In 2009, Chiangrai United joined the new Thai football setup and started at the 3rd level, 2009 Regional League Division 2 Northern Region. Chiangrai duly came out on top come to the end of the regular league season, thus claiming their first-ever championship and also crowned as the first-ever winners of the Regional League Northern Division.
Chiangrai United opened its first youth academies in 2012.[1]
In 2016, Chiangrai United made a deal with Jarken Group[2] to the strong brand and initiating a holistic marketing strategy which included business development and strengthening management structures to promote a positive image of the Chiangrai United Sports Passions as a brand to make Chiangrai United become professional and sustainable. The strategy for this deal is to design to promote Chaing Rai United to become the big name club in Thailand.
Under Brazilian coach Alexandre Gama, The Beetles was victorious in the 2017 FA Cup Final with Bangkok United. This proved to be a case of redemption for Chiangrai as winning the first piece of silverware in club-history, three days after losing to Muangthong United in the League Cup final.[5]
In October 2019, after the announcement of the appointment of Ailton dos Santos Silva as the new head coach, The Beetles won the Thai League 1 for the first time.[8] Chiangrai United and Buriram United ended up with identical 58 points from 30 matches. However, they were declared the winners of the league on the basis of a better head-to-head record, Chiangrai held Buriram to a goalless draw away in the first leg in April then thrashed the northeastern giants 4 to nothing at home in July,[9] Chiangrai United is the third to win the top flight after Buriram and Muangthong since the country's premier tournament was revamped in 2009.
The side is commented to fare well in most big games, with compactness and discipline springing surprises. Instead of being burdened with keeping possession, they stifled opponents with a rehearsed repertoire of both defensive and pressing moves, topped off with lethal counter-attacks.[10]
Chiangrai United's home ground is the United Stadium of Chiangrai, which has also been known as the Leo Chiangrai Stadium since October 2021 due to sponsorship commitments. The stadium is situated in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. The Leo Chiangrai Stadium is near Mae Fah Luang International Airport and has a capacity of 11,354 people.
^"Report from goal.com". Chiangrai United vs Bangkok United. Retrieved 25 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
