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 Chaingrai 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. Position Player 2 DF Prasittichai Perm (on loan from Sukhothai) 4 DF Kazuki Murakami 7 MF Mongkonchai Kongjumpa 8 MF Myat Kaung Khant 10 FW André Luís 11 MF Harrison 13 MF Thanat Jantaya 14 DF Sarut Sontipet 15 MF Chatchai Koomphaya 18 GK Chaiyaphat Honbanleng 19 FW Kristada Srivanich 21 MF Phumipat Kanthanet

No. Position Player 24 MF Naratorn Pornjitkittichai 25 DF Netipong Sanmahung 26 GK Kritsawat Kongkot 27 MF Wuttikrai Pathan 28 DF Parinya Utapao (Captain) 32 MF Peerawong Thaiyoo 33 FW Rafael Coelho 39 MF Loris Seree Lang 45 MF Thiraphong Yangdi 59 FW Chatri Rattanawong 69 MF Suksan Mungpao 99 GK Kittipun Saensuk (on loan from Muangthong United)

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

No. Position Player MF Surabadee Ratjarean (at Sakaeo) MF Wattana Klomjit (at Muangkan United)

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

No. Position Player 32 MF Peerawong Thaiyoo 42 DF Sirichai Sangthong 45 MF Thiraphong Yangdi 55 DF Narathon Sriboonrueng

No. Position Player 66 MF Somphot Sithisan 67 DF Thanapol Thongtueng 70 MF Anukoon Thaiyoo 77 MF Kitsarin Chinasri

• Thai League 2:

Winner: 2017

Runner-up: 2011

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

• FA Cup
  • Champions: 2016