BG Pathum United F.C.

BG Pathum United F.C.
BG Pathum United Football Club is a Thai professional football club based in Pathum Thani province and is managed by BG Sports Company Limited which is a subsidiary of Bangkok Glass Public Company Limited. BG Pathum United participates in the Thai League 1.
The nickname of BGPU, "The Rabbits", derives from the chinese zodiac of the first club president, Pavin Bhirombhakdi who was born in The Year of the Rabbit.
The club has won 1 Thai League 1 title, 1 Thai League 2 title, 1 Thai FA Cup, and 2 Thailand Champions Cup.
History
Origins of the club: "Bangkok Glass" and early history
Bangkok Glass football Club started during the establishment of the Bangkok Glass Factory in 1979 which was a gathering to compete internally by employees. And later sent the team to participate in external competitions during the year 1989, which was a competition among industrial factories In Pathum Thani province Until became known to the general public.
In year 1999, employees and the management team had formed a substantial football club. And when the club was ready in various fields both the equipment and the stadium, Bangkok Glass Football Club was founded in April 2006 and opened for athletes the following month and becoming a member of Football Association of Thailand that year.
The first official competition of the club was to participate in Ngor Royal Football Cup 2007/2008, which the club achieved the goal as a second runner-up. In the final match, losing to Khukhot Municipal Football Club 1–0 and was eligible to be promoted to play in the King's Cup football in year later.
In 2008, the club established BGFC Sport Company Limited to manage the club and to be in accordance with AFC's guidelines and competed in Khor Royal Football Cup 2008/2009, able to reach the finals. In the finals, lost to JW Group Football Club 1–2 and promoted to play in the B(ข.) Cup. In addition, Bangkok Glass team had their own futsal team which competed in the Futsal Thailand League as well.
Takeover "Krung Thai Bank" and first year in the top flight
In January 2009, Krung Thai Bank Football Club, the club from Thailand Premier League announced the dissolution of the team due to not being able to comply with the conditions specified by AFC regarding registration as a juristic person. According to that Bangkok Glass Club from Football B(ข) Cup took over Krung Thai Bank Football Club which participated in Thai Premier League instead of the Krung Thai Bank Football Club that disbanded. They had to use temporary field by renting the Chalermphrakiat Khlong 6 stadium to renovate the Leo Stadium. In the first year of the competition, Bangkok Glass Football Club did a great job by finishing the second runner up in Thai Premier League 2009. As for the football team, which the employees and the management team have established in 1999, still participated in the competition under the name of Rangsit Football Club.
The club's growth
In 2010, Bangkok Glass Football Club was highly popular and Leo Stadium was completed after a major renovation, they returned to play on this field again after updating for almost 1 year. in January, Bangkok Glass Football Club sent the team to compete in the Queen's Cup and won the championship by defeating Police United 4–1. In that same year, they sent the team to compete in Singapore Cup, in the second year, they succeed by winning one more cup in Singapore Cup 2010.
The current manager is Supasin Leelarit and Surachai Jaturapattarapong was re-appointed as head coach at the end of the 2011 season. After a disappointing season Surachai stepped down again from his post October 2012 and was replaced by Phil Stubbins. The club finished the season a disappointing 8th in the 2012 season. After short lived in Bangkok Glass FC Phil Stubbins stepped down in March 2013, replaced by a young caretaker manager Anurak Srikerd. The team won two from six games.
The club announced its new head coach for midway of the 2013 Thai Premier League Attaphol Buspakom, one of Thailand's most respected and successful coaches with an Asian Champions League runner-up in 2003 with BEC Tero Sasana and two Thai league titles with Muangthong United in 2009 and Buriram United in 2011. Attaphol completely changed a club football philosophy from a very direct long balls, style of play to more possession, more short passes. The team became runners-up in the Thai FA cup for the first time of club history, defeated by Buriram United 3–1 at Thammasat Stadium in the final and finishing fifth in the league. With Attaphol Buspakom, his time at the club ended when his team were defeated 1–2 by Port, in midway of the 2014 season, when he resigned and replace by Anurak Srikerd.
First success under Coach Anurak
For short time assistant coach Anurak Srikerd taken over and he make the club history for the first club trophy Thai FA Cup 2014 since they founded.
Aurelio Vidmar became the eleventh permanent head coach of Bangkok Glass when his tenure was officially announced on 1 August 2016. The former Australia national under-23 head coach, who got The Rabbits played modern possession football philosophy and challenging for the top 3 spots for a short period in the 2016 season, their best finish since 2009.
One year later, The Rabbits under Vidmar head coach handed Buriram United their only 2017 league defeat in 3 May. The team managed to end their season by finishing fifth in the Thai League 1 with injuries at different times to key player of club – Thailand national team winger Sarawut Masuk, Costa Rica national team striker Ariel Rodriguez, Daniel Toti and the team's captain Matt Smith.
With Vidmar, his time at the club ended when his team won Navy 3–0, in the Thai League 2017 matchday 22. The team was giving a farewell party for Vidmar and took care of him feels like family.
Relegation, comeback, and route to first Thai League 1 Title
In November 2017, Bangkok Glass appointed Josep Ferré as the club's head coach.
In 2018, Bangkok Glass Club changed the symbol and the color of the new club and improved the Leo field Stadiums by using real grass. In March, The Rabbits were in danger of relegation,
In the last match of the Thai League season 2018, the association announced that there would be 5 relegated teams. Bangkok Glass lost to Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda while the other two teams hoped to escape from the relegation, such as Sukhothai and Chainat Hornbill but they won. Resulting in Chainat Hornbill and Bangkok Glass having the same score of 42 points but Chainat Hornbill had better stats making Bangkok Glass became the last team to be relegated by being ranked 14th caused to relegation to kick in the Thai League 2 seasons later. It is the first time of the club has been in the past 10 years since the acquisition of Krung Thai Bank Club in 2009.
Renamed as BG Pathum United (2018 – present)
Thai League 2 and Thai League 1 champions
After relegation to Thai League 2 in 2018, the club changed its name to BG Pathum United to be one of the supporters of the club in Pathum Thani Province. The club will donned the new name in the 2019 Thai League 2 season. In 2019, BG Pathum United won the Thai League 2 title, earning promotion back to the top tier. The season after in the 2020–21 Thai League 1 season, BG Pathum United took the lead as league leaders of the Thai League on Day 7 and never looked back. Despite the league suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team maintained their form and didn't lose a game on their way to their first-ever Thai League 1 title.
Moreover, The Thai advanced playmaker, Sumanya Purisai received most valuable player at the end of the year. Sumanya Purisai, Andrés Túñez, Victor Cardozo, and Chatchai Budprom were all selected in the Thai League Best XI
BG Pathum United held their title celebration party on 20 March 2021 when they beat Ratchaburi 2–0 on the club's final home game of the season. Unfortunately, Dusit Chalermsan and his team could not record an undefeated title run when they lost 1–0 to Muangthong United at the Thunderdome Stadium.
Aurelio Vidmar's return and AFC Champions League foray
On 30 May 2021, BG Pathum United announced the return of Aurelio Vidmar for his second spell as the Rabbits' head coach. Vidmar replaces Dusit Chalermsan who attended the “AFC” A Certificate Coaching Course, sponsored by the club. Vidmar's second debut as head coach of BG Pathum United came in the 2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage opener against Kaya F.C.–Iloilo, where BG Pathum United beat the Philippines Football League club 4-1 thanks to a brace each from Teerasil Dangda and Diogo Luís Santo - with Teerasil going down in the history book as BG Pathum United's first goalscorer in the final round of the AFC Champions League.
2021 AFC Champions League - Group F
Aurelio Vidmar's BG Pathum United, who hosted all of Group F's matches, qualified for the knockout round of the 2021 AFC Champions League as one of the three best runners-up and second-place behind 2020 AFC Champions League champions Ulsan Hyundai in Group F. This marks the club's first foray into the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League. “We're very pleased with our progression into the Round of 16,” said Vidmar after securing BG Pathum United the ticket to the Round of 16. “I've said earlier that this is probably one of the hardest groups, and it goes to show that in the two games we lost to Ulsan, there wasn't a lot of difference. It showed that we can certainly match the best, and I'm proud of the performance the players put in tonight."
Vidmar followed up his success in the 2021 AFC Champions League by beating Chiangrai United. to lift the 2021 Thailand Champions Cup trophy on 1 September 2021. Midfielder Chaowat Veerachat came off the bench to set up fellow substitute Ryo Matsumura for the match-winner in the 87th minute. This is BG Pathum United's first Thailand Champions Cup trophy.
An away draw at Chonburi. and a home win over Ratchaburi in the 2021–22 Thai League 1 followed before the team returned to the 2021 AFC Champions League action against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Without Vidmar on the touchline due to personal reasons, BG Pathum United produced a spirited performance and managed to draw with Jeonbuk 1–1 in normal time. The game reached the penalty shootout where, unfortunately, BG Pathum United was beaten 4–2.
After exiting the 2021 Thailand Champions Cup, BG Pathum United shifted their focus back onto the league and went on an 8-match unbeaten run across all competitions, drew once, and won 7, between mid-October and mid-November 2021. The club sat third on the 2021–22 Thai League 1 table after matchday 13 and only 3 points behind league leaders and rivals, Bangkok United.
Dusit take two
On 15 November 2021, BG Pathum United announced that the club has parted ways with Vidmar after 7 months. The breakup is speculated to be the effect of Dusit Chalermsan's announcement to join the club as team manager on the eve of 14 November 2021.
Dusit filled in as head coach after Vidmar's departure but failed to get off to a positive start in his second tenure in charge - losing two away games at the hands of Nongbua Pitchaya and Port F.C., respectively. Dusit guided BG Pathum United to the next round in both domestic cup competitions but could only pick up 3 draws in his next 3 league games.
On 17 January 2022, Surachai Jaturapattarapong, the club's Director of Football, replaced Dusit as caretaker head coach following Dusit's disappointing league result that produces zero wins in 5 matches during his second spell at the helm.
The Teguramori Era
On 27 January 2022, Makoto Teguramori was announced as the new BG Pathum United head coach. The former-Japan national under-23 football team became the first Asian head coach of the club. Joining him as the assistant head coach was Ryo Shigaki and fitness coach Chang Yeob Yi.
Teguramori's reign began with a 2–0 away victory over Suphanburi on matchday 22. Apart from the 2021–22 Thai League Cup Quarter-Finals defeat to Chiangrai United F.C., Teguramori's brilliant start to life in Pathum Thani yielded 6 league wins from his first 7 matches. Noticeable results from those early matches are the 0–1 triumph at the Thunder Castle courtesy of Sarach Yooyen's winner - later voted as the REVO Thai League: Goal of the Year 2021/22 at the FA Awards 2022 or the 7-2 thrashing of Prachuap FC that set the record for the highest scoring game of the campaign.
History in the AFC Champions League
BG Pathum United took a break from domestic competition in mid-April to take part in the 2022 AFC Champions League - with the club receiving the honor to host the Group Stage for the second consecutive edition. BG Pathum United went on to top Group G, made up of Melbourne City (Australia), Jeonnam Dragons (South Korea), and United City (the Philippines), and advanced to the Round of 16 for the second successive season.
2022 AFC Champions League - Group G
BG Pathum United wrapped up the 2021–22 Thai League 1 by beating Chonburi 4–1 in what was to become Peerapong Pichitchotirat's farewell match.
The team made multiple changes to the playing squad and spent the pre-season training camp in Hua Hin. 2022–23 Thai League 1 began with BG Pathum United winning the 2022 Thailand Champions Cup, this time beating Buriram United 2–3, and becoming the first club in 4 years to hold on to this title consecutively.
Once again, BG Pathum United had to put the domestic competition on hold in order to continue their 2022 AFC Champions League knockout stage fixtures flying off to Saitama, Japan. On 19 August 2022, the club face Kitchee SC of Hong Kong at the Urawa Komaba Stadium and was easily blown away 4–0 in which Worachit Kanitsribumphen and Ikhsan Fandi put BG Pathum United two goals ahead at half-time. After the break, Teerasil Dangda added the third before substitute Chatmongkol Tongkiri complete the scoring 3 minutes from time. Goals from Ikhsan Fandi and Chatmongkol Tongkiri were also nominated for #ACL2022 (East) – Best Goals of the Knockout Stage.
BG Pathum United became the first Thai club since 2013 to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League. Waiting in the next round is Urawa Red Diamonds, led by BG Pathum United's former head coach Ricardo Rodríguez.
“We had a chip on our shoulder after last year so we're very pleased to go through to the next round,” Teguramori told the-afc.com after the game. “Kitchee are a very good team and they've beaten Thai teams before. But coaches always say if you study the other team's tactics you can always beat the other team and, even though there was a very long gap between the group stages and today, we were able to prove that we can win.”
On 22 August 2022, BG Pathum United took on the then-four-time semi-finals Urawa Red Diamonds at the Saitama Stadium 2002. Despite the player's best efforts, Urawa Red Diamonds were too strong as they ran out 4-0 winners thanks to a goal each from David Moberg Karlsson, Takuya Iwanami, Yosho Koizumi, and Takahiro Akimoto.
"We told our players they should keep their heads up and use this experience as a way to improve ourselves so that we can match the best football clubs in Asia," said Teguramori in the post-match press conference.
"We realise this match is one of the most historic moments for the club, so this 4–0 defeat is something that has given us a wake-up call."
BG Pathum United returned from Japan and jumped right into the 2022–23 Thai League 1 season. In the first 10 league games of the season, Teguramori won all 5 matches at BG Stadium, but it was away from home that things seems tricky for Teguramori. Defeat to Chonburi on opening day, separated by away draws against Buriram United and PT Prachuap, followed by a shock defeat at Nongbua Pitchaya meant BG Pathum United trailed 6 points behind league leaders, and title rivals, Buriram united after matchday 9.
A 2–0 defeat by Aurelio Vidmar's Bangkok United at Thammasat Stadium in the "Pathum Thani Derby" means 0 away wins from 5 attempts in the opening 10 games for BG Pathum United.
24 October 2022, BG Pathum United announced that the club has parted ways with Makoto Teguramori. Assistant coach, Mitsuo Kato, is handed the interim head coach responsibility.
Matthew Smith's rebuilding project
Mitsuo Kato's one and only game at the helm was the 2–2 home draw against Lampang FC on 29 October 2022. That same evening, Matthew Smith was unveiled as the new head coach. The Australian defender, who held the record as BG Pathum United's first foreign player to surpass the 114-appearance milestone, began his time as head coach in style by beating Kasem Bundit University 3–0 in the 2022–23 Thai FA Cup second round. That cup victory was followed by a 4-0 thumping over Nakhon Ratchasima - the team's first three-point away from home of the season.
Lampang FC was swatted away 7-1 in round three of the 2022–23 Thai FA Cup to cap off Smith's first 7 matches with 5 wins in all competitions. The Thai domestic season took a break during the new year and the 2022 AFF Championship. In this January transfer window, coinciding with the Thai League mid-season break, BG Pathum United undergoes massive squad changes that saw a total of 12 players exit the club, both on loan and permanently. Traveling in the opposite are 10 new arrivals in the playing squad to boost the rebuilding of the new team.
Smith suffered defeat to Port FC at PAT Stadium on second leg opening day which started a 4-match winless run in the league. BG Pathum United's form did not improve as they suffered another 4-match winless run at began in late February until March.
19 March 2023, 30 minutes after losing to Bangkok United, the club dropped the announcement that Matthew Smith has been relieved from the head coach role and reassigned as the club's technical director. Assistant coach, Supachai Komsilp, is handed the interim head coach job.
Thongchai Sukkoki Era
On 8 May 2023, Thongchai Sukkoki was appointed as BG Pathum United's fifth head coach of the season. Thongchai's debut match ended with a home win over Chonburi, followed by a defeat to Buriram United in the 2022–23 Thai League Cup final. BG Pathum United took part in the 2022 J.League Asia Challenge where they would face Kawasaki Frontale in a 3–1 lost.
BG Pathum United started off the 2023–24 Thai League 1 season well, drawing 2–2 to Police Tero on matchday 1 on 11 August 2023, and went on to draw 0–0 at home against PT Prachuap on 18 August 2023. The club then flies off to Shanghai to face Shanghai Port on 22 August 2023 in the 2023–24 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs when in the 12-minute, Uzbekistan striker, Igor Sergeyev opened up the account to lead the match 1–0 before scoring his second goal in the 26th minute and eventually scoring a hat-trick in the 61st minute to send BG Pathum United through to the 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage in a 2–3 away win at the Pudong Football Stadium.
Academy development
Bangkok Glass Football Club has started football academy to select kids or teenagers who are interested in training football skills from the basic level to an advanced level in international programs by professional coaches. Training kids to have the knowledge of football correctly and making kids be true athletes. Even more, it can be adapted for the future to the professional level.
In 2009, Bangkok Glass opened its first youth academies, football clinic, every Saturday and Sunday. Under the direction of Hans Emser, the BGFC academy is recognized as one of the best in the country. They were prepared, trained, and selected youth players who have the potential to be a part of the first team of the club.
In 2012, Bangkok Glass signed a partnership agreement with Assumption College of Assumption Campus Rama 2 to be part of supporting football players and personnel of the school to have more knowledge in football and also developed young players who had the potential and ability to be a part of the Bangkok Glass players in the future.
In the same year, Bangkok Glass Football Club did support Siam Bangkok Glass (Rangsit F.C.) to compete in the Thai Royal Cup football match Khǒr Royal Cup until winning the Royal Cup and was promoted to play Regional football league, Bangkok and metropolitan area. The club has the policy to give the team Rangsit FC is the birth stage of the club youth footballers. It was creating opportunities, practicing, and learning to be a professional player before getting a chance to play in Bangkok Glass Football Club next.
In 2013, Bangkok Glass was a 2-year partnership with Thonburi University together to make a team Thonburi – BG United club, sent the team to compete in the regional football league, central and western zone, had Sathit Bensoh as the head coach and Bangkok Glass Club youth football players joined the team.
In 2015, The Rabbits joined AFC Champions League for the first time. After a successful decade, Bangkok Glass established Yamaoka Hanasaka Academy in collaboration with Cerezo Osaka and Yanmar for developing young footballers to become professional footballers. which is located at Klong 4 Rangsit, Pathum thani. Currently is welcoming youth to practice in the academy, U-12, U-15, and U-18.
On 6 December 2022, former Singaporean defender, Kadir Yahaya signed a two-year contract as the head of youth football at the club
Affiliated clubs
Cerezo Osaka (2012–present)
The club signed a partnership agreement with Cerezo Osaka of the J1 League in September 2012. 2022 marks the 10th year of the Club Club partnership with Cerezo Osaka, for which Yanmar is the top partner. Yanmar supports the development of BG Pathum United playing in the Thai League 1, which is the top level of the Thai football system through sponsorship of both the professional club. In 2018, Chaowat Veerachat joined the partner club on loan to play for Cerezo Osaka U-23 and on 25 June 2022, he joins the Cerezo Osaka senior squad on loan in a trade deal while Cerezo Osaka player, Yusuke Maruhashi joins BG Pathum United on a loan until 31 May 2023.
Tampines Rovers (2023–present)
On 23 September 2023, BG Pathum have inked a three-year collaboration with Singapore Premier League club, Tampines Rovers. As part of the agreement, the Singaporean outfit will be renamed BG Tampines Rovers from 2024. Kadir Yahaya who is the former Tampines Rovers head coach and current head of youth football for BG Pathum, played a pivotal role in securing the deal. It also understands that after the three years, the Thai club will take over operations of Tampines Rovers to help raise the standards of the league. Under the arrangement, Tampines can gain access to BG Pathum's top-notch facilities for pre-season and mid-season preparations, as well as tap on BG Pathum resources related to modern football technology and cutting-edge sports science, as well as marketing, social media and fan engagement. Thai manufacturer, Bangkok Glass or BG will also become the team's shirt-front sponsor.
Players
First team squad
Out on loan
Former players
For details on former players, see :Category:Bangkok Glass F.C. players.
P
Crest
Kits and sponsors
Title sponsors
Official sponsors
Here are the club's official sponsors for the 2019 season:
Umay+
Reparil
Muangthai
Mitsubishi Electric
Novotel Accor
Thai Smile
Stiebel Eltron
Go Muc
Euro Cake
Kit evolution
Home
Away
Third
Stadium
BG Stadium, initially named LEO Stadium, is the official home ground of BG Pathum United Football Club, located on the perimeter of the Bangkok Glass Public Company Limited, Pathum Thani province. Since its grand opening in 2010, the ground has been installed with high-quality artificial surface. However, from the 2018 season onward, the stadium was replaced with real grass while the iconic three-sided stadium has gone through multiple phases of evolution to reach its current 10,114 seating capacity and has been approved by FIFA and the AFC as an “A Class” level football ground.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BG Stadium was chosen as the host venue for the 2021 AFC Champions League group F matches and 2022 AFC Champions League Group G matches.
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
TPL = Thai Premier League
TL = Thai League
T1 = 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
Managerial history
Coaches by Years (2009–present)
Honours
Domestic competitions
Leagues
Thai League 1
Champions (1) : 2020–21
Runners-up (1): 2021–22
Third place (2): 2009, 2016
Thai League 2:
Champions (1) : 2019
Cups
FA Cup
Winners (1) : 2014Runners-up (1): 2013
League CupRunners-up (2): 2018, 2022–23
Kor Royal Cup / Thailand Champions Cup Winners (2) : 2021, 2022
Runners-up (1): 2015
Others
Thai Super Cup: Champions (1) : 2009
Queen's Cup: Winners (1) : 2010
Singapore Cup: Winners (1)''' : 2010
Runners-up (1): 2009
Club Ranking
World
AFC
National
References
External links
Official Website
Bangkok Glass at Thai Premier League
Football clubs in Thailand
Association football clubs established in 2006
Thai League 1 clubs
Thai FA Cup winners
Sport in Pathum Thani province
2006 establishments in Thailand