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The MPT Myanmar National League (မြန်မာ နေရှင်နယ် လိဂ်; abbreviated MNL) is the premier national professional football league of Myanmar. In 2009, the league replaced the Myanmar Premier League, which consisted only of 14 Yangon-based football clubs, with eight professional clubs representing different regions across the nation. On 16 May 2009, the league launched its inaugural two-month tournament, the Myanmar National League Cup 2009 in preparation for the first full season in 2010. Despite its national ambitions, the league held the MNL Cup 2009 matches in the country's two main stadiums in Yangon due to the lack of adequate facilities elsewhere. On 5 July 2009, Yadanabon FC defeated Yangon United FC in the MNL Cup final to become the first-ever MNL Champions.

The league added three clubs for the 2010 season and one more club joined for the 2011 season, bringing the total to twelve clubs. Two more clubs representing the Chin and Shan States will participate in the MNL season starting in January 2012.

Promotion and relegation will be added by the 2014 season as the MNL looks to expand once again.

Origins
In the past, professional football competition in Myanmar has only existed in a limited form. All premier leagues up to this point have been made up of Yangon-based football clubs, most of which were affiliated with government Ministries. It was only after 1996, when the Premier League (ပထမတန်း) was relaunched as the Myanmar Premier League that non-government clubs were invited to join the league. Still, the league was based only in Yangon, and never caught the imagination of Burmese football fans, who follow European football with near religious fervor.

The Myanmar Football Federation sought approval from the government to launch a nationwide league in February 2008, and finally received permission to set up private clubs in December 2008. Each club was permitted to sign at most five foreign players and one foreign coach. The government granted each club tax exemptions for an initial three-year period, while each club owner must provide a minimum initial investment of K200 million (approximately US$200,000). It was expected that the annual operating cost for each club would be about K500 million (US$500,000). The investment apparently covers costs such as salaries, transportation and equipment, but does not include the club stadiums, which are all nationalized.

Myanmar Derby
Myanmar Derby or The Classic Match of Myanmar is the matchup between Yangon United and Yadanarbon. It is the matchup that presents Myanmar football in the modern era. The name was given to the encounter of two teams due to the hype and massive atmosphere around the match. The first encounter between them happened in the 2009 MNL Cup season. On 18 June 2009, Yadanarbon and Yangon United met at Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon. Before the match, Yadanarbon was the leader in the table after 3 matches of the season while Yangon followed in second with one less point. Yadanarbon made the lead by 2–1 in the first forty-five minutes but Yangon bounced back to draw by the 2–2 result at the end. The match was full of the exciting and dramatic moments. Then, it was considered as one of the most classic matches in Myanmar League history. The Yangon United versus Yadanarbon matchup was dubbed as "Myanmar Derby" ever since then.

Yangon Utd dominance
The Yangon Utd Dominance refers to the 2011 to 2013 season, which Yangon United won Myanmar National League in three consecutive seasons as the first club in the league history.

Champions
(For Burmese Champions before 2009, see Myanmar Premier League)

Name Change
Mahar United changed their name to Sagaing United to represent the Sagaing Division.

Stadiums
(*) - not ready to play. MNL clubs that have not had their home stadia ready to host home matches currently use Aung San Stadium and Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.

All-time top scorers
Figures for active players (in bold).

Most appearances
Figures for active players (in bold).

Player statistics

 * Youngest player: Win Naing Tun (Yadanarbon) — 16 years, 7 months and 2 days (15 January 2018, Yadanarbon 5–2 Ayeyawady United, 2018 Myanmar National League)
 * Oldest player: Khin Maung Lwin (Yangon United) —  34 years, 10 months and 24 days (25 October 2017, Shan United 2–1 Yangon United, 2017 General Aung San Shield)
 * Youngest scorer: Myat Kaung Khant (Yadanarbon) — 17 years, 6 months and 15 days (15 January 2018, Yadanarbon 5–2 Ayeyawady United, 2018 Myanmar National League)
 * Oldest scorer: Khin Maung Lwin (Yangon United) —  34 years, 9 months and 24 days (25 October 2017, Yangon United 4–0 Zwekapin United, 2017 Myanmar National League)
 * Fastest scorer:
 * Most consecutive matches scored:
 * Most consecutive unconceded matches:
 * All time most clean sheets: 550 minutes — Kyaw Zin Htet
 * Most goals in a season: 28 goals — Cezar Augusto (Yangon United, 2015)
 * Most assists in a season:
 * Most titles won: 4 times — Khin Maung Lwin, Kyi Lin, David Htan, Yan Paing
 * Most seasons appeared: 9 seasons — Kyi Lin, Soe Min Oo, Win Min Htut, Thiha Sithu, David Htan (2009-2018)
 * All-time record for highest football transfer fee Myanmar players: 15 millions kyats— Zaw Min Tun (2014)

Prize money

 * Champion: 100,000,000 Kyats
 * Runner-up: 75,000,000 Kyats
 * Third Place: 50,000,000 Kyats

Competition
There are 12 clubs in the Myanmar League. During the course of a season, which lasts from January to October, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 22 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the head-to-head, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The two lowest placed teams are relegated into the MNL-2 and the top two teams from the MNL-2 are promoted in their place.

Qualification for Asian competitions
In the past the champions will play in AFC Champions League playoffs and AFC Cup for the champions of General Aung San Shield. Due to reforms from the AFC for the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup format, there will be no more a direct qualification spot for the AFC Champions League for that Myanmar Champion, for the time being.

Sponsorship
The Myanmar League has been sponsored since 2009 until 2010 and has been sponsored again since 2015. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:

Match balls
The 2009–2020 season uses the Nike.

Youth League
Like the reserve league, the youth league is open to all the youth teams of all professional clubs in Thailand.

Other tournaments

 * Domestic tournaments
 * General Aung San Shield (2010–present)
 * MFF Charity Cup (as MFF Opening Cup 2012–2015) (2016–present)


 * International tournaments
 * AFC Champions League (2014–present)
 * AFC Cup (2014-present)
 * Mekong Club Championship (2016–present)