The brand-new football season begins today with the seasonal title competitors trying to send messages to both fans and opponents by utilizing imaginative catchwords.
Given that the restructuring of the nation’s leading flight of football, which just recently obtained the brand-new name of Thai League One, SCG Muang Thong United and Buriram United are the only 2 groups to have actually raised the sought after prize, winning the crown 4 times each.
As Soon As once again, the 2 giants will go into the fray as pre-season favourites with a couple of others pretending to be authentic competitors, a handful of clubs trying to look appropriate and the rest hoping to prevent the drop.
Muang Thong are counting on an army of Thailand internationals and depicting their title quote as a “War of Heroes”, while arch competitors Buriram are turning their desire to “Strike Back” into a rallying cry.
Protecting champs Muang Thong have actually ended up being more powerful economically thanks to a brand-new offer with their primary sponsor, SCG.
Buriram’s Diogo Luis Santo, left, competes with Bangkok United’s Panupong Wongsa throughout a league match in 2015.
Muang Thong coach Totchtawan Sripan has a a great deal of worldwide gamers at his disposal, consisting of skipper Teerasil Dangda, Thailand’s leading striker who forms a deadly collaboration with Brazilian Cleiton Silva, the leading scorer in the league in 2015.
Other crucial Thailand internationals in Muang Thong’s ranks are Theerathon Bunmathan, who moved from Buriram United in the 2nd half of last season, and Chanathip ‘Messi Jay’ Songkrasin. Nevertheless, Chanathip will bet the Kirins just in very first leg and will sign up with J-League group Consodole Sapporo in July on an 18-month loan offer.
Tristan Do, among the very best right-backs in the nation, is still with the group therefore are Peerapat Notechaiya, Adisorn Promrak, Adisak Kraisorn, Sarach Yooyen, Kawin Thamsatchanan and Mongkol Totsakrai.
Cops Tero co-chairman Chakthip Chaijinda.
In spite of letting Thailand protector Tanaboon Kesarat go to Chiang Rai United for a record 50-million-baht charge, the Kirins are still a powerful group.
New foreign gamers to have actually signed up with the club are previous South Korea worldwide Lee Ho from Asian champs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Brazilian protector Celio Santos from Ulsan Hyundai.
Muang Thong president Pongsak Pol-Anan stated: “We had an effective season in 2015, however it has actually handed us the uphill struggle of safeguarding the title.
” We intend to win all 3 domestic competitors[the Thai League, FA Cup and League Cup] We will likewise play in the AFC Champions League and wish to end up being a leading Asian side. It will be a tough and amazing season for us.”
Club director Ronnarit Suewaja described that the style “War of Heroes” describes nationwide gamers who bet Muang Thong United and are all revered by the Thais.
On paper, the Kirins have a great chance of keeping their Thai League title, however their involvement in the group phase of the AFC Champions League (ACL) might take its toll on their crucial gamers.
Muang Thong, the only Thai group left in the ACL this season, remain in Group E together with J-League champs Kashima Antlers and qualifiers Brisbane Holler of Australia and South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai. They play their very first video game versus Brisbane on Feb 21.
Tanaboon Kesarat signs up with Chiang Rai United for a record 50-million-baht charge.
A strong obstacle is gotten out of four-time champs Buriram United. The Thunder Castle had a frustrating run in 2015 and they appear desperate to “Strike Back”.
They completed 4th in the Thai League behind Muang Thong United, Bangkok United and Bangkok Glass in the 2016 season.
Buriram’s only flatware in 2015 was the League Cup, which they needed to show bitter opponents Muang Thong after all regional football matches were cancelled to grieve the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct 13.
They are wanting to restore their lost pride under Serbian coach Ranko Popovic, who signed up with the group in August in 2015.
They have actually signed some brand-new gamers consisting of Brazilian midfielder Rogerio Coutinho from leading United Arab Emirates club Al Wasi.
Brazilian Diogo Luis Santo stays their primary striker.
Buriram president Newin Chidchob is forecasting that this year his group will carry out “better than last season”.
The Thunder Castle have actually lost Venezuela protector Andres Tunez, who has actually signed up with Spanish club Elche on a six-month loan, and twins Surat and Suree Sukha, who have actually relocated to promoted Ubon UMT United.
With an amount of 300 million baht in the bank, more finalizings by Buriram United appear to be on the cards.
Chiang Rai United have actually shot into prominence after paying a baronial amount for Tanaboon and numerous are seeing them as one of the title competitors this season.
They have actually invested about 300 million baht to restore the group and brand-new arrivals consist of a quartet of Brazilians: Henrique Silva from Australia’s Adelaide United, Rafael Coelho from Goa in India, Felipe Azevedo from Ponte Preta (Brazil), and Vander Luiz Silva Vitoria from El Salvador.
Their coach is Alexander Gama, who led Buriram to the Thai League title in 2015.
In 2015’s runners-up Bangkok United are likewise wanting to win the Thai League this season.
Nevertheless, they had a plain start to the year as they were knocked out of contention for the ACL group phase in the 2nd play-off round, losing to Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’ zim in a charge shoot-out.
Bangkok United have actually reinforced the team by including Pokklaw A-Nan from Chonburi and Portuguese protector Yohan Tavares from Estoril in Portugal.
Bangkok United chairman Kajorn Chearavanont is anticipating his group to declare their very first significant prize this year.
Chonburi, among the very best Thai League groups, completed 2016 empty-handed and opted for 5th location in the league. Their best shot in 2015 was reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
The Sharks will be going after a top-four surface this year after getting Renan Marques from Sukhothai. Marques will partner with Fode Diakite, who has actually gone back to Chonburi after investing 2 seasons at BEC Tero Sasana, who have actually altered their name to Cops Tero.
Therdsak Chaiman will continue to be the player-coach of Chonburi regardless of some indifferent outcomes under his stewardship in 2015.
Amongst the dark horses are Bangkok Glass, who have actually invested 150 million baht to prepare their group, and Ratchaburi.
Sukhothai had an excellent season in 2015, however their imagine making the group phase of this year’s ACL were mercilessly shattered by big-spending Chinese club Shanghai SIPG today.
Cops Tero are the item of a current merger in between Cops United and BEC Tero Sasana with nationwide authorities chief Chakthip Chaijinda being a co-chairman.
With a readily available budget plan of 100 million baht, they are anticipating to end up amongst the leading 4 this year.
Suphanburi have actually never ever appeared like authentic title competitors which understanding stays with the club this year too.
They have actually just recently signed previous Thailand worldwide Anawin Jujeen from Buriram United to join their 2 other nationwide group gamers, Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool and Charyl Chappuis.
Beginners Ubon UMT United look efficient in springing a couple of surprises.
They have actually constructed a brand-new 6,000-seat arena and have an excellent budget plan of 200 million baht.
Their crucial gamer will be Thailand striker Sirod Chatthong, who scored 2 objectives in the 2nd leg of the Suzuki Cup final in 2015 to assist the nation beat Indonesia.
Si Sa Ket will be as soon as again attempting to persuade everybody that they come from the leading flight therefore will be Nakhon Ratchasima.
Port are commemorating their fast go back to the Thai League One with a lofty objective of completing amongst the leading 10 with the assistance of Thailand striker Tana Chanaboot and their brand-new singing, Brazilian midfielder Sergio Suarez, from Songkhla United.
Super Power Samut Prakarn, backed by popular rocker Sek Loso, ought to be content if they have the ability to prevent transfer at the end of the season.
Under coach Chalermwut Sanga-pol, The Power might end up being a popular side as the club strategy to ask Sek to assist tempt fans to the arena.
Navy and Pattaya United, together with newbies Thai-Honda Ladkrabang, will be dealing with difficult fights to lengthen their remain in the leading flight.
