Teerasil Dangda

Teerasil Dangda (ธีรศิลป์ แดงดา, ; born 6 June 1988) is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a striker for Thai League club BG Pathum United and the Thailand national team.

Teerasil has played his trade in England, Switzerland, Spain and Japan during his professional football career.

He is currently the third-highest all-time goal scorer in the Thai League 1 and the highest local all-time goal scorer in the league with 143 goals.

Early career
Teerasil started his football career playing youth football for Assumption College Thonburi in 2003, aged 15. Two years later he left the club, due to the lack of a professional team (it was only founded in 2011). In the 2004–2005 season, Teerasil joined Air Technical Training School in Thai Division 1 League In the same season he made his senior debut and scored three goals in only six matches for the club.

Rajpracha
In January 2006, Teerasil moved to Rajpracha, being an important offensive unit for the side, being the club's topscorer (nine goals in 18 games) and also assisting in further five goals during the campaign.

Muangthong United
In January 2007, Teerasil joined second division club Muangthong United, and was a part of the squad who was crowned champions winning the 2007 Thailand League Division 2 league title, contributing with seven goals and six assists.

Manchester City
On 25 July 2007, Teerasil was taken on a trial at English Premier League club Manchester City (alongside Suree Sukha and Kiatprawut Saiwaeo), after Thai businessman and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra bought City earlier in the month. After a long time waiting for their work permits, the trio signed with City on 16 November.

Grasshopper (loan)
However, after problems with the work permit, Teerasil was loaned to one of City's new alliances, Grasshopper. After returning to Manchester City in 2008, he was still unable to play in England, and after the takeover of Abu Dhabi United Group, the Thai trio was released on 16 October 2008. He later said that his time at City "made him a better footballer", despite not appearing with the first-team.

Teerasil was loaned to Grasshopper alongside Suree in November, but both failed to make a first-team appearance, only appearing with the reserves in 1. Liga Classic. He scored twice in six matches for the reserve squad and returned to City in June 2008.

Return to Rajpracha
Soon after being released by City, Teerasil returned to his homeland and re-joined Rajpracha on 16 October 2008 for the remainder of the season. He contributed with six goals in only eight games, helping the club to achieve a mid-table position during the campaign.

Return to Muangthong United
In January 2009, Teerasil returned to Muangthong United. On 8 March 2009, he made his Thailand Premier League debut, in a 3–0 home win over Port FC, and finished 2009 season with seven goals under his belt. He helped the club to win the 2009 Thai Premier League title.

In the 2010 season, Teerasil repeated his tally of the previous season, and was a part of the squad who was crowned champions of Thailand again. In 2011 he established himself as the club's topscorer, scoring 13 goals as Muangthong finished third. Teerasil was also invited for a trial at Queens Park Rangers in July.

In the 2012 season, Muangthong engaged an unbeaten run which lasted the whole season, and Teerasil also scored four goals in a single match, an 8–1 routing over BBCU on 18 October. Ten days later he scored in a 2–2 draw against BEC Tero Sasana, a goal which granted the title, took his tally to 24 goals and broke the previous record of Ronnachai Sayomchai in 1998 (23 goals).

Trials at La liga club
After his impressive goal tally in the season, Teerasil was invited by La Liga sides Atlético Madrid and Getafe for a trial, but as the former was a Muangthong United partner, he headed to Atletico Madrid in January 2013; he also attracted interest of Turkey club Trabzonspor in June 2013.

On 9 January 2013, Teerasil travelled to Spain for a two-week trial at Atlético Madrid. He later described the Spanish football as "very quick, strong and with great quality", after completing his first training with the Madrilenians. Teerasil also watched from the stands an Atletico Madrid win over Real Zaragoza four days later, and returned to Muangthong in February.

Teerasil's first goal of the season came from a volley on 2 March 2013 in a 2–1 success against Army United. His second came late in the month, in a 3–0 home win over Songkhla United, and he scored again in the following weekend, against Ratchaburi. After seven matches without scoring, Teerasil netted again on 29 May, but in a 1–3 away loss to Suphanburi. On 23 June he netted twice against BEC Tero, and his first hat-trick of the season came on 5 October, in a 3–1 away win over Osotspa Saraburi.

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

Teerasil started 2014 season as a second striker, playing behind new signing Jay Bothroyd. He scored twice in the second game of the season, a 3–0 win at TOT, and again roughly a month later in a 4–1 success at PTT Rayong. Teerasil appeared in 18 league matches, scoring nine goals. He played his last match for Muangthong on 2 July, starting in a 0–1 League Cup loss against Buriram United. Teerasil sent a farewell to Muangthong fans after the match.

Almería (loan)
On 21 February 2014, Teerasil signed with Spanish club Almería on a one-year loan deal, making him the first Southeast Asian and Thai footballer to play in La Liga. He arrived at his new club on 9 June, being surrounded by supporters in the airport.

Teerasil made his debut in the Spanish top level on 23 August 2014, replacing Fernando Soriano in the 65th minute of a 1–1 home draw against RCD Espanyol, thus becoming the first Thai footballer to do so. He was handed his first start on 5 December, and scored his side's second of a 4–3 away win against Real Betis, for the campaign's Copa del Rey.

Third stint at Muangthong United
On 20 January 2015, after an unsuccessful spell, Teerasil returned to his parent club. He backed to be an important part for Muangthong United and won 2016 Thai League. In the next season, he scored 100th goal for his club on 11 March 2017 against Nakhon Ratchasima. Moreover, he broke Pipob On-Mo's league record of 108 goals becoming highest league goals of Thai players with 109 goals after scored twice against Super Power Samut Prakan.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (loan)
Teerasil signed for J1 League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima on 20 December 2017. He made his official debut against Consadole Sapporo, where his former teammates Chanathip Songkrasin and Jay Bothroyd also plays for, in 2018 J1 League and scored the winning goal for his club. He has scored 6 goals in 32 league appearances for the club. He returned to Muangthong United even though Sanfrecce want him to play in next season.

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

BG Pathum United
In December 2020, Teerasil returned to the Thai League 1, signing with BG Pathum United. On his debut on 6 February 2021, Teerasil scored his first goal for BG Pathum, in their 2–0 win against Police Tero. In his fiirst season with BG Pathum, he won the 2020–21 Thai League 1 title. On 6 August 2022, BG Pathum United in a 3–2 win over Buriram United, he won the Thailand Champions Cup 2 times in a row. On 29 May 2023, BG Pathum United announced a contract renewal with Teerasil, until the end of the 2024–25 season. On 14 June 2024, Teerasil scored the winning goal late in 90+8 stoppage time to secured the club to win the 2023–24 Thai League Cup over his former club Muangthong United.

Youth
Teerasil appeared for Thailand's under-16 and under-17 squads in 2004, being a part of the squad which played at the 2004 AFC U-17 Championship. Two years later, he was also included in the under-19 squad which played at the 2006 AFC Youth Championship, scoring the first of two goals in the 2–1 win against the United Arab Emirates; it was Thailand's only victory of the tournament.

In 2007, Teerasil appeared for the under-23's. He was part of the Olympic team which failed to make the final cut ahead of 2008 Summer Olympics. In December 2007 he won the U-23 Gold Medal at the Southeast Asian Games, scoring the winner against Myanmar.

Senior
In 2007, Teerasil received his first call-up to the Thailand national team, and was also into the 23-man squad ahead of 2007 AFC Asian Cup, being the youngest of the squad. However, he only appeared once in the whole tournament, coming on as a late substitute in a 1–1 draw against Iraq; the hosts subsequently failed to progress through the knockout stages, and finished third in Group A.

Teerasil was also selected to 2008 AFF Championship; he netted four times during the tournament as Thailand finished runner-up, losing to Vietnam. Teerasil scored his side's first in the second leg, but Vietnam managed to score a last-minute goal and was crowned champions. He was an ever-present figure in the international fold since October 2007, his second match being a FIFA World Cup Qualifying against Macau, where he scored the second of a 6–1 win. He was a member of the victorious squad of 2008 T&T Cup at Vietnam.

In the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, under the management of a newly appointed German coach Winfried Schafer, Teerasil featured constantly and scored against Australia and Oman, respectively. He was the top scorer for the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, during which he scored a hat-trick against Myanmar.

In 2013, he was called up to the national team by Surachai Jaturapattarapong to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification. In October 2013 Teerasil played a friendly match against Bahrain, and scored against Iran in the following match, a 1–2 loss at Tehran.

In May 2015, he played for Thailand in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Vietnam. In June 2015, he scored twice in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Chinese Taipei.

In 2021, Teerasil became the all-time top scorer for the AFF Championship with 19 goals, breaking Noh Alam Shah's 17 goal record, after scoring against the Philippines in the 2020 AFF Championship.

Others
Teerasil won and scored a penalty for Thailand against FC Barcelona in the Catalans' 2013 Asian Tour in Bangkok.

Style of play
Teerasil's style of play or role on the field could be described as a striker or deep-lying forward, as he often comes deep down to help the team maintain possession. Aside from his main position, he can play as the main reference upfront or as a midfielder (attacking midfielder or winger).

Teerasil has great quality on the ball and is also described as quick, skillful and with great vision, which as well as scoring allows him to make many assists for his teammates.

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

On 9 January 2016, he married his girlfriend Phusita Polrak. They have two children.

International goals

 * Scores and results list Thailand's goal tally first.

Club
Muangthong United
 * Thai League 1: 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016
 * Regional League Division 2: 2007
 * Kor Royal Cup: 2010
 * Thai League Cup: 2016, 2017
 * Thailand Champions Cup: 2017
 * Mekong Club Championship: 2017

BG Pathum United
 * Thai League 1: 2020–21
 * Thailand Champions Cup: 2021, 2022
 * Thai League Cup: 2023–24

International
Thailand U-23
 * SEA Games: 2007

Thailand
 * AFF Championship: 2016, 2020, 2022
 * King's Cup: 2016

Individual

 * Goal.com readers' Asian Best XI of 2011
 * AFF Championship overall top scorer with 25 goals
 * AFF Championship Top Scorer: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2022
 * AFF Championship Best XI: 2012, 2016, 2020, 2022
 * ASEAN Football Federation Best XI: 2013, 2017
 * Thai Premier League Top Scorer: 2012
 * Thai Premier League Player of the Year: 2012