Ratchaburi F.C. Explained

Clubname:Ratchaburi
ราชบุรี เอฟซี
Fullname:Ratchaburi Football Club
สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดราชบุรี
Nickname:The Dragons
(ราชันมังกร)
Short Name:RBMFC
Ground:Dragon Solar Park
Ratchaburi, Thailand
Capacity:10,000
Owntitle:Owner
Chairman:Tanawat Nitikarnchana
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Surapong Kongthep
Season:2023–24
League:Thai League 1
Position:Thai League 1, 6th of 16
Current:2024–25 Ratchaburi F.C. season
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Ratchaburi Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดราชบุรี) is a Thai professional football club based in Ratchaburi province that currently plays in Thai League 1. Ratchaburi has the nickname The Dragons which can be seen in the club official crest.

History

Establishment and early years

Ratchaburi Football Club was founded in 2004 and then joined Thailand Division 2 League 2006. Ratchaburi able to win the Thailand Division 2 League title, get the right to compete in the 2007 Thailand League Division 1.

The League Division 1 season 2007 has a total of 24 teams participating in the competition, divided into 2 groups, 12 teams each and at the end of the competition, the top five of each group will be relegated to the competition. Thai League Division 2, the club did not perform very well, finished the season with the last place in the group A table.[1]

In 2008, Ratchaburi Football Club made the seventh place out of the 11 participating teams, causing the team to relegate, but due to the Football Association of Thailand reshaping the competition in the season 2009 makes Ratchaburi continue to compete in the Thai League Division 2

2009 Regional League Division 2 is the first season to compete in a 5-region zone system, Ratchaburi Football Club is organized in the Central and Eastern region. The club finished the season with 9th place out of 12 participating teams.[1]

Dragon's breath

In 2010, the Nitikarnchana family decided to take over Ratchaburi Football Club, which was then in the Regional League Division 2. In 2011 they won the Central-East Division before earning promotion to Division 1 after winning Group A of the Division 2 playoffs.

Prior to the 2012 season, Ratchaburi Football Club was sponsored by the Mitr Phol Group and announced the change of the club's name to Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC, with Sorraaut Klinprathum as the club's president, Boonying Nitikarnchana as the club's vice president and Thanawat Nitikarnchana is the team manager and Somchai Maiwilai is a head coach.[2]

2011Division 2(Tier 3)
2012Division 1(Tier 2)
2013style=Thai Premier League (Tier 1)

Whilst in Division 1, Ratchaburi made it to the 2012 Thai League Cup final where they lost 4–1 to Buriram United. The final was most remembered for the farcical circumstances that Ratchaburi faced as they didn't have any substitutes on the bench due to having several ineligible loanees from opponents Buriram United. Ratchaburi never stood a chance as Buriram won the final at a canter.[3]

Promotion to the top flight

In the following season, the Dragons flew through the first division winning the title on their way to the TPL.

In the first season of the Ratchaburi Mitr Phol in top-tier league is considered unsuccessful, ranked 15th out of the total of 18 teams, but due to the problem of scrambling for the rights of the team between Sisaket and Esan United escalate,[4] The Thai League company decided to increase the top 20 teams in TPL, resulting in the Thai Premier League competition in 2013 season, there was only one relegation team, Pattaya United (17th place).

In 2014 season, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol reacted by appointing former Girona manager Ricardo Rodríguez as their new manager for the new 2014 Thai Premier League season. The Dragons finished comfortably in 4th place.[5]

Move to Mitr Phol Stadium and recent years

After participating in the top league for 3 years, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol has a project to build its own football stadium. The stadium started construction in 2015 and opened for the first time in mid-2016. In 2016 the club moved to new ground, Mitr Phol Stadium and the club appointed Robert Procureur as the club technical director.[6]

In 2016, Following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Football Association of Thailand cancelled the remaining league and cup season on 14 October 2016, with three rounds remaining. The Dragons finished in 6th place.

In 2017 The Dragons continued to progress under Pacheta's stewardship, and with a team containing half blood players Philip Roller and Kevin Deeromram reached league finish as 6th place as well as reaching the semi-final of the League Cup losing 0–1 to Chiangrai United at Supachalasai Stadium.[7]

In 2018 Thai League, a dismal run of form saw the team slip to the bottom of the league table. The Dragons finished the season in 12th place with 43 points, they were one point adrift from safety.

In 2019, after beating Buriram United in the semi-final, The Dragons reached the FA Cup Final for the first time in their history. In the final, played at Leo Stadium, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol lost to Port 0–1, with a goal by Sergio Suárez scored in second half. Ratchaburi made it becoming the runner-up of the competition.[8] [9] In 2020, Ratchaburi qualified to AFC Champions League for the first time in club history after get the position of top four in the table.[10] [11]

Academy

Ratchaburi Mitr Phol opened its first youth academies in 2016 under the name The Dragons Academy.[12] In 2017, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol have appointed Douglas Cardozo as Head of Youth Development.[13]

Stadium

From 2007 to 2016, the club used Ratchaburi Provincial Stadium owned by the city council as their home ground. In June 2016, the club built New Ratchaburi Stadium in the town of Huai Phai, Ratchaburi Province to be its new home ground and is directly owned by the club. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 seats.[14]

CoordinatesLocationStadiumYear
13.5318°N 99.8138°WRatchaburiRatchaburi Provincial Stadium2007–2016
13.5217°N 99.7696°WRatchaburiDragon Solar Park2016–present

Season-by-season record

SeasonLeague[15] FA CupLeague CupAFC Champions
League
Top scorer
DivisionPWDLFAPtsPosNameGoals
2007DIV 122541331401912th –
2008DIV 2207943226307th –
2009DIV 2 Central-East224993133219th –
2010DIV 2 Central-East3012994539459th –
2011DIV 2 Central-East302082671968bgcolor=gold1stR2R1 –Pornchai Ardjinda18+(5)
2012DIV 1342464853178bgcolor=gold1stR4RU –Douglas19
2013TPL326121431393015thR3RU –Douglas10
2014TPL38171476242654thR4SF –Heberty26
2015TPL34174134850557thQFR3 –Heberty19
2016T13014795235496thWR1 –Heberty20
2017T134167116349556thR1SF –Marcel Essombé20
2018T1341271550534312thSFR1 –Kang Soo-il13
2019T130108124848388thRUR1 –Yannick Boli14
2020–21T130137104841468thQF – –Philip Roller14
2021–22T130991232363612thR2R3GSDerley13
2022–23T130101193229418thR3SF –Derley8
2023–24T130 116133935396thR2QF –Njiva Rakotoharimalala9
bgcolor=goldChampionsRunners-upThird placePromotedRelegatedIn Progress

Continental record

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2021AFC Champions LeagueGroup G Pohang Steelers0–00–24th
Johor Darul Ta'zim0–10–0
Nagoya Grampus0–40–3

Players

Out on loan

Managerial history

Honours

League

Cups

Notes and References

  1. Web site: บันทึก ทำความรู้จัก 4 ทีม ภูธรสู้ไม่ถอย ไทยลีก 2017: สุโขทัย, สุพรรณบุรี, ราชบุรี, เชียงราย. 2021-03-16. 2020-09-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20200927091008/https://poakpong.com/node/2130. live.
  2. Web site: ธนวัชร นิติกาญจนา ต้องเรียนรู้จากความผิดพลาด อ่านแนวคิดผู้นำราชันมังกร. 2021-03-16. 2021-12-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202152226/https://workpointtoday.com/day-one-ratchaburi-mitr-phol-fc/. live.
  3. News: รีแมตช์ "บุรีรัมย์-ราชบุรี" คู่ชิงลีกคัพ. 2018-02-08. 2018-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180209002752/http://www.manager.co.th/Golf/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9560000124144. live.
  4. News: Decision of the Member of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to discuss the case of: Club Esan United (Sisaket FC), Thailand by FIFA. 2021-10-21. 2021-11-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20211102130018/https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/3ffb56c2050ce25e/original/r0mzzosz6huji8rgsagv-pdf.pdf. live.
  5. Web site: "บีจี" ตั้ง "โรดริเกวซ" คุมทัพลุย ACL. 13 November 2014. 2021-03-16. 2021-12-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202152228/https://mgronline.com/sport/detail/9570000131131. live.
  6. Web site: ราชบุรี ตั้ง โรเบิร์ต โปรคูเรอร์ นั่งแท่น ผอ.สโมสรคนแรก.
  7. News: Kirins, Chiang Rai in League Cup final. 2021-03-16. 2021-12-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202152231/https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/1354715/kirins-chiang-rai-in-league-cup-final. live.
  8. Web site: ท่าเรือแชมป์เอฟเอคัพ "ซัวเรซ"ฮีโร่ซัดดับราชบุรี-VARริบ2ประตูแจก1แดง . Siamsport.co.th . 2 November 2019. 2021-12-02 . 2019-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191102150522/https://www.siamsport.co.th/football/thai-fa-cup/view/158379 . live .
  9. Web site: สิงห์เจ้าท่า เฉือนราชบุรีหืด หวนครองถ้วยเอฟเอคัพในรอบ 10 ปี - ข่าวสด . Khaosod.co.th . 2 November 2019. 2021-12-02 . 2021-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211202152236/https://www.khaosod.co.th/sports/news_3025462 . live .
  10. Web site: เสี่ยฟลุ๊คโพสต์แล้วหลังราชบุรีฯได้ตั๋วลุยศึกเอซีแอล . Siamsport.co.th . 12 December 2020. 2021-12-02 . 2021-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211202152233/https://www.siamsport.co.th/football/thaipremierleague/view/217403 . live .
  11. Web site: TOYOTA THAI LEAGUE PREVIEW : การท่าเรือ เอฟซี - ราชบุรี มิตรผล เอฟซี Goal.com.
  12. Web site: ราชบุรีเปิดสอนเยาวชนหลักสูตรบาร์ซ่า. 2021-03-16. 2021-12-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202152333/http://www.isport.co.th/detail.aspx?pcnt_id=319815. live.
  13. Web site: บทบาทใหม่!ราชบุรีดึง 'ดักลาส' คืนถิ่นร่วมเปิดอคาเดมี่. 2021-12-02. 2018-08-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180809161718/http://www.goal.com/th/%E0%B8%82%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7/%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%97%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%87-%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA-%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%A1/16fqh6sbbbyrr1abisxbjja1ho. live.
  14. News: แจ่มได้อีก! "มิตรผล สเตเดี้ยม" วางเก้าอี้สนามแบบนี้เป็นที่แรกของประเทศ!. 2017-08-08. 2017-11-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20171122164032/http://sport.sanook.com/455841/. live.
  15. Web site: Thailand – List of Champions . Ian . King . Hans . Schöggl . Karel . Stokkermans . amp . 20 March 2014 . 29 October 2014 . 16 July 2014 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20140716083045/http://rsssf.com/tablest/thaichamp.html . live . Select link to season required from chronological list.