Ratchaburi F.C.
3ms
Ratchaburi Football Club, known as The Dragons, is a Thai professional football club based in Ratchaburi province, currently competing in Thai League 1, the nation's top flight.
Founded in 2004, Ratchaburi quickly ascended, winning the Thailand Division 2 League in 2006 and earning promotion to Division 1. Despite a challenging start in the 2007 season, the club persevered. By 2010, under the stewardship of the Nitikarnchana family, the club began a remarkable turnaround. A league title in the Central-East Division in 2011 paved the way for promotion to Division 1.
The 2012 season marked a significant year. Now known as Ratchaburi Mitr Phol, the club reached the Thai League Cup final, a memorable occasion despite a loss to Buriram United. More importantly, they clinched the 2012 Thai Division 1 League title, securing their place in the top tier.
Their debut in the top flight was a test, finishing 15th in 2013. However, a league expansion saw them remain, and the following season, with former Girona manager Ricardo Rodríguez at the helm, The Dragons soared to an impressive 4th place.
In 2015, the club embarked on a new chapter, beginning construction of their own stadium, Mitr Phol Stadium, which opened in 2016. That same year, following the tragic passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the FA Cup season concluded with Ratchaburi sharing the title. They finished the league in a respectable 6th place.
The years that followed saw continued progress. Under Pacheta, the team finished 6th again in 2017 and reached the League Cup semi-finals. While 2018 presented a challenge with a mid-table finish, 2019 was historic, as Ratchaburi reached the Thai FA Cup final for the first time, ultimately finishing as runners-up.
A major milestone was achieved in 2021 with their debut in the AFC Champions League. They secured their first-ever points in the tournament with a goalless draw against Pohang Steelers. In 2022, the club transitioned back to its original name, Ratchaburi, following the end of their long-standing sponsorship with Mitr Phol.
The Dragons continue to compete at the highest level, recently qualifying for the AFC Champions League Two for the 2025-26 season, reaching the Round of 16.
Beyond the first team, Ratchaburi is committed to youth development, opening The Dragons Academy in 2016 and appointing former player Douglas Cardozo to lead youth development.
Their home ground, the Dragon Solar Park, built in 2016, stands as a testament to their growth and ambition.
Ratchaburi Football Club (Thai: สโมสรฟุตบอลจังหวัดราชบุรี), is a Thai professional football club based in Ratchaburi province that currently plays in Thai League 1. The top tier league in Thailand. Ratchaburi has the nickname The Dragons which can be seen in the club official crest.
== History ==
=== Establishment and early years ===
Ratchaburi Football Club was founded in 2004 and then joined 2006 Thailand Division 2 League. Ratchaburi able to win the Thailand Division 2 League title, get the right to compete in the 2007 Thailand League Division 1.
The 2007 League Division 1 season has a total of 24 teams participating in the competition, divided into 2 groups, 12 teams each and at the end of the competition, the top five of each group will be relegated to the competition. Thai League Division 2, the club did not perform very well, finished the season with the last place in the group A table.
In 2008, Ratchaburi finished in seventh place out of the 11 participating teams, causing the team to relegate, but due to the Football Association of Thailand reshaping the competition in the season 2009 makes Ratchaburi continue to compete in the Thai League Division 2
2009 Regional League Division 2 is the first season to compete in a 5-region zone system, Ratchaburi Football Club is organized in the Central and Eastern region. The club finished the season with 9th place out of 12 participating teams.
=== Dragon's breath ===
In 2010, the Nitikarnchana family decided to take over Ratchaburi Football Club, which was then in the Regional League Division 2. In 201, the club won the Central-East Division before earning promotion to Division 1 after winning Group A of the Division 2 playoffs.
Prior to the 2012 season, Ratchaburi was sponsored by the Mitr Phol Group and announced the change of the club's name to Ratchaburi Mitr Phol, with Sorraaut Klinprathum as the club's president, Boonying Nitikarnchana as the club's vice president and Thanawat Nitikarnchana is the team manager while taking the helms is Somchai Maiwilai as the club head coach.
Whilst in Division 1, Ratchaburi made it to the 2012 Thai League Cup final where they lost 4–1 to Buriram United. The final was most remembered for the farcical circumstances that Ratchaburi faced as they didn't have any substitutes on the bench due to having several ineligible loanees from opponents Buriram United. Ratchaburi never stood a chance as Buriram won the final at a canter.
=== Promotion to the top flight ===
In the following season, Ratchaburi flew through the 2012 Thai Division 1 League winning the title on their way to the top flight league.
In the first season of the Ratchaburi in top-tier league is considered unsuccessful, ranked 15th out of the total of 18 teams, but due to the problem of scrambling for the rights of the team between Sisaket and Esan United escalate, The Thai League company decided to increase the top 20 teams in TPL, resulting in the Thai Premier League competition in 2013 season, there was only one relegation team, Pattaya United (17th place).
In 2014 season, Ratchaburi reacted by appointing former Girona manager Ricardo Rodríguez as their new manager for the new 2014 Thai Premier League season. The Dragons finished comfortably in 4th place.
=== Move to Mitr Phol Stadium and recent years ===
After participating in the top league for 3 years, Ratchaburi Mitr Phol has a project to build its own football stadium. The stadium started construction in 2015 and opened for the first time in mid-2016. In 2016 the club moved to new ground, Mitr Phol Stadium and the club appointed Robert Procureur as the club first technical director.
In 2016, Following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Football Association of Thailand cancelled the remaining league and cup season on 14 October 2016, with three rounds remaining. Ratchaburi then was announced as the 2016 Thai FA Cup champions where the title was shared among Chainat Hornbill, Chonburi and Sukhothai who was then in the semi-finals. Ratchaburi then finished the league in 6th place.
In the 2017 season, Ratchaburi continued to progress under Pacheta's stewardship, and with a team containing half blood players Philip Roller and Kevin Deeromram reached league finish as 6th place as well as reaching the semi-final of the League Cup losing 0–1 to Chiangrai United at Supachalasai Stadium.
In the 2018 season, a dismal run of form saw the team slip to the bottom of the league table. Ratchaburi finished the season in 12th place with 43 points, they were one point adrift from safety.
In the 2019 season, after beating Buriram United in the semi-final, Ratchaburi reached the 2019 Thai FA Cup final for the first time in their history. In the final, played at the Leo Stadium, Ratchaburi lost to Port 1–0, with a goal by Sergio Suárez scored in second half. Ratchaburi made it becoming the runner-up of the competition.
=== AFC Champions League debut ===
In 2021, Ratchaburi qualified to 2021 AFC Champions League for the first time in club history after finishing the position in top four in the 2020–21 season. Ratchaburi was then placed in group G alongside South Korean Pohang Steelers, Japanese club Nagoya Grampus and Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim. On 4 July 2021, the club then registered their first ever points in the tournament after a goalless draw against Pohang Steelers.
In 2022, Ratchaburi ended their 10-years sponsorship with Mitr Phol where the club name was shorten back to Ratchaburi. The club stadium has also renamed to Dragon Solar Park after the solar panel manufacturing company Dragon Solar.
==== AFC Champions League Two knockout stage ====
Ratchaburi ended the 2024–25 Thai League 1 in fourth place which then sees the team qualified to the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two. In the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two, Ratchaburi finished the group stage as runners-up thus qualifying to the round of 16 facing off against Indonesian club Persib Bandung.
== Academy development ==
Ratchaburi opened its first youth academies in 2016 under the name The Dragons Academy. In 2017, Ratchaburi have appointed former player Douglas Cardozo as the club head of youth development.
== Stadium ==
From 2007 to 2016, the club used Ratchaburi Provincial Stadium owned by the city council as their home ground. In June 2016, the club built Dragon Solar Park in the town of Huai Phai, Ratchaburi Province to be its new home ground and is directly owned by the club. The stadium has a capacity of 10,000 seats.
== Players ==
=== First-team squad ===
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
=== Out on loan ===
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
== Management and staff ==
== Honours ==
=== League ===
Thai League 3
Champions (1): 2012
Thai League 4
Champions (1): 2011
Regional League Central-East Division
Champions (1): 2011
=== Cups ===
League Cup
Runners-up (1): 2012, 2013
FA Cup
Winners (1): 2016
Runners-up (1): 2019
== Player records ==
As of 22 January 2026.
Biggest wins: 8–1 vs Customs Ladkrabang United (27 October 2021)
Heaviest defeats: 0–6 vs Buriram United (8 December 2024)
Youngest goal scorers: Phongsakon Sangkasopha ~ 18 years 1 month 1 day old (On 20 November 2024 vs Bankhai United)
Oldest goal scorers: Douglas Cardozo ~ 40 years 7 months 17 days old (On 2 November 2022 vs Warin Chamrap)
Youngest ever debutant: Pichaya Chaiwarangkun ~ 16 years 7 months 28 days old (On 7 April 2019 vs Chiangrai United)
Oldest ever player: Douglas Cardozo ~ 41 years 7 months 11 days old (On 7 May 2023 vs Buriram United)
== Former players ==
=== International capped players ===
== Managerial history ==
== Season-by-season record ==
== Continental record ==
== References ==
== External links ==
Ratchaburi F.C. on Facebook
Home
Languages