Thai League 1

Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Thai League 2. Seasons run from August to May, with each team playing 30 games (playing all 15 other teams both home and away). It is sponsored by Toyota Motor Thailand and therefore officially known as the Hilux Revo 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.

Origins (1916–1995)

Thailand has had league-football competition since 1916. Before the inception of the Thai League, the highest level of club football was the semi-professional league Kor Royal Cup (Thai: ถ้วย ก.) which was contested in a tournament format from 1916 to 1995.

Foundation (1996–2007)

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. Bangkok 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 the 2007 season.

Modern era (2009–present)

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 the AFC Champions League starting from 2011. 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 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 first invincible

In the 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, when 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 to draw attention to league competition and cups. This rebranding earned the Good Design Award in the Brand Identity branch from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.

The rebranding of the Thai League from 2017 to 2023 has been well received in terms of viewership with a large number of visitors to the stadium and watching through live broadcasts but in terms of benefits, the Thai League receives royalties for broadcasting live matches at an ever-lower value after the end of season 2022-23 Thai League is only worth 50 million baht, an amount that risks collapsing the league.

Thai League Revolution (2023)

On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Kornwee Phrissanantakul, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Thai League Company Limited and Patis Supapong, Secretary General of the Football Association of Thailand in the Royal Patronage has called a meeting of representatives of 16 Thai League member clubs to find a solution and offer suggestions after the auction to buy Thai League licenses is not as expected. The recommendation from the majority of 16 teams is for all 16 teams to manage and find benefits among themselves (Premier League Model), which will bring information and details to the Association Executive Council meeting on Monday 3 July.

On July 18, 2023, the Thai League club meeting launched the #SAVETHAILEAGUE initiative to raise funds for Thai League clubs directly from football fans by purchasing a package to watch live broadcasts directly from your favorite team to address the issue of low Thai League values.

There are 16 clubs in the league, with three promoted teams from Thai League 2 replacing the three teams that were relegated from the 2022-23 season.

Nakhon Ratchasima, Nongbua Pitchaya and Lampang were relegated at the end of the 2022–23 season after finishing in the bottom three places of the table. They were replaced by 2022-23 Thai League 2 champions Nakhon Pathom. They were joined by runners-up Trat, who also got promoted back after relegated two season before, and Uthai Thani, promotion plays-off winner.

Current clubs

 

 

Chonburi

 

Chiangrai United

 

Khonkaen United

 

Lamphun Warriors

 

Buriram United

 

Prachuap

 

Ratchaburi

 

Sukhothai

 

Trat

 

Uthai Thani

 

Bangkok Metro

 

Bangkok Metro teams
Bangkok United
BG Pathum United
Muangthong United
Nakhon Pathom United
Police Tero
Port

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Locations of the 2023–24 Thai League teams

 

 

Nakhon Pathom United

 

Port

 

Muangthong United

 

Bangkok United

 

Police Tero

 

BG Pathum United

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Football clubs in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

The Invincibles

Unbeatable champions:

• Muangthong United in 2012
• Buriram United in 2013 and 2015

Performance by clubs

All-time top scorers

As of 21 July 2023

Rank	Player	Years	Goals	Apps	Ratio
1	Heberty Fernandes	2014–2023	159	249	0.64
2	Cleiton Silva	2010–2019	144	193	0.73
3	Teerasil Dangda	2009–2017, 2019, 2021–	137	319	0.43
4	Diogo Luis Santo	2015–2022	118	132	0.89
5	Dragan Boškovic	2013–2021	118	209	0.56
6	Leandro Assumpcao	2011–2021	116	227	0.51
7	Pipob On-Mo	2006–2019	108	404	0.27
8	Sarayuth Chaikamdee	2001–2004, 2007–2013–2014	101	233	0.43
9	Teeratep Winothai	2006–2014, 2016–2022	96	206	0.47
10	Mario Gjurovski	2012–2019	93	197	0.47

Figures for active players (in bold).

Most appearances

As of 21 July 2023

Rank	Player	Position	Apps	Goals
1	Rangsan Viwatchaichok	MF	439	49
2	Siwarak Tedsungnoen	GK	403	0
3	Pipob On-Mo	FW	402	108
4	Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool	GK	397	1
5	Pichitphong Choeichiu	MF	340	62
6	Nattaporn Phanrit	DF	335	19
7	Teerasil Dangda	FW	334	143
8	Narit Taweekul	GK	315	1
9	Apichet Puttan	DF	262	7
10	Heberty	FW	249	159

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)
  • Chatchai Budprom (BG Pathum United, 2020–21)
• 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: 8 times – Jakkaphan Kaewprom, Siwarak Tedsungnoen
• Most seasons appeared: 20 seasons – Siwarak Tedsungnoen (2003/04–2023/24)
• All-time record for highest football transfer fee Thai players: 68 million baht – Chanathip Songkrasin (2023)

 

 

Prize money

As of 2021-22 season

• Champion: 10,000,000 Baht
• Runner-up: 3,000,000
• Third place: 1,500,000
• Fourth place: 800,000
• Fifth place: 700,000
• Sixth place: 600,000
• Seventh place: 500,000
• Eighth place : 400,000

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.

Top scorers

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 (2) 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 (2) 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 (2) 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 (2) Buriram United 34 2019   Lonsana Doumbouya Trat 20 2020–21   Barros Tardeli Samut Prakan City 25 2021–22   Hamilton Soares Nongbua Pitchaya 19 2022–23   Supachai Chaided Buriram United 19

Season Top Scorer Club Goals 2023–24

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 Pinthakul 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 2016 Not awarded 2017   Jakkaphan Kaewprom Buriram United 2018   Sumanya Purisai Bangkok United 2019   Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul Chiangrai United 2020–21   Sumanya Purisai (2) BG Pathum United 2021–22   Theerathon Bunmathan (2) Buriram United 2022–23   Supachai Chaided Buriram United

Season Player Club 2023–24

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 (2) 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 (2) Muangthong United 2010   René Desaeyere Muangthong United 2011   Chalermwoot Sa-ngapol Pattaya United 2012   Slaviša Jokanović Muangthong United 2013   Attaphol Buspakom (3) Bangkok Glass 2014   Masahiro Wada Chonburi 2015   Alexandre Gama Buriram United 2016 Not awarded 2017   Totchtawan Sripan Muangthong United 2018   Božidar Bandović Buriram United 2019   Ailton dos Santos Silva Chiangrai United 2020–21   Surachai Jaturapattarapong BG Pathum United 2021–22   Masatada Ishii Buriram United 2022–23   Masatada Ishii (2) Buriram United

Season Player Club 2023–24

Competition

There are 16 clubs in the Thai League. During the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 30 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 played 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 is no more a direct qualification spot for the AFC Champions League for that Thai Champion, for the time being. 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. However, since 2021, Thai clubs have two group stage spots for League Champion and FA Cup winner, and two teams in play-off spots for runner-up and third in the league.

Ranking

To be used for allocating slots in the 2024–25 season.

Updated on 25 May 2022.(Source)

Ranking					Member Association (L: League, C: Cup, LC: League cup)	Club Points					100%	ACL 2024–25 (GS+PO)	AFC Cup 2024–25 (GS+PO)
2022	2021	Mvmt	Region	Region Mvmt		2019	2020	2021	2022	Total
1	1	—	1 (W)	—	Saudi Arabia (L, C)	26.350	0.000	20.950	13.950	61.250	100.000	3+1	-
2	3	+1	1 (E)	+1	Japan (L, C, LC)	21.800	0.000	17.875	15.100	54.775	89.429	3+1	-
3	2	-1	2 (E)	-1	South Korea (L, C)	13.600	0.000	22.750	13.300	49.650	81.061	3+1	-
4	6	+2	2 (W)	+2	Uzbekistan (L, C)	9.000	0.000	18.671	9.600	37.280	60.865	3+1	-
5	4	-1	3 (W)	-1	Iran (L, C)	11.500	0.000	14.225	11.000	36.725	59.959	2+2	-
6	5	-1	4 (W)	-1	Qatar (L, C)	15.900	0.000	7.300	11.500	34.700	56.653	2+2	-
7	11	+4	3 (E)	+2	Hong Kong (L, C, S, LC)	3.650	0.000	16.500	13.700	33.850	55.265	2+2	-
8	8	—	5 (W)	—	United Arab Emirates (L, C)	7.633	0.000	14.400	8.083	30.116	49.169	1+2	-
9	10	+1	6 (W)	—	Jordan (L, C)	7.967	0.000	10.833	6.000	24.800	40.490	1+1	1+0
10	20	+10	4 (E)	+5	Malaysia (L, C)	4.450	0.000	4.000	16.000	24.450	39.918	2+2	-
11	9	-2	5 (E)	-1	Thailand (L, C, LC)	5.050	0.000	8.500	9.000	22.550	36.816	1+2	-
12	14	+2	6 (E)	—	Vietnam (L, C)	10.752	0.000	6.000	5.000	21.752	35.513	1+1	1+0
13	17	+4	7 (W)	+3	India (L, C)	3.217	0.000	6.857	10.300	20.374	33.264	1+0	1+1
14	12	-2	8 (W)	-1	Tajikistan (L, C)	3.000	0.000	13.953	3.000	19.953	32.576	1+0	1+1
15	13	-2	9 (W)	-1	Iraq (L, C)	8.300	0.000	3.250	7.450	19.000	31.020	1+0	2+0

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 2016–2020/21, Hilux Revo Thai League in 2021/22–present)

The 2021–2028 season uses the Molten.

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

Domestic tournaments

• Chang FA Cup (1974–1999, 2009–present)
• Toyota League Cup (1987–1994, 2010–present)
• Thailand Champions Cup (as Kor Royal Cup 1996–2016) (2017–present)

International tournaments

• AFC Champions League (1967–1971, 1985–present)
• AFC Cup (2007, 2009–2012)
• ASEAN Club Championship (2003–2005, 2020–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)
• Mekong Club Championship (2015–2017)

Asia football / soccer clubs ranking

As of 4 June 2023.

• Football records in Thailand
• List of Thai League 1 managers
• List of foreign Thai League 1 players
• List of foreign Thai League 1 managers