Chonburi Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดชลบุรี) is a Thai professional football club based in the city of Chonburi, Chonburi province, that competes in the second division in Thai football, the Thai League 2, after relegation in the 2023-24 season. The team lifted the league title in 2007 which became the most successful season in their history.[1]

Chonburi
ชลบุรี เอฟซี
Full nameChonburi Football Club
สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดชลบุรี
Nickname(s)The Sharks (team)
(ฉลามชล)
Blue Blood (supporters)
Short nameCHON
Founded1997; 27 years ago (1997), as Chonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan Football Club
GroundChonburi Stadium
Mueang Chonburi, Chonburi, Thailand
Capacity8,680
ChairmanWittaya Khunpluem
Head coachTatsuma Yoshida
LeagueThai League 2
2023–24Thai League 1, 14th of 16 (relegated)
Websitehttp://www.chonburifootballclub.com/
Current season

Chonburi were founded in 1997 and their main rivals were Sriracha who were also based in Chonburi Province prior to their move and subsequent dissolution.[2] The team is widely known by their nickname "The Sharks" which can be seen in the crest of the club.

History

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Early years

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In its early years, Chonburi Football Club was Assumption College Sriracha's football team. The team was managed by Annop Singtothong, Thanasak Suraprasert, Sontaya Khunpluem, and Wittaya Khunpluem. The team competed and were victorious in many youth tournaments, one of them including the Institute of Physical Education's youth football tournament.[3]

In 1996, Sannibat Samut Prakan Association competed in the Khǒr Royal Cup and came in second place. The directors of the football team then negotiated for a merger which resulted in the creation of Chonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan Football Club. The team then competed in Thai Division 1 League or Thai League 2 today.[4]

Provincial League

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Later, the Chonburi Sports Association had been given the chance to compete in the Provincial League in 2000. As a result, Chonburi's provincial football team was separated from Chonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan Football Club which competed in Thai Division 1 League. The team that competed in the Provincial League acquired their players from Assumption College Sriracha and Chulabhon's College Chonburi. They ended their first season in the Provincial League in third place.[3]

First major successes

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Chonburi FC Home Kit in 2008 with old logo

In 2005 they won the Provincial League title by beating Nakhon Ratchasima at the Nakhon Ratchasima Municipal Stadium, and gained promotion to the Thai Premier League in the 2006 season with the Provincial League runners up, Suphanburi. This title was the first major success of the club. Chonburi then finished 8th in the 2006 Thai Premier League season.[5]

In 2006 they were invited to play in the Singapore Cup and reached the final, defeating local sides Home United, Albirex Niigata Singapore and Balestier Khalsa along the way. In the final they lost to Tampines Rovers 2–3 in the extra time after leading 2–0.[6]

In 2007 they were again invited to participate in the Singapore Cup, but were defeated in the first round against Balestier Khalsa, in a replay of the previous season's semi-finals. Chonburi lost 3–2 in normal play. They have formed links with Manchester City.[7] In the end of this season Chonburi become Thailand Premier League champions for 2007 Thailand Premier League, This was the first trophy in major league for the club and head coach Jadet Meelarp got Coach of the Year awards and Pipob On-Mo got Player of the year awards.

 
Chonburi FC with Kedah FA in 2009 AFC Cup

In July 2008 they made another important big step into the future. In addition, the previous sponsor, Hemaraj Land and Development PLC signed a major sponsorship deal which comes into force from 2009. The contract will run for three years and will amount to the sum of 18 million baht (about 350,000 Euros). This may indeed be the largest completed sponsorship of a Thai football club which was ever completed.[8]

At the end of the 2008 season, there was only enough for runner-up. The main reason for this was certainly the profligacy. With two games left in the season you still on the first place in the table, but a 0–0 draw against Samut Songkhram made to naught in the penultimate round of the dream title defense. Jadet Meelarp was dismissed. His successor is officially announced in mid-December 2008. Kiatisuk Senamuang, known as Zico, was appointed coach of Chonburi.[9]

 
Chonburi FC squad in 2016

As Runner-up Champion 2008 the team is qualified for the 2009 AFC Cup and was drawn in a group with Hanoi ACB (Vietnam), Eastern AA (Hong Kong) and Kedah FA (Malaysia). Chonburi has to call to mind the Zeil set to be first in the group and win the AFC Cup in Thailand. The group stage was confident survived with only one defeat in six games. In the second round Chonburi PSMS Medan in Indonesia defeated 4–1 before retired in the quarter-finals against the Vietnam representative Bình Dương 2–4. The game against Medan was also the last game of Surat Sukha, who moved to Melbourne Victory.[10]

In July 2009. End of the 2009 season the club was only the runner-up again. At the end of 2008 they had 2 points behind the champions, 2009, there were 3 points. Kiatisuk Senamuang changed at the end of the season to Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, the association in Vietnam where he was active as a player last. His successor in Chonburi was Jadet Meelarp, which had been released a year earlier. At his side, his former boss Witthaya Laohakul was provided as technical director of the club. Unlike other top clubs in the league but vorzuweisen Chonburi had hardly known commitments for the 2010 season. Only Therdsak Chaiman you can probably fit into this category. The 36-year-old was last in the Thailand national football team his comeback from Singapore and moved to Chonburi. Although the club was again runner-up, but this is not automatically eligible in the 2009 season to participate in the 2010 AFC Cup. Instead, the Cup Winners' Cup in Thailand directly qualified for the competition. Already in the second round of the Thai FA Cup retired from the Chonburi.[11]

Asian competitions

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In 2008, in the first AFC Champions League, Chonburi played against the Japanese champions Gamba Osaka. On 20 March 2008 the club achieved its first victory in the AFC Champions League against Melbourne Victory.[12] The game was clouded by controversy when Melbourne Victory scored their only goal whilst a Chonburi FC player was down injured and his teammates were calling for the ball to be played off the park. It mattered little when Cameroonian striker Baga scored a goal from 35 yards out and then followed it up with a second goal in extra time to condemn the Melbourne Victory to their first loss in the competition 3–1.[13]

Academy & youth program

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Chonburi is well known for producing football talent as well as using their youth players in the first team. In the 2007 Thailand Premier League in which they have been crowned champions, over 80% of their first-team players came from their youth program. However, in the past, their youth players stayed at boarding schools in Chonburi province such as Assumption College Sriracha and Chulabhon's College Chonburi.[14][15]

Today Chonburi has a football academy where academy players train and live every day at. The idea of creating a football academy was spearheaded by former Chonburi head coach and current technical director Witthaya Laohakul, who stressed the importance of creating and producing quality football players for the first-team. In 2009, Chonburi decided to remodel its academy and youth program by building an actual football academy in Ban Bueng District. The new academy is located far away from Chonburi surrounded by paddy fields and was once rented out to JMG Academy.[16][15] In addition, this new football academy includes a dormitory and football training facilities for the academy players.

Chonburi recruits academy players by scouting them from tournaments as well as offering trials. Worachit Kanitsribampen is one of the first successful players to come out of Chonburi's newly restructured academy.[15]

Affiliated clubs

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Chonburi announced a business partnership between Vissel Kobe of the J1 League in 2012. The deal will facilitate player and staff exchanges both at the professional and youth level, as well as friendly matches, the creation of new football schools, and marketing opportunities.[18]

Stadium

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Chonburi FC Supporters at Chonburi Stadium in 2008
 
Chonburi Stadium in 2018

At the start of the 2008 season, Chonburi used the Chonburi Municipality Stadium plays in the 5,000-seater in Chonburi. Due to disagreements with the local authorities, the club wore its home games from 2008 of the Princess Sirindhorn Stadium. For the games of the 2008 AFC Champions League you had to dodge into the National Stadium, which was also used for matches in the 2009 AFC Cup Bangkok. For the 2010 season, the club will return to Chonburi and will host its home games at the renovated Chonburi Sports College Stadium.[19]

In 2010 season they moved to IPE Chonburi Stadium. In 2011 season they move to Chonburi Stadium after renovate the stadium for played in the AFC Cup, and Thai League.[20]

Stadium and locations

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Coordinates Location Stadium Capacity Year
13°21′52″N 100°58′35″E / 13.364452°N 100.976357°E / 13.364452; 100.976357 Chonburi Chonburi Municipality Stadium 8,680 2007–2008
13°09′49″N 100°56′25″E / 13.163489°N 100.940406°E / 13.163489; 100.940406 Chonburi Princess Sirindhorn Stadium 8,000 2009
13°24′41″N 100°59′37″E / 13.411302°N 100.993618°E / 13.411302; 100.993618 Chonburi IPE Chonburi Stadium 11,000 2010
13°20′11″N 100°57′23″E / 13.336368°N 100.956405°E / 13.336368; 100.956405 Chonburi Chonburi Stadium 8,680 2011–present
12°39′50″N 100°56′09″E / 12.663868°N 100.935877°E / 12.663868; 100.935877 Chonburi Sattahip Navy Stadium 6,000 2019

Continental record

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Season by season record

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Season League[21] FA Cup League Cup Queen's
Cup
Kor Royal
Cup
AFC Champions
League
AFC Cup ASEAN
Club
Top scorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Goals
2006 TPL 22 5 12 5 29 28 27 8th GR Pipob On-Mo 7
2007 TPL 30 19 6 5 50 25 63 1st[22] Pipob On-Mo 16
2008 TPL 30 15 14 1 34 14 59 2nd[22] SF W GR Pipob On-Mo 5
2009 TPL 30 18 8 4 50 30 62 2nd R4 SF W QF Mohamed Koné 14
2010 TPL 30 17 9 4 57 28 60 3rd W R2 SF Pipob On-Mo 10
2011 TPL 34 20 9 5 58 29 69 2nd R5 SF W QF Pipob On-Mo 15
2012 TPL 34 21 7 6 65 33 70 2nd R3 QF W Play-off SF Pipob On-Mo 14
2013 TPL 32 18 8 6 61 35 62 3rd R3 QF Thiago Cunha 13
2014 TPL 38 21 13 4 62 33 76 2nd RU R3 Play-off 3 Thiago Cunha 20
2015 TPL 34 15 12 7 62 44 57 4th QF R3 Play-off Thiago Cunha 19
2016 TL 31 14 9 8 52 33 51 5th W R3 Play-off Rodrigo Vergilio 12
2017 T1 34 15 8 11 59 59 53 7th R1 R2 Renan Marques 27
2018 T1 34 13 7 14 45 53 46 9th QF QF Worachit Kanitsribampen 12
2019 T1 30 11 7 12 43 45 40 7th R1 R1 Lukian 11
2020–21 T1 30 9 5 16 30 47 32 12th RU Caion 6
2021–22 T1 30 12 8 10 50 40 44 7th R2 SF Yoo Byung-Soo 12
2022–23 T1 30 13 4 13 46 38 43 6th R2 R1 Danilo Alves 14
2023–24 T1 30 7 9 14 33 52 30 14th QF R2 Willian Lira 15
Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated In Progress

Players

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Current squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF   THA Chatmongkol Rueangthanarot
4 DF   THA Kittipong Sansanit
5 DF   ENG Charlie Clough (on loan from Port)
6 DF   THA Songchai Thongcham
8 FW   THA Yotsakorn Burapha
9 FW   MAS Fergus Tierney
10 MF   THA Channarong Promsrikaew (Captain)
11 FW   THA Patipat Kamsat
15 DF   THA Jakkapong Sanmahung
16 MF   KOR Jeon San-hae
18 MF   THA Santipap Ratniyorm
19 MF   THA Kasidit Kalasin
20 DF   THA Suksan Bunta
22 GK   THA Chommaphat Boonloet
26 MF   THA Theerapat Kaewphung
No. Pos. Nation Player
32 DF   THA Rachata Moraksa
33 FW   BRA Derley
46 GK   THA Noppakun Kadtoon
51 DF   THA Nitipong Sanmahung
52 MF   THA Phatsakorn On-mo
81 MF   CIV Amadou Ouattara
86 DF   THA Parinya Nusong
87 GK   THA Thanawat Panthong
90 GK   THA Trisanu Kuptanavin
91 DF   THA Phongsakon Trisat
93 MF   THA Siraphop Wandee
94 MF   THA Yosakorn Natsit
97 FW   THA Ruengchai Kesada
98 MF   THA Naphat Chumpanya

Note 1: The official club website lists the supporters as player 12th man. Note 2: Players who are AFC Champions League quota foreign players are listed in bold.

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
80 GK   THA Chommaphat Boonloet (at Phrae United)
65 DF   THA Bukkoree Lemdee (at Chiangmai United)
DF   THA Thanachai Nathanakool (at Samut Prakan City)
DF   THA Pacharaphol Lekkun (at Samut Prakan City)
GK   THA Anuchid Taweesri (at Saimit Kabin United)
FW   MYA Aung Kaung Mann (at Nakhon Ratchasima)
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW   THA Warakorn Thongbai (at Customs United)
MF   THA Kittiphong Khetpara (at PT Satun)
GK   THA Chakhon Philakhlang (at Nakhon Si United)
FW   THA Kittikon Khetpara (at PT Satun)
MF   THA Nititorn Sripraman (at Samut Prakan City)
FW   THA Siraphop Wandee (at Suphanburi)

Former players

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For details on former players, see List of Chonburi F.C. players and Category:Chonburi F.C. players.

Manager history

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Manager by Years (2004–present)

Honours

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League

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Cups

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References

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  1. ^ "The Nation". nationmultimedia.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  2. ^ Anderson strikes as 'Dolphins' hold league leaders Archived 2 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b ย้อนรอย 'กว่าจะเป็นฉลามชล' 1. Teerapatra Rundhasevi. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ http://www.thailandsusu.com/webboard/index.php?topic=31143.0;wap2 Archived 13 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine ทำไมต้องเป็น ชลบุรี สันนิบาตร สมุทรปราการ - ไทยแลนด์สู้ๆ
  5. ^ "ชลบุรี เอฟซี กับแชมป์ไทยลีกที่จะกลายแค่เป็นตํานาน". Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  6. ^ "ส่ง2สโมสร แข่งสิงคโปร์คัพ". Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  7. ^ "เจ๋งเป้ง! ผลผลิต'ฉลามจูเนียร์'จ่อเทสต์ฝีเท้าแมนฯซิตี้".
  8. ^ chonburifc.net: Bericht auf der Vereinswebseite Archived 28 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "หลายคนไม่รู้! เปิดสถิติปี 52 "ซิโก้-โค้ชเฮง" ร่วมงานในทัพฉลามชล". Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  10. ^ "'เจ้าปาน' สุรัตน์ เตรียมเซ็นเมลเบิร์นฯไม่เกินพ.ค.นี้้". Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  11. ^ ""เทิดศักดิ์" ติวเข้ม ช้าง เอฟเอ คัพ ฟุตบอล คลินิก". {{cite news}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
  12. ^ "AFC Cup of hope for Thai teams". Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
  13. ^ "Victory downs Chonburi in Melbourne". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 May 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  14. ^ ย้อนรอย 'กว่าจะเป็นฉลามชล' 2. Teerapatra Rundhasevi. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ a b c "THE CLASS OF '18 : เจาะเบื้องหลังการสร้าง "ฉลามเลือดใหม่"". Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  16. ^ "อะคาเดมี่ชลบุรี สร้างนักฟุตบอลไปเล่นยุโรป". Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  17. ^ "J-League's Vissel Kobe announces business partnership with Thailand's Chonburi FC". Goal. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  18. ^ "'ฉลามชล' รุกคืบจับมือ 'วิสเซล โกเบ' ร่วมพันธมิตรลูกหนัง". Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  19. ^ PCL., Post Publishing. "Bangkok Post". bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  20. ^ "OFFICIAL : ฉลามชลเปลี่ยนชื่อรังเหย้า 'ชลบุรี ยูทีเอ สเตเดี้ยม'". Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  21. ^ King, Ian; Schöggl, Hans & Stokkermans, Karel (20 March 2014). "Thailand – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2014. Select link to season required from chronological list.
  22. ^ a b "Thailand – Chonburi FC – Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news". soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
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