That the performance of Spanish soccer players in foreign leagues is remarkable is no secret to anyone. And the Thai First Division is an example of this. The tournament published a historic XI of European footballers and seven are Spanish. Three of them, in addition, continue in a competition that is currently suspended due to the coronavirus crisis.
Central: Mario Abrante. The Tenerife defender had a remarkable stint in Muangthong in 2016. His aggressiveness and defensive strength led the team from the Nothanburi province to conquer the Thai League and end Buriram's hegemony, which had won four of the last five championships. The injuries made him lose prominence and he ended up on loan at Police Tero, from where he left his current team, Atlético de San Luis. Altogether, Mario Abrante played 43 matches and scored two goals in Thailand.
Central: Osmar Ibáñez. The current FC Seoul player arrived in Thailand in 2012 from Racing Santander. There he became an idol for the fans of the Bangkok team. He won the Thai League in 2013 and also won two FA Cups, two League Cups and one Royal Cup. He currently plays in South Korea, one of the most important competitions in all of Asia.
Central: David Rochela. The Galician, champion of Europe with the Spanish U17 team, completes a 100% Spanish defensive line. Rochela arrived in 2013, when she was just 23 years old, and with Buriram United she won a Thai League and a Royal Cup. In 2015 she left for Port FC, where she has become captain and flagship. In 2019 they lifted the FA Cup and this year they threaten to fight for the league again.
Left winger: Daniel García 'Toti'. The Salamanca midfielder is an example of fidelity in Thailand. After playing in Cádiz, Granada or Alavés, he signed for Bangkok Glass in 2015. In his first season in Asia he played 16 games and scored a goal, although it was not until the following year that he showed his best level. The 'rabbits' were third and achieved a place in the preliminary phase of the AFC Champions League. In 2018 they went down to Second, but Toti did not leave the club and was important in his return to the elite.
Midfielder: Arzu. The current second coach of the Betis subsidiary wore for two years (2012-2014) the Tero Sasana shirt, where he left great memories before hanging up his boots. The Andalusian is remembered as one of the best footballers who has passed through the Thai League. His good reading of the game and his precise passes are still a topic of conversation in the Asian country.
Right winger: Carmelo González. The canary, who is still active at 36 years old and plays for Arucas, is another of the Spanish footballers that I remember best in the Thai League. He arrived in 2013 at the 'Spanish Buriram' led by Alejandro Menéndez and in his first season he became the tournament's top scorer with 23 goals in 23 games. He won two Thai League, one FA Cup, two Real Kor and one League Cup. After two years in Buriram he passed through Suphanburi and the United Arab Emirates before returning to Spain.
Forward: Sergio Suárez. The UD Las Palmas youth squad arrived in Thailand in 2014. He signed for Police United, although it was not until he left for Songkhla that he began to show his best qualities. His big turning point, however, came with his transfer to Port FC in January 2017. There he has scored 38 goals in the Thai League and last season he won, alongside David Rochela, the FA Cup, Port's first title in the last decade. Suarez also scored the final goal against Ratchaburi.