Thai General merges two clubs and buys Thonglao

Two once-famous Thai clubs, BEC Tero Sasana and Police Utd, merged last weekend to form a new team called Police Tero FC.

The key figure in the smooth execution of the merger was Thai National Police General Chakthip Chaijinda. General Chakthip, who is also the club's co-chairman, has set Police Tero's goal of finishing in the top 10 of the Thai League this season.

At the end of the 2015 season, Police Utd were eliminated from the national championship due to lack of sponsors. Meanwhile, BEC Tero Sasana is now just a shadow of its glory days in the 2000s. The merger, therefore, will create a foundation for the two clubs to have enough potential and ambition to compete with other big names.

General Chakthip believes that Police Tero will soon regain the leading position that Police Utd and BEC Tero have.

"Police Tero is a merger of Police Utd and BEC Tero. Together, we are ready to develop the new team through better management," said General Chakthip at the launch of the new team. "With quality players, we believe the team will become more and more successful."

General Chakthip also emphasized that merging a military club with another team is not new in Thai football, as there have been similar cases, such as the Royal Thai Army Club, Royal Thai Navy, and Royal Thai Air Force.

Immediately after the merger, Police Tero also announced the successful recruitment of the once famous Thai star Datsakorn Thonglao, as a free agent. In addition, many other players transferred to Police Tero from Muangthong Utd, Pattaya Utd.

A series of new players were recruited by Police Tero with the goal of entering the top 10 of Thai League 2017.

The police general also added that the club's budget for the 2017 season is 100 million baht (nearly 65 billion VND).

In the opening match of the new season, Police Tero face Pattaya Utd at home on February 11.

According to VNE