The Pattaya United FC ( Thaiสโมสร ฟุตบอล พัทยา ยูไนเต็ด , RTGS Samoson Futbon Phatthaya Yunaitet ) was a football club from Thailand in the province of Chonburi , which was founded in 1987 under the name FC Coke Bangpra and 2018 in favor of Samut Prakan City FC dissolved.
The name of the association was derived from the sponsor and the community Bang Phra (บาง พระ) in the district of Si Racha in the province of Chonburi . After the club had spent years in the Provincial League of Thailand, they were promoted to the Thai Premier League in 2007 . With an 11th place at the end of the 2008 season , the league could be held without problems.
Almost immediately after the end of the season there were rumors that the club would move to Pattaya and continue to operate under a new name.
Pattaya United FC
In mid-December 2008 it became known that a company had bought shares in FC Coke-Bangpra from Coca-Cola . Ten percent remained with Coca-Cola, which will continue to be the main sponsor of the association. Pattaya United bought the first division license from Coke-Bangpra, and practically the entire club, including management, presidium and players, were completely taken over and "transferred" to Pattaya. It was the first time in the history of Thai football that a club had been taken over and moved to a different location. This type of takeover met with rejection within the Thai fan scene. The new president of the association was Sontaya Khunplome, the eldest brother of Wittaya Khunplome, president of the FC Chonburi association and Itthipol Khunplome, the incumbent mayor of the city of Pattaya .
The club started the 2009 season with big problems and received its third coach in just one season at the summer break. The season started with Pansak Ketwattha, the former coach of Coke-Bangpra . He was released in June due to unsuccessfulness and Wisoon Wichaya followed. However, this was replaced by Jadet Meelarp after only one week. Meelarp was the coach of the Chonburis championship team in 2007. The club also caused a stir in the media, as he continually complained about wrong referee decisions against himself. For example, during a game, the entire team left the field for five minutes after one of their players received a yellow-red card. In the league game against FC Sriracha , coach Jedet Meelarp used a player who was actually suspended. Instead of a point penalty for the club, only the coach was punished and had to go to the stands for the next games. Pattaya United won the game 1-0. At the end of the season it was precisely those three points that saved Pattaya United from relegation. Chonburi FC got their old coach Jedet back after the end of the 2009 season. He was succeeded by Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul . It is his first coaching position after ending his active career in 2009.
After six years in the Thai Premier League , the "Dolphins" rose in 2014 to the second division, the Thai Premier League Division 1 . In January 2015 the club was sold to Enigma Sport Ventures (ESV), the sports division of Enigma Global. It was the first change of ownership in the club's history. In 2015, the first foreign coach, Sean Luke Sainsbury from England, as well as several players from league rivals Muangthong United were signed . Also several foreign players, u. a. Lee Won-young and Milan Bubalo signed, so that the promotion to the Thai Premier League succeeded. From 2016 Pattaya United played first class again. In 2016, Pattaya United was taken over by the Kariti Thanee Group under the leadership of Tanet Phanichewa.
After the 2018 season, the decision was made to dissolve the club in November and move to Samut Prakan with its license . A new club was founded here under the name Samut Prakan City FC .
Stadion
Pattaya United played its home games at Nongprue Municipality Stadium , also known as Dolphin Stadium. Originally holding 3,000 spectators, renovation work has increased the capacity to around 5,500. The owner is the Nong Prue Municipality . After the club was dissolved, the back gate stands were dismantled again. The stadium now has a capacity of around 3,000 spectators again.
Tanet Phanichewa
Sean Luke Sainsbury
Lim Jong-heon
Miloš Joksić
Anderson Machado
Ludovick Takam
OJ Obatola
Rod Dyachenko
Soony Saad
Francisco Javier González Muñoz
Yukiya Sugita
Hikaru Minegishi
Denmark
AL Duhail SC
Juventus Turin
Center Salif Kéita
Club Aurora
