Sompong Soleb

Sompong Soleb (; born 30 July 1986), simply known as Pong is a Thai retired professional footballer who plays as a forward. He debuted for the senior Thailand national football team in 2010.

He played in the 2010 Thai League Cup final and won a winner's medal after Thai Port defeated Buriram PEA 2–1.

Back in 2004, Sompong Soleb was one of three Thais selected from over 500 player to spend a year training with Everton. The selection process was part of a reality TV show funded by Everton's main sponsor Chang Beer, with Everton's youth academy director Ray Hall helping judge the competition.

Club career

His career began with third division side Satun United In 2004, he participated in a football talent show. The main prize was a nine-month stay in the youth academy of the English club Everton Together with Rattapon Piyawuttisakun and Teerathep Winothai he won this award. In April 2005, he took part in a three weeks trial at Chester City. The club was also willing to give him a contract. but it probably came from labor reasons for any contract with the club. Back in Thailand, he played until the end of 2006 for his hometown club before he moved to Thai League 1 side Port Authority in 2007. He scored only four goals in 22 matches of the 2008 season and left to Chula United, for whom he has played ever since. In his first season, he scored nine goals for Chula.

After missing two easy chances in the game against Samut Songkhram he is known by Thai fans as "Thai Welbeck".

International career

He won the gold medal with Thailand at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games. He also played in the 2009 Southeast Asian Games. He also took part in the 2007 Summer Universiade, hosted in Thailand and won bronze. In October 2011, Sompong scored in a match against Oman in the third round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification. He also played in two AFF Cups in 2012 and 2014.

Career statistics International

Scores and results list Thailand's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Soleb goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Sompong Soleb No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1 6 September 2011 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 1–0 3–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification 2 17 November 2012 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 1–0 5–0 Friendly

Honours

Club Thai Port Thai FA Cup (1): 2009 Thai League Cup (1): 2010

Buriram Thai Division 1 League (1): 2011

International Thailand ASEAN Football Championship (1): 2014 Thailand U-23 Sea Games Image:Med 1.png Gold Medal (1); 2007