Theerathon Bunmathan

Theerathon Bunmathan (, , ; born 6 February 1990) is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a left back for Buriram United. He has also been used as a midfielder during the later of his career.

Theerathon is the first Thai player to win the J1 League with Yokohama F. Marinos in 2019.

Club career

Buriram United Theerathon started almost every match for Buriram United during that period.Theerathon contributed to several successful seasons for Buriram United. He contributed goals and assists from set pieces. His free kick against FC Seoul in the 2013 AFC Champions League qualified Buriram to the knockout phase as groups runners-up drawing with Urawa Reds Diamonds at 10 points.. In the 2013 Thai Premier League Theerathon scored 3 goals against BEC Tero Sasana, Chonburi, and Ratchaburi Mitr Phol.

Muangthong United In May 2016, it was announced that after spending seven years with Buriram United, he would be joining arch rivals Muangthong United the following month on a five-year contract for an all-time record for the highest football transfer fee for Thai League 1 at 35 million Baht. That record was soon broken on 2 November 2016 by Tanaboon Kesarat. The transfer fee is undisclosed but it is estimated to be around 50 million Baht.

Vissel Kobe In February 2018, Theerathon was on loan to play in the J.League 1 club, Vissel Kobe for the remainder of the 2018 season, where he played alongside players including Lucas Podolski, David Villa, and Andres Iniesta.

Yokohama F. Marinos

In January 2019, Yokohama F. Marinos reached an agreement on loan to Theerathon from Muangthong United to play for the 2019 season. Hereafter, in March 2019, he started his first league match for the club in the match in which Yokohama opened the home match against former rival, Kawasaki Frontale with scores ended up in a 2–2 draw.

Later, in July 2019, Theerathon was named the J.League's Best Team of the Week after which he helped the team to beat Vissel Kobe, his former team with a score of 2–0. On 31 August 2019, Theerathon scored the first goal in the league and in the name of the club helped Yokohama defeat Gamba Osaka with a score of 3–1 and on 7 December 2019, the season-ending match of J.League Theerathon scored 1 goal and assists, helping Yokohama opens the house 3–0 defeat to FC Tokyo becoming the first Thai player to win the J.League title.

In December 2019, Theerathon signed a permanent contract with Yokohama F. Marinos, making him a permanent Yokohama F. Marinos player from December 2019. At the end of season 2020, Theerathon has been selected from the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) to be the first XI in AFC men team of the year 2020 alongside Takumi Minamino, Son Heung-min and Sardar Azmoun and is the only player in Southeast Asia in this best XI.

Buriram United In December 2021, after 4 years in Japan, Theerathon returned home to re-joined his former club Buriram United. He was also named in the 26-man squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.

International career

Theerathon played against Saudi Arabia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification and received a red card in the 90th minute. After that match he went to Indonesia to play for Thailand U-23 in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games. He was Thailand U-23's starter and received an early yellow card, followed by a second one a few minutes after which resulted in a red card, thus becoming the first player in Thai football to get two red cards in three days.

Theerathon's scored a penalty in a friendly match against Laos. His second international goal is a rebound from Jakkraphan Pornsai's free kick. He was a regular starter during the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup forming an effective partnership on the left flank with Anucha Kitpongsri.

He represented Thailand U-23 at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games, and is selected as captain for the tournament.

In May 2015, he captained Thailand to play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification against Vietnam.

In December 2018, Bunmathan was called up for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. In January 2024, he was named in the 26-man squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar. He earned his 100th cap with the national team against Oman in the second group stage match of the Asian tournament.

Style of play A versatile defender, Theerathon regularly plays as a left-back, and sometimes he has been deployed as a centre-back, central midfielder, and left midfielder. Primarily a left-back, Theerathon Bunmathan has also been deployed in central defence and midfield roles, contributing to both defensive and attacking phases of play through his passing and involvement in set pieces. Theerathon regularly takes set pieces, including free kicks and corners. Theerathon has been noted for his talents being visible since a young age, and he has been singled out for his mentality, consistency, and leadership.

Personal life On 24 May 2016, Theerathon married Chatrakamol Muangman in a traditional ceremony. The wedding was attended by many teammates and staff from the teams for which Theerathon had played.

Career statistics Club

International

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

+ List of international goals scored by Theerathon BunmathanNo.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition 1 12 September 2012 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 4 2–1 2–1 Friendly 2 13 December 2012 Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 11 2–0 2–0 2012 AFF Championship 3 8 September 2015 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 21 1–2 2–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 4 9 October 2015 22 1–0 1–0 Friendly 5 13 October 2015 Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam 23 3–0 3–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification 6 8 December 2016 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand 38 2–0 4–0 2016 AFF Championship 7 10 September 2019 Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia 58 2–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification 8 16 January 2023 Thammasat Stadium, Pathum Thani, Thailand 81 1–0 1–0 2022 AFF Championship 9 13 November 2025 96 2–1 3–2 Friendly

Honours

Club Buriram United Thai League 1 (9): 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26 Thai FA Cup (8): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25, 2025–26 Thai League Cup (7): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25 Toyota Premier Cup (3): 2012, 2014, 2016 Kor Royal Cup (4): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Mekong Club Championship: 2015 ASEAN Club Championship (2): 2024–25, 2025–26

Muangthong United Thai League 1: 2016 Thai League Cup (2): 2016, 2017 Thailand Champions Cup: 2017 Mekong Club Championship: 2017

Yokohama F. Marinos J1 League: 2019

International Thailand U-23 Sea Games File:Med 1.png Gold Medal: 2013

Thailand AFF Championship (3): 2016, 2020, 2022 King's Cup (2): 2016, 2017

Individual AFF Championship Most Valuable Player: 2022 AFF Championship Best XI: 2012, 2022 AFF Championship All-time XI ASEAN Football Federation Best XI: 2013 Thai League Best XI: 2021–22, 2023–24 , 2025–26 Thai Premier League/Thai League 1 Player of the Month: October 2013, February 2022 Thai League Best XI Mid-Season: 2024–25 ASEAN Club Championship: Allstar XI 2024–25 , 2025–26 AFC Champions League Dream Team: 2013 Thai League 1 Player of the Year: 2013, 2021–22, 2025–26 IFFHS AFC Man Team of the Year: 2020

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