Chiangrai United F.C.

History

First title in debut season

In 2009, Chiangrai United was founded and joined the newly created Thailand football setup and started in the third division league, the 2009 Regional League Division 2 Northern Region. Chiangrai United duly came out on top come to the end of the regular league season, thus claiming their first-ever championship and also crowned as the first-ever winners of the Regional League Northern Division where Watcharakorn Klaitin scored 19 goals in the season and thus becoming the only player in the club history to finished as the top scorer with more goals for the club in a season.

On winning the championship, Chiangrai United entered the 2009 Regional League Division 2, an end of season mini-league for all 5 Regional League Division 2 championship-winning teams, and finished as runners-up and promoted to Thai Division 1 League.

Second Division and top flight promotion (2010–2016)

In 2010, Chiangrai United finished 3rd in the Thai Division 1 League and first-ever promoted to the top tier Thai League 1. Chiangrai United than played their first ever top flight season in the 2011 season where the club finished in 10th place

In 2016, Chiangrai United made a deal with Jarken Group to the strong brand and initiating a holistic marketing strategy which included business development and strengthening management structures to promote a positive image of the Chiangrai United Sports Passions as a brand to make Chiangrai United become professional and sustainable. The strategy for this deal is to design to promote Chaingrai United to become the big name club in Thailand.

Tasting success with major honours (2017–2022)

Back-to-back Thai FA Cup winners (2017–2018)

In 2017, Chiangrai United continued to make agreements with sponsors to improve the club's professional image and attract Tanaboon Kesarat. They also secured Brazilian players such as; Vander Luiz, Felipe Azevedo, Henrique Silva. Under Brazilian head coach Alexandre Gama, Chiangrai United was victorious in the 2017 Thai FA Cup final after defeating Bangkok United 4–2. This proved to be a case of redemption for Chiangrai United as winning the first piece of silverware in club-history, three days after losing to Muangthong United in the 2017 Thai League Cup final.

Chiangrai United than qualified to the 2018 AFC Champions League qualication phase where they defeated Indonesian club Bali United 3–2 in a preliminary round 2 before going on to lose against Chinese club Shanghai SIPG 1–0 in a final play-offs round for the AFC Champions League group stages.

Domestic double (2018)

In the 2018 Thai League Cup final, William Henrique scored the only goal for the match which sealed Chiangrai United to win the League Cup on 20 October 2018. Seven days later, Chiangrai United than played in the 2018 Thai FA Cup Final, Chiangrai United went on to shock eventual Thai League 1 champions Buriram United at the Supachalasai Stadium where the beetles won 3–2 victory, in which Bill scored a hat-trick for the club in the final. Chiangrai United went on to win a domestic double where the club also notably win the 2018 Thailand Champions Cup

Thai League 1 champions (2019)

Chiangrai United than qualified to the 2019 AFC Champions League qualification phase where they face against Myanmar club Yangon United winning them 3–1 in a qualifying preliminary round 2 advancing to the next round facing against Japanese club Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a qualifying play-offs round for the AFC Champions League group stages; the match finished 0–0 after extra time, with Chiangrai United narrowly losing the penalty shoot-out 4–3 at the Hiroshima Big Arch.

In October 2019, after the announcement of the appointment of Brazilian Ailton Silva as the new head coach, Chiangrai United went on to win the Thai League 1 for the first time. Chiangrai United and Buriram United ended up with identical 58 points from 30 matches. However, they were declared the winners of the league on the basis of a better head-to-head record, Chiangrai United held Buriram to a goalless draw away in the first leg in April 2019 then thrashed the Thai giants 4–0 at home in July 2019, Chiangrai United is the third club to win the top flight after Buriram United and Muangthong United since the country's top flight league was revamped in 2009. The side is commented to fare well in most big games, with compactness and discipline springing surprises. Instead of being burdened with keeping possession, they stifled opponents with a rehearsed repertoire of both defensive and pressing moves, topped off with lethal counter-attacks.

AFC Champions League debut (2020)

With Chiangrai United winning the 2019 Thai League 1 title, the club gains automatic slot into the 2019 AFC Champions League thus being drawn in Group E alongside Australian club Melbourne Victory, Chinese club Beijing Guoan and Korean club FC Seoul. Chiangrai United makes it debut in the tournament losing to Melbourne Victory 1–0 on 11 February 2020 at the AAMI Park. The club than recorded their first win on 27 November 2020 with Bill scoring a brace to defeat FC Seoul 2–1 at home. Chiangrai United than bowed out from the tournament after ending at the bottom of the group stage with 5 points.

Chiangrai United than qualified to the 2021 AFC Champions League where they were drawn in group H in a centralised venue in Tashkent, Uzbekistan alongside Japanese club Gamba Osaka, Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Singaporean club Tampines Rovers. Chiangrai United went on to have their highest ever finished in the club AFC tournament history with 8 points but it wasn't enough thus the club was knockout from the group stage.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Academy development

Chiangrai United opened its first youth academies in 2012. The club also regularly supplies the Thai national youth teams and Chiangrai first team squad with local talent such as Ekanit Panya, Chotipat Poomkaew, Apirak Worawong, Pharadon Pattanapol, Sarawut Yodyinghathaikul and Thakdanai Jaihan. Chiangrai youth academies play in Thailand Youth League.

Stadium

Main articles: Singha Chiangrai Stadium

Chiangrai United's home ground is the United Stadium of Chiangrai, which has also been known as the Singha Chiangrai Stadium since October 2021 due to sponsorship commitments. The stadium is situated in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand near Mae Fah Luang International Airport and has a capacity of 12,000 people. The club stadium nickname is also known as The Beetles Nest.

Players

First team squad

Out on loan

Honours

Domestic competitions

League

• Thai League 1
  • Winners (1): 2019
• Thai Division 1 League
  • Third place (1): 2010
• Regional League Northern Region
  • Winners (1): 2009
• Regional League Division 2
  • Runners-up (1): 2009

Cups

• FA Cup
  • Winners (3): 2017, 2018, 2020–21
• League Cup
  • Winners (1): 2018
  • Runners-up (1): 2017
• Thailand Champions Cup
  • Winners (2): 2018, 2020
  • Runners-up (1): 2019, 2021

Double

Treble

Player records

As of 26 January 2026.

• Biggest wins: 19–0 vs Sing Pathum Thani (29 October 2025)
• Heaviest defeats: 7–0 vs Buriram United (15 January 2025)
• Youngest goal scorers: Ekanit Panya ~ 15 years 11 months 27 days old (On 18 October 2015 vs Muangthong United)
• Oldest goal scorers: BRA Antônio Cláudio ~ 40 years 1 month 17 days old (On 2 June 2013 vs Chonburi)
• Youngest ever debutant: Ekanit Panya ~ 15 years 11 months 5 days old (On 26 September 2015 vs Sisaket)
• Oldest ever player: BRA Antônio Cláudio ~ 40 years 2 month 21 days old (On 7 July 2013 vs TOT)

Former players

International capped players

Managerial history

Continental record

Season by season record

• P = Played
• W = Games won
• D = Games drawn
• L = Games lost
• F = Goals for
• A = Goals against
• Pts = Points
• Pos = Final position
• N/A = No answer
• TL = Thai League 1
• QR1 = First Qualifying Round
• QR2 = Second Qualifying Round
• QR3 = Third Qualifying Round
• QR4 = Fourth Qualifying Round
• RInt = Intermediate Round
• R1 = Round 1
• R2 = Round 2
• R3 = Round 3
• R4 = Round 4
• R5 = Round 5
• R6 = Round 6
• GR = Group stage
• QF = Quarter-finals
• SF = Semi-finals
• RU = Runners-up
• S = Shared
• W = Winners

References

References

1. "Fifth-ranked Chiangrai United in major revamp".
2. "Report from goal.com". Chiangrai United vs Bangkok United. Retrieved 25 November 2017..
3. "'เชียงราย' ทุ่ม 300 ล. มุ่งล่าแชมป์ลีก-บู๊เอเชียใน 5 ปี ค่าตัว 'ธนบูรณ์' ไม่ถึง 50 ล.".
4. "Chiangrai see off Bangkok to win Thai FA Cup".
5. "Chiang Rai United make it two with FA Cup win".
6. "Match Play Chiangrai United Players". thaileague.co.th.
7. "เชียงรายแชมป์สมัยแรก ,สุพรรณบุรีร่วงทีมสุดท้าย : บทสรุปโตโยต้า ไทยลีก 2019".
8. "ไอล์ตัน : "สกอร์ 4-0 เหนือบุรีรัมย์ คือประวัติศาสตร์ของเชียงราย"".
9. "มิตติ ติยะไพรัช: เชียงราย ยูไนเต็ด ตัวตน ผู้คน และการเมือง".
10. (25 March 2013). "การ์ตูนจุดกำเนิดเชียงรายยูไนเต็ต".
11. (25 March 2013). "การ์ตูนจุดกำเนิดเชียงรายยูไนเต็ต".
12. "OFFICIAL : ตามรอยรุ่นพี่! เชียงราย เซ็น 6 แข้งอคาเดมีขึ้นชุดใหญ่".
13. (20 March 2014). "Thailand – List of Champions". [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]].