Top 10 Best Players in Thai League 1 History

Thai first Division has been a host to footballers of very high pedigree across the globe in its brief existence.

The Thai League 1, the top division of the Thailand football league system, is one of the most fiercely competitive divisions in Asian Football. The league has been going on for only 28 years, having begun in 1996. It has gone through multiple name changes before rebranding to the Thai League 1 name in 2017.

Even though the Thai Football top Division is relatively new on the block, it has really helped elevate the quality of football. It has seen remarkable improvement in the quality of players and are now a force to reckon with in South East Asia with a new generation of players who have watched and played in a much improved first Division as well as their naturalised half European expats have decided to return and embrace football in their homeland for good.

When it comes to the individuals who have shone in the Thai League 1, most comprise those roped in from South America or Europe. However, some more Thai footballers are growing in stature to enter the Thai League 1’s record books too.

Let us get straight to the point and delve into the top 10 players to have dominated the Thai League 1 so far.

10. Mario Gjurovski

Muangthong United managed to land a great deal in hindsight when they managed to bring in Red Star Belgrade youth academy graduate Mario Gjurovski in 2012 into their fold. The North Macedonian attacking midfielder ended up being a perfect match for the Thai League 1 side, excelling in the free reign role  he got at the club. Gjurovski not only played for Muangthong United but also for Bangkok United and Bangkok Glass.

He guided Muangthong United to the Thai League 1 title in the 2012 season and made a name to be remembere in the division. In 163 Thai League 1 appearances, Gjurovski scored 76 goals and provided 26 assists. He retired in 2019, before enjoying a three-year stint in the dugout with Muangthong United’s manager from 2020-2023 too.

9. Teeratep Winothai

An Everton and Crystal Palace youth academy product, Teeratep Winothai made a significant progress in his career after returning to Thailand in 2006. He turned out  for a number of Thailand’s top-division sides, including Muangthong United, BEC Tero Sassana and Bangkok United.

The versatile centre-forward, who could also play in either wing, made 206 appearances in the Thailand top flight in his career. He scored 96 goals in 206 appearances in the Thailand division and is in many conversations brought up whenever Thailand’s all-time best forwards discussion is on the table.

8. Sarayuth Chaikamdee

Sarayuth Chaikamdee is a well recognize Thai forward who has been doing bits for their national having banged a whopping 31 goals in just 49 international appearances. On top of that, he also enjoyed a prolific career playing in the Thailand top division throughout his career.

He didn’t have much win in his trophy cabinet to show for his efforts in his domestic career but he did manage to win the Thailand Premier League Golden Boot in two separate seasons. In 233 appearances in the Thai top flight, Chaikamdee scored 101 goals and played for more than five different Thailand teams.

7. Pipob On-Mo

Even though Pipob On-Mo only ended up making a measly six appearances for Thailand, he earned a popular reputation in the domestic scene for his goal-scoring exploits during his brief stay.

He was the decisive goal-scorer who earned  a lot of plaudits for his loyalty to Chonburi FC which is very rare in modern football altogether, where he spent 13 years of his career. As a result, Pipob ended up making over 400 appearances in the Thailand top division and scored 108 goals – amongst the highest-ever scored by a local player. He’s now an up and coming manager who is in the hot seat of Thai League 2 side Rayong FC.

6. Leandro Assumpcao

Leandro Assumpcao lamded in Thailand at the age of 25 after having spent his entire life playing football in Brazil. Efore his move to southeast Asia. Despite the complete 180° in terms of environment, the centre-forward ended up falling in love with the crazy fan-following and culture he witnessed as a result ended up making it his second home. He has been balling in Thailand for over 13 years now after being brought on board by Chiangri United FC in 2011.

Since then, he has scored 116 goals and provided over 20 assists in over 220 appearances. He’s played for seven different clubs, including Muangthong United, and is currently plying his trade two divisions below for Thai League 3 side Mahasarakham SBT.

5. Dragan Boskovic

Dragan Boskovic is another foreign import who took a very fond liking to the Thai League 1 playing style after being roped in by Suphanburi FC in 2013. The one time Montenegro international turned out for five Thai League 1 teams from 2013-2021, mostly because of how prolific he was in converting chances and scoring key goals.

Boskovic scored 118 goals in 209 appearances in the Thai League 1, providing over 30 assists too. Although his trophy cabinet might be  empty the fans have had enjoyed his stay in the Thai League to the fullest having impressed wherever he went.

4. Diogo Luis Santo

Brazilian front man Diogo Luis Santo enjoyed a decent stint at Olympiacos during the peak of his powers of his career and eventually decided to embark on a new journey in Thailand in 2015. He was roped in by Buriram United in 2015 and  this tour did not prove to be sour whatsoever as he  ended up guiding them to three Thai League 1 titles in four years.

Diogo proved to be a goal machine in Thailand with his clinical goal-scoring ability, and tendency to leave fans  grasping for breath with his flair, trickery and creativity. He scored 118 goals and provided 30 assists in just 138 appearances for Buriram United and BG Pathum United – having one of the most prolific goal contributions records in Thai League history.

3. Teerasil Dangda

Teerasil Dangda is without a doubt considered one of Thailand’s all-time best players and arguably their best  homegrown player in the 21st century. He has scored 64 goals for the national team and is just eight goals shy from being the all-time top scorer. On club level, Dangda has been an excellent player in the Thailand top division and spent the most of his playing days  in his native country.

Apart from a  one off season in La Liga for Almeria and a few in Japan, Dangda has spent over 15 seasons playing in Thailand and is a Muangthong United legend. He won four Thai League 1 titles with Muangthong and was a tormenting player for defenders in the top flight, acknowledged for his pace, skilful nature and ruthlessness in front of goal. Dangda has scored 143 goals in over 300 games in the Thai top flight, being the most effective Thailand player in front of goal to do so too.

2. Cleiton Silva

The current skipper of East Bengal in India, Cleiton Silva’s claim to fame in Asian football wasnlargelt thanks to his years in Thailand. Cleiton played for four Thailand top division clubs in BEC Tero Sasana, Muangthong United, Chiangri United, and Suphanburi.

He won the Thai League 1 with Muangthong United in 2016 and won the Thai top division Golden Boot in two seasons. Silva was at his usual best even better than his current self in his years in the Thai top flight, notching up an impressive tally a whopping 144 goals in just 193 appearances for a host of different clubs.

1. Heberty Fernandes

The Thailand Football League goal records are mostly dominated by the Samba Stars and the one who is the number one in the tally is Herberty Fernandes. After having impressed in Japan, Herberty was brought to Thailand by Ratchaburi in 2014. Hence ended up getting a major boost that was much needed for his footballing career his and needed for him to click in order to fulfil his potential Herberty took to the Thailand League 1 like fish to water.

His favourite pass time was  embarrassing defenders with his pace and trickery, while his relentless goal-scoring ability made sure he always got the job done. While the Brazilian forward never manged to get a Thai League 1 title on his CV in his career, he scored an incredible 159 goals in 249 appearances from 2014 to 2023. His amazing goal record  more than makes up for his lack of titles. This makes him the all-time top goal-scorer in Thai Football League history which is a feat that if any foreign player aspires to beat said record in the future, then have to pull of something incredible.

Cover Credits - Goal.com