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Buriram United: Inside The Thai Giants’ Unprecedented Run of Success

If you look out into the horizon from Buriram Castle complex, you can see Chang Arena. The two are only 450 meters apart.

There is a model of the ‘Phanom Rung’ temple containing intricate lintels and coarse-textured stones that are nestled amongst the background of the stadium. Alongside the temple, the complex holds a spa, a shopping center, restaurants and other amenities.

During the evening, the glamor of the bustling area is accentuated.

Thai architecture is a prominent feature of the Buriram province in Thailand. Chang Arena, home of Buriram United, has been nicknamed the ‘Thunder Castle’ or ‘fifth castle’ in the province. 

There will be a historic celebration at this supposed ‘fifth castle’ on May 26th. Buriram United has clinched the club’s third consecutive league title. 

There are serious hopes of completing a domestic double. Buriram United is also in the semi-final of the Thai League Cup. 

The club is in the midst of a gilt-edged era.

Buriram United is unbeaten over the last eleven consecutive matches. Six of those matches have been played at their infamous home stadium, Chang Arena.

Winter signing Jefferson Tabinas is amazed at the atmosphere in the home ground. He claims it is something he has never experienced throughout his playing career in Japan.

“I never experienced this in Japan,” Tabinas says. “One, two teams in Japan have this crazy, huge, and big stadium. But, in Buriram the fans are always coming to every game. It is almost full every game. They really enjoy the moment when they are in the stadium. I feel that vibes. This is good for me to feel that.”

Chang Arena has a capacity of 32,600. There is minimal space between the stands and the pitch.

A cliche of the fans hounding on top of the players would feel fitting. This does seem like an apt description though.

Heightened expectations are surrounding the club amongst the supporters, front office and the players.

“For me it was a big opportunity to come to the biggest club in Southeast Asia,” Tabinas says. “I was in JLeague 2. I had a chance to go to JLeague 1, but the offer was not really the one I wanted. I was trying to do better in JLeague 2 so that I can have more good offers from J League 1, but it didn’t happen.”

“Buriram United gave me a good offer. I was so interested to go to Southeast Asia because a lot of Filipino players play there.”

Tabinas is of Filipino descent through his mother, Ghanaian descent from his father and was born in Tokyo, Japan. 

He chose to represent the Philippines national team and made his debut for the country on June 7th, 2021 in a 2022 World Cup qualifying match against China.

“It was a good moment for me,” Tabinas says. “My mother is from a small island in the Philippines. Everybody was watching the game. I loved that moment.”

There are eight foreign players on the squad or players that do not have any Filipino heritage. The manager, Jorginho, is Brazilian. He had a robust playing career and played for Bayern Munich for three seasons. 

For the Brazilian national team, he was an assistant manager alongside the legendary Dunga. At the club level, he also managed Brazilian giants Vasco da Gama in three separate stints. 

Jorginho was appointed manager of Buriram United on March 25th, 2024. During the eight matches he has been at the helm, he is averaging 2.50 points per match. Although this is a small sample size, being unbeaten throughout the first eight matches of your managerial career appears to be a dream start. 

Six wins and two draws is an impressive beginning.

During this unbeaten run, Jorginho has been flexible tactically. He has opted for three at the back, in a 3-5-2 formation or a 3-4-3 formation. In a 3-1 win against Muangthong United on April 27th, he decided on a 4-4-2 formation. His preferred formation throughout his managerial career seems to be a 4-2-3-1.

Tabinas is enjoying playing as a center back or a left back in the manager’s system.

“I am having a very, very good experience!” Tabinas re-emphasized. “He talks loud, he motivates us, it is really professional. I really enjoy this moment working with Jorginho.”

As for his teammates, he is surrounded with quality players in comparison to the rest of the league. Buriram United is rated the most valuable team in the league with a total market value of €10.98 million, according to Transfermarkt. The total value of all the players in the league is €75.50 million. Buriram United practically has close to a 1/7th of the player league value across the league.

There are sixteen teams in the league. Twelve of those teams fall below an estimated squad value of €5 million.

Tabinas appreciates the quality of his team.

“All of my teammates have the number one quality in Thailand,” Tabinas says. “This means it is the number one quality in Southeast Asia. I am really happy with them. I enjoy my football here.”

Their perceived biggest star is Supachai Chaided, a Thailand native and national team player. He has scored 17 goals and notched seven assists in 27 appearances in Thai League 1 this season with two matches left to play. 

He is recognized as one of the stars of the national team. Fans hope Chaided can lead a new era that puts Thai football amongst the elite in Asia.

Alongside their domestic success, the club is aiming for more success in the Asian Champions League as the next step. 

Supachai made five appearances in the ACL this season, but failed to get any goal contributions. 

Tabinas was unable to make appearances in the ACL with his former club Kawasaki Frontale. He is hoping to get his opportunity to play in the competition next season.

“When I was in Japan, I was in Kawasaki and I experienced the Asian Champions League,” Tabinas says. “I couldn’t play there. So my next target is to play in the Asian Champions League and show my quality.”

The club has ambition to achieve more on a collective level. Their owner Newin Chidchob has helped create jobs for the local economy through the stadium. He is revered amongst the locals due to the economic boost his facilities have given to people.

Tabinas is impressed with the facilities, too.

“The facilities are top,” Tabinas says. “We train in Chang Arena and another old stadium. When we are away like three days before we travel to Bangkok and then we have a really good facility in Bangkok. Training center, training ground, and gym so we have more advantage than another team. This is a top facility.”

The club’s main focus for now is winning their last two matches in Thai League 1. And, securing  the Thai FA Cup.

Buriram United has begun to cement their dominance on a domestic level. The club seems ready to seek even greater success on a continental level over the next years to come.





Author

  • Jaden Dakwa

    I am a sports journalist and I have been writing about football since 2021. Sports, in general, have been a passion of mine since a young age. The Gunners in North London are definitely my favorite team, but I have overwhelming love for the sport of football as a whole. In that aspect of my life, not much has changed.

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