Muangthong United F.C.
Thai club known as The Kirins, with a large fan base.
Muangthong United Football Club is a Thai professional football club based in Muang Thong Thani, Pak Kret district, Nonthaburi province. The club competes in the Thai League 2 after being relegated from the top tier for the first time in the 2025-26 season. It is one of Thailand's leading clubs with a large fan base and was for a period among the richest football clubs in the country.
Quick Facts
- Club
- Muangthong United; เมืองทอง ยูไนเต็ด
- Full name
- Muangthong United Football Club; สโมสรฟุตบอลเมืองทอง ยูไนเต็ด
- Nickname
- The Kirins (กิเลนผยอง)
- Short name
- MTUTD
- Founded
- 1989, as Nongjorg Pittayanusorn School Football Team
- Ground
- Thunderdome Stadium; Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand
- Capacity
- 15,000
- Owner
- Siam Sport Syndicate
Facts from the source article.
History
The club was founded in 1989 and first registered with the Football Association of Thailand as the Norgjorg Pittayanusorn School Football Team, established by Worawi Makudi. Its first competition was the Ngor Royal Cup. In the Thailand Division 1 League season 2002–2003, the club was renamed FC Norgjorg Black Pearl by former politician Veera Musikapong, but after an unsuccessful season he left. The following season the team was renamed FC Globlex Norgjorg by new manager Somsak Chenchaowanich, but performed poorly and was relegated to the Ngor Royal Cup in 2004–2005. After the Football Association established the Thailand Division 2 League, Norgjorg Pittayanusorn Football Club entered. In 2007, Siam Sport Syndicate, led by Rawi Lohtong, bought the club, renamed it Muangthong United, and moved to Thunderdome Stadium. The club won first place in the 2007 Thailand Division 2 League, earning promotion to the Thai Division 1 League, then won that title in 2008 to reach the Thai League 1 in 2009, a rise dubbed '3 Years 3 Champs'. In the 2009 season, the club appointed Attaphol Buspakom as coach in April. The club's success was aided by a close relationship with Belgian club Lierse and acquisitions of players such as Teeratep Winothai and Ronnachai Rangsiyo.
Supporters
Muangthong United plays home games at SCG Stadium, originally designed for about 5,000 spectators with no running track. Steel tube stands added 15,000 seats during the 2008 season, and after 2009 a plan expanded capacity to 25,000. The stadium has VIP areas. The club quickly built a fan base, with numerous fans attending away games. Games against Chonburi and Bangkok Glass in 2009 saw the first-time sale of tickets to manage demand, a novelty in Thai football. The core fan group is Ultra Muangthong, which brought the Ultras movement to Thailand, using large banners, flags, double holders, and a 'pre-Inger' with megaphones.
Rivalries
Muangthong United has main rivalries with Buriram United and Port. The rivalry with Port stems from a Kor Royal Cup stampede in 2009 when Port was forfeited due to crowd riots. In 2014, fans of both clubs rioted with armed rebellion at Udon Ratthaya Expressway in the Pak Kret Expressway area, requiring police and military intervention. A similar riot occurred in 2016 in the same area, leading the Football Association of Thailand to introduce measures. The rivalry with Buriram United arises from multiple title battles, with Buriram representing rustic people and Muangthong representing urban people, and the two clubs supporting different political parties in Football Association of Thailand presidential elections.
Affiliated clubs
Muangthong United entered an alliance with Spanish club Atletico Madrid in 2011, including exchange of players and coaches, friendly matches, and merchandise sales. In 2013, striker Teerasil Dangda joined Atletico for a trial, and the club has sent youth players such as Phitiwat Sukjitthammakul, Thitiphan Puangjan, and Suriya Singmui to train there. In 2021, the club considered sending a new generation of youth players for three-month training with Atletico. A 2012 partnership with Japanese club Jubilo Iwata focuses on youth development, coaching methods, player loans and trades, coach exchanges, joint souvenir sales, and marketing cooperation. In 2015, Muangthong signed a collaboration agreement with Assumption Thonburi school, which produced players like Theerathon Bunmathan, Teerasil Dangda, Kawin Thamsatchanan, Sarach Yooyen, Chatchai Saengdao, Sorawit Panthong, and Shinnaphat Leeaoh. In 2021, an alliance with Urawa Red Diamonds was formed for exchange of young players and coaches, shared technical training methods, and friendly matches.
More in Thai League 1 Clubs
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced