With millions of football fans in Thailand tuning in each week to watch the world's top leagues, Thailand's online betting market is rapidly expanding. Despite the sport's popularity in Thailand, the country has yet to produce a truly great player capable of excelling in the European game.
Fans are still hopeful that one day they will see a player playing in the country who will go on to have a successful career in one of the major leagues. But who are the best players on Thailand's national team right now?
Teerasil Dangda
There are few more celebrated Thai players in history than the current captain of the national team, Teerasil Dangda. The striker has played the majority of his career in his homeland but has been tempted to move to Europe at stages. He signed for Manchester City in 2007 but was sold just 12 months later without making an appearance.
A second spell in Europe came with Spanish side Almeria in the 2014-15 season. However, it is with the national side that he has made his presence felt, as Dangda has played 122 times for Thailand, scoring 61 goals. He has won a number of trophies with the national side, including the AFF Championship on three occasions. Dangda has also ended the same competition as the top scorer on five occasions, including most recently in 2022.
Theerathon Bunmathan
Teerathon Bunmathan is another of the most celebrated players in Thai history. The 32-year-old may be coming toward the end of his playing career, but he has enjoyed spells at major clubs around Asia throughout his time on the pitch. The most celebrated of those came with Yokohama Marinos, as he became the first Thai player to ever win the J1 League.
Bunmathan would win further honors in Thailand throughout his career, including the top-flight title on six occasions across spells with Buriram United and Muangthong United. During his time with Buriram United, the defender would also win the Thai FA Cup on five occasions, and the Thai League Cup five times. His performances have seen him pick up a number of individual awards, including the AFF Championship MVP in 2022.
Sarach Yooyen
Many stars have attempted to play in defensive midfield throughout their career, but the difficulty ensures that the top stars always thrive. That is an area of the pitch that Sarach Yooyen has excelled in throughout his career, having won prestigious honors with both club and country. Yooyen has played 68 times for Thailand, scoring five times, and was part of the teams that have won the AFF Championship on four occasions.
As well as that, he also won the King’s Cup with his nation in 2016. He has also been important to his club sides throughout his career, winning the Thai Premier League on two occasions with Muangthong United. During his time at the club, he also won the Thai League Cup on two occasions and the Thailand Champions Cup. Further success would follow after moving to BG Pathum United, as he has won the Thai League 1 on one occasion, and the Thailand Champions Cup twice.
Adisak Kraisorn
One of the few players involved in the national team that is playing outside of Thailand is Adisak Kraisorn. The striker signed for Malaysian Super League team Terengganu in early 2023, but he is yet to make his debut. Kraisorn has been a prolific scorer throughout his career, with his richest form coming during a spell with Maunthong United. During his stay at the Thai club, he scored 31 goals in 98 games. At international level, he has represented Thailand at the Asian Games and was also part of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup winning team.
To date, he has represented his nation on 56 occasions, and he has scored 21 goals. The striker has won the AFF Championship on three occasions with Thailand and has also won the King’s Cup on two occasions. His personal performances also saw him pick up the top scorer award at the AFF Championship in 2018.
Conclusion
The future of Thai football remains bright, as the national team continues to excel in regional competitions. However, fans of the sport will be hoping that the wait for an international player to make a breakthrough in the European game will come soon. But, only time will tell whether we will see a Thai player in the Premier League over the coming ten years.
