PEA F.C.

Buriram United Football Club () is a Thai professional football club based in Buriram. The club has played at the top level of Thai football for the majority of their existence and competes in the Thai League 1. The club was founded in 1970 as PEA Football Club (Provincial Electricity Authority Football Club), before being reformed as Buriram PEA and Buriram United in 2010 and 2012 respectively. Their home stadium is Chang Arena which has a capacity of 32,600. Buriram United is considered one of the best football clubs in the Southeast Asia region history.

Buriram United won their first Thai League 1 title in 2008 and the Kor Royal Cup in 1998, as PEA. The club was previously based in Ayutthaya before moving east to Buriram for the 2010 season. In the 2011 season, Buriram became the first team in Thailand football history to win all the domestic trophies, as the treble champions (2011 Thai Premier League, 2011 Thai FA Cup, and 2011 Thai League Cup). Buriram then went on to win five domestic treble in the 2011, 2013, 2015, 2021–22 and 2022–23 season where the club went undefeated in the league during the 2013 and 2015 season.

Buriram United is by far the most popular Thailand football club, with millions of fans from across the country. Polling shows that it is also the third most popular football club in terms of supporters in Thailand overall behind Premier League clubs Liverpool and Manchester United. As of 2024, Buriram United has an estimated market value of €12.83 million.

History

Origins: "Provincial Electricity Authority" (1970–2009)

The club was founded in 1970, but their first big success came in 1998 by winning the third division of the Kor Royal Cup. The club was then promoted to the Thai Division 1 League. In 2002–03 the club finished third in the second division. They then competed the Thai League 1 Relegation play-off, but lost the final match 0–1 to Thailand Tobacco Monopoly. A year later, they succeeded at the end of season 2003–04 with promotion to the Thai Premier League. PEA surprised everyone by becoming the league runner-up at the end of their first Premier League season. Being the runner-up entitled the club to participate in the AFC Champions League. It was the first participation in an international competition for the club. However, the club was excluded from the competition. In the following two seasons, 2006 and 2007, the PEA finished 10th and 8th.

In 2008 Provincial Electricity Authority relocated to Ayutthaya and played at Ayutthaya Province Stadium, where they gained a bigger fan base. The club played under the nickname of Faifa Ayutthaya (Electric Ayutthaya) from media and its fans. Under the head coach Prapol Pongpanich. The club qualified for the 2009 AFC Champions League preliminary round.

In 2009, PEA was eliminated from the 2009 AFC Champions League after losing 1–4 to Singapore Armed Forces in extra-time at Rajamangala Stadium. PEA began their title defence campaign of the Thai Premier League with some poor performances. Prapon Pongpanich was sacked in the middle of the season and replaced by former Thailand national team head coach Thongsuk Sampahungsith. The club finished in ninth place out of sixteen in the final standings.

Breath of Buriram

In December 2009, it was announced that a politician based in Buriram, Newin Chidchob was to take over the club. He had already tried unsuccessfully to take over TOT SC and Royal Thai Army Newin relocated the club to Buriram in Isan and rebranded it to Buriram PEA Football Club. Buriram PEA inherited most of the players from the former PEA club including the stars like Rangsan Viwatchaichok, Apichet Puttan and Theerathon Bunmathan. Pongphan Wongsuwan who was a long-time head coach of TOT SC was instated as a coach. Thailand national team member Suchao Nuchnum of TOT SC also followed his coach to the new team.

Buriram PEA finished their first season after the transition as the runner-up of the 2010 Thai Premier League. The club reached the final of the 2010 Thai League Cup but lost 0–1 to Thai Port at Supachalasai Stadium.

The Greatest in Thailand

In 2011, Buriram PEA under the coaching of Attaphol Buspakom, completed their 2011 season with the domestic treble by winning all three Thai major trophies. Buriram won 2011 Thai Premier League with 85 points, the highest record in the league history. They beat the arch-rival Muangthong United in the 2011 Thai FA Cup final and clinched their first Thai FA Cup title. Following the success in two other competitions, Buriram avenged their previous year League Cup final defeat against the same opponent, Thai Port, and won the 2010 Thai League Cup. Buriram PEA became the first Thai club to win the treble in a season.

Buriram's stadium "The Thunder Castle", was built in 2011 – when it became the first Thailand football stadium without a running track on the side of the field and it was also recorded in the Guinness World Records as the FIFA standard football field with the shortest construction time of 256 days.

At the start of the 2012 season, the club was renamed Buriram United Football Club. In the first match of the group stages of the 2012 AFC Champions League, Buriram beat the 2011 J-League champion, Kashiwa Reysol, 3–2 and became "the first Thai and South East Asian club" to earn a victory against a J-League club in ACL since starting the Champions League system in 2003. In the second match, Buriram was the visiting team against the 2011 CSL Champion, Guangzhou Evergrande. Buriram also became "the first Thai and South East Asian club" to earn a victory against a Chinese club "in China" after beating Guangzhou Evergrande 1–2 in Tianhe Stadium from Suchao Nuchnum and Frank Acheampong's goals. That match was the end of a two-year unbeaten home record for Guangzhou.

2013 & 2015 - Quadruple season

In 2014, under Spanish head coach Alejandro Menéndez, Buriram United became the first Thai club to achieve the quadruple by winning 4 trophies in the calendar year. The campaign included the titles of Kor Royal Cup, Thai League T1, Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup. The league season was also finished with the first i nvincible title for the club, the second Thai team to have achieved such a feat, after Muangthong United in 2012.

Alexandre Gama era (2014–2016)

In 2014, Brazilian coach Alexandre Gama was appointed to guide Buriram United and in his first season, he helped the club to retained the 2014 Thai Premier League. The following season, he guided Buriram United to, once again, winning all four of the competitions in the 2015 calendar year : 2015 Kor Royal Cup, 2015 Thai Premier League, 2015 Thai FA Cup, 2015 Thai League Cup and also the 2015 Mekong Club Championship.

Moreover, the 2015 Buriram United won the 2015 Thai Premier League with an unbeaten record. The Brazilian forward Diogo Luis Santo broke the top scoring record with 33 goals from 32 games and received Thai League T1 Top Scorer and Player of the Year Awards at the end of the year and Theerathon Bunmathan got top assists with 19 assists from 32 games in left back position. In 2016, Gama guided the club to win the 2016 Toyota Premier Cup and 2016 Kor Royal Cup before he stepped down as the club coach on 22 May 2016.

Strike back

In August 2016, club owner Newin Chidchob admitted he was disappointed that his team's bid to defend their league title that season was over. Buriram United then appointed Serbian Ranko Popović as the club manager to fill the vacant role after the dismissal of Afshin Ghotbi and former coach Bozidar Bandovic returned as the technical director of the club.

In June 2017, Ranko Popović has resigned as coach after receiving a three-month ban by the Thai FA for slapping the face of Bangkok United physio Andy Schillinger following a heated argument after Buriram beat the capital side 2–1. Buriram United announced that they promoted Bozidar Bandovic to head coach from his position as technical director of football.

In the same year, the club won the 2017 Thai League 1 and created history by claiming 86 points - the club's highest points in a single season.

In 2018, after finishing champions in the 2017 Thai League season, Buriram secured direct qualification into the 2018 AFC Champions League. In the group stages, a home, Buriram beat Cerezo Osaka 2–0 and Jeju United 1–0 and drew 1–1 Guangzhou Evergrande. The club lost 4–3 on aggregate in the Round of 16, against Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

In the same year, Buriram comfortably retained the 2018 Thai League 1 title with a record 87 points. Bozidar Bandovic received Thai League 1 Coach of the Year Award at the end of the season.

Masatada Ishii era (2021–2023)

On 1 December 2021, Buriram appointed Japanese head coach Masatada Ishii. In his first season, Buriram wonthe 2021–22 Thai League 1, 2021–22 Thai FA Cup and the 2021–22 Thai League Cup. The following season, Buriram managed to retaine all their three trophies, including the 2022–23 Thai League 1, 2022–23 Thai FA Cup and the 2022–23 Thai League Cup, becoming the first club to retain all of the possible trophies in the country.

New Era (2024–''present'')

In preparation for the new season, in which Buriram will also compete in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite and the recently revived 2024–25 ASEAN Club Championship region tournament, the club signed Philippines goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who has played in the English Premier League with Cardiff City. Buriram also signed a few notable key players like former Australian national Curtis Good. Buriram were then drawn in a group alongside Vietnamese club Công An Hà Nội, Singaporean club Lion City Sailors, Malaysian club Kuala Lumpur City, Philippines club Kaya—Iloilo and Indonesian club Borneo Samarinda. On 17 September 2024, Buriram managed to hold off Japanese club Vissel Kobe to a goalless draw at home, with both teams earning a point in the AFC Champions League Elite. Buriram registered the highest ever victory in the ASEAN Club Championship history, beating Philippines Kaya—Iloilo 7–0, with Lucas Crispim scoring a hat-trick in the match on 26 September. Buriram United then travelled to Australia to face Central Coast Mariners on 1 October in the AFC Champions League Elite fixture, where Buriram United came out victorious in a 2–1 win. On 15 January 2025, Buriram recorded their highest win in the top flight division where they thrashed Chiangrai United 8–0. Four days later, Buriram broke their own record by thrashing Khon Kaen United 9–0. Suphanat Mueanta recorded a hat-trick of goals and assist, and Martin Boakye scored a hat-trick in the game as well. Buriram then qualified to the semi-finals of the ASEAN Club Championship as runners-up with three wins, one draw and one loss in the group stage. In the AFC Champions League Elite, they finished in sixth place, thus facing Southeast Asian rivals Johor Darul Ta'zim. Both teams contested in two draws in the same edition of the tournament until another away fixture at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on 11 March, where Suphanat Mueanta scored the only goal in the match, which sent the team to the quarter-finals of the tournament in Jeddah. Buriram United was then drawn against Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli in the quarter-final but lost to them 3–0 thus bowing out from the tournament. Buriram United then focus on the knockout stage of the ASEAN Club Championship facing against BG Pathum United defeating them 3–1 on aggregate thus advancing to the final. In the first leg of the final, Buriram draw 2–2 against Công An Hà Nội. In the second leg, as Buriram United was losing 2–0 which all hopes seem lost, Peter Žulj scored in the 83th minute to give the club a glimpse chance to fight back until the 90+8th stoppage time where Lucas Crispim scored the equaliser to send the match to extra time. Guilherme Bissoli scored a penalty in the match but Buriram United was unavailable to defend a 118th minute header from the opponent which put the aggregate at 5–5 thus sending the team to penalties shootout. Goalkeeper Chatchai Budprom went on to make an impact and save 3 penalties making Buriram United the champions of the 2024–25 ASEAN Club Championship. Lucas Crispim ended up winning the tournament 'Best Player' award and Chatchai Budprom for winning the 'Best Goalkeeper' award.

Rivalries

Buriram United vs. Muangthong United in Thai League

Buriram United's main rival is Muangthong United. The two clubs are the powerhouses of Thai League 1 (T1). The rivalry between two clubs has become highly competitive, since they are the only two clubs that have won the Thai League 1 championship since the 2009 season.

Buriram United and Muangthong United also represent widely different groups of supporters. Buriram represents the mostly rural people of the Thai countryside, while Muangthong United symbolizes the urban people in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Their rivalry also reflects political differences in Football Association of Thailand (FAT) since Muangthong United has the close relationship with FAT under the management of Worawi Makudi, while former politician Newin Chidchob became the polar opposite and frequently questions the transparency of FAT.

The games between the two teams are regarded as an important match-up in Thai football. Buriram has dominated the rivalry head-to-head and maintained an unbeaten record against Muangthong for a long time after the club relocated to Buriram. The phrase "Rather lose to anyone but Muangthong." (Thai lit. แพ้ใครก็ได้ แต่ไม่แพ้เมืองทอง) became a famous quote for fans. Their unbeaten record against Muangthong was broken in 2016 Thai League when they lost 0–3 to their rival at home.

Affiliated clubs

* Borussia Dortmund (2018–''present'')
:Buriram United signed a collaboration agreement with Borussia Dortmund of the Bundesliga in October 2018. There is the deal to work together at youth level. Starting from U9 and going up to U19 the clubs discuss ways to develop youth players and give them the opportunity to press for places in the senior teams. Both teams have a similar philosophy in development as far as the use of technology, sports science and management in their youth programs.

* Leicester City (2020–''present'')
:Buriram United signed a collaboration agreement with Leicester City of the Premier League in September 2020. The announcement event was graced by the manager of King Power Group Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha together with Buriram United chairman, Newin Chidchob. The collaboration of both clubs is part of a project known as "Thailand Smiles With You". The key goal of this partnership for both clubs is to send young Thai players to Europe to develop in a league which is a higher quality to those in Thailand. As part of this partnership Buriram club will send key players of the team namely Supachok Sarachat, Suphanat Mueanta, Supachai Jaided for professional football training at the facilities of Leicester City.

Academy & youth program

Buriram United opened its first youth academies in 2011. The club is particularly famous for its renowned youth program that has produced many Thai talents over the years – Suphanat Mueanta, Supachok Sarachat, Ratthanakorn Maikami, and Anon Amornlerdsak have come through the ranks. Buriram United also regularly supplies the Thai national youth teams with local talent. Buriram youth academies play in the Thailand Youth League.

The "CP-Meiji Cup U-14 International Championship" is a famous youth program that is held at Chang Arena and Elephant Ground, between October–November every year, with six youth teams from Thailand's leading academies and six youth teams (Aspire Academy, Jubilo Iwata, Mokhtar Dahari Academy).

In 2018, Buriram United appointed Andrew Ord as head of youth development, the coach who gave Chanathip Songkrasin his youth team debut at BEC Tero Sasana. He replaced Brazilian Jose Alves Borges.

Stadium

Chang Arena is a 32,600 seater football stadium in Buriram, Buriram Province, Thailand. The Chang Arena is the second-largest football stadium in Thailand. Its nickname is "Thunder Castle". Buriram United has led the 16 team Thai League (TL) in attendance since the move to the new stadium.

The Chang Arena is in the Mueang Buriram District, located about 3 kilometres southwest of central Buriram along highway 2445. The 150-acre site has a capacity of 32,600 people with parking for 800 cars and buses, plus 3,000 motorcycles. The pitch is floodlit, allowing for night matches. The stadium houses locker rooms for home and visiting teams provides modern medical facilities and live television and radio broadcasting infrastructure.

Stadiums and locations

Sponsors

List of Buriram United jersey since their interceptions in 2010

Players

First-team squad

Out on loan

Buriram United Under 23 squad

;Buriram United U23 Squad For PEA U23 Youngster League 2024

Club officials

Honours

Domestic competitions

League

* Thai League 1
**Winners (11) : 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
**Runners-up (4): 2004–05, 2010, 2019, 2020–21

Cups

* Kor Royal Cup/Thailand Champions Cup
**Winners (5) : 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019
**Runners-up (4): 2012, 2018, 2022, 2023
* FA Cup
**Winners (7) : 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25
**Runners-up (1): 2018
* League Cup
**Winners (8) : 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25
**Runners-up (2): 2014, 2019

International competitions

ASEAN

*Mekong Club Championship
**Winners (2) : 2015, 2016
*ASEAN Club Championship
**Winners (1) : 2024–25

Double and trebles

* Double
**Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup (1): 2012
* Treble
**Thai League 1, Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup (5): 2011, 2013, 2015, 2021–22, 2022–23
* Quadruple
**Thai League 1, Thai FA Cup, Thai League Cup, and ASEAN Club Championship: 2024–25

Former managers

List of former Buriram United managers (2001–present)

Most trophies won as a head coach

:''As of 31 May 2025''

Key to honours:
* T1 = Thai League 1
* FA = Thai FA Cup
* LC = Thai League Cup
* CC = Thailand Champions Cup/Kor Royal Cup
* AFF = ASEAN Club Championship

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

*DQ = Disqualified
*PR = Preliminary Round
*QR1 = First Qualifying Round
*QR2 = Second Qualifying Round
*QR3 = Third Qualifying Round
*PO = Play-off
*R1 = Round 1
*R2 = Round 2
*R3 = Round 3
*R4 = Round 4

*R5 = Round 5
*R6 = Round 6
*GS = Group Stage
*KR = Knockout Round
*R16 = Round of 16
*QF = Quarter-finals
*SF = Semi-finals
*RU = Runners-up
*S = Shared
*W = Winners

Continental record

Matches

By country

Club Ranking

World

AFC

National

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Buriram Pea F.C.

Thai League 1 clubs
Thai FA Cup winners
Buriram province
Football clubs in Thailand
Association football clubs established in 1970
1970 establishments in Thailand