Chainat Hornbill F.C.

Chainat Hornbill Football Club is a professional football club founded in 2009 by Anucha Nakasai, a former Thai politician. The club was placed in the best management class as a result, and it has developed rapidly since its first season. In the 2009 Northern Regional Division 2 Regional League the club came third, playing 20 matches and winning 12, drawing 3 and losing 5 for a total of 39 points. Their top scorer was Sanogo Abou, with 15 goals. In 2012, the club was promoted to the top league, Thai League 1, for the first time.[1]

Florent Sinama Pongolle is the club's all-time top scorer (33)

In 2017, Anucha Nakasai announced the appointment of Dennis Amato as the new head coach of the club.[2]

In October 2017, the club came first in Thai League 2 with 67 points[3] and was promoted to Thai League 1.

After Chainat Hornbill's promotion to the top tier of Thai football, Amato briefly left the club to take up a role as a director of football at Ang Thong.[4] The club announced the appointment of Drago Mamić as the new head coach of the club but Mamić left the club for personal reasons.[5] However, Amato return to Chainat again, but was faced with many problems, including a squad with a limited number of players, and strict financial constraints.[6]

In 2018, after a win against defending FA Cup champions Chiangrai United, the Hornbills defeated the defending Thai League 1 champions Buriram United 1-0 at the Chang Arena, which was the first time that Buriram United had failed to win a league game on their own home ground since the return of Bozidar Bandovic as coach.[7] In the 2018 season, the club became well-known as "giant-killing." (Thai: จอมล้มยักษ์).[8] Under Amato's management, the Hornbills play a style of football based on maintaining possession, and trying to win the ball back after losing it, instead of regrouping into a defensive position.[9][10]

In 2019, the Hornbills beat many Thai League 1 giants. In a home game at Khao Plong Stadium they beat Muangthong United 3-0, won against Bangkok United with a score of 21, and beat Buriram United 2-1.

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 Sumethee Khokpho 2 DF  THA Apichok Srirawong 3 DF  THA Warinthon Chamnongwat 4 DF  THA Keeratikorn Nilmart 5 DF  TRI Daneil Cyrus 6 DF  BRA Wellington Priori 7 MF  THA Mongkonchai Kongjumpa 8 MF  THA Naruephon Phoomimas 10 MF  THA Chatchai Koomphaya 11 FW  BRA Douglas 13 FW  THA Padsakorn Sripudpong 14 MF  THA Thanayut Jittabud 18 MF  THA Kitti Kinnokok 19 FW  THA Kristada Srivanich 21 MF  THA Poomipat Kanthanet 22 MF  THA Håvar Dahl 24 MF  THA Pasin Horyingsawad 26 GK  THA Kritsawat Kongkot 30 MF  THA Chatuphum Kaewklang

No. Pos. Nation Player 31 MF  THA Anuwat Noicheunphan (Captain) 33 MF  THA Nonthawat Rak-ok 34 DF  THA Pharanyu Uppala 36 MF  THA Arthit Huay Luek 37 FW  THA Akkarapol Meesawat 39 MF  THA Tanaset Jintapaputanasiri 42 FW  THA Warayut Klomnak 45 MF  THA Thiraphong Yangdi 48 MF  THA Pongsakorn Phunsamrit 54 MF  THA Thanasorn Chantarakot 56 MF  THA Richard Gertsch 58 MF  THA Songkran Kareesor 59 GK  THA Siraset Aekprathumchai 69 MF  THA Suksan Mungpao 77 MF  OMA Badar Ali Rashid Ali Al Alawi 78 FW  THA Noppawit Petch-om 79 MF  THA Patiparnchai Pothep 88 MF  THA Nantanat Toornee 99 DF  THA Puttipong Bunyord

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  THA Surabadee Ratjarean (at Sakaeo)

• Thai League 2:

Winner: 2017

Runner-up: 2011

• Regional League Northern Division:
  • Runner-up (1): 2010

• FA Cup
  • Champions: 2016