Yangon United Football Club (Burmese: ရန်ကုန် ယူနိုက်တက် ဘောလုံးအသင်း [jàɰ̃ɡòʊɰ̃]) is a Burmese football club, based at Yangon United Sports Complex, in Yangon, Myanmar. Owned by Tay Za, a prominent Burmese businessman, the club was one of eight teams that participated in the inaugural edition of the Myanmar National League in 2009, where they finished as runners-up. The club have won a record of 5 league titles, 3 General Aung San Shield and 3 MFF Charity Cup.
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| Full name | Yangon United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Lions | ||
| Founded | 2007 as Air Bagan FC 2009 as Yangon United | ||
| Ground | Yangon United Sports Complex | ||
| Capacity | 3,500 | ||
| Owner | Tay Za[1] | ||
| President | Pye Phyo Tayza[2] | ||
| Head coach | Frank Bernhardt | ||
| League | Myanmar National League | ||
| 2023 | Myanmar National League, 2nd of 12 | ||
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Yangon United's biggest rivals are Yadanarbon with whom they contest the Myanmar rivalry. However, due to Yadanarbon's decline, Yangon United's main rivals are now Shan United, in which now they contest in the new Myanmar National League derby.
History
editAir Bagan FC
editOn 18 July 2007, the chairman of Htoo Group Of Companies announced to establish a football club. So the company took over a first division club, Viva FC and changed the name to Air Bagan FC which competed in the 2007–2008 season. Air Bagan FC became champions of the first division in their first debut year in which the club sees themselves being promoted to the top division, Air Bagan FC competed in the 2008 Myanmar Premier League season and finished in the top half of the table.[3]
Yangon United
editAfter the league was transformed to the nation's first professional football league, Air Bagan FC was renamed to Yangon United and represented the seven million population in Yangon. Yangon United also formed an alliance with Thailand club, BEC Tero Sasana.
On 16 May 2009, Yangon United defeated Zeya Shwe Myay 4–0 in the league's second ever match to open the MNL Cup 2009. The club finished in second place in group play with 16 points. Yangon United lost to Yadanarbon in the final on penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw. During the 2010 season, Yangon United built an artificial turf football pitch and gymnasium.
In 2010, Yangon United built their training ground and gymnasium. Yangon United Gymnasium is the first gym among the Myanmar National League clubs.
Myanmar National League three-peat and AFC Cup debut (2011 – 2013)
editIn 2011, Yangon United won their first ever Myanmar National League title and also became the champions of the 2011 Max Cement MFF Cup This is the first time a team has won both the Cup and the League title in the short history of the MNL. The following year In 2012, The Lions appointed Bulgarian coach, Ivan Kolev for the 2012 season in which he helped the club to won their second consecutive Myanmar National League title and qualified for the 2013 AFC Cup.[citation needed]
In 2013, Yangon United signed with Grand Sport as their main kit supplier. Yangon United make their debut in the 2013 AFC Cup being placed Group F with Maldives league champions, New Radiant SC, Hong Kong club, Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei and Indonesian cup winners, Persibo Bojonegoro. The Lions put up a fiery display in the tournament winning five games and only losing once thus finishing the group stage as runner-ups with 3 goals difference away from group leaders, New Radiant which see them both through to the Round of 16 for the first time in the club history. Yangon United than travelled to India to face East Bengal on 15 May 2013 at their home ground, Salt Lake Stadium which unfortunately saw the club losing 5-1 thus exiting out from the tournament. However, on the bright side, Ivan Kolev guided the club to retained their league title in which they won their third consecutive Myanmar National League title.
Yangon United again qualified for the 2014 AFC Cup where they faced Vietnamese cup winners, Vissai Ninh Bình, Hong Kong league champions, South China and Malaysian club, Kelantan. The club performed magnificently in the tournament as they went on to finished as group runner-ups winning 3 times and losing 3 games in which the club qualified for the Round of 16 tie against Indonesian club, Persipura Jayapura in which they suffered their heaviest defeat in their history losing 9–2 at the Mandala Stadium.
The 2014 season saw the club finishing 2nd in the league, 4 points behind champions, Yadanarbon which saw their three consecutive league title streaks come to an end. However, the club managed to get hold of the league title in the 2015 season winning their fourth league title in the club history and also seeing them qualified to the 2016 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off where they faced Thailand club, Chonburi losing 3–2 in extra time sending Chonburi to the next round to face J1 League club, FC Tokyo.
In 2018, Yangon United won their fifth league title finishing as champions with 1 point ahead of league rivals,Shan United. The club winning the league as champions saw them qualified for the 2019 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs facing against Philippines club, Ceres–Negros which The Lions won the match 2-1 progressing on to the next stage to face Thailand club, Chiangrai United losing 3–1 in the process thus exiting from the qualifying play-off and being dropped to the 2019 AFC Cup.
They would go on and dominate for long periods, until 2019, when they gave up the trophy to Shan United. They followed that up with an unconvincing 2020 Myanmar National League finishing 4th.
In the 2022 Myanmar National League season, they finished second place behind Shan United. Their top scorer was Valci Júnior who scored 8 goals in that season.
Stadium
edit
Yangon United have been using the Thuwunna Stadium ever since their establishment as a professional football club in 2009. Thuwunna Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Yangon, Myanmar which it was constructed with the help from the Japanese government. When the stadium was completed in 1985 it had a capacity of up to 50,000 people. In 2013, the stadium underwent a major renovation and was expanded to host 2013 Southeast Asian Games football matches. Yangon United than moved out to their new build home ground, the Yangon United Sports Complex which is an artificial turf where it was much easier to maintain and low cost rents. The new stadium is 18 minutes drive away from their old Stadium but the club would often use their Thuwunna Stadium for AFC Cup games to match the AFC stadium requirements.
Home Ground
edit- Thuwunna Stadium (2009–2013) [Still using this as the club home ground but only for AFC Cup games]
- Yangon United Sports Complex (2013–present) [Myanmar National League fixtures only]
Players
edit2024-25 First-team squad
edit- As of 17 July 2024[4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Individual records
editLists of the players with the most caps and top goalscorers for the club in the league games (players in bold signifies current Yangon United F.C. player).
- As of 15 October 2023
| Player | Period | Goals | Ratio | Caps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cézar
|
2012–2015, 2017 | 118 | 1.06 | 111 |
| 2 |  Kyaw Ko Ko
|
2013–2019 | 58 | 0.42 | 139 |
| 3 |  Sylla Sekou
|
2018–2019, 2023 | 57 | 0.85 | 67 |
| 4 |  Charles Obi
|
2010–2011 | 31 | 1.11 | 28 |
| 5 | Emerson
|
2014–2015, 2017, 2021 | 31 | 0.46 | 68 |
| 6 | Maung Maung Lwin
|
2017–2021 | 27 | 0.38 | 72 |
| 7 | Emmanuel Uzochukwu
|
2017–2018, 2020–2021 | 20 | 0.61 | 33 |
- As of 15 October 2023
| Player | Period | Caps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Htan
|
2009–2018, 2022– | 285 | 8 |
| 2 | Yan Aung Kyaw
|
2009–2020 | 246 | 3 |
| 3 | Kyi Lin
|
2009–2019, 2020 | 178 | 15 |
| 4 | Khin Maung Lwin
|
2009–2015 | 154 | 5 |
| 5 | Kyaw Ko Ko
|
2013–2019 | 139 | 58 |
| 6 | Zaw Min Tun
|
2015–2017, 2018 | 133 | 7 |
| 7 | Myo Min Tun
|
2009–2013 | 121 | 0 |
| 8 | Cézar
|
2012–2015, 2017 | 111 | 118 |
| 9 | Aung Aung Oo
|
2009–2013 | 110 | 0 |
| 10 | Kyaw Zin Htet
|
2017–2020 | 87 | 0 |
| 11 | San Set Naing
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2017– | 84 | 0 |
| 12 |  Kekere Moukailou
|
2017–2019 | 75 | 6 |
Continental record
editAll results (home and away) list Yangon United's goal tally first.
Honours
editLeague
editCup
editCoaching staff
edit- As of 8 August 2023[5]
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Frank Bernhardt
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| Assistant coach | Myo Hlaing Oo Kyaw Soe Oo Khin Maung Lwin
|
| Goalkeeping coach | Aung Ye Thway
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| Team Officer | Yan Aung Kyaw
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Kits and sponsors
editTitle sponsors
edit| Period | Kit Manufacturer | Title Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–2012 |  FBT
|
Air Bagan |
| 2013–2021 | Grand Sport
|
FNI insurance |
| 2023 | M21
|
AGD Bank |
| 2024- | Glory Sport
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Statistics
editDomestic
edit| Season | League | League Cup | Top goalscorer | Manager | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Name | Goals | |||
| 2009–10 | 1st | 4 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 16 | 23 | ||||
| 2010 | 1st | 3 | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 44 | 12 | 39 | ||||
| 2011 | 1st | 1 | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 50 | 15 | 54 | Winners | |||
| 2012 | 1st | 1 | 26 | 18 | 5 | 3 | 64 | 25 | 60 | Semi-finals | Cézar
|
15 |  Ivan Kolev
|
| 2013 | 1st | 1 | 22 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 42 | 20 | 49 | Cancelled | Cézar
|
20 | |
| 2014 | 1st | 2 | 22 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 60 | 22 | 46 | Quarter-finals | Cézar
|
26 |  Eric Williams
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| 2015 | 1st | 1 | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 62 | 28 | 54 | 2nd round | Cézar
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28 | Tin Maung Tun
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| 2016 | 1st | 2 | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 43 | 25 | 40 | Runners-up | Kyaw Ko Ko
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13 | Myo Min Tun
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| 2017 | 1st | 2 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 11 | 52 | Runners-up | Kyaw Ko Ko
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9 | Myo Min Tun
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| 2018 | 1st | 1 | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 54 | 20 | 51 | Winners | Sylla Sekou
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28 | Myo Min Tun Maung
|
| 2019 | 1st | 3 | 22 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 40 | 15 | 43 | Winners | Sylla Sekou
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10 | Tin Maung Tun
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| 2020 | 1st | 4 | 20 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 18 | 37 | Emmanuel Uzochukwu &  Ernest Barfo
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8 | Min Tun Lin
| |
| 2022 | 1st | 2 | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 8 | 39 | Valci Júnior
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8 | Min Tun Lin
| |
| 2023 | 1st | 2 | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 57 | 13 | 51 | Sekou Sylla Yan Kyaw Htwe
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11 | Gerd Zeise
| |
| 2024 | 1st | ||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ Han Oo Khin (March 9–15, 2009). "New era for football". The Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012.
- ^ "Yokohama F. Marinos sign pact with Myanmar's Yangon United". goal.com. 2013-10-15. Archived from the original on 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ^ Thomas Kean (May 25–31, 2009). "Footballers from abroad at home in Myanmar". The Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 2012-03-13. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- ^ "Players". Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ^ "Coaching Staff". Archived from the original on 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2017-07-19. in Burmese
External links
edit- Yangon United F.C. on Soccerway