Nakhon Ratchasima F.C.

Nakhonratchasima Mazda Football Club (Thai สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดนครราชสีมา), commonly known as Korat, is a professional football club based in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. They play in the Thai League 1.

Nakhonratchasima
Full nameNakhonratchasima Football Club
สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดนครราชสีมา
Nickname(s)The Swat Cats
(เจ้าแมวพิฆาต)
Short nameNRMFC
Founded1999 (1999)
Ground80th Birthday Stadium
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Capacity24,641
ChairmanSuwat Liptapanlop
Head CoachTeerasak Po-on
LeagueThai League 1
2019Thai League 1, 12th
Active departments of
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Football Futsal Nakhon Ratchasima Men's Volleyball Club
Volleyball (Women's)

History

1999–2008: Beginnings

Nakhonratchasima FC were formed in 1999. They have spent their fourteen-year history mostly in provincial leagues and the lower divisions of the Thai Football League but won promotion to League 1 in 2011.

Season League Position Notes
99-00 Provincial League 10th Inaugural Provincial League season. 12 teams in the division
2001 Provincial League 10th 12 teams in the division
2002 Provincial League Group 1 4th 6 teams in the division. Provincial League is divided into two groups of six with the top three from each group forming a final group of six.
2003 Provincial League 6th 12 teams in the division
2004 Provincial League 7th 10 teams in the division
2005 Provincial League 6th 12 teams in the division
2006 Professional League 10th 16 teams in the division. A new league set up by the SAT to be in direct competition with the FAT's Premier League

Since seasons 2007 are covered in detail below.

In 2007, despite finishing fourth from bottom in a twelve-team division (in Division 1), 'Korat' were relegated to the newly formed third tier of the Thai football pyramid because of league restructuring

The Division Two years

In 2008, Korat finished fourth in the now defunct Division 2 Group A. Korat started the season slowly but embarked on a five-game winning streak in the middle third of the season which gave them a chance of promotion. However, a disappointing run-in meant that Korat eventually finished fourth.[1]

In 2009, Korat finished second in the inaugural Division 2 Northeast.[2] Despite leading the division for most of the season, they slipped to second on the final day as they drew 1–1 at home with Nakhon Phanom FC whilst title rivals Loei City beat Chaiyaphum United 1–0 meaning that Loei took the title and the sole promotion play-offs spot on the final day of the season. Korat also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup (the only Regional League side to make it to that stage) but lost to TPL side Thai Port FC.[3]

In 2010, the club finished fourth in the expanded 16-team Northeast Division. Another high finish but they were far behind the top two of Loei and Buriram. Head coach Mann Jantanarm resigned after the 4–0 away defeat to Buriram F.C. and was replaced by a member of the backroom staff, Vichan Cha-on Sri. Despite a successful FA Cup run in 2009, the club fell at the first hurdle in the 2010 competition as they lost 2–1 away at F.C. Phuket. They were slightly more successful in the relaunched League Cup. Loei City were beaten 3–1 at the 80th Birthday Stadium in the preliminary round. This set up a first round proper clash with TPL side Samut Songkhram F.C. to be played over two legs. A good first leg performance saw Korat go down just 1–0 to opponents ranked two divisions higher. In the second leg, however, Korat lost 7–0 as the class of the opposition finally told.

The 2011 season saw the club more than make up for the disappointment of 2009. Under the guidance of a new president, Phollapee Suwanchawee, and a new coach, Tewet Kamolsin, the team achieved promotion. Midway through the season, the club was docked nine points for fielding an ineligible player (goalkeeper Kiattisak Lertwilai).[4] Despite the deduction, and thanks to the re-signing of Prompong Kransumrong,[5] the side recovered from the penalty and clinched a place in the end-of-season play-offs (the 'Champions League') by defeating Mahasarakham 1–0 on the final day of the season.[6] Nakhon Ratchasima were placed in Group B of the Champions League along with fellow Isaan side Roiet, Rayong, Krabi, Lamphun and North Bangkok. This time, Korat were the beneficiaries of a points deduction. After losing 2–1 to Roiet in their first Champions League match, Korat were awarded all three points as Roiet fielded six foreign players – one more than is allowed. Korat went on to win seven, draw one and lose two of their Champions League matches, and finished top of the group on 22 points. As such, promotion to 2012 TPL Division 1 was secured along with runners-up Krabi, and Ratchaburi and Pattalung from Group A.

The Division One years and promotion

Korat's first season back in the second tier ended with an eighth-place finish in 2012. Head coach Tewet Kamolsin was sacked in May 2012 and replaced by Brazilian Reuther Moreira. He too was released by the club after the season finished and was replaced by Arjhan Srong-ngamsub.

Crests history

The original club crest was a giant cat or it called in their area as Korat cat that originating in Thailand, it is named after the Nakhon Ratchasima province (typically called "Korat" by the Thai people. In Thailand, the breed is known as Si-Sawat, meaning "colour of the sawat seed" and this Si-Sawat became a nickname of the club The Swat Cats.The Korat is known colloquially as the "good luck cat".Traditionally, they are given in pairs to newlyweds or people who are highly esteemed, for good luck. Until recently, Korats were not sold, but only given as gifts.

The new badge was approved by board in 2016 and was introduced following from season 2017,It was design by Farmgroup a design consultancy based in Bangkok.[7]

Stadium
A full main stand: Nakhon Ratchasima v Roiet United in 2011

Korat play in the 80th Birthday Stadium which was the main stadium for the 2007 SEA Games. Korat moved to the stadium in the middle of the 2008 season having previously played at the city's Central Stadium. They also played home games in the town of Pak Chong when the Central Stadium was being renovated for the SEA Games during the 2007 season. The club originally played at the Suranaree Base Central Stadium close to Nakhon Ratchasima city centre. This was their main home stadium from 1999 to 2006, although they occasionally played at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University Stadium and Suranaree University of Technology stadium during this period.[8]

Supporters
Fans of Nakhon Ratchasima

Despite the city of Korat having a population in excess of 400,000 and Nakhon Ratchasima Province having a population in excess of 2.5 million, Korat struggled to attract more than 400 for most home games throughout their history. This situation was addressed in the 2009 season as Division 2 was relaunched as the Regional League. Korat were now playing in a division composed solely of other clubs from Issan. The club was extensively promoted and publicized around the city with the result that attendances have been in excess of 1,000 since just 258 turned up to watch the match against Roi Et FC in May 2009. Some 4,500 were in attendance for Korat's home game with Nakhon Phanom in September 2009, and the matches against Loei, Pattaya United and Sakhon Nakhon were also watched by crowds in excess of 3,000.[9]

Attendances rose again throughout the 2011 promotion season. They peaked in the final play-off match against Roiet when around 13,000 witnessed a 1–0 win on 17 December 2011.[10]

Stadium and locations
Coordinates Location Stadium Capacity Year
14°42′59″N 101°26′40″E Nakhon Ratchasima Pak Chong Municipal Stadium N/A 2007
14°59′21″N 102°06′40″E Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Ratchasima Municipal Stadium 2,000 2008
14°55′38″N 102°02′56″E Nakhon Ratchasima 80th Birthday Stadium 24,641 2009–present

Season by season domestic record
Season League[11] FA Cup League
Cup		 Kor Royal
Cup		 AFC
Champions
League		 Top scorer
Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Name Goals
2007 DIV 1 22 7 7 8 27 25 28 9th – – – – N/A N/A
2008 DIV 2 20 9 4 7 36 19 31 4th – – – – N/A N/A
2009 DIV 2 Northeast 20 12 7 1 50 21 43 2nd QF – – – N/A N/A
2010 DIV 2 Northeast 30 14 9 7 51 37 51 4th R1 R1 – – N/A N/A
2011 DIV 2 Northeast 30 18 8 4* 62 25 60* 3rd R1 R1 – – N/A N/A
2012 DIV 1 34 12 10 12 31 43 47 8th R4 R2 – – Promphong Kransumrong 16
2013 DIV 1 34 15 9 10 49 35 54 5th R3 SF – – Yusuke Kato 14
2014 DIV 1 34 19 11 4 56 27 68 1st R4 SF – – Ivan Bošković 18
2015 TPL 34 13 10 11 37 43 49 8th R3 R3 – – Björn Lindemann 7
2016 TL 31 10 5 16 30 44 35 11th R1 R2 – – Marco Tagbajumi 9
2017 T1 34 10 11 13 42 48 41 12th R2 R1  –  – Paulo Rangel 11
2018 T1 34 13 8 13 36 44 47 7th R1 SF  –  – Leandro Assumpção 7
2019 T1 30 9 7 14 45 57 34 13th QF R1  –  – Leandro Assumpção 15
Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated

Players

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  THA Chainarong Boonkerd
2 DF  THA Noppol Kerdkaew
3 DF  THA Woradorn Uun-ard
4 DF  THA Chalermpong Kerdkaew (captain)
5 DF  THA Eakkanut Kongket
6 MF  THA Adisak Hantes
7 FW  BRA Leandro Assumpção
8 MF  THA Metee Taweekulkarn (Vice-captain)
9 MF  THA Tatchanon Nakarawong (on loan from Chiangrai United)
10 FW  THA Chitchanok Xaysensourinthone
14 MF  THA Weerawat Jiraphaksiri
15 DF  THA Abdulhafiz Bueraheng
16 MF  THA Rachan Prasitthong
17 MF  THA Naruphol Ar-romsawa
19 FW  THA Kittipong Wongma
22 MF  THA Chanatphol Sikkamonthol
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 DF  THA Decha Srangdee (3rd captain)
30 FW  THA Jakkit Niyomsuk
32 DF  THA Pralong Sawandee
36 GK  THA Tanachai Noorach
37 DF  THA Nattapong Sayriya
42 MF  THA Romran Rodwinitch
44 DF  THA Narongsak Laosri
55 DF  KOR Yoon Jun-sung
70 GK  THA Peerames Junhok
81 FW  CIV Amadou Ouattara
88 GK  THA Samuel Cunningham
89 GK  THA Thanaphat Nirandorn
92 FW  BRA Dennis Murillo
99 MF  THA Anon Samakorn

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  THA Phatcharaphong Prathummaa (at Songkhla)

Coaches

Honours

Domestic leagues
  • Thai Division 1 League:
Winners (1): (2014)
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References
  1. "Review of 2008 season including statistics". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  2. "2009 Final Table". Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  3. Thai Port v Korat FA Cup quarter-final match report.
  4. 'Korat's Darkest Day'
  5. 'In: Promphong'
  6. match Report: Mahasarakham 0–1 Nakhon Ratchasima
  7. "Pride of Korat!สวาทแคทเปิดตัวโลโก้ใหมเริ่มใช้2017". BBC Sport. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  8. "Korat FC's stadium history". Archived from the original on 8 November 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  9. Korat's 2009 results chart showing attendance figures
  10. 2011 Fixtures and Results
  11. King, Ian; Schöggl, Hans & Stokkermans, Karel (20 March 2014). "Thailand – List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 October 2014. Select link to season required from chronological list.
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