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True Bangkok United Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลทรู แบงค็อก ยูไนเต็ด) 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.[2][3]
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2020) |
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| Full name | True Bangkok United Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | แข้งเทพ (Bangkok Angels) | |||
| Short name | BUFC | |||
| Founded | 1988 as Bangkok University Football Club[1] 2009 as Bangkok United | |||
| Ground | Thammasat Stadium Pathum Thani, Thailand | |||
| Capacity | 25,000 | |||
| Owner | True Corporation | |||
| Chairman | Kachorn Chiaravanont | |||
| Head coach | Totchtawan Sripan | |||
| League | Thai League 1 | |||
| 2023–24 | Thai League 1, 2nd of 16 | |||
| Website | https://www.truebangkokunitedfc.com/ | |||
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| Active departments of Bangkok United | ||
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| Football (Men's) | Academy | eSports |
The club has won 1 Thai League 1 title, 1 Thai League 2 title and 1 Thailand Champions Cup in their history.[4]
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Origins of the club: "Bangkok University": 1998–2008
The club was originally formed as Bangkok University in 1988 as a team for students at Bangkok University's Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani province, just north of Bangkok, the club have gone from provincial football, and winning university-level titles, to being a professionally run outfit in the top flight in the Thai Premier League.[5]
An era of titles
Along the way to the Top flight, they won the Thai Division 1 League in 2003 and even captured the 2006 Thailand Premier League title against the odds, which has also enabled the club to taste life in the AFC Champions League.[6]
The club appeared in the 2007 AFC Champions League but played their home matches in the group stage away from the club's home. The first match on 7 March 2007 against Korea's Chunnam Dragons was played at the Thai-Japanese Stadium in Bangkok and the second, on 25 April against Indonesia's Arema Malang, was played at the Thai Army Sports Stadium in Bangkok, where tickets cost 50 baht. Both matches ended 0–0. The third, against Japan's Kawasaki Frontale, was played at the Thai Army Sports Stadium. The team has failed to qualify for the next stage.[citation needed]
Slow down
Bangkok University always used the Bangkok University Stadium for domestic competitions until the end of the 2008 Thailand Premier League season. The stadium was based on the Bangkok University's Rangsit Campus and had a capacity of 5,000, currently used by the club as a training ground.[citation needed]
Development of club's name: 2009–present
At the start of the 2009 season, the club changed their club name from Bangkok University to Bangkok United with a partnership with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to be in line with the Football Association of Thailand's (FAT) new regulations that all teams in the top flight must be registered as limited companies. They also changed their club nickname to 'Bangkok Angels', and were officially unveiled on 4 March 2009.[7]
Also, with this name change, the club relocated to a new stadium, the Thai-Japanese Stadium which was based further center in Greater Bangkok. The stadium is for multi-use, such as athletics and football and holds a capacity of 10,320. The stadium was also shared by Thai Port whilst they waited for their stadium to be upgraded. On 31 May 2009, after 5 home matches, the club returned to using Bangkok University Stadium as a home ground again until the renovations of Thai-Japanese Stadium were finished before the start of 2009 season's second leg in August. Bangkok United narrowly escaped relegation in the 2009 Thai Premier League.[citation needed]
New owners
For the 2010 Thai Premier League season, Bangkok United was backed by Thai media company True Corporation. The early season optimism did not last long and the 2010 campaign ended in relegation. The Angels only won two home games all season. Rather surprisingly the two victories were against high-fliers Buriram PEA and Chonburi. Incidentally, both victories were achieved at the Bangkok University Stadium after they switched their home fixtures from the Thai-Japanese Stadium to the university midway through the season.[8]
Return to prominence
In the 2015 season, the club move to the Thammasat Stadium to pass the assignment of AFC Champions League stadium regulation.[10] Brazilian head coach Alexandré Pölking improved the club during the season before to finish fifth in the Thai Premier League. Since 2015, the club became one of big club in Thailand league. The team under Pölking has been widely praised for instilling an energetic, play with a galivanting style of attacking football reaching levels of intensity that are rarely seen in this league.[11]
Entering the 2016 season, Bangkok United ended in second place in the Thai League 1 and created history by claiming 75 points – the club's highest points in a single season. The team missed an opportunity to qualify for the 2016 AFC Champions League by failing to beat Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim in the qualifying play-offs match.[12]
In 2017, Bangkok United started winning 1–0 against Navy on the opening day in the league. Nevertheless, The team managed to end their season on a high note by finishing third in the Thai League 1 and reaching the 2017 Thai FA Cup final, losing 4–2 to Chiangrai United. Despite coming third, The club managed to be the league highest scorers with 97 goals from 34 games, making them the most productive team in the division by far and finishing just one short of breaking a record set by Buriram United themselves in 2015. A big contributing factor to this was the goals from attacking duo Dragan Bošković and Mario Gjurovski who netted 50 goals between them.[13]
In the 2018 season, Bangkok United ended in second place with 71 points.[14]
In the 2022–23 season, Bangkok United ended in second place with 62 points and also ended up as the runners-up in the 2022–23 Thai FA Cup.
Return to the AFC Champions League
In 2023, after a long 15 years absent, Bangkok United returns to the AFC Champions League group
stage being drawn in Group F with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Kitchee SC and Lion City Sailors. On 20 September 2023, the club plays its first AFC Champions League match away from home coming back from 1–0 down to eventually winning the game to 1–2 with goals from club captain, Everton and Thitiphan Puangchan at the Jalan Besar Stadium. On 4 October 2023, Bangkok United secured a famous 3–2 home victory against Korean champions, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors taking them to the top of the group with 6 points on matchday 2. Bangkok United went on to become group leaders with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 lost, being 1 point ahead of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors thus seeing the club qualifying to the round of 16. Bangkok United then faced off against 2022 J1 League champions, Yokohama F. Marinos where both team settled for a 2–2 draw in the first leg. While in the second leg, Bangkok United managed to hold on Yokohama F. Marinos until extra-time where they conceded a late penalty in the 120+2th minute. Bangkok United lost 3–2 on aggregate and was knocked out by the eventual runners-up of the tournament.
2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage - Group F
Bangkok United ended up the 2023–24 season in second place with 61 points where the club won the 2023–24 Thai FA Cup in a penalties shootout against Dragon Pathumwan Kanchanaburi. Bangkok United then qualified to the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite qualifying play-offs facing against Chinese club Shandong Taishan on 13 August 2024. However, Bangkok United failed to qualified to the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite after losing 4–3 on penalties shootout thus seeing the club entering the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two being drawn in Group G alongside Singaporean club Tampines Rovers, Hong Kong club Lee Man and Vietnamese club Nam Định. Bangkok United went on to top the group in the AFC Champions League Two with 13 points seeing the team advance to the round of 16.
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Bangkok United signed a collaboration agreement with Surasakmontree School[15] and Bangkok Christian College.[16] These agreements resulted in the introduction of young players from these schools joining the first team such as Sasalak Haiprakhon, Sarayut Sompim, Jakkit Wachpirom, Anusith Termmee, Nattawut Suksum, Wisarut Imura, and Guntapon Keereeleang.[citation needed]
Bangkok United operate Youth and Junior Youth teams as part of their academy to nurture local talent under a big project "cp-dreams." (Thai lit. ซีพี สานฝัน...ปันโอกาส).[17] In 2019, 7 youth players of "cp-dreams." project from Bangkok Christian College were call-ups to Thailand U-12 and they helped Thailand U-12 to finish in third place in U-12 Junior Soccer World Challenge football tournament.[18] – beat Tokyo Verdy Junior, 2–0 beat FC Barcelona, 1-0 and beat JFA Training Center Osaka, 2–1.[19]
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Thammasat Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the city of Rangsit, Pathum Thani, Thailand. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 25,000. It is on Thammasat University's Rangsit campus. It is located close to Bangkok.[22]
Stadium and locations
| Coordinates | Location | Stadium | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14°02′19″N 100°36′08″E | Pathum Thani | Bangkok University Stadium (Rangsit) | 2007–2008 |
| 13°46′00″N 100°33′10″E | Bangkok | Thai-Japanese Stadium | 2009–2015 |
| 14°04′04″N 100°35′55″E | Pathum Thani | Thammasat Stadium | 2016–present |
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| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | AFC Champions League | Group F |  Chunnam Dragons |
0–0 | 2–3 | 4th out of 4 |
 Kawasaki Frontale |
1–2 | 1–1 | ||||
 Arema Malang |
0–0 | 0–1 | ||||
| 2017 | AFC Champions League | Preliminary round 2 |  Johor Darul Ta'zim |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | ||
| 2019 | AFC Champions League | Preliminary round 2 |  Hanoi |
0–1 | ||
| 2023–24 | AFC Champions League | Group F |  Lion City Sailors |
1–0 | 2–1 | 1st out of 4 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
3–2 | 2–3 | ||||
 Kitchee |
1–1 | 2–1 | ||||
| Round of 16 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
2–2 | 0–1 (a.e.t.) |
2–3 | ||
| 2024–25 | AFC Champions League Elite | Play-off round |  Shandong Taishan |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | ||
| AFC Champions League Two | Group G | Thép Xanh Nam Định |
3–2 | 0–0 | 1st out of 4 | |
| Lee Man |
4–1 | 1–0 | ||||
| Tampines Rovers |
4–2 | 0–1 | ||||
| Round of 16 |  Sydney FC |
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| Season | League[23] | FA Cup | League Cup | ACL | ACL2 | Top scorer | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Pos. | Name | Goals | |||||
| 2002–03 | ↑ Division 1 (2) | 22 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 42 | 10 | 32 | 47 | 1st | — | — | — | |||
| 2003–04 | Premier League (1) | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 22 | 4 | 31 | 4th | — | — | ||||
| 2004–05 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 16 | 21 | −5 | 22 | 7th | — | — | |||||
| 2006 | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 39 | 1st |  Ubon Kaikaew |
7 | |||||
| 2007 | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 39 | 36 | 3 | 47 | 4th | Group stage | — | Kittisak Siriwan |
8 | |||
| 2008 | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 28 | 36 | −8 | 35 | 10th | — | — | Suriya Domtaisong |
8 | |||
| 2009 | 30 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 30 | 13th | Quarter-finals | Ubon Kaikaew |
4 | ||||
| 2010 | ↓ Premier League (1) | 30 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 52 | −27 | 24 | 15th | Fourth round | Quarter-finals | Sarif Sainui |
5 | ||
| 2011 | Division 1 (2) | 34 | 15 | 6 | 13 | 54 | 49 | 5 | 51 | 6th | Second round | First round |  Romain Gasmi |
13 | ||
| 2012 | ↑ Division 1 (2) | 34 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 57 | 29 | 28 | 74 | 3rd | Third round | First round | 17 | |||
| 2013 | Premier League (1) | 32 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 38 | 61 | −23 | 31 | 13th | Fourth round | First round | Sompong Soleb |
9 | ||
| 2014 | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 54 | 8th | Quarter-finals | First round | Romain Gasmi |
12 | |||
| 2015 | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 59 | 47 | 12 | 57 | 5th | First round | Second round |  Dragan Bošković |
13 | |||
| 2016 | 31 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 72 | 36 | 36 | 75 | 2nd | First round | Quarter-finals | 20 | ||||
| 2017 | Thai League (1) | 34 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 97 | 57 | 40 | 66 | 3rd | Runners-up | Second round | Preliminary Round 2 | — | 38 | |
| 2018 | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 68 | 36 | 32 | 71 | 2nd | First round | Second round | — | — |  Robson |
14 | |
| 2019 | 30 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 55 | 32 | 23 | 50 | 4th | Semi-finals | Quarter-finals | Preliminary Round 2 | — |  Nelson Bonilla |
16 | |
| 2020–21 | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 57 | 39 | 18 | 51 | 5th | Semi-finals | — | — | — | Nattawut Suksum |
12 | |
| 2021–22 | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 53 | 30 | 23 | 53 | 3rd | Third round | Quarter-finals | Heberty |
15 | |||
| 2022–23 | 30 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 55 | 22 | 33 | 62 | 2nd | Runners-up | Quarter-finals | Willen Mota |
11 | |||
| 2023–24 | 30 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 58 | 24 | 34 | 61 | 2nd | Champions | Second round | Round of 16 | — | 20 | ||
| 2024–25 | ||||||||||||||||
| Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Promoted | Relegated |
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Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Under-23s and Academy
- True Bangkok United U-23 Squad For PEA U23 Youngster League 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Team Manager | Suradej Anandapong |
| Head coach | Totchtawan Sripan |
| Assistant coach | Panupong Wongsa |
| Sarif Sainui | |
| Goalkeeping coach | Peerasit Mahothon |
| Assistant goalkeeper coach | Kittinan Chockcharoenlarp |
| Physical & Fitness coaches | Watcharachai Rajphaetyakhom |
| Tosaphon Doungjai | |
| Head of Medicine | Janilson Quadros da silva |
| Physiotherapist | Mongkhon Saethao |
| Interpreter | Nuttapat Lertchanapisit |
| Team's Staff | Chatchai Phuengthong |
| Ayuwat Duangin | |
| Director of academy | Danny Invincibile |
| Under-23s lead coach | Jirawat Lainananukul |
List of Bangkok United managers
Managerial history (2001–present)
| Name | Period | Honours |
|---|---|---|
| Somchai Subpherm |
2001–2009 | 1 Division 1 1 Premier League |
| Worakorn Wichanarong |
2010 | |
| Prapol Pongpanich |
2010 – October 2011 | |
| Suwaroch Apiwatwarachai |
October 2011 – January 2012 | |
| Sasom Pobprasert |
January 2012 – January 2014 | |
 Rui Bento |
January 2014 – April 2014 | |
| Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul |
April 2014 – June 2014 | |
| Alexandré Pölking |
June 2014 – October 2020 | |
| Danny Invincibile (interim) |
October 2020 – November 2020 | |
| Totchtawan Sripan |
November 2020 – March 2022 | |
| Aurelio Vidmar |
March 2022 – December 2022 | |
| Totchtawan Sripan |
December 2022 – present | 1 Champions Cup 1 FA Cup |
Domestic competitions
League
- Thai League 1
- Thai League 2
- Winners (1) : 2002–03
Cups
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