# Cambodian Premier League

The Cambodian Premier League (Khmer: លីគកំពូលកម្ពុជា, Lik Kâmpul Kâmpŭchéa) is a top association football division in Cambodia and administered by the Cambodian Football League Company (CFLC). Contested by 11 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Cambodian League 2.

## History
### Origins

The first domestic football national championship in Cambodia was first established in 1982 during the People's Republic of Kampuchea years. The competing clubs were primarily based on the Soviet model of official amateur teams formed by ministries, the police, army and other state owned enterprises.
In the 2000s, the Cambodian League or C-League was brought about and was rebranded as the Metfone Cambodian League or Metfone C-League at the start of the 2005 season, courtesy of corporate sponsorship of the league's name. Over the course of the following years, the standard of professionalism would change with clubs being formed and clubs being sponsored by corporate entities. In 2018, it was announced that all clubs participating in the league would be required to have access to their own stadium before the start of the 2019 season. This was an attempt by the Football Federation of Cambodia to help further modernize football in Cambodia. In past seasons, many of the league's clubs have shared the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium or the Old Stadium. Since its inception as an official professional league in 2005, a total of 36 clubs have competed. 6 clubs have been crowned champions, with Phnom Penh Crown winning the title a record 8 times.

### Cambodian Premier League

In October 2021, Satoshi Saito, the former international marketer for FC Barcelona of La Liga, was announced as the CEO of the Cambodian Football League Company (CFLC) which would take over the Metfone C-League's administrative and financial duties and establish the league as Cambodian Premier League starting with the 2022 season.

#### The Cambodia Classic Match

The Cambodia Classic Match is given to the rivalry between Phnom Penh Crown and Boeung Ket. On February 6, 2012, both teams met for the first time.

#### First invincible

Boeung Ket won the 2020 league season by head-to-head record against 2019 league season champion, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng, despite remaining unbeaten the whole season, setting up a record in the Cambodian League.

## Sponsorship

| Period | Sponsor | Brand |
| 1982–2004 | | Cambodian League |
| 2005–2021 | Metfone | Metfone Cambodian League or Metfone C-League |
| 2022– | Metfone | Cambodian Premier League |
The Cambodian Premier League does not have a title sponsor; however, it is sponsored by a group of multinational corporations.
The current tournament is sponsored by:
* Molten Corporation
* Metfone
* Krud Beer
* Indomie

## Clubs
### 2024–25 season

The 2023–24 Cambodian Premier League season has welcomed fresh teams and faces, with Prey Veng Football Club and ISI Dangkor Senchey FC joining the league. These teams met the demanding national club license requirements, joining stalwarts like Phnom Penh Crown and Visakha Football Club. Despite being the 2022 second league champions, EDC Club Premium did not join the top tier this season due to not meeting the comprehensive licensing criteria. Prey Veng FC and ISI Dangkor Senchey FC have expressed their readiness for the league, with ISI Dangkor Senchey FC notably announcing seven new signings.
For the 2024–25 Cambodian Premier League Life FC and Ministry of Interior FA also joining the league too.
| Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity | Previous season | Last Cambodian Premier League title |
| Angkor Tiger | Siem Reap Province | Akihiro Kato Stadium | 2,000 | Cambodian Premier League (6th) | - |
| Boeung Ket | Phnom Penh | Olympic National Stadium | 50,000 | Cambodian Premier League (5th) | 2020 |
| ISI Dangkor Senchey | Phnom Penh | AIA Stadium KMH Park | 3,000 | Cambodian League 2 (2nd) | - |
| Kirivong Sok Sen Chey | Takeo Province | Kirivong Sok Sen Chey Stadium | 350 | Cambodian Premier League (8th) | - |
| Life Football Club | Sihanouk | Life Stadium | 3000 | Cambodian League 2 (1st) | |
| Ministry of Interior FA | Phnom Penh | Old Stadium | 500 | Cambodian League 2 (2nd) | - |
| Nagaworld | Kampong Speu Province | Kampong Speu Stadium | 3,000 | Cambodian Premier League (4th) | 2018 |
| Phnom Penh Crown | Phnom Penh | Smart RSN Stadium | 5,010 | Cambodian Premier League (1st) | 2022 |
| Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng | Svay Rieng Province | Svay Rieng Stadium | 2,060 | Cambodian Premier League (2nd) | 2019 |
| Tiffy Army | Phnom Penh | RCAF Old Stadium | 14,750 | Cambodian Premier League (7th) | - |
| Visakha | Phnom Penh | Prince Stadium | 15,000 | Cambodian Premier League (3rd) | - |

## Former clubs

| Club | Location | Latest year in top flight |
| Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh | Phnom Penh | 2014 |
| Asia Euro United | Phnom Penh | 2021 |
| Bati Academy | Takeo Province | 2020 |
| Build Bright United | Phnom Penh | 2015 |
| CMAC United | Phnom Penh | 2017 |
| Electricite du Cambodge | Phnom Penh | 2021 |
| Kampong Cham | Kampong Cham Province | 2019 |
| Khemara Keila | Phnom Penh | 2010 |
| National Police Commissary | Phnom Penh | 2021 |
| Prey Veng | Prey Veng | 2024 |
| Soltilo Angkor | Siem Reap Province | 2021 |
| Western Phnom Penh | Phnom Penh | 2018 |

## Championship history
### Metfone Cambodian League (2005–2021)

| Season | Club |
| 2005 | Khemera Keila |
| 2006 | Khemera Keila |
| 2007 | Naga Corp |
| 2008 | Phnom Penh Empire |
| 2009 | Naga Corp |
| 2010 | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2011 | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2012 | Boeung Ket Rubber Field |
| 2013 | Svay Rieng |
| 2014 | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2015 | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2016 | Boeung Ket Angkor |
| 2017 | Boeung Ket Angkor |
| 2018 | Nagaworld |
| 2019 | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2020 | Boeung Ket |
| 2021 | Phnom Penh Crown |

### Cambodian Premier League (2022–present)

| Season | Club |
| 2022 | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2023–24 | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |

### Champions by club

| Clubs | Champions | Champions seasons | Runners-up | Runners-up seasons | Third place | Third place seasons | All-time top three finish |
| Phnom Penh Crown | 8 | 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022 | 2 | 2005, 2023-24 | 4 | 2006, 2007, 2013, 2020 | 14 |
| Nagaworld | 4 | 2004, 2007, 2009, 2018 | 4 | 2006, 2011, 2012, 2015 | 4 | 2006, 2014, 2016, 2019 | 12 |
| Boeung Ket | 4 | 2012, 2016, 2017, 2020 | 3 | 2013, 2014, 2018 | 1 | 2015 | 8 |
| Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng | 3 | 2013, 2019, 2023-24 | 3 | 2010, 2020, 2021 | 5 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2022 | 11 |
| Khemara Keila (defunct) | 2 | 2005, 2006 | 2 | 2007, 2009 | 0 | | 4 |
| National Police Commissary | 1 | 2000 | 0 | | 1 | 2005 | 2 |
| Tiffy Army | 0 | | 3 | 2008, 2016, 2017 | 0 | | 3 |
| Visakha | 0 | | 2 | 2019, 2022 | 3 | 2018, 2021, 2023-24 | 5 |
| Build Bright United (defunct) | 0 | | 0 | | 1 | 2010 | 1 |
Source: rsssf.org

## Awards
### Prize money

| Champion | 50,000 USD |
| Runner-up | 26,000 USD |
| Third place | 18,000 USD |
| Fourth place | 15,500 USD |
Source:

### Coach of the season

| Season | Coach | Club |
| 2023-24 | Pep Muñoz | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2022 | Oleg Starynskyi | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2021 | Oleg Starynskyi | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2020 | Kim Pheakdey | Boeung Ket |
| 2019 | Conor Nestor | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2018 | Meas Channa | Nagaworld |
| 2017 | Hao Socheat | Boeung Ket |
| 2016 | Tep Longrachana | National Defense Ministry |
| 2015 | Prak Sovannara | Boeung Ket Angkor |
| 2014 | Ung Kanyanith | National Police Commissary |
| 2013 | Sam Vandet | Svay Rieng |
| 2012 | Prak Vuthy | Boeung Ket Rubber Field |

### Top scorer of the season

| Season | Scorer | Club | Goals |
| 2023-24 | Marcus Haber | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng | 31 |
| 2022 | Marcus Haber | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng | 25 |
| 2021 | Márcio Marques | Nagaworld | 22 |
| 2020 | Privat Mbarga | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng | 16 |
| 2019 | Privat Mbarga | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng | 36 |
| 2018 | George Bisan | Nagaworld | 28 |
| 2017 | Atuheire Kipson | Nagaworld | 28 |
| 2016 | Chan Vathanaka | Boeung Ket Angkor | 22 |
| 2015 | Chan Vathanaka | Boeung Ket Angkor | 37 |
| 2014 | Dzarma Bata | Svay Rieng | 23 |
| 2013 | Khoun Laboravy | Svay Rieng | 20 |
| 2012 | Friday Nwakuna | Boeung Ket Rubber Field | 20 |
| 2011 | Julius Oiboh | Nagaworld | 28 |
| 2010 | Julius Chukwuma Ononiwu | Kirivong | 25 |
| 2009 | Justine Uche Prince | Spark | 21 |
| 2008 | Khim Borey | National Defense Ministry | 18 |
| 2005 | Hok Sochivorn | Hello United | 22 |

### Player of the season

| Season | Player | Club |
| 2023-24 | Marcus Haber | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2022 | Marcus Haber | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2021 | Privat Mbarga | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2020 | Mat Noron | Boeung Ket |
| 2019 | Privat Mbarga | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2018 | Choe Myong-ho | Visakha |
| 2017 | Chrerng Polroth | National Defense Ministry |
| 2016 | Chan Vathanaka | Boeung Ket Angkor |
| 2015 | Chan Vathanaka | Boeung Ket Angkor |
| 2014 | Chan Vathanaka | Boeung Ket Rubber Field |
| 2013 | Khoun Laboravy | Svay Rieng |
| 2012 | Keo Sokngon | Boeung Ket Rubber Field |

### Goalkeeper of the season

| Season | Goalkeeper | Club |
| 2023-24 | Vireak Dara | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2022 | Saveng Samnang | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2021 | Saveng Samnang | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2020 | Hul Kimhuy | Boeung Ket |
| 2019 | Aim Sovannarath | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng |
| 2018 | Samrith Seiha | Nagaworld |
| 2017 | Sou Yaty | Boeung Ket |
| 2016 | Um Sereyroth | National Defense Ministry |
| 2015 | Keo Soksela | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2014 | Sou Yaty | Phnom Penh Crown |
| 2013 | Aim Sovannarath | Svay Rieng |
| 2012 | Peng Bunchay | Boeung Ket Rubber Field |

## Records
### All-time hat-tricks

| Rank | Player | Hat-tricks |
| 1 | Privat Mbarga | 6 |
| 2 | Marcus Haber | 5 |
| 2 | Marcio Marques | 5 |
| 2 | Chan Vathanaka | 5 |
| 5 | George Bisan | 4 |
| 6 | Shane Booysen | 3 |
| 6 | Takumu Nishihara | 3 |
| 6 | Mat Noron | 3 |
| 6 | Okereke Thimothy | 3 |

### All-time clean sheets

| Rank | Player | Clean sheets |
| 1 | Sou Yaty | 37 |
| 2 | Keo Soksela | 23 |
| 2 | Um Vichet | 23 |
| 3 | Um Sereyroth | 20 |

## Statistics
### AFC Club Ranking

The following data indicates Cambodian coefficient rankings between Asian football leagues.