Thai football league system
Encyclopedia
Current System
Current system in use since 2009| Level | High-Division | |||||||||||
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| 1 | Thai Premier League 18 clubs |
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| 2 | Division 1 18 clubs |
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| 3 | Division 2
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| Low-Division | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) 15 clubs |
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| 5 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) 25 clubs |
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| 6 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) 60 clubs |
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Before 1996 season
Before the top level of Thai football league, Thai Premier League was constituted in 1996, the Football Royal Cup was the football competitions of Thailand at that time.The Thailand football competition system before 1996 is listed below:
1916-1962 seasons
In 1916, Football Association of ThailandFootball Association of Thailand
The Football Association of Thailand or the full name is the Football Association of Thailand under Patronage of His Majesty the King is the governing body of football in Thailand. It was founded in 25 April 1916 and then joined FIFA in 23 June 1925 and AFC in 1957.Recently the FAT has been...
was found Yai Cup (ถ้วยใหญ่) and Noi Cup (ถ้วยน้อย) for the purpose of annual football competitions in Thailand.
| Level | Football Royal Cup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yai Cup (ถ้วยใหญ่) | |||||
| 2 | Noi Cup (ถ้วยน้อย) | |||||
1963-1995 seasons
in 1963, Because of the abundant football clubs in Thailand then the Football Association of ThailandFootball Association of Thailand
The Football Association of Thailand or the full name is the Football Association of Thailand under Patronage of His Majesty the King is the governing body of football in Thailand. It was founded in 25 April 1916 and then joined FIFA in 23 June 1925 and AFC in 1957.Recently the FAT has been...
changed the name of Yai Cup (ถ้วยใหญ่) to the Kor Royal Cup
Kor Royal Cup
Kor Royal Cup or in old name Yai Cup was the highest level of club football competition which competed in the tournament in Thailand since 1916-1995. It was founded by Football Association of Thailand in 1916...
(ถ้วย ก.) and changed the name of Noi Cup (ถ้วยน้อย) to the Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) and added the Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) and the Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) to the Football Royal Cup competitions.
| Level | Football Royal Cup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kor Royal Cup Kor Royal Cup Kor Royal Cup or in old name Yai Cup was the highest level of club football competition which competed in the tournament in Thailand since 1916-1995. It was founded by Football Association of Thailand in 1916... (ถ้วย ก.) |
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| 2 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |||||
| 3 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||||
| 4 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||||
1996-1998 seasons
In 1996 season, The Thai Premier League, The top level of football league was constituted by Football Association of ThailandFootball Association of Thailand
The Football Association of Thailand or the full name is the Football Association of Thailand under Patronage of His Majesty the King is the governing body of football in Thailand. It was founded in 25 April 1916 and then joined FIFA in 23 June 1925 and AFC in 1957.Recently the FAT has been...
rather than Kor Royal Cup
Kor Royal Cup
Kor Royal Cup or in old name Yai Cup was the highest level of club football competition which competed in the tournament in Thailand since 1916-1995. It was founded by Football Association of Thailand in 1916...
. and FAT also found Division 1
Thailand Division 1 League
Thai Division 1 League is the second tier league in Thai domestic football tournament. The top 3 are promoted to Thai Premier League at the end of the season season, whilst four are relegated to Division 2....
League in the next season (1997).
The Thailand football league system in 1996-1998 season before Division 2
Thailand Division 2 League
AIS Regional League Division 2 is the 3rd Level League in Thailand. In 2009, it was divided into five groups by geographic region. As of 2011 each group contains 16 clubs except for the Southern Region group which contains 13 clubs.-League History:...
League and Provincial League
Provincial League
Provincial League also known as Pro League is the old regional Football league in Thailand in 1999-2008. It was founded in 1999 under the name "Provincial League" organized by Sports Authority of Thailand and Ministry of Tourism and Sports...
was created is listed below:
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | |||||
| 2 | Division 1 Thailand Division 1 League Thai Division 1 League is the second tier league in Thai domestic football tournament. The top 3 are promoted to Thai Premier League at the end of the season season, whilst four are relegated to Division 2.... |
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| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |||||
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||||
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||||
1999-2006 seasons
In 1999 season, Provincial LeagueProvincial League
Provincial League also known as Pro League is the old regional Football league in Thailand in 1999-2008. It was founded in 1999 under the name "Provincial League" organized by Sports Authority of Thailand and Ministry of Tourism and Sports...
was found by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for this reason, There are two separate football league competition in Thailand in the meantime.
Although there are two separate leagues in Thailand, only the winner and runner-up from the Thai Premier League, which is controlled by Football Association of Thailand, are eligible to play in AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
and AFC Cup
AFC Cup
The AFC Cup is an annual international association football competition between domestic clubs sides run by the Asian Football Confederation . Qualification to the competition is to clubs from AFC-affiliated countries which fall into the AFC's 'developing nations' category as laid out in their...
respectively.
In 2006 season, the winner and runner-up of the Provincial League, Chonburi FC
Chonburi FC
Chonburi Football Club is a Thai professional football club based in city of Chonburi, Chonburi province and currently playing in the top division in Thai football, the Thai Premier League...
and Suphanburi FC
Suphanburi FC
Suphanburi Football Club is a Thailand professional football club based in Suphanburi. Currently they are playing in the Thai Division 1 League after being relegated from the Thai Premier League in 2007...
began the practice of moving to play in the Thai Premier League. And also in this season, Division 2
Thailand Division 2 League
AIS Regional League Division 2 is the 3rd Level League in Thailand. In 2009, it was divided into five groups by geographic region. As of 2011 each group contains 16 clubs except for the Southern Region group which contains 13 clubs.-League History:...
League was found by the Football Association of Thailand
Football Association of Thailand
The Football Association of Thailand or the full name is the Football Association of Thailand under Patronage of His Majesty the King is the governing body of football in Thailand. It was founded in 25 April 1916 and then joined FIFA in 23 June 1925 and AFC in 1957.Recently the FAT has been...
.
The proposed merger of the Provincial League and Thai Premier League into one entity, though supported by the The Football Association of Thailand, had been attempted several times without success. Finally, in January 2007, the FAT announced a merge that would make the Provincial League a part of the Thai Premier League.
The Thailand football league system in 1999-2006 season before combined the Thai Premier League and Provincial League together in 2007 is listed below:
| Level | Football Leagues | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | SAT Championship Playoff (The winners and runner-ups from each region.)
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| 2 | Division 1 Thailand Division 1 League Thai Division 1 League is the second tier league in Thai domestic football tournament. The top 3 are promoted to Thai Premier League at the end of the season season, whilst four are relegated to Division 2.... |
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| 3 | Division 2 Thailand Division 2 League AIS Regional League Division 2 is the 3rd Level League in Thailand. In 2009, it was divided into five groups by geographic region. As of 2011 each group contains 16 clubs except for the Southern Region group which contains 13 clubs.-League History:... |
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| 4 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | ||||||||||||||||
2007-2008 seasons
In 2007 Season Division 1 was divided into two groups (22 Clubs) and then, In 2008 Season Division 2 also was divided into two groups. Until 2009 Season, The number of teams from all leagues in High division will consist of 16 clubs.However in 2009 Season, FAT need to develop Thai football league system and specify quality of the team in high-division for conform to AFC regulation. Consequently, they determine to adjust the Division 2 competition form by combine it with Provincial League and divide Division 2 league to 5 region (Bangkok and perimeter, Central and Eastern, Northern, North-Eastern and Southern).
The Thailand football league system in 2007-2008 season before combined Division 2 League and Provincial League together in 2009 is listed below:
| Level | High-Division | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Division 1 Thailand Division 1 League Thai Division 1 League is the second tier league in Thai domestic football tournament. The top 3 are promoted to Thai Premier League at the end of the season season, whilst four are relegated to Division 2.... |
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| 3 | Division 2 Thailand Division 2 League AIS Regional League Division 2 is the 3rd Level League in Thailand. In 2009, it was divided into five groups by geographic region. As of 2011 each group contains 16 clubs except for the Southern Region group which contains 13 clubs.-League History:... |
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| Low-Division | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Khǒr Khor Khor is an ancient region located in the south of ancient Syria, probably around modern Lebanon. It has long been an outpost of ancient Egypt.... Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) |
SAT Championship Playoff (The winners and runner-ups from each region.)
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| 5 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | ||||||||||||||||
See also
- Worldwide football league system
- Football in ThailandFootball in ThailandFootball in Thailand is organized by Football Association of Thailand .Football is the most famous sport in Thailand. Although the professional football leagues are new to Thai people, football was introduced to Thailand as far back as 1897. Many Thais also watch football on local and paid-cable TV...
- Thai football records and statisticsThai football records and statistics-Successful Teams:-Thai Premier League:-Thailand Division 1 League:-Regional League:-Provincial League:-Futsal League:-Thailand FA Cup:-Queen's Cup:- Kor Royal Cup - Since 1996 :- Super Cup :-Top goalscorers:As of November 15, 2009...
- List of football clubs in Thailand