Theerathon Bunmathan (Thai: ธีราทร บุญมาทัน, RTGS: Thirathon Bunmathan, pronounced [tʰīː.rāː.tʰɔ̄ːn būn.māː.tʰān]; born 6 March 1990) is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a left back for Buriram United. He has also been used as a midfielder during the later of his career. Considered one of the best defenders in the Southeast Asia region in history, he is renowned for his versatility, technical skills and ability to contribute effectively in both defensive and offensive roles on the field which he frequently takes set pieces scoring from a free kick and corners.
 Bunmathan with Buriram United in 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Theerathon Bunmathan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 6 February 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Nonthaburi, Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Left back, midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Buriram United | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Bangkok Sports School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Assumption College Thonburi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Rajpracha | 10 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2016 | Buriram United | 218 | (15) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2020 | Muangthong United | 42 | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | → Vissel Kobe (loan) | 28 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | → Yokohama F. Marinos (loan) | 25 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 53 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Buriram United | 73 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Thailand U19 | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2013 | Thailand U23 | 15 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2024 | Thailand | 105 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:26, 27 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Theerathon is the first Thai player to win the J1 League with Yokohama F. Marinos in 2019.[2][3]
Club career
edit
Buriram United
editTheerathon started almost every match for Buriram United due to his superb and consistent form. Theerathon is a major part of Buriram United's success; his free kicks assisted and scored many goals for the club. His free kick against FC Seoul in the 2013 AFC Champions League qualified Buriram to the knockout phase as groups runners-up drawing with Urawa Reds Diamonds at 10 points.. In the 2013 Thai Premier League Theerathon scored 3 goals against BEC Tero Sasana, Chonburi, and Ratchaburi Mitr Phol.
Muangthong United
editIn May 2016, it was announced that after spending seven years with Buriram United, he would be joining arch rivals Muangthong United the following month on a five-year contract for an all-time record for the highest football transfer fee for Thai League 1 at 35 million Baht. That record was soon broken on 2 November 2016 by Tanaboon Kesarat. The transfer fee is undisclosed but it is estimated to be around 50 million Baht.[4]
Vissel Kobe
editIn February 2018, Theerathon was on loan to play in the J.League 1 club, Vissel Kobe for the remainder of the 2018 season, which gives Theerathon the opportunity to play with world-class footballers such as Lucas Podolski, David Villa, and Andres Iniesta.[5][6]
Yokohama F. Marinos
editIn January 2019, Yokohama F. Marinos reached an agreement on loan to Theerathon from Muangthong United to play for the 2019 season. Hereafter, in March 2019, he started his first league match for the club in the match in which Yokohama opened the home match against former rival, Kawasaki Frontale with scores ended up in a 2–2 draw.
Later, in July 2019 Theerathon was named the J.League's Best Team of the Week after which he helped the team to beat Vissel Kobe, his former team with a score of 2–0. On 31 August 2019, Theerathon scored the first goal in the league and in the name of the club helped Yokohama open their home defeat to Gamba Osaka with a score of 3–1 and on 7 December 2019, the season-ending match of J.League Theerathon scored 1 goal and assists, helping Yokohama opens the house 3–0 defeat to FC Tokyo became the first Thai player to be champions of the J.League.[7][8][9]
In December 2019, Theerathon signed a permanent contract with Yokohama F. Marinos, making him a permanent Yokohama F. Marinos player from December 2019.[10] At the end of season 2020, Theerathon has been selected from the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) to be the first XI in AFC men team of the year 2020[11] alongside Takumi Minamino, Son Heung-min and Sardar Azmoun and is the only player in Southeast Asia in this best XI.[12][13]
Buriram United
editIn December 2021, after 4 years in Japan, Theerathon returned home to re-joined his former club Buriram United.[14] He was also named in the 26-man squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.[15]
International career
editTheerathon played against Saudi Arabia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification and received a red card in the 90th minute. After that match he went to Indonesia to play for Thailand U-23 in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games. He was Thailand U-23's starter and received an early yellow card, followed by a second one a few minutes after which resulted in a red card, thus becoming the first player in Thai football to get two red cards in three days.
Theerathon's scored a penalty in a friendly match against Laos. His second international goal is a rebound from Jakkraphan Pornsai's free kick. His form in the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup is very impressive combined with Anucha Kitpongsri who played on the left side of the field.
He represented Thailand U-23 at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, and is selected as captain for the tournament.
In May 2015, he captained Thailand to play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification against Vietnam.
In December 2018, Bunmathan was called up for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.[16] In January 2024, he was named in the 26-man squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.[17] He earned his 100th cap with the national team against Oman in the second group stage match of the Asian tournament.[18]
Style of play
editA versatile defender, Theerathon regularly plays as a left-back, and sometimes he has been deployed as a centre-back, central midfielder, and left midfielder. Although not known to have a fast pace, and his positioning has sometimes been questionable, he possesses a powerful left foot; in which besides his defensive prowess, he is noted for his offensive capabilities and ability to read the game, where he has gained a reputation carrying the ball upfront in attacking plays and supplies his team with passes. Theerathon frequently takes set pieces which is renowned to put the ball in the back of the nets. Theerathon has been noted for his talents being visible since a young age, and he has been singled out for his mentality, consistency, and leadership.
Personal life
editOn 24 May 2016, Theerathon married Chatrakamol Muangman in a traditional ceremony. The wedding was attended by many teammates and staff from the teams for which Theerathon had played.[19]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of 29 December 2021[20]
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| Thailand | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||
| 2009 | Rajpracha | Thailand League Division 2 | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 2010 | Buriram United | Thai League 1 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | 33 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 45 | 1 | ||||
| 2012 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 49 | 5 | |||
| 2013 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 50 | 6 | |||
| 2014 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 48 | 4 | |||
| 2015 | 32 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 50 | 6 | |||
| 2016 | 9 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |||||
| 2016 | Muangthong United | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 16 | 2 | |||
| 2017 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 48 | 9 | |||
| 2018 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | League Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||
| 2018 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2019 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 30 | 3 | |||
| 2020 | 26 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 33 | 1 | ||||
| 2021 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 351 | 27 | 36 | 3 | 53 | 2 | 50 | 7 | 490 | 39 | |||
International goals
editUnder-23
edit| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 16 November 2013 | Chiangmai, Thailand |  Uganda |
6–0 | Win | Friendly |
International goals
edit- Scores and results list Thailand's goal tally first.[21]
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 13 December 2012 | Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |  Malaysia |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2012 AFF Championship |
| 2. | 8 September 2015 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |  Iraq |
1–2 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 9 October 2015 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |  Hong Kong |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 4. | 13 October 2015 | Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam |  Vietnam |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5. | 8 December 2016 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |  Myanmar |
2–0 | 4–0 | 2016 AFF Championship |
| 6. | 10 September 2019 | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia |  Indonesia |
2–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7. | 16 January 2023 | Thammasat Stadium, Pathum Thani, Thailand | Vietnam |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 AFF Championship |
Honours
editClub
editBuriram United
- Thai League 1 (7): 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Thai FA Cup (6): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Thai League Cup (6): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Toyota Premier Cup (3): 2012, 2014, 2016
- Kor Royal Cup (4): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Mekong Club Championship: 2015
Muangthong United
- Thai League 1: 2016
- Thai League Cup (2): 2016, 2017
- Thailand Champions Cup: 2017
- Mekong Club Championship: 2017
Yokohama F. Marinos
International
editThailand U-23
Thailand
- AFF Championship (3): 2016, 2020, 2022
- King's Cup (2): 2016, 2017
Individual
edit- AFF Championship Most Valuable Player: 2022
- AFF Championship Best XI: 2012, 2022[22]
- AFF Championship All-time XI
- ASEAN Football Federation Best XI: 2013
- Thai Premier League/Thai League 1 Player of the Month: October 2013, February 2022
- AFC Champions League Dream Team: 2013
- Thai League 1 Player of the Year: 2013, 2021–22
- Chang Men's Player of the Year: 2022–23
- IFFHS AFC Man Team of the Year: 2020[11]
- IFFHS AFC Men's Team of the Decade 2011–2020[23]
Royal decoration
edit- 2015 –
Silver Medalist (Seventh Class) of The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn[24]
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Theerathon Bunmathan: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "Theerathon becomes first Thai to win J-League". Bangkok Post.
- ^ "'Aum' Theerathon Bunmathan, the first Thai footballer who win a J-League title with the Yokohama F.Marinos". Official ASEAN Newsroom. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
- ^ Paul Murphy (11 May 2016). "Thailand's Theerathon to leave Buriram United for Muang Thong". ESPNFC. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ ""ธีราทร" ขอบคุณ "โกเบ" ทำฝันค้าแข้งเจลีกเป็นจริง รับสักวันจะกลับไป". 28 December 2018. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "ประทับใจ!อุ้มยกมือไหว้-แฟนโกเบตะโกนเรียก ธีราทร (มีคลิป) | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "กระหึ่ม "ธีราทร" ติดทีมยอดเยี่ยมเจลีก 2019 ของสื่อดังญี่ปุ่น". www.thairath.co.th. 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "'ธีราทร' ขยับใกล้เป็นคนไทยคนแรกคว้าแชมป์บอลเจลีก". 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
- ^ "วินาที "โก๋อุ้ม" ธีราทร บุญมาทัน ซัดไกลเต็มข้อ ก่อนสร้างประวัติศาสตร์เป็นแข้งไทยคนแรกคว้าแชมป์เจลีกได้สำเร็จ". ทีนิวส์. 7 December 2019. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "ดีลจบ!'มารินอส'ซื้อขาด 'ธีราทร บุญมาทัน'ร่วมทีมแล้ว". dailynews. 25 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ a b "AFC MEN TEAM 2020". IFFHS. 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "รวมพลังสู้! ทีมชาติไทยได้ "กัปตันธีราทร" คืนทัพขนชุดใหญ่บู๊อุซเบฯรอบ 16 ทีม". www.siamsport.co.th.
- ^ "ตั้ง "อุ้ม-ธีราทร" กัปตันทีมชาติไทยลุยศึกคัดบอลโลกดวลเกาหลีใต้". www.siamsport.co.th.
- ^ "Theerathon moves back to Buriram". AFC. April 2023.
- ^ "#OFFICIAL ประกาศรายชื่อ 26 แข้งช้างศึก ชุดลุยศึก เอเชียน คัพ 2023 รอบสุดท้าย ที่ประเทศกาตาร์" [#OFFICIAL Announcing the 26 War Elephants in the squad for the 2023 Asian Cup finals in Qatar]. Facebook (in Thai). Thailand Football Association. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "ประกาศรายชื่อ 23 แข้งช้างศึก ชุดลุยเอเชียน คัพ" [Announcement of the 23 players for the Asian Cup]. FAT (in Thai). 27 December 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ "#OFFICIAL ประกาศรายชื่อ 26 แข้งช้างศึก ชุดลุยศึก เอเชียน คัพ 2023 รอบสุดท้าย ที่ประเทศกาตาร์" [#OFFICIAL Announcing the 26 War Elephants in the squad for the 2023 Asian Cup finals in Qatar]. Facebook (in Thai). Thailand Football Association. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Social Wrap: Milestone moments as #AsianCup2023 intensifies". Qatar Tribune. 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Thai national footballer "Aum" finally ties the knot". Thai Rath. 25 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "Theerathon Bunmathan". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ^ Theeratorn Bunmatan at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ "AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup on Instagram: "Presenting to you... your All-Star XI from the #AFFMitsubishiElectricCup2022 ⭐ Thank you ALL who took part in the vote and congratulations to all players who have been voted by the fans to be part of this star-studded lineup 🙌 #BeTheGameChanger"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "IFFHS MAN TEAM – AFC – OF THE DECADE 2011-2020". IFFHS. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "′ธีราทร บุญมาทัน′ รับเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์". Archived from the original on 25 January 2016.
External links
edit- Theerathon Bunmathan profile at Muangthong United website
- Theerathon Bunmathan at J.League (archive) (in Japanese)