Get to know our Round of 16 Opponents a little better ahead of our clash with them in the AFC Champions League Two at the Sydney Football Stadium.
History
Bangkok United were formed in 1988 as Bangkok University and began their time in the University competitions.
Throughout their time in the Thailand University competitions, they were quite successful and made the journey to the Thai Premier League.
In 2009 they changed their name to Bangkok United after the Thai football authorities ordered that all teams be registered as limited companies and they also adopted the nickname the Bangkok Angels which they still use to this day.
Before the start of the 2010 Thai Premier League season, they were backed by some new owners called the True Corporation and outside of AFC competitions are known as the True Bangkok United Football Club.
They first appeared in AFC competition in 2007 where they were drawn into a group with Chunnam Dragons, Arema Malang and Kawasaki Frontale and most recently appeared in the AFC Champions League last season where they topped their Group.
That group was no easy feat having faced Kitchee, Lion City Sailors and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and in the Round of 16, they faced eventual runners up Yokohama F. Marinos. It was only a 120th minute penalty in extra time that sent them out of the competition, eventually losing 3-2 on aggregate.
Run So Far
In the AFC Champions League Two this campaign they started their journey in qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite and lost out to Shandong Taishan on penalties and dropped into the AFC Champions League Two.
In the secondary competition, they were drawn against Tampine Rovers, Lee Man and Nam Dinh where they finished in first place, recording 13 points from their six matches, scoring twelve and conceding six in the process.
They won all their matches at home and struggled away from home, losing to Tampines Rovers, drawing 0-0 in Vietnam and scraping a 1-0 victory at the Mong Kok Stadium against Lee Man.
Stadium
They play their football out of the Thammasat Stadium which is located about an hour north of the centre of Bangkok.
It holds up to 25,000 people and is located on the Thammasat University campus.
The Angels previously used the Bangkok University Stadium but were forced to upsize with that only holding 5,000 people and not meeting AFC regulations.
They still train out of the University site however.
Notable Names
The most notable name to have pulled on the Red and Black of Bangkok United is Richairo Zivkovic who was on the books of Ajax as a youngster before being loaned out and floating around the South East Asian leagues. He is currently their starting striker and will be looking to find the net against the Sky Blues
Former Bundesliga player and Japanese internationalist Hajime Hosogai also previously played for them before his retirement.
Only one Australian has played for them and it was former Macarthur Bulls player Anthony Carter who joined the Campbelltown outfit from Bangkok in 2022.
However, they were managed by current Melbourne City boss Aurelio Vidmar during the 2022 season before he returned to the A-League with the Victorian team.
Current Domestic Season
Currently in the Thai Premier League, Bangkok United are sitting in 2nd place, sitting seven points behind leaders Buriram United after 21 matches in the competition.
They come into this clash having played on Friday night at home against Rayong and had to fight back from a 2-0 deficit to salvage a draw thanks to a brace from Mahmoud Eid.
Prior to this they were on a three game winning run including the FA Thai Cup and will not play domestically between the two matches, as is the same with Sydney FC.
They are yet to lose at home so the away leg will be a tough task for the Sky Blues.
Honours
Thai League 1 – 2006
Thai League 2 – 2022/03
Thai FA Cup – 2023/24
Thai Champions Cup – 2023
