# Chiangrai United F.C.

Chiangrai United Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลเชียงราย ยูไนเต็ด) is a professional football club based in Chiangrai Province, Thailand's northernmost province. The club currently competes in the Thai League 1. The club is also known as "The Beetles".
Chiangrai United has won one Thai League 1 title, 3 Thai FA Cup, 1 Thai League Cup and 2 Thailand Champions Cup in the club history.

## History
### First years

In 2009, Chiangrai United joined the new Thai football setup and started at the 3rd level, 2009 Regional League Division 2 Northern Region. Chiangrai 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.
On winning the championship, Chiangrai 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 League 1 Promotion

In 2010, the club finished 3rd in Thai Division 1 League and first-ever promoted to the top tier Thai League 1.
Chiangrai United opened its first youth academies in 2012.
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 Chaing Rai United to become the big name club in Thailand.

#### 2017 & 2018 – FA Cup winners

In 2017, the club continued to make agreements with sponsors to improve the club's professional image and attract Tanaboon Kesarat. They also secured players such as; Vander Luiz, Felipe Azevedo, Henrique Silva.
Under Brazilian coach Alexandre Gama, The Beetles was victorious in the 2017 FA Cup Final with Bangkok United. This proved to be a case of redemption for Chiangrai as winning the first piece of silverware in club-history, three days after losing to Muangthong United in the League Cup final.
In 2018, the club attracted Lee Yong-Rae and Bill.
Chiangrai defeated the 2017 Liga 1 runners-up Bali United 3–2 in a qualifying preliminary round 2 and losing the 2017 Chinese Super League to runners-up Shanghai SIPG 1–0 in a qualifying play-offs round for the AFC Champions League group stages.
In 2018 FA Cup Final, The Beetles weathered certain things Thai League 1 winners Buriram United could hurl at them at Supachalasai Stadium to record a 3–2 victory, a hat-trick by Bill.

#### 2019 – League 1 title

Chiangrai defeated the 2018 Myanmar National League champions Yangon United 3–1 in a qualifying preliminary round 2 and drew the 2018 J1 League runners-up 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 losing the penalty shoot-out 4–3 at Hiroshima Big Arch.
In October 2019, after the announcement of the appointment of Ailton dos Santos Silva as the new head coach, The Beetles won 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 held Buriram to a goalless draw away in the first leg in April then thrashed the northeastern giants 4 to nothing at home in July, Chiangrai United is the third to win the top flight after Buriram and Muangthong since the country's premier tournament 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.

## 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. The Stadium is near Mae Fah Luang International Airport and has a capacity of 11,354 people.

## Continental record

| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 2018 | AFC Champions League | Preliminary round 2 | Bali United | 2–1 (a.e.t.) |
| 2018 | AFC Champions League | Play-off round | Shanghai Port | 0–1 |
| 2019 | AFC Champions League | Preliminary round 2 | Yangon United | 3–1 |
| 2019 | AFC Champions League | Play-off round | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) |
| 2020 | AFC Champions League | Group E | Melbourne Victory | 2–2 | 0–1 | 4th out of 4 |
| 2020 | AFC Champions League | Group E | Beijing Guoan | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4th out of 4 |
| 2020 | AFC Champions League | Group E | FC Seoul | 2–1 | 0–5 | 4th out of 4 |
| 2021 | AFC Champions League | Group H | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3rd out of 4 |
| 2021 | AFC Champions League | Group H | Tampines Rovers | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3rd out of 4 |
| 2021 | AFC Champions League | Group H | Gamba Osaka | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3rd out of 4 |
| 2022 | AFC Champions League | Group J | Kitchee | 2–3 | 0–1 | 3rd out of 3 |
| 2022 | AFC Champions League | Group J | Vissel Kobe | 0–0 | 0–6 | 3rd out of 3 |

## Season by season record

| Season | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Thailand Champions Cup | AFC Champions League | Top scorer | Top scorer |
| Season | Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | FA Cup | League Cup | Thailand Champions Cup | AFC Champions League | Name | Goals |
| 2009 | DIV 2 Northern | 20 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 16 | 54 | 1st | – | – | – | – | Watcharakorn Klaitin | 19 |
| 2009 | RL | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 2nd | – | – | – | – | Watcharakorn Klaitin | 19 |
| 2010 | DIV 1 | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 32 | 53 | 3rd | R3 | R2 | – | – | Wasan Natasan | 13 |
| 2011 | TPL | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 47 | 52 | 44 | 10th | R4 | QF | – | – | Wasan Natasan | 18 |
| 2012 | TPL | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 40 | 47 | 44 | 9th | SF | R3 | – | – | Nantawat Tansopa | 8 |
| 2013 | TPL | 32 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 32 | 45 | 34 | 11th | QF | R3 | – | – | Leandro Assumpção | 9 |
| 2014 | TPL | 38 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 55 | 47 | 55 | 7th | SF | R4 | – | – | Renan Marques | 17 |
| 2015 | TPL | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 42 | 57 | 44 | 9th | QF | R1 | – | – | Renan Marques | 10 |
| 2016 | TL | 31 | 13 | 6 | 12 | 42 | 43 | 45 | 8th | R3 | R2 | – | – | Wellington Bruno | 10 |
| 2017 | T1 | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 67 | 42 | 60 | 4th | W | RU | – | – | Felipe Azevedo | 18 |
| 2018 | T1 | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 52 | 36 | 55 | 5th | W | W | W | PO | Bill | 9 |
| 2019 | T1 | 30 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 53 | 28 | 58 | 1st | QF | SF | RU | PO | Bill | 14 |
| 2020–21 | T1 | 30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 48 | 32 | 54 | 4th | W | – | W | GS | Bill | 18 |
| 2021–22 | T1 | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 33 | 35 | 47 | 5th | R3 | SF | RU | GS | Bill | 8 |
| 2022–23 | T1 | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 44 | 42 | 44 | 5th | QF | R1 | – | GS | Victor Cardozo | 11 |
| 2023–24 | T1 | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 31 | 35 | 34 | 11th | R2 | QF | – | – | Bill | 7 |
| 2024–25 | T1 | | | | | | | | | | | – | – | | |
| Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Promoted | Relegated |

## Players
### First team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | THA | Apirak Worawong |
| 2 | DF | THA | Banphakit Phormmanee |
| 3 | DF | THA | Tanasak Srisai |
| 4 | DF | THA | Piyaphon Phanichakul |
| 5 | DF | KOR | Lee Jung-moon |
| 6 | DF | SGP | Jordan Emaviwe |
| 7 | MF | THA | Settasit Suvannaseat |
| 8 | MF | BRA | Ralph Machado |
| 9 | FW | KOR | Lee seungwon |
| 10 | MF | THA | Sanukran Thinjom (on loan from PT Prachuap) |
| 11 | FW | BRA | Carlos Iury |
| 13 | FW | THA | Pattara Soimalai |
| 15 | DF | THA | Santipap Yaemsaen |
| 17 | MF | THA | Gionata Verzura |
| 18 | FW | CHN | Guo Tianyu |
| 20 | MF | THA | Thakdanai Jaihan |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | MF | THA | Suradis Pateh |
| 22 | GK | THA | Sirassawut Wongruankhum |
| 27 | MF | THA | Apisorn Phumchat |
| 29 | MF | THA | Atikun Mheetuam |
| 30 | DF | THA | Rachen Sobunma |
| 32 | MF | THA | Montree Promsawat |
| 39 | GK | THA | Farus Patee |
| 40 | FW | THA | Chinnawat Prachuabmon |
| 44 | DF | BRA | Júlio César |
| 50 | MF | THA | Ongsa Singthong |
| 55 | DF | THA | Thanawat Pimyotha |
| 77 | FW | MYA | Win Naing Tun |
| 88 | MF | SGP | Harhys Stewart |
| 99 | FW | THA | Sittichok Kannoo |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | THA | Rawat Kharop (at Chiangrai City) |
| — | DF | THA | Pharadon Pattanapol (at Trat) |
| — | FW | THA | Varrintorn Watcharapringam (at Customs United) |

## Managerial history

* Sarith Wutchuay 2009
* Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul 2009
* Apisit Imampai Dec 2009 – Feb 2010
* Kajohn Punnaves Feb 2010 – May 2010
* Rungsimun Songkrohtham May 2010 – July 2010
* Stefano Cugurra Teco July 2010 – June 2013
* Henk Wisman July 2013 – Sept 2013
* Anurak Srikerd Sept 2013 – Oct 2013
* Teerasak Po-on Nov 2013 – Nov 2016
* Alexandre Gama Dec 2016 – Oct 2018
* Jose Alves Borges Oct 2018 – Feb 2019
* Ailton dos Santos Silva Feb 2019 – Nov 2019
* Masami Taki Dec 2019 – Oct 2020
* Emerson Pereira (caretaker) Oct 2020 – Apr 2021
* Emerson Pereira Apr 2021 – Dec 2022
* Gabriel Magalhães Dec 2022 – May 2024
* Xavi Moro June 2024 – November 2024
* Piyaphon Phanichakul November 2024 – December 2024
* Wilson James Dos Santos (Interim) January 2025 – February 2025
* Worawut Wangsawad February 2025 – present

## 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

       Thai FA Cup and Thailand Champions Cup: 2020–21

#### Treble

       Thai FA Cup, Thai League Cup and Thailand Champions Cup: 2018