 | |
| Organising body | MFF |
|---|---|
| Founded | 16 May 2009; 16 years ago (16 May 2009) |
| First season | 2009 |
| Country | Myanmar |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | MNL-2 |
| Domestic cup(s) | MNL League Cup General Aung San Shield |
| International cup(s) | AFC Challenge League ASEAN Club Championship |
| Current champions | Shan United (6th title) (2024-25) |
| Most championships | Shan United (6 titles) |
| Most appearances | David Htan (336) |
| Top scorer | Cézar Augusto (118) |
| Broadcaster(s) | MRTV-4 Channel 7 Readers Channel Pyone Play Sports |
| Website | www |
| Current:2025–26 Myanmar National League | |
Myanmar National League (Burmese:မြန်မာနေရှင်နယ်လိဂ်) often referred to asMNL, is the highest level of the Myanmarfootball league system. Contested by 12 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with theMNL-2. Seasons typically run from August to May, with each team playing 22 games.[1]
In the past, professional football competition in Myanmar has only existed in a limited form. Premier leagues have been made up ofYangon-based clubs, most of which were affiliated with government ministries. It was only after 1996 when the Premier League (Burmese:ပထမတန်း) was relaunched as theMyanmar Premier League that non-government clubs were invited. Still, the league was based only in Yangon.
TheMyanmar Football Federation sought approval from the government to launch a nationwide league in February 2008, and finally received permission to set up private clubs in December of the same year. Each club was permitted to sign at most five foreign players and one foreign coach. The government granted tax exemptions for an initial three-year period, while each club owner must provide a minimum initial investment ofKs 200 million.[2] The investment covered costs such as salaries, transportation, and equipment, but does not include the club stadiums, which are all nationalized.[3]
In 2009, the league replaced the Myanmar Premier League with eight professional clubs representing different regions across the nation.[2] On 16 May 2009, the league launched its inaugural two-month tournament, theMyanmar National League Cup 2009, in preparation for the first full season.[4] Despite its national ambitions, the league held the MNL Cup 2009 matches in the country's two main stadiums in Yangon due to the lack of adequate facilities elsewhere. On 5 July 2009,Yadanabon FC defeatedYangon United FC in the MNL Cup final to become the first-ever MNL champion.
The league added three clubs for the2010 season,[5] and one more club joined for the 2011 season, bringing the total to twelve clubs.[6]Two more clubs representingChin andShan states participated in the MNL season starting in January 2012.[7][8]
(For Burmese champions before 2009, seeMyanmar Premier League)
| Club | Champions | Runners-up | Winning seasons | Runners-up seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shan United | 6 | 2 | 2017,2019,2020,2022,2023,2024-25 | 2012,2018 |
| Yangon United | 5 | 5 | 2011,2012,2013,2015,2018 | 2014,2016,2017,2022,2023 |
| Yadanarbon | 4 | 1 | 2009-10,2010,2014,2016 | 2015 |
| Ayeyawady United | 0 | 3 | 2009,2011,2019 | |
| Nay Pyi Taw | 0 | 1 | 2013 | |
| Zeyar Shwe Myay | 0 | 1 | 2010 | |
| Hantharwady United | 0 | 1 | 2020 |
Undefeated champions:
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Club | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayeyawady United |  U Chit Naing |  Pro Sport | AYA Bank | |
| Dagon Port | U Htet Aung | Naung Naung Soe | APE | MK Fuel |
| Dagon Star | U Min Tun Lin | Maung Maung Win | M21 | |
| Hanthawaddy United | UMyo Min Tun | Lar Din Maw Yar | SCM | Grand Royal |
| I.S.P.E | U Kyaw Lwin | Khaing Ye Win | SCM | |
| Mahar United | UZaw Linn Tun | Kyaw Swar Min | M21 | Arku's |
| Chinland | ||||
| Yarmanya United | ||||
| Shan United |  Hiroki Ono | Hein Thiha Zaw | Foxx Sports |  Sbobet |
| Thitsar Arman | U Paw Tun Kyaw | Saw Htoo Phe Moo | Rhino Sports | Sport Bar |
| Yadanarbon | U | | M21 | Alpine |
| Yangon United | U Kyaw Dun | David Htan | Glory Sport | ABD Bank |
| Rank | Player | Period | Goals | Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cezar Augusto | 2012–2015, 2017 | 118 | 111 |
| 2 | Soe Min Oo | 2009–2019 | 109 | 267 |
| 3 |  Keith Nah | 2014, 2015–2016, 2019–2021 | 93 | 127 |
| 4 | Kyaw Ko Ko | 2010–2019 | 91 | 182 |
| 5 |  Sylla Sekou | 2014–2019, 2023 | 85 | 140 |
| 6 | Win Naing Soe | 2015–2021 | 77 | 142 |
| 7 |  Donald Bissa | 2016, 2017, 2019–2020 | 64 | 74 |
| 8 |  Charles Obi | 2010–2013 | 58 | 63 |
| 9 | Yan Kyaw Htwe | 2013– | 51 | 127 |
| 10 | Christopher Chizoba | 2016–2018 | 42 | 72 |
Figures for active players (in bold).
| Rank | Player | Position | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Htan | 2009– | 336 | 11 |
| 2 | Zaw Min Tun | 2009–2018 | 271 | 8 |
| 3 | Soe Min Oo | 2009–2018 | 267 | 109 |
| 4 | Thiha Sithu | 2009–2020 | 254 | 0 |
| 5 | Aung Zaw | 2009–2021 | 252 | 0 |
| 6 | Yan Aung Kyaw | 2009–2020 | 246 | 3 |
| 7 | Nanda Kyaw | 2013– | 231 | 22 |
| 8 | Lar Din Maw Yar | 2011– | 221 | 3 |
| 9 | Thet Naing | 2009– | 220 | 35 |
| 10 | Thein Than Win | 2009– | 211 | 8 |
Figures for active players (in bold).
| Rank | Country | Player | Hat-tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Win Naing Soe | 8 |
| 2 | | Cezar Augusto | 6 |
| 3 |  | Patrick Edubat | 3 |
| 4 |  | Patrick Asare | 2 |
| Donald Bissa | ||
| Christopher Chiboza | ||
 | Edison Fonseca | ||
| Kyaw Ko Ko | ||
| Yan Kyaw Htwe | ||
 | Joseph Mpande | ||
| Aung Myat Thu | ||
| Win Naing Tun | ||
| Emmanuel Ozochukwu | ||
| Sekou Sylla | ||
| Aung Thu |
| Rank | Country | Player | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Kyaw Zin Phyo | 45 |
| 2 | | Thiha Sithu | 38 |
| 3 | | San Set Naing | 30 |
| 4 | | Van Lal Hruaia | 28 |
| 5 | | Pyae Phyo Aung | 27 |
| 6 | | Ko Ko Naing | 26 |
| Year | Nation | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024—25 | | Yan Kyaw Htwe | Yangon United | 13 |
| 2023 | | Bello | Shan United | 13 |
| 2022 | | Yan Kyaw Htwe | Ayeyawady United | 14 |
| 2020 | | Raphael Success[10] | Ayeyawady United | 16 |
| 2019 | | Win Naing Soe | Yadanarbon | 18 |
| 2018 | | Joseph Mpande | Hanthawaddy United | 18 |
| 2017 | | Keith Martu Nah | Ayeyawady United | 15 |
| Christopher Chizoba | Shan United | ||
| 2016 | | Win Naing Soe | Yadanarbon | 16 |
| Keith Martu Nah | |||
| Christopher Chizoba | Ayeyawady United | ||
| 2015 | | César Augusto | Yangon United | 28 |
| 2014 | | César Augusto | Yangon United | 26 |
| 2013 | | César Augusto | Yangon United | 20 |
| 2012 |  | Saša Ranković | Zeya Shwe Myay | 20 |
| 2011 | | Charles Obi | Yangon United | 18 |
| 2010 | | Jean-Roger Lappé-Lappé | Hantharwady United | 20 |
| 2009—10 | | Soe Min Oo | Shan United | 12 |
| 2009 | | Yan Paing | Yadanarbon | 8 |
| Period | Sponsor | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–2010 | Grand Royal | Grand Royal Myanmar National League |
| 2010–2014 | Myanmar | Myanmar National League |
| 2015–2016 | Ooredoo | Ooredoo Myanmar National League |
| 2017 | Max Cement | Max Cement Myanmar National League |
| 2018–2022 | MPT | MPT Myanmar National League |
| 2023–2024 | Myanmar National League |
| Current Rank | Points | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 15.581 | Yangon United |
| 96 | 8.914 | Shan United |
| 124 | 5.247 | Yadanarbon |
| National teams |
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| League system |
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| Domestic cups |
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| Reserve and Academy |
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| Continental cups | |||||||||
| Lists | |||||||||
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