In every competition there are contenders, and there are pretenders. Increasingly, though, Thai League 1 looks like one of the rare leagues anywhere that can also boast a permanent winner.
As the new season kicks off on Friday with former champions BG Pathum United travelling south to face newly promoted Pattani, Buriram United once again stand as the team every rival must first dislodge before they can call themselves genuine contenders.
The Thunder Castle go into the campaign gunning for a 13th league title, and few would be surprised if they got there.
Buriram have reinforced heavily over the close season, bringing in a clutch of Brazilians in Nathan Pelaez, Paulinho, Darlan Mendes and Wanderson Caju, alongside Thai additions Iklas Sanron from PT Prachuap and Anan Yodsangwal from Lamphun Warriors.
They join a spine that already includes Guilherme Bissoli, Supachai Chaided, Theerathon Bunmathan and Kenneth Dougall, though the club will have to do without Suphanat Mueanta, who has left for J2 side Omiya Ardija.
Club chairman Newin Chidchob has set an unambiguous target: reach at least the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite, and win everything else (Thai League 1, FA Cup, Muang Thai Cup and Asean Shopee Cup).
“This year we have five trophies to play for,” he said. “For the ACL Elite, the team must reach at least the semi-finals, while for the other four tournaments, we aim to win them all.”
Port, last season’s runners-up, are the closest thing the league has to a genuine challenger. Their recruitment has been ambitious, with Jude Soonsup-Bell, Leonardo Kalil, Manuel Tom Bihr, Jakkaphan Kaewprom and former Denmark centre-back Erik Sviatchenko all arriving to strengthen a squad that will compete on the same five fronts as Buriram this season.
Ratchaburi, who finished third last term, complete the trio widely seen as the league’s genuine title contenders.
The Dragons have added Spanish full-back Roque Mesa from Johor Darul Ta’zim, Ekanit Panya from BG Pathum United and Brazilian forward Rafael Modesto, and will make their own ACL Elite debut this season.
“It’s a dream come true for the team this season,” said club president Tanawat Nitikanchana. “We finished third last season, and this is our first appearance in the ACL Elite. We’re looking forward to it and will keep fighting as we did last year.”
BG Pathum United, fourth-placed last season and stacked with Thailand internationals including Sarach Yooyen, Chanathip Songkrasin, Patrik Gustavsson and Danish midfielder Lucas Andersen, round out the contenders’ bracket, even after an underwhelming pre-season that included a friendly defeat to touring Premier League side Aston Villa.
With four competitions on their plate this term — the ACL Two, Thai League 1, FA Cup and Muang Thai Cup — much will depend on consistency.
Bangkok United, who finished fifth last season, complete the top five. The Angels have a habit of setting the early pace before fading as the campaign wears on; whether they can sustain form deep into the season, with only three competitions to juggle this time, may determine whether they finally convert early promise into silverware.
At the other end of the table, this season’s three promoted sides face a familiar fight for survival.
Pattani arrive as the division’s only southern representative, having won promotion via the playoffs against Chainat Hornbill.
Inexperience at this level makes them favourites for an immediate return, though their raucous Rainbow Stadium home crowd should make life uncomfortable for visitors. Skipper Marlon Silva remains at the heart of the side, joined by former Buriram man Tinnakorn Asurin and Ekkachai Sumrei.
Rasisalai United, champions of Thai League 2 last season, and Si Sa Ket United, the division’s runners-up, both arrive from the northeast with similarly limited top-flight pedigree.
Rasisalai’s hopes rest partly on former Thailand head coach Sirisak Yodyardthai, while Si Sa Ket’s Somchai Chuayboonchum has previous experience guiding sides such as Nongbua Pitchaya and Trat to safety, with new arrivals Isaac Honny, Patrick Valverde and Sittichok Kannoo bolstering the squad.
Sukhothai, Lamphun Warriors and Uthai Thani may yet be drawn into the relegation fight before the season concludes in June.
For now, though, the question hanging over Thai League 1 remains the same one it has posed for the best part of a decade: can anyone stop Buriram United?