Thai football league system
Current System
Current system in use since 2009
| Level | High-Division | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League 18 clubs | |||||||||||||
| 2 | Division 1 20 clubs | |||||||||||||
| 3 | Regional League Division 2
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| Low-Division | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) 15 clubs | |||||||||||||
| 5 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) 25 clubs | |||||||||||||
| 6 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) 60 clubs | |||||||||||||
Former system
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 Thailand 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 Thailand changed the name of Yai Cup (ถ้วยใหญ่) to the Kor Royal Cup (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 (ถ้วย ก.) | |||||
| 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 Thailand rather than Kor Royal Cup. and FAT also found Division 1 League in the next season (1997).
The Thailand football league system in 1996-1998 season before Division 2 League and Provincial League was created is listed below:
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | |||||
| 2 | Division 1 | |||||
| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |||||
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||||
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||||
1999-2003 seasons
In 1999 season, Provincial League 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 and AFC Cup respectively.
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | ||||||||||||||||
2004-2005 seasons
In 2004 season, Provincial League renamed Pro League 1 and Pro League 2 was found by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for this reason
the winner and runner-up of the Provincial League 2005, Chonburi FC and Suphanburi FC began the practice of moving to play in the Thai Premier League 2006.
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 and AFC Cup respectively.
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT)
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| 2 | Division 1 |
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| 3 | Khǒr Royal Cup (ถ้วย ข.) | |||||||||||
| 4 | Khor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ค.) | |||||||||||
| 5 | Ngor Royal Cup (ถ้วย ง.) | |||||||||||
2006 seasons
In 2006 season Division 2 League was found by the Football Association of Thailand in this season,
1st and 3rd of the Provincial League 2006, TOT and Nakhon Pathom began the practice of moving to play in the Thai Premier League 2007.
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 2006 season before combined the Thai Premier League , Division 1 , Division 2 and Provincial League together in 2007 is listed below:
- 1st and 3rd Pro League 1 2006 moving to Thailand Premier League 2007
- 5th,7th,9th,11th,13th Pro League 1 2006 moving to Thailand Division 1 League 2007 Group A
- 4th,6th,8th,10th,12th,14th Pro League 1 2006 moving to Thailand Division 1 League 2007 Group B
- 15th-16th Pro League 1 2006 Relegation to Thailand Division 2 League 2007.
- Winner Pro League 2 2006 Ratchaburi moving to Thailand Division 1 League 2007 Group A
- Runner-Up Pro League 2 2006 Samut Songkhram moving to Thailand Division 1 League 2007 Group B
| Level | Football Leagues | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thai Premier League | Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT)
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| 2 | Division 1 | |||||||||||
| 3 | Division 2 |
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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.
- Lopburi FC Provincial League 2007 Winner promoted to Thailand Division 2 League 2008 (Group B).
- Songkhla FC Provincial League 2007 Runner Up promoted to Thailand Division 2 League 2008 (Group A).
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 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Division 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Low-Division | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Khǒr 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 Thailand
- Thai football records and statistics
- List of football clubs in Thailand
External links
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