Teerasil Dangda

At 36 years old, Teerasil Dangda has this physical status:

Teerasil Dangda (born 6 June 1988) is a Thai footballer who plays for Thai League 1 team Muangthong United and the Thailand national team, where he also serves as a team captain.

Personal life

Teerasil was born in Bangkok with parents from Amphoe Sangkha, Surin province of Northeastern Thailand. Taneekarn, his younger sister, is a member of Thailand's national football team and also plays as a striker; his father, also a footballer, served for the Royal Thai Air Force.

He married Phusita Polrak, a widow from Romania on January 9, 2016. They have two children.

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Club career

Teerasil began playing youth football for Assumption College Thonburi in 2003, aged 15. He departed the club two years later due to a lack of a professional staff (it was only established in 2011).

Teerasil joined Air Technical Training School in Thailand's Division 1 League in 2004-2005. In the same season, he made his senior debut and scored three goals in only six games for the club.

Teerasil moved to Raj Pracha in 2006, becoming the club's top offensive unit (nine goals in 18 games) and also helping with further five goals throughout the season.

Teerasil joined fellow second divisioner Muangthong United in 2007 and was a member of the squad that defeated the champions, scoring seven goals and six assists.

Teerasil was convicted in Manchester City on July 25, 2007, along with Suree Sukha and Kiatprawut Saiwaeo, after Thai businessman and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra purchased the city earlier this month. The three girls were hired with City on November 16 after a long wait for their work permits.

Teerasil was however loaned to Grasshopper, one of the city's latest alliances, after having difficulties with the work permit. After returning to City in 2008, he was still unable to play in England, and the Thai trio was released on October 16th, 2008. Despite not being included with the first team, he later said that his time in City "made him a better footballer."

Teerasil was loaned to Grasshopper alongside Suree in November, but neither team made it to a first-team appearance, with the reserves only appearing in 1. The Liga Classic is an international competition that takes place in the United States. He scored twice in six games for the reserve squad and returned to City in June 2008.

Teerasil returned to his homeland and rejoined Raj Pracha for the remainder of the season shortly after being released by City. He scored six goals in just eight games, helping the club to claim a mid-table finish during the campaign.

Teerasil was a member of the Muangthong United Kingdom in 2009. In a 3–0 home win over Thai Port on March 8, he made his Thailand Premier League debut on March 8, 2009, finishing with seven goals under his belt. Also the champions of Thailand, Muangthong was the champions of Thailand.

Teerasil matched his tally from the previous year in 2010 and was a member of the team that crowned Thailand's champions again. In 2011, he established himself as the team's top scorer, scoring 13 goals as Muangthong finished third. Teerasil was also admitted to a trial at Queens Park Rangers in July.

In 2012, Muangthong enjoyed an undefeated run that spanned the entire season, while Teerasil scored four goals in a single match, an 8–1 victory over BBCU. He scored in a 2–2 draw against BEC Tero Sasana, a goal that had been granted the title, and took his total number to 24 goals and broke Ronnachai Sayomchai's previous record of 23 goals.

Teerasil was invited by La Liga firms Atlético Madrid and Getafe CF for a trial in January 2013, but the former was also a fan of Trabzonspor in June, despite his impressive goal totals during the season.

Teerasil travelled to Atlético Madrid, Spain, on September 9, 2013. After finishing his first training with the Madrilenians, he later described the Spanish football as "very quick, strong, and with high quality." Teerasil was also watching from the stands as Atleti defeated Real Zaragoza over four days later, and then returned to Muangthong in February.

Teerasil's first goal of the season came from a volley against Army United on March 2nd. He scored twice in the month's 3–0 home win over Songkhla United, and his second came late in the month, and he scored again against Ratchaburi the following weekend. Teerasil netted again on May 29th, but Suphanburi lost by a 1–3 away victory. He scored twice against BEC Tero on June 23, his first hat-trick of the season came on October 5th in a 3–1 victory over Osotspa Saraburi.

Teerasil appeared in the 2013 AFC Champions League group stage against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Guangzhou Evergrande, and Urawa Red Diamonds. He had 16 goals in the league this season (21 overall).

Teerasil's season began as a second striker, working behind new signing Jay Bothroyd. He scored twice in ToT's second game of the season, a 3–0 triumph, and then a month later in a 4–1 victory at PTT Rayong. Teerasil played in 18 league games, scoring nine goals.

On July 2nd, he appeared in his last match for Muangthong, beginning with a 0–1 League Cup loss to Buriram United. Fans of Muangthong were given a farewell before the match by Teerasil.

Teerasil signed with Almera on a one-year loan agreement on February 21, making him the first Southeast Asian and Thai footballer to play in La Liga. He arrived at his new club on June 9th, surrounded by supporters in the airport.

Teerasil made his debut in the Spanish top league on August 23, 2014, swapping Fernando Soriano in the 65th minute of a 1–1 home draw against RCD Espanyol, making him the first Thai footballer to do so. He got his first start on December 5th and scored his team's second straight victory over Real Betis in the campaign's Copa del Rey.

Teerasil returned to his parent club on January 20, 2015 after an unsuccessful spell. He played a key role in Muangthong United's triumph in the 2016 Thai League and appeared to be an important player. He scored 100th goal for his team against Nakhon Ratchasima on March 11, 2017 – his 100th goal for the club this season. In addition, he scored twice against Super Power Samut Prakan to defeat Pipob On-Mo's league record of 108 goals, becoming Thailand's top league goals with 109 goals.

Teerasil joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima on December 20, 2017. In 2018, he made his official debut against Consadole Sapporo, where Chanathip Songkrasin and Jay Bothroyd played for, and Jay Bothroyd scored the winning goal for his team. In 32 league appearances for the club, he has scored 6 goals. Even though Sanfrecce wants him to play in next season, he returned to Muangthong United.

Teerasil signed with Shimizu S-Pulse in January 2020. In a 3–1 loss, he made his debut against FC Tokyo on February 22, netting a goal. He scored three goals in 24 league appearances for the club in the 2020 J1 League.

Teerasil returned to the Thai League 1 in December 2020, joining BG Pathum United F.C. Teerasil scored his first goal for BG Pathum in their 2–0 victory over Police Tero on his debut on February 6th.

International career

Teerasil played for Thailand's under-16 and under-17 teams in 2004, being a member of the team that competed in the 2004 AFC U-17 Championships. He was also named in the 2006 AFC Youth Championship's under-19 team, scoring the first two goals in Thailand's 2–1 victory over the UAE; it was Thailand's only victory of the tournament.

Teerasil appeared in 2007 for the under-23's. He was a member of the Olympic team that failed to make the final cut in 2008 before the 2008 Summer Olympics. He received the U-23 Gold Medal at the Southeast Asian Games in December 2007, defeating Myanmar as the champion. Teerasil received his first call-up to the main squad in the same year and was also drafted into the 23-man squad for the AFC Asian Cup, being the youngest of the squad. However, he appeared in the entire tournament once more, starting as a late replacement in a 1-1 draw against Iraq; the hosts then failed to advance through the knockout stages and finished third in Group A.

Teerasil was also invited to the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup, scoring four times during the tournament, losing to Vietnam. Teerasil scored his first goal in the second leg of the season, but Vietnam defeated the visitors in last minute, making the team champions. He was an ever-present figure in the international fold since October 2007, his second match being a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Macau, where he won by a score of 6–1 victory. He was a member of the triumphant squad of the 2008 T&T Cup in Vietnam.

Teerasil played regularly and scored against Australia and Oman, respectively, in Asia's 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers under the direction of a newly appointed German coach Winfried Schafer. During the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, he was the top scorer, scoring a hat-trick against Myanmar.

In the Catalans' 2013 Asian Tour in Bangkok, Teerasil won and scored a penalty for Thailand against FC Barcelona. He was called up to the national team by Surachai Jaturapong in 2013 during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification. Teerasil played a friendly match against Bahrain in October 2013 and lost 1–2 to Iran in the ensuing match.

He played for Thailand in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) against Vietnam in May 2015. He scored twice against Chinese Taipei in June 2015 in a FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) tournament.

Teerasil made history by scoring against the Philippines in the 2020 AFF Championship, defeating Noh Alam Shah's 17 goals record.

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