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| Full name | Chonburi Football Club สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดชลบุรี | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | The Sharks (ฉลามชล) | |||
| Short name | CHO | |||
| Founded | 1996; 30 years ago (1996), asChonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan 2000; 26 years ago (2000), asChonburi | |||
| Ground | Chonburi Stadium Mueang Chonburi,Chonburi, Thailand | |||
| Capacity | 8,680 | |||
| Chairman | Wittaya Khunpluem | |||
| Head coach | Rangsan Viwatchaichok | |||
| League | Thai League 1 | |||
| 2024-25 | Thai League 2, 1st of 18 (Promoted) | |||
| Website | www | |||
 Current season | ||||
Chonburi Football Club (Thai:สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดชลบุรี) is a Thai professionalfootball club based in the city ofChonburi,Chonburi province, that competes in the first division inThai football,Thai League 1, after promotion in the2024–25 season. The team lifted the league title in2007 which became the most successful season in their history.[1]
Chonburi were founded in 1997 and their main rivals wereSriracha who were also based inChonburi Province prior to their move and subsequent dissolution.[2] The team is widely known by their nickname"The Sharks" which can be seen in the crest of the club.
The club has won 1Thai League 1 title, 1Thai League 2 title, 2Thai FA Cup, 1Thai League Cup and 4Kor Royal Cup.
In its early years,Chonburii-Sannibat Samut Prakan Football Club wasAssumption College Sriracha's football team. The team was managed by Annop Singtothong, Thanasak Suraprasert,Sontaya Khunpluem, andWittaya Khunpluem. The team competed and were victorious in many youth tournaments, one of them including the Institute of Physical Education's youth football tournament.[3]
In 1996, Sannibat Samut Prakan Association competed in theKhǒr Royal Cup and came in second place. The directors of the football team then negotiated for a merger which resulted in the creation ofChonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan. The team then competed inThai Division 1 League orThai League 2 today.[4]
Later, the Chonburi Sports Association had been given the chance to compete in theProvincial League in 2000. As a result, Chonburi's provincial football team was separated from Chonburi-Sannibat Samut Prakan thus renaming themselves asChonburi Football Club which competed inThai Division 1 League. The team that competed in theProvincial League acquired their players fromAssumption College Sriracha and Chulabhon's College Chonburi. They ended their first season in theProvincial League in third place.[3]
In 2005, Chonburi won theProvincial League title by beatingNakhon Ratchasima at theNakhon Ratchasima Municipal Stadium, and gained promotion to the2006 Thailand Premier League with the Provincial League runners up,Suphanburi. This title was the first major success of the club.
In 2006, Chonburi were invited byFootball Association of Singapore (FAS) to play in the2006 Singapore Cup and reached the cup final, defeating local sidesHome United,Albirex Niigata (S) andBalestier Khalsa along the way. In the final, they lost 2–3 toTampines Rovers in extra time after leading 2–0.[5] Chonburi then finished 8th in the2006 Thai Premier League season.[6]
In 2007, Chonburi were again invited to participate in the2007 Singapore Cup, but were defeated in the first round against Balestier Khalsa, in a replay of the previous season's semi-finals where Chonburi lost 3–2. Chonburi than went on to win the2007 Kor Royal Cup. Coming to the end of this season, Chonburi went on to become Thailand Premier League champions for the2007 season. This was the first trophy in major league for the club and head coachJadet Meelarp won the 'Coach of the Year' awards andPipob On-Mo got 'Player of the Year' awards. The club than qualified to the2008 AFC Champions League after winning the league.
In July 2008, Chonburi made another important big step into the future. In addition, the previous sponsor, Hemaraj Land and Development PLC signed a major sponsorship deal which comes into force from 2009. The contract will run for three years and will amount to the sum of 18 million baht (about 350,000 Euros). This may indeed be the largest completed sponsorship of a Thai football club which was ever completed.[7]
At the end of the 2008 season, there was only enough for runner-up. The main reason for this was certainly the profligacy. With two games left in the season you still on the first place in the table, but a 0–0 draw againstSamut Songkhram made to naught in the penultimate round of the dream title defense.Jadet Meelarp was dismissed. His successor is officially announced in mid-December 2008.Kiatisuk Senamuang was appointed the head coach of Chonburi.[8]
In 2008, Chonburi make their debut in the2008 AFC Champions League season being drawn in group G alongside Japanese clubGamba Osaka, Australian clubMelbourne Victory and Korean clubChunnam Dragons. Chonburi than played their first game against Gamba Osaka on 12 March, where the team was seconds away from their first ever win on their debut match in the tournament, however opponentLucas Severino scored the equaliser for the opponent equalising it at 1–1 which would see Chonburi registered their first point in the tournament. On 20 March, the club achieved its first victory in theAFC Champions League against Melbourne Victory.[9] The game was clouded by controversy whenMelbourne Victory scored their only goal whilst a Chonburi player was down injured and his teammates were calling for the ball to be played off the park. It mattered little whenCameroonian strikerJules Baga scored a goal from 35 yards out and then followed it up with a second goal inextra time to condemnMelbourne Victory to their first loss in the competition 3–1.[10] Chonburi than finished the campaign with 5 points finishing at the bottom of the group stage thus knocking out from the tournament. Chonburi then went on to finished as the league runners-up in 2008 thus seeing the club qualified for the2009 AFC Cup.
In the 2009 season, Chonburi played in the 2009 AFC Cup and was drawn in group G alongside Vietnamese clubHanoi ACB, Hong Kong clubEastern and Malaysian clubKedah FA. Chonburi manage to record 5 wins and only lost 1 game which was against Eastern at theMong Kok Stadium on 5 May 2009. The club than see themselves qualified to the round of 16 facing off against Indonesian clubPSMS Medan which Chonburi thrash them 4–1 and qualifying to the quarter-finals where they would face Vietnamese clubBình Dương. However Chonburi suffered a 4–2 lost on aggregate thus knocking out from the tournament. The game against Medan was also the last game of star studded playerSurat Sukha, who moved to Australia to signed withMelbourne Victory.[11] Chonburi than finished the 2009 season being league runner-up again where they won the2009 Kor Royal Cup.[12]
In the 2010 season, Chonburi finished the season in third place in the league in which the club went on to advanced all the way to the2010 Thai FA Cup final facing off againstMuangthong United on 28 November. The match were levelled at 1–1 bringing the game to extra time wherePipob On-Mo scored in the dying minute of the match in the 120th minute to bring the match to 2–1 thus helping Chonburi to win the2010 Thai FA Cup.
In the 2011 season, Chonburi than played in the2011 AFC Cup as the Thai FA Cup champions which see the club drawn in group H alongside Indonesian clubPersipura Jayapura, Indian clubEast Bengal and Hong Kong clubSouth China. Chonburi managed it with 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 lost thus qualifying to the round of 16 as group leaders. In the round of 16, they faced off against another Indonesian clubSriwijaya where Chonburi won 3–0 and qualifying to the quarter-final meeting against Uzbekistan clubNasaf Qarshi. As both team were on a 1–1 aggregate over two leg, the game went on to penalties shootout in the second leg at theMarkaziy Stadium in which the opponent went on to win 4–3 on penalties thus seeing Chonburi knocked out from the tournament. Chonburi than finished as league runners-up again in 2011 where they also won the2011 Kor Royal Cup.
Chonburi than started off the 2012 season where they played in the2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off against Korean clubPohang Steelers but lost 2–0 thus being place in the2012 AFC Cup group stage instead. They were than drawn in group G alongside Myanmar clubYangon United, Singaporean clubHome United and Hong Kong clubCitizen. Chonburi managed to pick up 4 wins and 2 draws finishing at group leaders and seeing themselves advanced to the round of 16 where they would faced Iraqi clubAl Zawraa. Pipob On-Mo scored the only goal in the match helping Chonburi with the win to advanced to the quarter-finals facing off against Syrian clubAl Shorta. Chonburi managed to picked up a 5–4 on aggregate over two legs and qualifying to the semi-finals. However, Chonburi hopes of being in the final was crushed after they lost 8–2 on aggregate to Iraqi clubArbil. Chonburi than finished off the 2012 season as league runners-up and also won the2012 Kor Royal Cup.
In the2023–24 season, Chonburi finished in 14th place by sitting in the relegation zone 2 points away from escaping relegation. The club was than relegated to theThai League 2 ending a 19-year tenure in the top-flight. Chonburi than played in the Thai League 2 ahead of the2024–25 season where the club went on to become Thai League 2 champions gaining promotion back to the top flight after spending a season in the second division.
In August 2013,Top Eleven, a popular football management simulation developed byNordeus, introduced official club items for Chonburi to its in-game club shop. These items included the club’s official logo and home and away jerseys, allowing Top Eleven managers to purchase and represent the Thai club within the game’s virtual environment.
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Main sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2005–2008 |  FBT | No sponsors |
| 2009–2011 | Chang | |
| 2012–2023 |  Nike | |
| 2023–2024 | In house production | |
| 2024–present | FBT |
Chonburi is well known for producing football talent as well as using their youth players in the first team. In the2007 Thailand Premier League in which they have been crowned champions, over 80% of their first-team players came from their youth program. However, in the past, their youth players stayed at boarding schools inChonburi province such asAssumption College Sriracha and Chulabhon's College Chonburi.[13][14]
Today, Chonburi has a football academy where academy players train and live every day at. The idea of creating a football academy was spearheaded by former Chonburi head coach and current technical directorWitthaya Laohakul, who stressed the importance of creating and producing quality football players for the first-team. In 2009, Chonburi decided to remodel its academy and youth program by building an actual football academy inBan Bueng District. The new academy is located far away fromChonburi surrounded by paddy fields and was once rented out toJMG Academy.[15][14] In addition, this new football academy includes a dormitory and football training facilities for the academy players.
Chonburi recruits academy players by scouting them from tournaments as well as offering trials.Worachit Kanitsribampen is one of the first successful players to come out of Chonburi's newly restructured academy.[14] As of 2025, Chonburi Academy are one of only four academies in Southeast Asia to be conferred a Two-Star academy status alongsideJohor Darul Ta'zim Academy,NFDP Mokhtar Dahari Academy in Malaysia andLion City Sailors Academy in Singapore.
At the start of the 2007 season, Chonburi used theChonburi Municipality Stadium as their home ground which can hold up to 5,000 capacity. Due to disagreements with the local authorities, the club played its home games at thePrincess Sirindhorn Stadium in 2009 before moving their home ground again withIPE Chonburi Stadium as their home ground in 2010.[16]
With Chonburi winning the league title in 2008 which sees them qualified to the2008 AFC Champions League, Chonburi played their home ground at theNational Stadium which reach FIFA stadium requirements standard to host an AFC tournament. The club also used the stadium for their home games in the2009 AFC Cup.
In the 2011 season, Chonburi move toChonburi Stadium after the stadium was completely build and reach the FIFA requirements to host their home games in theAFC Cup thus becoming a permanent home ground for the club.[17] The stadium can hold up to 8,000 capacity.
In 2019, Chonburi used theSattahip Navy Stadium as a temporary venue while the Chonburi Stadium is being renovated.
Manchester City (2007)[18]Chonburi have maintained partnerships with Manchester City for player development and technical cooperation, following the takeover of the Premier League club by former Thailand Prime Minister,Thaksin Shinawatra. During this period, youth and reserve players were loaned to Chonburi and coaching expertise was shared, contributing to the club’s professional development and their first Thai Premier League title in 2007.
Vissel Kobe (2012)[19]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note 1: The officialclub website lists thesupporters as player12th man.Note 2: Players who areAFC Champions League quota foreign players are listed inbold.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Wittaya Khunpluem |
| Co-Chairman | Anop Singtothong |
| Marketing and Public Relations Director | Jirasak Jomthong |
| Club secretary | Thitikon Arjwarin |
| Technical Director | Withaya Laohakul |
| Team Manager | Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool |
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Rangsan Viwatchaichok |
| Assistant Coach | Peeratat Phoruendee Nutthawut Vijitwetchakarn Puriphat Niyomjit |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Boonkong Akkaboot |
| Fitness Coach |  Rafael Monteiro Wanchalerm Tothong |
| Club Doctor | Dr. Rungrat Jittakarn |
As of 27 January 2026
| Rank | Player | Years | Club appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pipob On-Mo | 2006–2018 | 404 |
| 2 | Chonlatit Jantakam | 2004–2019 | 301 |
| 3 | Kroekrit Thaweekarn | 2012–2024 | 236 |
| 4 | Noppanon Kachaplayuk | 2010–2024 | 224 |
| 5 | Chanin Sae-ear | 2010–2024 | 172 |
| 6 | Saharat Sontisawat | 2016–present | 169 |
| 7 | Kritsada Kaman | 2015–2023 | 168 |
| 8 | Worachit Kanitsribampen | 2013–2021 | 162 |
| 9 | Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool | 2007–2015, 2019–2021,2024 | 152 |
| 10 | Channarong Promsrikaew | 2018–present | 144 |
| Rank | Player | Club appearances | Total goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pipob On-Mo | 404 | 104 |
| 2 | Thiago Cunha | 81 | 57 |
| 3 | Worachit Kanitsribampen | 162 | 40 |
| 4 | Leandro Assumpção | 77 | 32 |
| 5 | Renan Marques | 35 | 27 |
| 6 | Nurul Sriyankem | 134 | 24 |
| 7 |  Amadou Ouattara | 82 | 22 |
| 10 |  Prince Amponsah | 59 | 21 |
 Yoo Byung-soo | 63 | ||
| Kroekrit Thaweekarn | 236 |
FC Tokyo (9 February 2016)For details on former players, seeList of Chonburi players andCategory: Chonburi players.
Chonburi managers by years (2004–present)
| Name | Period | Honours |
|---|---|---|
| Witthaya Laohakul | 2004–2006 | |
| Jadet Meelarp | 2007–2008 | –2007 Thailand Premier League |
| Kiatisuk Senamuang | 2008–2009 | –2009 Kor Royal Cup |
| Jadet Meelarp (2) | 2010–2011 | –2010 Thai FA Cup |
| Witthaya Laohakul | 2011–2013 | –2012 Kor Royal Cup |
| Masahiro Wada | 2014 | |
| Jadet Meelarp (3) | 2015 | |
| Therdsak Chaiman | 2016–2017 | –2016 Thai FA Cup |
 Goran Barjaktarević | 2018–2018 | |
| Jukkapant Punpee | 2018–2019 | |
| Sasom Pobprasert | 2019–2023 | |
| Adul Lahsoh (interim) | 2023 | |
| Makoto Teguramori | 2023 | |
| Nutthawut Vijitwetchakarn (interim) | 2023–2024 | |
| Witthaya Laohakul (interim | 2024 | |
| Pipob On-Mo | 2024 | |
| Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool (interim) | 2024 | |
| Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul | 2024–2025 | –2024–25 Thai League 2 |
| Teerasak Po-on | 2025 | |
| Witthaya Laohakul (interim) | 2025 | |
| Rangsan Viwatchaichok | 2025–present |
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | AFC Champions League | Group G | Gamba Osaka | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4th out of 4 |
 Melbourne Victory | 3–1 | 1–3 | ||||
| Chunnam Dragons | 2–2 | 0–1 | ||||
| 2009 | AFC Cup | Group G |  Eastern | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1st out of 4 |
 Kedah | 3–1 | 1–0 | ||||
 Hanoi ACB | 6–0 | 2–0 | ||||
| Round of 16 |  PSMS Medan | 4–0 | ||||
| Quarter-finals | Bình Dương | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | ||
| 2011 | AFC Cup | Group H |  East Bengal | 4–0 | 4–4 | 1st out of 4 |
| South China | 3–0 | 3–0 | ||||
| Persipura Jayapura | 4–1 | 0–3 | ||||
| Round of 16 | Sriwijaya | 3–0 | ||||
| Quarter-finals |  Nasaf Qarshi | 0–1 | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | 1–1 (3–4p) | ||
| 2012 | AFC Champions League | Qualifying play-off | Pohang Steelers | 0–2 | ||
| AFC Cup | Group G |  Yangon United | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1st out of 4 | |
 Home United | 1–0 | 2–1 | ||||
| Citizen | 2–0 | 3–3 | ||||
| Round of 16 |  Al-Zawra'a | 1–0 | ||||
| Quarter-finals |  Al-Shorta | 1–2 | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | 5–4 | ||
| Semi-finals | Arbil | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–8 | ||
| 2014 | AFC Champions League | Qualifying play-off round 2 | South China | 3–0 | ||
| Qualifying play-off round 3 |  Beijing Guoan | 0–4 | ||||
| 2015 | AFC Champions League | Qualifying preliminary round 2 | Kitchee | 4–1 | ||
| Qualifying play-off round | Kashiwa Reysol | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | ||||
| 2016 | AFC Champions League | Qualifying preliminary round 2 | Yangon United | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | ||
| Qualifying play-off round | FC Tokyo | 0–9 |
| Season | League[21] | FA Cup | League Cup | Queen's Cup | Kor Royal Cup | AFC Champions League | AFC Cup | ASEAN Club | Top scorer | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Name | Goals | ||||||||
| 2006 | TPL | 22 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 8th | – | – | GR | – | – | – | – | Pipob On-Mo | 7 |
| 2007 | TPL | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 50 | 25 | 63 | 1st[22] | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Pipob On-Mo | 16 |
| 2008 | TPL | 30 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 34 | 14 | 59 | 2nd[22] | – | – | SF | W | GR | – | – | Pipob On-Mo | 5 |
| 2009 | TPL | 30 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 50 | 30 | 62 | 2nd | R4 | – | SF | W | – | QF | – | Mohamed Koné | 14 |
| 2010 | TPL | 30 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 57 | 28 | 60 | 3rd | W | R2 | SF | – | – | – | – | Pipob On-Mo | 10 |
| 2011 | TPL | 34 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 58 | 29 | 69 | 2nd | R5 | SF | – | W | – | QF | – | Pipob On-Mo | 15 |
| 2012 | TPL | 34 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 65 | 33 | 70 | 2nd | R3 | QF | – | W | Play-off | SF | – | Pipob On-Mo | 14 |
| 2013 | TPL | 32 | 18 | 8 | 6 | 61 | 35 | 62 | 3rd | R3 | QF | – | – | – | – | – | Thiago Cunha | 13 |
| 2014 | TPL | 38 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 62 | 33 | 76 | 2nd | RU | R3 | – | – | Play-off 3 | – | – | Thiago Cunha | 20 |
| 2015 | TPL | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 62 | 44 | 57 | 4th | QF | R3 | – | – | Play-off | – | – | Thiago Cunha | 19 |
| 2016 | TL | 31 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 52 | 33 | 51 | 5th | W | R3 | – | – | Play-off | – | – | Rodrigo Vergilio | 12 |
| 2017 | T1 | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 59 | 59 | 53 | 7th | R1 | R2 | – | – | – | – | – | Renan Marques | 27 |
| 2018 | T1 | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 45 | 53 | 46 | 9th | QF | QF | – | – | – | – | – | Worachit Kanitsribampen | 12 |
| 2019 | T1 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 43 | 45 | 40 | 7th | R1 | R1 | – | – | – | – | – | Lukian | 11 |
| 2020–21 | T1 | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 30 | 47 | 32 | 12th | RU | – | – | – | – | – | – | Caion | 6 |
| 2021–22 | T1 | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 50 | 40 | 44 | 7th | R2 | SF | – | – | – | – | – | Yoo Byung-Soo | 12 |
| 2022–23 | T1 | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 46 | 38 | 43 | 6th | R2 | R1 | – | – | – | – | – | Danilo Alves | 14 |
| 2023–24 | T1 | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 33 | 52 | 30 | 14th | QF | R2 | – | – | – | – | – | Willian Lira | 15 |
| 2024–25 | T2 | 32 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 56 | 30 | 63 | 1st | R2 | R1 | – | – | – | – | – | Derley | 14 |
| Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Promoted | Relegated | In Progress |
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