2017)


• 
  Most assists in a season: 19 assists – Theerathon Bunmathan (Buriram United, 2015)


• 
  Most titles won: 7 times – Jakkaphan Kaewprom
  


• 
  Most seasons appeared: 19 seasons – Amnaj Kaewkiew (1996–2014)


• 
  All-time record for highest football transfer fee Thai players: 50 million baht – Tanaboon Kesarat (2017)

Awards

Thai League trophy from 2011 to 2016

Thai League trophy from 2017 to present

Prize money

• Champion: 10,000,000 Baht
  


• Runner-up: 2,000,000


• Third place: 1,500,000


• Fourth place: 800,000

Trophy

• 
  2011 – 2016 trophy: In 2010, Football Association of Thailand and Thai Premier League Co. Ltd considered to improve the image of Thai Premier League Trophy. The trophy itself was designed by Glue Creative from England and produced by British Silverware of Sheffield. The trophy was crafted by silver with the European style of a crown. Three divas are holding up the trophy and three golden elephants are standing on the base. The trophy is 75 cm tall and weighs more than 30 kg. The production used 250-man hours of work and the finished trophy worth 2 million baht.


• 
  2017 – current trophy: In 2017, Football Association of Thailand order the trophy produced from England that was created by Royal Jewellers Asprey of London to be new champions trophy. The trophy reflecting Thai identity by the use of Kranok pattern mixed with modern pattern and sculpt it pieces by piece.^[7][8]
  

Top scorers

Thai League 1

Season	Top scorer	Club	Goals
1996–97	Amporn Amparnsuwan	TOT	21
1997	Worrawoot Srimaka	BEC Tero Sasana	17
1998	Ronnachai Sayomchai	Port Authority	23
1999	Sutee Suksomkit	Thai Farmer Bank	13
2000	Sutee Suksomkit	Thai Farmer Bank	16
2001–02	Worrawoot Srimaka Pitipong Kuldilok	BEC Tero Sasana Port Authority	12
2002–03	Sarayoot Chaikamdee	Port Authority	12
2003–04	Vimol Jankam	Osotsapa	14
2004–05	Supakit Jinajai Sarayoot Chaikamdee	Provincial Electricity Authority Port Authority	10
2006	Pipat Thonkanya	BEC Tero Sasana	12
2007	Ney Fabiano	Thailand Tobacco Monopoly	18
2008	Anon Sangsanoi	BEC Tero Sasana	20
2009	Anon Sangsanoi	BEC Tero Sasana	18
2010	Ludovick Takam	Pattaya United	17
2011	Franck Ohandza	Buriram PEA	19
2012	Teerasil Dangda Cleiton Silva	Muangthong United BEC Tero Sasana	24
2013	Carmelo González	Buriram United	23
2014	Heberty	Ratchaburi Mitr Phol	26
2015	Diogo Luís Santo	Buriram United	33
2016	Cleiton Silva	Muangthong United	27
2017	Dragan Bošković	Bangkok United	38
2018	Diogo Luís Santo	Buriram United	34

Coach of the Year

Season	Coach	Club
1996–97	Witthaya Laohakul	Bangkok Bank
1997	Piyapong Pue-on	Royal Thai Air Force
1998	Karoon Narksawat	Sinthana
1999	Piyapong Pue-on	Royal Thai Air Force
2000	Pichai Pituwong	BEC Tero Sasana
2001–02	Attaphol Buspakom	BEC Tero Sasana
2002–03	Narong Suwannachot	Krung Thai Bank
2003–04	Worrawoot Dangsamer	Krung Thai Bank
2004–05	Jose Alves Borges	Thailand Tobacco Monopoly
2006	Somchai Subpherm	Bangkok University
2007	Jadet Meelarp	Chonburi
2008	Prapol Pongpanich	Provincial Electricity Authority
2009	Attaphol Buspakom	Muangthong United
2010	René Desaeyere	Muangthong United
2011	Chalermwoot Sa-ngapol	Pattaya United
2012	Slaviša Jokanović	Muangthong United
2013	Attaphol Buspakom	Bangkok Glass
2014	Masahiro Wada	Chonburi
2015	Alexandre Gama	Buriram United
2017	Totchtawan Sripan	Muangthong United
2018	Božidar Bandović	Buriram United

Player of the Year

Season	Player	Club
1996–97	Amporn Amparnsuwan	TOT
1997	Seksan Piturat	Sinthana
1998	Niweat Siriwong	Sinthana
2000	Anurak Srikerd	BEC Tero Sasana
2001–02	Apichad Thaveechalermdit	Bangkok Bank
2002–03	Cumpee Pintrakul	Bangkok Bank
2003–04	Pichitphong Choeichiu	Krung Thai Bank
2004–05	José Carlos da Silva	Thailand Tobacco Monopoly
2006	Punnarat Klinsukon	Bangkok University
2007	Pipob On-Mo	Chonburi
2008	Narongchai Vachiraban	Provincial Electricity Authority
2009	Jetsada Jitsawad (Defender) Kittipol Paphunga (Midfielder) Pipat Thonkanya (Striker)	Muangthong United BEC Tero Sasana Thai Port
2010	Datsakorn Thonglao	Muangthong United
2011	Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool	Chonburi
2012	Teerasil Dangda	Muangthong United
2013	Theerathon Bunmathan	Buriram United
2014	Suchao Nuchnum	Buriram United
2015	Diogo Luís Santo	Buriram United
2017	Jakkaphan Kaewprom	Buriram United
2018	Diogo Luís Santo	Buriram United

Competition format and sponsorship

Competition

There are 18 clubs in the Thai League. During the course of a season, which lasts from February to October, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the head-to-head, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The three lowest placed teams are relegated into the Thai League 2 and the top three teams from the Thai League 2 are promoted in their place.

Qualification for Asian competitions

In the past the champions will play in AFC Champions League playoffs and AFC Cup for the champions of Thai FA Cup. Due to reforms from the AFC for the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup format, there will be no more a direct qualification spot for the AFC Champions League for that Thai Champion, for the time being.^[9] From 2012 Thai clubs has 1 automatic spot to the group stage and 1 playoff spot for the Thai FA Cup Winners and 1 playoff spot for the thai league runner-up.

Ranking

As of 20 October 2018^[10]

Extracted from the 2018 ranking of nations by their AFC Club Competitions Ranking^[11]

Ranking			Member Association	Total Points	FIFA Points		Club Points		2018	2017	2016	2015
2018	2017	Mvmt			Points	(10%)	Points	(90%)
1	3	+2	China	95.928	431	5.928	70.517	90.000	15.450	24.567	14.750	15.750
2	6	+4	Qatar	94.003	339	4.663	70.000	89.340	15.600	13.400	22.000	19.000
3	2	-1	South Korea	86.028	520	7.153	61.800	78.875	14.350	9.950	20.750	16.750
4	1	-3	United Arab Emirates	85.275	405	5.571	62.450	79.704	8.100	11.350	18.000	25.000
5	7	+2	Iran	78.983	727	10.000	54.050	68.983	13.600	16.200	13.000	11.250
6	5	-1	Japan	78.352	528	7.263	55.700	71.089	8.100	21.850	10.500	15.250
7	4	-3	Saudi Arabia	74.445	462	6.355	53.350	68.090	5.000	18.600	9.500	15.250
8	10	+2	Thailand	57.403	253	3.480	42.250	53.923	16.200	15.050	1.000	10.000
9	8	-1	Australia	53.916	700	9.629	34.700	44.287	7.300	5.900	14.000	7.500
10	9	-1	Uzbekistan	42.190	381	5.241	28.950	36.949	9.400	5.050	9.750	4.750

Thai League All-Star Exhibition game

Sponsorship

The Thai League has been sponsored since 1996 until 2003 and has been sponsored again since 2010. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:

• 1996–1997: Johnnie Walker (Johnnie Walker Thailand Soccer League)


• 1998–2000: Caltex (Caltex Premier League)


• 2001–2003: Advanced Info Service (GSM Thai League)


• 2003–2005: None (Thai League)


• 2006–2008: None (Thailand Premier League)


• 2009: None (Thai Premier League)


• 2010–2012: Sponsor (Sponsor Thai Premier League)


• 2013–present: Toyota (Toyota Thai Premier League in 2013–2015, Toyota Thai League in 2016–present )

Match balls

The 2016–2020 season uses the Grand Sport.

Youth League

Like the reserve league, the youth league is open to all the youth teams of all professional clubs in Thailand.

Other tournaments

Domestic tournaments

• 
  Chang FA Cup (1975–2001, 2009–present)


• 
  Thailand Champions Cup (as Kor Royal Cup 1996–2016) (2017–present)


• 
  Toyota League Cup (1987–1994, 2010–present)

International tournaments

• 
  AFC Champions League (1967–1971, 1985–2001/02, 2002/03–2005, 2007–2008, 2012–present)


• 
  AFC Cup (2007, 2009–2012)


• 
  Mekong Club Championship (2015–present)

Defunct tournaments

• 
  Kor Royal Cup (1916–2016)


• 
  Khǒr Royal Cup (1916–2015)


• 
  Khor Royal Cup (1962–2015)


• 
  Ngor Royal Cup (1962–2015)


• 
  Toyota Premier Cup (2011–2017)

Ranking Asian

Asia Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking

As of 24 June 2018.^[12]

See also

• Football records in Thailand


• List of Thai League 1 players


• List of Thai League 1 managers


• List of foreign Thai League 1 players


• List of foreign Thai League 1 managers

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Football in Thailand.

• 
  Official Website(in Thai)
  


• Official Website


• 
  Football Association of Thailand (in Thai)
  


• Thai League Football


• 
  The Football History Association of Thailand (in Thai)
  


• 
  Thai League FIFA
  


• Thai League


• Thai League.com


• RSSSF.com – Thailand – List of Champions