Chiangmai United

 

Chiangmai United FC is a professional football club from the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai that was originally formed in 2015 as Changphueak Chiangmai.

The club first competed in the 2016 Thai Division 3 Tournament Northern Region, which was the fourth tier of football in the country, but outside the Thai League set up. The team went on to win their group with home games at Chiang Mai University Stadium.

In the knock-out stage Phetchabun, Nakhon Mae Sot United, then Chainat United in the semi-final were defeated before Changphueak beat Institution of Physical Education Chiang Mai Campus at Maejo University Stadium to win the competition.

This led to promotion of sorts to the national league system that had been restructured for 2017, with the club changing its title to JL Chiangmai United to play in Thai League 4 Northern Region.

It proved to be another successful season as ‘The White Elephants’ won the championship as Chatchai Narkwijit topped the scoring charts to qualify for the T4 Champions League play-offs in the quest for promotion.

Samut Prakan were dispatched before the side won the three-team Group B to go up to the third tier after a win against Muangkan United and then a scoreless draw away to Marines Eureka sealed the deal.

Home matches in that stage were played at Chiangmai Municipality Stadium with earlier league home games being played at a combination of 700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai University Stadium and Maejo University Stadium.

The Thai League 3 Upper Region title was won in 2018 under the stewardship of head coach Somchai Makmool, while Narkwijit carried on banging in the goals with Taku Ito and Anggello Machuca also coming to the party at 700th Anniversary Stadium.

Hiziel Souza Soares scored the goals for the side led by Leones Pereira dos Santos and then Surachai Jirasirichote in the 2019 season, which ended in eleventh place. The club dropped JL from their title for the 2020-21 campaign.

They also changed venue and moved to Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Stadium (DoiSaket) for the 2020-21 campaign. The move of location worked after new coach Carlos Eduardo Parreira resigned in October to be replaced by Dennis Amato.

The German formerly did a fine job at Chainat Hornbill taking them to the T2 title. He found success once again, leading United to runners-up place and promotion as Melvin de Leeuw and Jeong Woo-geun put away the goals.

It was a season that saw Amato replaced by Surapong Kongthep before the arrival of Ailton Silva. The Brazilian resigned before the end of the season. United started the Thai League 2 season of 2022-23 with Chusak Sriphum in charge of the team, before the appointment of his successor Somchai Chuayboonchum.

The side reached the semifinals of the playoffs, where they lost to Customs United on away goals by which time Rungroj Thongthinphu was head coach. Surachai Jirasirichote succeeded him at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, which ended with a ninth-place finish, with Brazilian striker Mosquito scoring the goals.

Anucha Chaiyawong was appointed as head coach for the 2024-25 season.

Chiangmai United will play in Thai League 2 in the 2024-25 season.