Yangon United Football Club ( ) is a Burmese professional football club based at Yangon United Sports Complex in Yangon, Myanmar. Owned by Tay Za, a prominent Burmese businessman, it was one of eight clubs that participated in the inaugural edition of the Myanmar National League in 2009, where they finished as runners-up. The club has won a record 5 league, 3 General Aung San Shield and 3 MFF Charity Cup titles.
Yangon United's biggest rival used to be Yadanarbon, with whom they contest the Myanmar rivalry. However, due to Yadanarbon's decline, Yangon United's main rivals are Shan United, contesting the new Myanmar National League derby. Its women's section plays in the Myanmar Women League.
History Air Bagan FC On 18 July 2007, the chairman of Htoo Group of Companies took over a first division club, Viva Football Club and changed the name to Air Bagan Football Club. Air Bagan became champion in their debut year. They then competed in the 2008 Myanmar Premier League season and finished in the top half of the table.
Yangon United After the league was transformed to the nation's first professional football league, Air Bagan was renamed to Yangon United in 2009 and represented the seven million population in Yangon. Yangon United also formed an alliance with Thailand club BEC Tero Sasana.
On 16 May 2009, Yangon United defeated Zeya Shwe Myay 4–0 to open the MNL Cup 2009. The club finished in second place with 16 points. Yangon United lost to Yadanarbon in the final on penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw. During the 2010 season, Yangon United built an artificial turf football pitch and gymnasium.
Myanmar National League three-peat and AFC Cup debut (2011–2013) In 2011, Yangon United won their first ever Myanmar National League title and also became the champion of the 2011 General Aung San Shield. This was the first time in Myanmar football history that a club has won both the league title and the cup. The following year, Yangon United appointed Bulgarian Ivan Kolev for the new season, in which the club to won their second consecutive Myanmar National League title and qualified for the 2013 AFC Cup.
In 2013, Yangon United signed with Grand Sport as their main kit supplier. Yangon United made their debut in the 2013 AFC Cup being placed in group F with Maldives league champions New Radiant SC, Hong Kong club Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei and Indonesian cup winners Persibo Bojonegoro. The Lions put up a fiery display in the tournament, winning five games and only losing once, thus finishing the group stage as runners-up, through to the Round of 16 for the first time in the club history. Yangon United then travelled to India to face East Bengal on 15 May 2013 at their home ground, Salt Lake Stadium, which saw the club losing 5–1, and thus exiting the tournament. However Ivan Kolev guided the club to retain their league title, third consecutive Myanmar National League title.
2014 Yangon United again qualified for the 2014 AFC Cup where they faced Vietnamese cup winners, Vissai Ninh Bình, Hong Kong league champions South China and Malaysian club Kelantan. The club finished as group runners-up, winning 3 times and losing 3 games, in which the club qualified for the Round of 16 tie against Indonesian club Persipura Jayapura. They suffered their heaviest defeat in their history, losing 9–2 at the Mandala Stadium.
The 2014 season saw the club finishing 2nd in the league. However, the club managed to get hold of the league title in the 2015 season, winning their fourth league title, and qualified to the 2016 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off. They faced Thailand club Chonburi, losing 3–2.
2018-2019 In 2018, Yangon United won their fifth league title with 1 point ahead of league rivals Shan United. The club qualified for the 2019 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs, facing Philippines club Ceres–Negros. The Lions won the match 2–1, progressing on to the next stage to face Thailand's Chiangrai United. Losing 3–1 in the process, they were dropped to the 2019 AFC Cup.
Yangon United would go on and dominate until 2019, when they gave up the trophy to Shan United. Yangon United ended up with an unconvincing 2020 Myanmar National League finish at 4th place. They also participated in the 2020 AFC Cup, getting a 2–2 draw against Vietnamese side Hồ Chí Minh City. In the next match against Laotian side Lao Toyota, Yangon United went on to collect their first three points in a 3–2 win. In their third fixture against Singaporean side Hougang United, Than Paing broke the deadlock, scoring the only goal in the match. However, the AFC Cup got cancelled throughout the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 In the 2022 Myanmar National League season they finished second, behind Shan United. Their top scorer was Valci Júnior with 8 goals.
2023 Yangon United founded Yangon United W.F.C. to compete in the Myanmar Women League.
Kits and sponsors PeriodKit manufacturerTitle sponsor2009–2012 FBT Air Bagan2013–2021 Grand Sport FNI insurance2023 M21 AGD Bank2024– Glory Sport
Stadium
Squad-list
Coaching staff in Burmese
Player records Lists of the players with the most caps and top goalscorers for the club in the league games (players in bold signifies current Yangon United F.C. player).
+Top seven goalscorers in league gamesPlayerPeriodGoalsRatioCaps1 Cézar2012–2015, 20171181112 Kyaw Ko Ko2013–2019581393 Sylla Sekou2018–2019, 202357724 Charles Obi2010–201131285 Maung Maung Lwin2017–2021,2025–32826 Emerson2014–2015, 2017, 202131687 Emmanuel Uzochukwu2017–2018, 2020–20212033
+Top twelve league appearancesPlayerPeriodCapsGoals1 David Htan2009–2018, 2022–28582 Yan Aung Kyaw2009–202024633 Kyi Lin2009–2019, 2020178154 Khin Maung Lwin2009–201515455 Kyaw Ko Ko2013–2019139586 Zaw Min Tun2015–2017, 201813377 Myo Min Tun2009–201312108 Cézar2012–2015, 20171111189 Aung Aung Oo2009–2013110010 Kyaw Zin Htet2017–202087011 San Set Naing2017–84012 Kekere Moukailou2017–2019756
Continental record All results (home and away) list Yangon United's goal tally first. SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate2012AFC CupGroup G Chonburi1–10–14th Citizen AA1–21–2 Home United0–01–32013AFC CupGroup F New Radiant2–01–32nd Sun Hei2–03–1 Persibo Bojonegoro3–07–1Round of 16 East Bengal1–52014AFC CupGroup G Vissai Ninh Bình1–42–32nd South China2–03–5 Kelantan5–33–2Round of 16 Persipura Jayapura2–92015Mekong Club ChampionshipFirst round Lao Toyota5–22nd Boeung Ket Angkor0–32016AFC Champions LeaguePreliminary round 2 Chonburi2–3 AFC CupGroup G South China2–11–23rd Maziya3–21–1 Mohun Bagan1–12–32018AFC CupGroup G Bali United3–23–11st FLC Thanh Hóa2–13–3 Global Cebu3–01–2Zonal semi-finals Ceres–Negros3–22–45–62019AFC Champions LeaguePreliminary round 1 Ceres–Negros2–1Preliminary round 2 Chiangrai United1–3AFC CupGroup F Tampines Rovers1–33–43rd Nagaworld2–01–2 Hà Nội2–51–02020AFC CupPlay-off round Indera3–16–19–2Group F Hồ Chí Minh City2–22nd Lao Toyota3–2 Hougang United1–02023–24AFC CupPreliminary round 2 DPMM2–1Play-off round PSM Makassar0–42025–26AFC Challenge LeaguePlay-off round Ezra1–1 2026–27 AFC Challenge League Play-off round Ezra2–1 Group D Borneo One Taguig Tainan City
Seasons statistics Domestic SeasonLeagueLeague CupTop goalscorerCoachDiv.Pos.Pl.WDLGSGAPNameGoals2009–101st41472524162320101st320116344123920111st1221732501554Winners20121st1261853642560Semi-finals Cézar15 Ivan Kolev20131st1221543422049Cancelled Cézar2020141st2221443602246Quarter-finals Cézar26 Eric Williams20151st12217326228542nd round Cézar28 Tin Maung Tun20161st2221246432540Runners-up Kyaw Ko Ko13 Myo Min Tun20171st2221642451152Runners-up Kyaw Ko Ko9 Myo Min Tun20181st1221633542051Winners Sylla Sekou28 Myo Min Tun Maung20191st3221273401543Winners Sylla Sekou10 Tin Maung Tun20201st4201143391837 Emmanuel Uzochukwu & Ernest Barfo8 Min Tun Lin20221st218123337839 Valci Júnior8 Min Tun Lin20231st2221633571351 Sekou Sylla Yan Kyaw Htwe11 Gerd Zeise2024–251st2221561622051Runners-up Yan Kyaw Htwe13 Kyaw Dunn2025–261st222183169757Winners Ghislain Mogou & Kaung Sithu12 Tin Maung Tun Zaw Linn Tun Tetsuro Uki
Honours
+ Yangon United – Honours Type Competition Titles Title Seasons Runners-up Runners-up seasons League Myanmar National League 5 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018 7 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024–25, 2025–26 Cup General Aung San Shield 2 2018, 2019 2 2016, 2017 MFF Cup 1 2011 – – MFF Charity Cup 3 2013, 2016, 2018 3 2012, 2014, 2019 MNL League Cup 1 2025 2 2009, 2024 Youth MNL Reserve League 2 2009, 2010 – – MNL U-21 Youth League 3 2012, 2014, 2015 – – MNL U-20 Youth League 0 – 1 2016 MNL U-19 Youth League 1 2016 0 – International AFC Cup – – Zonal Semi-final: 1Round of 16: 2 Zonal Semi-final: 2018Round of 16: 2013, 2014
References
External links Yangon United F.C. on Soccerway