Salary Level Of Thai Football Pro?

[Finansjohan]

Out of curiosity, what is a typical salary for a professional footballer who plays in the Thai league? How much do the star players make?

I don't know, but perhaps my favorite and poorly performing Europan team (in the Swedish second league) could offer a nice salary increase for some talented striker?

[ThaiPauly]

Has Thailand got any talented strikers?

A few Thais went to Everton becuase of the sponsershp arangements with Chang Beer I belive ..but one has yet to hack it in the UK to my knowledge.

As for what they are paid..I belive that there are no Thai Professional teams..The Army Airforce Port Authority of Thailand or Bangkok Bank seem to be the best teams and obviously they are part -timers,,from what I can glean from the BK Post.

Does anybody no different?

[JacknDanny]

Has Thailand got any talented strikers?

A few Thais went to Everton becuase of the sponsershp arangements with Chang Beer I belive ..but one has yet to hack it in the UK to my knowledge.

As for what they are paid..I belive that there are no Thai Professional teams..The Army Airforce Port Authority of Thailand or Bangkok Bank seem to be the best teams and obviously they are part -timers,,from what I can glean from the BK Post.

Does anybody no different?

You are spot on. The best Thai footballer in recent time was 'Zico" or Kiatisuk.

He was signed for Huddersfield Town back in the 90s and never made it. So if your best player cannot get regular games for Huddersfield, then I guess you are in trouble

[Florin]

Also, a Thai athlete plying his trade in Sweden?? I very much doubt the climate would work out for him (reversed football season schedule notwithstanding)

[The Dan Sai Kid]

They wouldn't get WPs anyway. Unless they are regulars in the national side.

[Finansjohan]

Yes, 'Zico' is still scoring I read in the Bangkok Post today: Thailand beats Philippines

I've never seen any of the Thai football players in action, but it seems that the Thai national team is doing, well...ok anyway? Pretty far behind Japan or South Korea as I understand but among the better teams in some type of Asian second tier group?.

The Swedish second league is not exactly the Premier League, far from it. Similar in standard to Football League Two perhaps? Nonetheless, the better teams have fully professional footballers. Not getting rich but making a living, I am guessing ~THB 100000 per month upwards.

Maybe some of these guys could use some toughening up in Nordic climate? Famous Thai footballers

That the best Thai player didn't make it in Huddersfield sounds like a turn-off though. He plays in "Vietnam's Chelsea" I found out today: Zico's career

I think they could get work permits. All kinds of nationalities among football players in Sweden: South American, African, you name it.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

It must be a but tougher in the UK for the players to get WPs then!

[percy2]

It must be a but tougher in the UK for the players to get WPs then!

It depends on wether they play regularly for their national team.

[Spit the Dog]

I think for the average Thai football player ploughing his trade in the Thai league that the salaries are pretty low. I've heard stories that the pay system is a bit like the teaching system in that foreign players will receive a larger salary than their Thai counterparts.

Having played a bit of casual league football in Bangkok, I've met a few Africans that are looking to turn professional. Their first target is to make it in Thailand and then take the next step up and move on to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam or Indonesia. It just goes to show that the Thai league is way behind the rest of South East Asia when it comes to paying football salaries.

[bendix]

There is no professional league in Thailand. The top Thai players tend to play go to play pro in the S-League in Singapore or the Vietnam league. 4-5 of the players who beat the Flips this week play overseas professionally.

It's been interesting watching the Asean Champs this week. I think only one or two players playing have played in the UK. One of the Singapore defenders used to play for Wrexham, and one of the Philippines players was previously on Chelsea's books but is now playing semi-professionally for AFC Wimbledon (a minor league side, and not to be confused with MK Dons, the new incarnation of the Wimbledon side of the 80s and 90s).

It's hard to get a read of how good these players are. Laos looked sharp in the first half against Indonesia at the weekend, but then got humiliated 11-0 by Singapore last night. It was embarassing to watch. Singapore looked good, but then again, they had so much space that it was like a training match.

[markuk]

not sure about footy players i am sure they earn less than the other type of Thai pros's

[Finansjohan]

Thanks för the input. It seems strange to me that Thai and perhaps South-East Asian footballers overall are not doing better. I mean, people seem very interested in football and the climate is great. I guess things are just too unorganized, or organized in a way that makes it very difficult to make a living playing football.

Sweden would be the total opposite then. V-e-r-y organized but with a hostile climate.

Could be a nice experience to become a football coach for youngsters in Thailand, I imagine? Plenty of talent seeking opportunities.

[EastSaxCol]

Thanks för the input. It seems strange to me that Thai and perhaps South-East Asian footballers overall are not doing better. I mean, people seem very interested in football and the climate is great. I guess things are just too unorganized, or organized in a way that makes it very difficult to make a living playing football.

To be frank, like most ther Asian nations with the exception of Japan and Korea they're just too lightweight. Although in the future there may be one or two top Thai professionals - I hope so. I think that there are three players part of the Everton-Chang academy, for instance.

[bendix]

I agree with Happy Hammer. The average South East Asian player might look sharp, skillful and fast, but very few would have the physical presence to survive the European leagues, let alone British football. Sure there are a handful of South Koreans and Japanese playing top level football, but they are exceptions and even they are bigger than most Thais or Vietnamese.

[Prudent_rabbit]

Chelsea's books but is now playing semi-professionally for AFC Wimbledon (a minor league side, and not to be confused with MK Dons, the new incarnation of the Wimbledon side of the 80s and 90s).

Just to let people know...

In the summer of 2002, an FA Commission granted permission for a group of businessmen to relocate Wimbledon FC Ltd to Milton Keynes, 70 miles from its history, home and community. Initially devastated at the loss of their club, within a matter of weeks the supporters took a fresh approach by creating their own team. It was early inconsistency as the new squad settled which ultimately cost the Dons promotion in that inaugural season as, despite an impressive late unbeaten run, they ended up finishing third behind eventual champions Withdean 2000 and AFC Wallingford, amassing a total of 111 points.

But 2003-04 was a different story. It wasn't until January that the Dons dropped any league points, by which stage they were already well clear of AFC Wallingford and odds-on for promotion and the Combined Counties League title.

By the end of the season, the biggest question was whether the players would manage to go through the entire season unbeaten. The answer was an emphatic yes as they finished with 42 games won and just four drawn, chalking up a record 130 points and a staggering goal difference of +148.

And, to complete a fantastic Combined Counties League double, the Dons also lifted the Premier Challenge Cup, coming from behind to beat North Greenford United 4-1 at a packed Woking stadium.

The summer of 2004 saw the Dons back in the Isthmian League for the first time since 1964.

A very happy Dons (Not MK Dons) Supporter (from afar)

[bendix]

Just to let people know...

In the summer of 2002, an FA Commission granted permission for a group of businessmen to relocate Wimbledon FC Ltd to Milton Keynes, 70 miles from its history, home and community. Initially devastated at the loss of their club, within a matter of weeks the supporters took a fresh approach by creating their own team. It was early inconsistency as the new squad settled which ultimately cost the Dons promotion in that inaugural season as, despite an impressive late unbeaten run, they ended up finishing third behind eventual champions Withdean 2000 and AFC Wallingford, amassing a total of 111 points.

But 2003-04 was a different story. It wasn't until January that the Dons dropped any league points, by which stage they were already well clear of AFC Wallingford and odds-on for promotion and the Combined Counties League title.

By the end of the season, the biggest question was whether the players would manage to go through the entire season unbeaten. The answer was an emphatic yes as they finished with 42 games won and just four drawn, chalking up a record 130 points and a staggering goal difference of +148.

And, to complete a fantastic Combined Counties League double, the Dons also lifted the Premier Challenge Cup, coming from behind to beat North Greenford United 4-1 at a packed Woking stadium.

The summer of 2004 saw the Dons back in the Isthmian League for the first time since 1964.

A very happy Dons (Not MK Dons) Supporter (from afar)

Interesting. So they basically hard to start at the bottom of the various leagues again, and are now working themselves back through various levels of football?

[Spit the Dog]

I agree with Happy Hammer. The average South East Asian player might look sharp, skillful and fast, but very few would have the physical presence to survive the European leagues, let alone British football. Sure there are a handful of South Koreans and Japanese playing top level football, but they are exceptions and even they are bigger than most Thais or Vietnamese.

I also believe that Thais/Asians lack the mental strength as well as physical strength. Far to often I've played with Thais and as soon as they go a couple of goals behind they just seem to shrug the shoulders ans say "Mai bpen rai." They seem to give up the fight too quickly.

[bendix]

I also believe that Thais/Asians lack the mental strength as well as physical strength. Far to often I've played with Thais and as soon as they go a couple of goals behind they just seem to shrug the shoulders ans say "Mai bpen rai." They seem to give up the fight too quickly.

Sounds just like my team, Leeds.

[Simmo]

The work permit criteria for non-EU footballers in the EPL are tough. The player has to play regularly(I think 75% of recent games) for the national team and the national team has to be ranked in the top 50 in the world. Liverpool had trouble getting Gonzalez a permit last season as Chile had slid down the world rankings.

I doubt any Thai would qualify , nor be up for the physicality of the EPL.