Nakhon Ratchasima F.C.

Nakhon Ratchasima
นครราชสีมา เอฟซี

Full name	Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda Football Club สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดนครราชสีมา
Nickname(s)	The Swat Cats (เจ้าแมวพิฆาต)
Short name	NRMFC
Founded	1999(1999)
Ground	80th Birthday Stadium Nakhon Ratchasima,Thailand
Capacity	25,000
Chairman	Wacharapon Tomornsak
Head coach	Teerasak Po-on
League	Thai League 1
2023–24	Thai League 2,1st(promoted)
Home colours Away colours

Active departments of Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Football	Futsal	Volleyball
Volleyball (Women's)

Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda Football Club(Thaiสโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดนครราชสีมา), commonly known asKorat,is a Thai professionalfootballclub based in the province ofNakhon Ratchasima,Thailand.They compete in theThai League 2,the second level of theThai football league system,but will compete in theThai League 1in the2024–25 season,following promotion from the2023–24 Thai League 2as champions.

The clubs has won the 2014Thai League 2and2023–24 Thai League 2title as champions.

History

1999–2008: Beginnings

Nakhon Ratchasima were formed in 1999. After spending fourteen-years of their history inProvincial Leagueof theThai Football League,this big club won promotion toThai Division 1 Leaguein 2011.

Season	League	Position	Notes
99–00	Provincial League	10th	Inaugural Provincial League season. 12 teams in the division.
2001	Provincial League	10th	12 teams in the division
2002	Provincial LeagueGroup 1	4th	6 teams in the division. Provincial League is divided into two groups of six with the top three from each group forming a final group of six.
2003	Provincial League	6th	12 teams in the division
2004	Provincial League	7th	10 teams in the division
2005	Provincial League	6th	12 teams in the division
2006	Professional League	10th	16 teams in the division. A new league set up by theSATto be in direct competition with the FAT'sThai Premier League.

Since seasons 2007 are covered in detail below.

In 2007, despite finishing fourth from bottom in a twelve-team division(in Division 1),'Korat' were relegated to the newly formed third tier of the Thai football pyramid because of league restructuring.

The Division Two years

In 2008, Korat finished fourth in the now defunctDivision 2 Group A.Korat started the season slowly but embarked on a five-game winning streak in the middle third of the season which gave them a chance of promotion. However, a disappointing run-in meant that Korat eventually finished fourth.

In 2009, Korat finished second in the inauguralDivision 2 Northeast.Despite leading the division for most of the season, they slipped to second on the final day as they drew 1–1 at home withNakhon Phanom FCwhilst title rivalsLoei CitybeatChaiyaphum United1–0 meaning that Loei took the title and the sole promotion play-offs spot on the final day of the season. Korat also reached the quarter-finals of theFA Cup(the only Regional League side to make it to that stage) but lost toTPLsideThai Port FC.

In 2010, the club finished fourth in the expanded16-team Northeast Division.Another high finish but they were far behind the top two of Loei and Buriram. Head coach Mann Jantanarm resigned after the 4–0 away defeat toBuriram F.C.and was replaced by a member of the backroom staff, Vichan Cha-on Sri. Despite a successful FA Cup run in 2009, the club fell at the first hurdle in the2010 competitionas they lost 2–1 away atF.C. Phuket.They were slightly more successful in the relaunchedLeague Cup.Loei City were beaten 3–1 at the 80th Birthday Stadium in the preliminary round. This set up a first round proper clash with TPL sideSamut Songkhram F.C.to be played over two legs. A good first leg performance saw Korat go down just 1–0 to opponents ranked two divisions higher. In the second leg, however, Korat lost 7–0 as the class of the opposition finally told.

The 2011 seasonsaw the club more than make up for the disappointment of 2009. Under the guidance of a new president, Phollapee Suwanchawee, and a new coach, Tewet Kamolsin, the team achieved promotion. Midway through the season, the club was docked nine points for fielding an ineligible player (goalkeeper Kiattisak Lertwilai).Despite the deduction, and thanks to the re-signing of Prompong Kransumrong,the side recovered from the penalty and clinched a place in the end-of-season play-offs (the'Champions League') by defeatingMahasarakham1–0 on the final day of the season.Nakhon Ratchasima were placed in Group B of the Champions League along with fellow Isaan sideRoiet,Rayong,Krabi,LamphunandNorth Bangkok.This time, Korat were the beneficiaries of a points deduction. After losing 2–1 to Roiet in their first Champions League match, Korat were awarded all three points as Roiet fielded six foreign players – one more than is allowed. Korat went on to win seven, draw one and lose two of their Champions League matches, and finished top of the group on 22 points. As such, promotion to 2012 TPL Division 1 was secured along with runners-up Krabi, andRatchaburiandPattalungfrom Group A.

The Division One years and promotion

Korat's first season back in the second tier ended with an eighth-place finish in2012.Head coach Tewet Kamolsin was sacked in May 2012 and replaced by BrazilianReuther Moreira.He too was released by the club after the season finished and was replaced byArjhan Srong-ngamsub.

Crests history

The original club crest was a giant cat or it called in their area as theKoratcat that originating in Thailand, it is named after the Nakhon Ratchasima province (typically called "Korat" by the Thai people. In Thailand, the breed is known as Si-Sawat, meaning "colour of the sawat seed" and this Si-Sawat became a nickname of the clubThe Swat Cats.The Korat is known colloquially as the "good luck cat". Traditionally, they are given in pairs to newlyweds or people who are highly esteemed, for good luck. Until recently, Korats were not sold, but only given as gifts.

The new badge was approved by board in 2016 and was introduced in the 2017 season. It was designed by Farmgroup a design consultancy based in Bangkok.

Stadium

A full main stand: Nakhon Ratchasima vRoiet Unitedin 2011

Korat play in the80th Birthday Stadiumwhich was the main stadium for the2007 SEA Games.Korat moved to the stadium in the middle of the 2008 season having previously played at the city'sCentral Stadium.They also played home games in the town ofPak Chongwhen the Central Stadium was being renovated for the SEA Games during the 2007 season. The club originally played at the Suranaree Base Central Stadium close to Nakhon Ratchasima city centre. This was their main home stadium from 1999 to 2006, although they occasionally played at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University Stadium andSuranaree University of Technologystadium during this period.

Coordinates	Location	Stadium	Capacity	Year
14°42′59″N101°26′40″E	Nakhon Ratchasima	Pak Chong Municipal Stadium	N/A	2007
14°59′21″N102°06′40″E	Nakhon Ratchasima	Nakhon Ratchasima Municipal Stadium	2,000	2008
14°55′38″N102°02′56″E	Nakhon Ratchasima	80th Birthday Stadium	25,000	2009–present

Supporters

Fans of Nakhon Ratchasima

Despitethe city of Korathaving a population in excess of 400,000 andNakhon Ratchasima Provincehaving a population in excess of 2.5 million, Korat struggled to attract more than 400 for most home games throughout their history. This situation was addressed in the 2009 season as Division 2 was relaunched as the Regional League. Korat were now playing in a division composed solely of other clubs from Issan. The club was extensively promoted and publicized around the city with the result that attendances have been in excess of 1,000 since just 258 turned up to watch the match againstRoi Et FCin May 2009. Some 4,500 were in attendance for Korat's home game with Nakhon Phanom in September 2009, and the matches against Loei, Pattaya United and Sakhon Nakhon were also watched by crowds in excess of 3,000.

Attendances rose again throughout the 2011 promotion season. They peaked in the final play-off match against Roiet when around 13,000 witnessed a 1–0 win on 17 December 2011.

Season by season domestic record

Season	League									FA Cup	League Cup	AFC Champions League	Top scorer
	Division	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pos				Name	Goals
2007	DIV 1	22	7	7	8	27	25	28	9th	–	–	–	—	—
2008	DIV 2	20	9	4	7	36	19	31	4th	–	–	–	—	—
2009	DIV 2 Northeast	20	12	7	1	50	21	43	2nd	QF	–	–	—	—
2010	DIV 2 Northeast	30	14	9	7	51	37	51	4th	R1	R1	–	—	—
2011	DIV 2 Northeast	30	18	8	4*	62	25	60*	3rd	R1	R1	–	—	—
2012	DIV 1	34	12	10	12	31	43	47	8th	R4	R2	–	Promphong Kransumrong	16
2013	DIV 1	34	15	9	10	49	35	54	5th	R3	SF	–	Yusuke Kato	14
2014	DIV 1	34	19	11	4	56	27	68	1st	R4	SF	–	Ivan Bošković	18
2015	TPL	34	13	10	11	37	43	49	8th	R3	R3	–	Björn Lindemann	7
2016	TL	31	10	5	16	30	44	35	11th	R1	R2	–	Marco Tagbajumi	9
2017	T1	34	10	11	13	42	48	41	12th	R2	R1	–	Paulo Rangel	11
2018	T1	34	13	8	13	36	44	47	7th	R1	SF	–	Leandro Assumpção	7
2019	T1	30	9	7	14	45	57	34	13th	QF	R1	–	Leandro Assumpção	15
2020–21	T1	30	11	9	10	40	41	42	9th	R1	–	–	Dennis Murillo	21
2021–22	T1	30	10	7	13	33	47	37	9th	RU	R1	–	Kwame Karikari	13
2022–23	T1	30	7	8	15	31	53	29	14th	QF	R1	–	Tyronne del Pino	7
2023–24	T2	34	21	10	3	64	27	73	1st	R1	QF	–	Deyvison Fernandes	22
2024–25	T1										R1	–

Champions

Runners-up

Third place

Promoted

Relegated

• P = Played
• W = Games won
• D = Games drawn
• L = Games lost
• F = Goals for
• A = Goals against
• Pts = Points
• Pos = Final position
• N/A = No answer

• TL =Thai League 1

• QR1 = First Qualifying Round
• QR2 = Second Qualifying Round
• QR3 = Third Qualifying Round
• QR4 = Fourth Qualifying Round
• RInt = Intermediate Round
• R1 = Round 1
• R2 = Round 2
• R3 = Round 3

• R4 = Round 4
• R5 = Round 5
• R6 = Round 6
• GR = Group stage
• QF = Quarter-finals
• SF = Semi-finals
• RU = Runners-up
• S = Shared
• W = Winners

Players

Current squad

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	THA	Patcharapong Prathumma
4	MF	THA	Somkiat Kunmee
5	DF	THA	Watcharin Nuengprakaew
6	DF	KOR	Lee Jong-Cheon
7	FW	FRA	Greg Houla
8	MF	THA	Weerawat Jiraphaksiri
10	FW	BRA	Deyvison Fernandes
11	FW	THA	Siam Yapp(on loan fromBuriram United)
15	DF	THA	Woraphob Thaweesuk
16	DF	THA	Anthonio Sanjairag
17	FW	THA	Phiraphat Khamphaeng
19	MF	THA	Suphawit Romphopak
21	MF	THA	Nattawut Jaroenboot
22	MF	THA	Anurak Mungdee

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
23	FW	BRA	Dennis Murillo
24	DF	THA	Prasittichai Perm
25	GK	THA	Narongsak Naengwongsa
29	MF	AUS	Nick Ansell
30	MF	THA	Nattanan Biesamrit
31	FW	THA	Pinnawat Promsawang
33	MF	THA	Thanin Plodkeaw
35	GK	THA	Sorawit Srifah
36	GK	THA	Tanachai Noorach
37	DF	THA	Nattapong Sayriya(Captain)
44	MF	THA	Peerapat Phonsawang
47	DF	THA	Narongsak Phetnok
48	FW	THA	Rattasat Bangsungnoen
92	DF	THA	Thanison Paibulkijcharoen(on loan fromBuriram United)

Out on loan

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
5	DF	THA	Bunyarit Srinam

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
31	FW	THA	Kittisak Roekyamdee
50	FW	THA	Watcharin Pinairam

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Team Manager	Methi Tweekulkan
Head Coach	Teerasak Po-on
Assistant Coach	Jakkraphong Yaito Nantawat Panthong Alongkorn Thong-am
Goalkeeper Coach	Watcharapong Klahan
Fitness Coach	Wanchalerm Tothong
Team Doctor	Chunrat Worakroburi
Sports Scientist	Kamonthon Klangnok Songwit Kanarak Phurich Srisuk
General Coordination Officer	Naphat Lekklang
Photographer	Prajak Oadjanthuek
Team Staff	Boonsak Keskesorn Suchet Sathanasaophak

Coaches

• Man Chantanam2007 –2009
• Wichan Chaonsri2009 –2010
• Tewesh Kamolsin2010 –2011
• Arjhan Srong-ngamsub2012 –2013
• Reuther Moreira2013
• Sugao Kambe2013 –2016
• Miloš Joksić2016 –2019
• Chalermwoot Sa-ngapol2019
• Teerasak Po-on2019 –2022
• Kevin Blackwell2022 –2023
• Teerasak Po-on2023 –present

Honours

Domestic leagues

• Thai League 2
  • Winners (2):2014,2023–24

Domestic Cups

• FA Cup
  • Runners-up (1):2021–22

External links

• Official website(in Thai)
• https:// facebook /swatcatofficial/