Myanmar National League
Encyclopedia
The Myanmar National League (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, 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 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 Champion.
The league has added three clubs for the 2010 season
and one more club joined for the 2011 season, bringing the total to twelve clubs.
One more club representing Chin State will participate in MNL season starting in January 2012.
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 will be permitted to sign at most five foreign players and one foreign coach. The government has granted each club tax exemptions for an initial three-year period, while each club owner must provide a minimum of K200 million (approximately US$200,000) for initial investment. It is expected that the annual operating cost for each club will be about K500 million (US$500,000). The investment apparently covers costs such as salaries, transportation and equipment, but does not include the clubs stadiums, which are all nationalized.
.
. One more club, Rakhapura United joined MNL in the 2011 MNL season.
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. In 2009, the league replaced the Myanmar Premier League
Myanmar Premier League
The Myanmar Premier League was the top division of Burmese football in Myanmar from 1996 to 2009. The league consisted of Yangon-based football clubs, made up mostly of clubs run by various government ministries plus a few private football clubs...
, which consisted only of 14 Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
-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, Myanmar National League Cup 2009
Myanmar National League Cup 2009
The Myanmar National League 2009 is the inaugural knock-out football tournament of the Myanmar National League. The tournament, held at the Aung San Stadium and the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon between 16 May and 5 July 2009, was participated by all eight clubs of the newly formed professional league...
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 lack of adequate facilities elsewhere. On 5 July 2009, Yadanabon FC
Yadanabon FC
Yadanarbon Football Club is a Burmese football club, based at Bahtoo Stadium, in Mandalay, Myanmar. The club was a founding member of the Myanmar National League in 2009.-Honours & Results:...
defeated Yangon United FC
Yangon United FC
Yangon United Football Club is a burmese football club, based at Aung San Stadium, in Yangon, Myanmar. Owned by Tay Za, one of the most prominent burmese businessmen, the club was one of 8 teams originally participating in the first Myanmar National League in 2009...
in the MNL Cup final to become the first-ever MNL Champion.
The league has added three clubs for the 2010 season
2010 MNL season
The 2010 MNL Grand Royal is the Myanmar National League's first full regular season. The MNL was founded in 2009, and two separate cup competitions were held. Mandalay-based Yadanabon FC won both competitions.-League table:...
and one more club joined for the 2011 season, bringing the total to twelve clubs.
One more club representing Chin State will participate in MNL season starting in January 2012.
History
Professional football competition in Myanmar has existed only in a limited form. All premier leagues up to this point are made up of Yangon-based football clubs, most of which are outfits of government Ministries. It was only after 1996, when the Premier League was relaunched as Myanmar Premier LeagueMyanmar Premier League
The Myanmar Premier League was the top division of Burmese football in Myanmar from 1996 to 2009. The league consisted of Yangon-based football clubs, made up mostly of clubs run by various government ministries plus a few private football clubs...
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
Myanmar Football Federation
The Myanmar Football Federation is the governing body of football in Myanmar. The MFF oversees the Burmese men's national team, the women's national team, and youth national teams as well as national football championships and professional club competitions.-History:Reportedly introduced during...
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 will be permitted to sign at most five foreign players and one foreign coach. The government has granted each club tax exemptions for an initial three-year period, while each club owner must provide a minimum of K200 million (approximately US$200,000) for initial investment. It is expected that the annual operating cost for each club will be about K500 million (US$500,000). The investment apparently covers costs such as salaries, transportation and equipment, but does not include the clubs stadiums, which are all nationalized.
Champions
For Burmese champions before 2009, see Myanmar Premier LeagueMyanmar Premier League
The Myanmar Premier League was the top division of Burmese football in Myanmar from 1996 to 2009. The league consisted of Yangon-based football clubs, made up mostly of clubs run by various government ministries plus a few private football clubs...
.
| Myanmar National League Cup | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Club | ||
| 2009 Myanmar National League Cup The Myanmar National League Cup is the annual football tournament of the Myanmar National League , the newly founded top level professional league of Myanmar. The first edition of the tournament, MNL Cup 2009 kicked off the MNL competition although the league is to begin its first full season only... |
Yadanabon Yadanabon FC Yadanarbon Football Club is a Burmese football club, based at Bahtoo Stadium, in Mandalay, Myanmar. The club was a founding member of the Myanmar National League in 2009.-Honours & Results:... |
||
| Myanmar National League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Club | ||
| 2009/10 | Yadanabon Yadanabon FC Yadanarbon Football Club is a Burmese football club, based at Bahtoo Stadium, in Mandalay, Myanmar. The club was a founding member of the Myanmar National League in 2009.-Honours & Results:... |
||
| 2010 2010 MNL season The 2010 MNL Grand Royal is the Myanmar National League's first full regular season. The MNL was founded in 2009, and two separate cup competitions were held. Mandalay-based Yadanabon FC won both competitions.-League table:... |
Yadanabon Yadanabon FC Yadanarbon Football Club is a Burmese football club, based at Bahtoo Stadium, in Mandalay, Myanmar. The club was a founding member of the Myanmar National League in 2009.-Honours & Results:... |
||
| 2011 | Yangon United | ||
Clubs
The league started out with eight clubs but has expanded to eleven clubs, starting in the 2010 season2010 MNL season
The 2010 MNL Grand Royal is the Myanmar National League's first full regular season. The MNL was founded in 2009, and two separate cup competitions were held. Mandalay-based Yadanabon FC won both competitions.-League table:...
. One more club, Rakhapura United joined MNL in the 2011 MNL season.
| Club | Stadium | Best Finish | # Championships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayeyawady United F.C. (formerly Delta United) | Kyaut Tie Stadium | 2nd | 0 |
| Kanbawza | Kanbawza Stadium | 3rd | 0 |
| Magway Magway FC Magway Football Club is a Burmese football club, based in Magway, Myanmar. The club was a founding member of the Myanmar National League in 2009... |
Magway Stadium Magway Stadium Magway Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Magway, Burma. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Magway FC of the Myanmar National League. The stadium has a capacity of 7,000 spectators.- External links :*... |
3rd | 0 |
| Manaw Myay Manawmye FC Manawmye Football Club is a Burmese football club, based in Myitkyina, Myanmar. Founded in 2010, the club is competing in the 2010 season of the Myanmar National League.Official Website is http://manawmyayfc.com-External links:* in Burmese* in Burmese... |
Swomprabom Stadium | 9th | 0 |
| Naypyidaw Naypyidaw FC Naypyidaw Football Club is a Burmese football club, based in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. Founded in 2010, the club is competing in the 2010 season of the Myanmar National League.-External links:* in Burmese* in Burmese... |
Zabuthiri Stadium Zabuthiri Stadium Zabuthiri Stadium Zabuthiri Stadium Zabuthiri Stadium (is a description of a new multi-use stadium in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, that is currently in the under construction. It will have a capacity of 30,000 spectators. Once completed in 2011, it will be used mostly for football and athletics... |
10 | 0 |
| Okktha United | Taungoo Stadium | 6th | 0 |
| Rakhapura United Rakhapura United Rakhapura United is a Burmese football club competing in the Myanmar National League. The club was founded in 2010 and plays it's home ground is Thuwanna YTC Stadium in Yangon.-References:**... |
Sit Twe Stadium | 0 | |
| Southern Myanmar United | Yamanya Stadium | 7th | 0 |
| Yadanabon Yadanabon FC Yadanarbon Football Club is a Burmese football club, based at Bahtoo Stadium, in Mandalay, Myanmar. The club was a founding member of the Myanmar National League in 2009.-Honours & Results:... |
Ba Htoo Stadium | 1st | 2 |
| Yangon United | Yangon United Sport Complex Thuwanna YTC Stadium Thuwunna Youth Training Center Stadium is a multi-use stadium, located in Yangon, Myanmar. The 32,000-seat stadium is smaller but more up-to-date than Aung San Stadium, and is the venue of choice for most national and international level football and track and field competitions... |
1st | 1 |
| Zeya Shwe Myay Zeyashwemye FC Zeyashwemye Football Club is a Burmese football club, based at Monywa Stadium in Monywa, Myanmar. The club was a founding member of the Myanmar National League in 2009. The club represents the Sagaing Division in central Myanmar.... |
Monywa Stadium Monywa Stadium Monywa Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Monywa, Burma. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Zeyashwemye FC of the Myanmar National League. The stadium has a capacity of 5,000 spectators.-External links:*... |
2nd | 0 |
| Zwegabin United | Hpa-An Stadium | 11 | 0 |
Topscorers
| Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals | |
| 2009/10 |  |
Soe Min Oo Soe Min Oo Soe Min Oo is a Burmese footballer who plays for the Myanmar national football team. He also plays for Kanbawza FC in the Myanmar National League... |
Kanbawza | 12 |
| 2010/11 | |
Lipe Lipe | Okkthar United | 20 |
See also
- Myanmar National League CupMyanmar National League CupThe Myanmar National League Cup is the annual football tournament of the Myanmar National League , the newly founded top level professional league of Myanmar. The first edition of the tournament, MNL Cup 2009 kicked off the MNL competition although the league is to begin its first full season only...
- Myanmar Football FederationMyanmar Football FederationThe Myanmar Football Federation is the governing body of football in Myanmar. The MFF oversees the Burmese men's national team, the women's national team, and youth national teams as well as national football championships and professional club competitions.-History:Reportedly introduced during...
- Myanmar national football teamMyanmar national football teamThe Myanmar national football team is the national team of Myanmar and is controlled by the Myanmar Football Federation. It was known as the Burma national football team until 1989, when Burma was renamed Myanmar. It finished second in the 1968 Asian Cup. They have participated in the Summer...