From the recently concluded AFF Suzuki Cup, where Thailand once more emerged as the very best team within the region, to Albirex Niigata (S) changing the history of the S.League in Singapore by winning the primary ever quadruple championship, it has been one other good yr for football in Southeast Asia.
In 2017, the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and the ASE Games were the most important events, so let’s take a step back in time to see what got football fans excited over the past 12 months.
Here are the five best moments in Southeast Asian football history this yr:
1. War elephants still dominate the region
The Thai fighters led by Kiatisuk “Zico” Senamuang entered the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup as clear favourites to defeat their opponents and defend their regional title.
Seven games later, due to Teerasil Dandga’s golden boot, Thailand were crowned champions, securing a record fifth title. While Indonesia fought hard within the two-legged final, the War Elephants were never going to relinquish their coveted crown, scoring 15 goals and conceding three.
After qualifying for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, Thailand will immediately deal with the remaining qualifying matches for the World Cup, where they are going to look to not only consolidate their position as the very best football team within the region, but additionally turn into among the best in Asia.
2. Albirex makes history in Singaporean football
They began the season with quiet optimism, as latest coach Naoki Naruo took over a solid team from his predecessor Tatsuyuki Okuyama.
Ten months later, they’d won all 4 of Singapore’s national football titles – the Community Shield, League Cup, Singapore Cup and S.League – becoming the primary club to ever achieve this near-impossible feat.
With the support of smart coaches Daisuke Korenaga and Koh Mui Tee, Naruo balanced the team with experienced goalkeepers Yosuke Nozawa, Naofumi Tanaka and Atsushi Kawata.
Naruo has decided to return to Japan, and his substitute Kazuaki Yoshinaga can be tasked with constructing a brand new team for the 2017 season without star Kawata, who has returned to sign with parent club White Swans within the J-League.
3. Minnows Cambodia is not any longer a simple goal
Angkor Warriors had an extended approach to go to qualify from the play-offs before joining Myanmar, Vietnam and Malaysia in Group B of the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup.
Korean tactician Lee Tae-Hoon’s team made short work of their opponents within the play-offs and refused to offer up against a stronger opponent in Rangoon, but were let down by a naive defence and lost all three group games.
Despite the outcomes, Cambodia showed they were now not the regional whipping boy they once were and almost pulled off a surprising victory over Malaysia, only to ultimately lose 3-2.
Vietnam and Myanmar have also struggled to play against the tough Cambodians, and this tournament has seen the birth of the country’s biggest football star, Chan Vathanaka. The 22-year-old winger has already been dubbed the “Cambodian CR7” after Real Madrid’s Portuguese superstar, and if he continues to develop as a player, it’s only a matter of time before the massive Asian clubs approach him.
4. Tanaboon becomes the primary million-dollar signing
The resurgence of the Thai Premier League has boosted the national team’s international success, with investors lining as much as back the country’s hottest sport.
Traditional powerhouses akin to Buriram United and MuangThong United can now not rest on their laurels as Chiangrai United step as much as the plate to compete with the giants.
The Beetles, backed by president Mitti Tiyapairat, broke the Southeast Asian transfer record on Nov. 2 once they announced the signing of Tanaboon Kesarat for a reported 50 million baht. That eclipses the previous record of 35 million baht that Muangthong paid for Theerathon Bunmathan.
The record fee made Tanaboon the most costly transfer in ASEAN football history and at 23, the defensive midfielder looks to be a sound investment.
He can be joined by numerous Thailand teammates akin to Suriya Singmui, Thitipan Puangchan and Pratum Chuthong.
Jason Dasey and Stanely Bernard discuss Faiz Subri’s probabilities of winning FIFA Goal of the Year.
5. Faiz Subri brings hope to Southeast Asia with Puskas Award
Little did he know that his goal against Penang in February can be the salvation of the country in a disappointing yr for Malaysian football. Two million views on FIFA TV’s YouTube channel later, Faiz Subri is now the person of the hour.
His goal made the ultimate three-man shortlist for the FIFA Puskas Award, alongside Marlone and Daniuska Rodriguez of Corinthians. Even Lionel Messi’s goal for Argentina and Neymar’s flick-and-volley for Barcelona didn’t qualify.
Standing 35 yards away, the diminutive striker struck a Roberto Carlos-style free kick that flew past the Pahang keeper to offer his team a 4-1 victory.
So when the winner is announced on January 9, 2017, expect an unprecedented buzz on social media as soon as Faiz Subri’s name is read out.
With that, we’ve wrapped up one other great yr of football in Southeast Asia. It won’t be long before this football-mad region gathers its scarves and horns to kick off the 2017 season with the identical enthusiasm as this one.
ESPN FC Editor-in-Chief Kelvin Leong is a former Singapore media executive and former regional editor of ESPNSTAR.com.
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