‘Crazy’ HAGL president creates a heroic history for HAGL

Kiatisak Senamuang is a Thai football legend, possessing an impressive scoring record with 251 goals after 339 matches. The 47-year-old player has been famous throughout Southeast Asia since the early years of the 21st century.

Despite his reputation, Kiatisak Senamuang has shocked Thai football or even Southeast Asia when deciding to join a First Class team in Vietnam, Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

HAGL is currently one of the most prestigious and possesses the most fans in Vietnam, but in 2001 they were just an anonymous team just taken over by Doan Nguyen Duc from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai.

Doan once said: "Around year 2000, all of Southeast Asia did not know Kiatisuk. He was the striker that every team in the region wanted. But then, even Vietnam Football Federation didn’t dare to dream of having him, so V League 1’s HAGL couldn’t  even dream of it HAGL.

But at that time I thought differently. Why didn’t I try once?. You only knew the result when you try. However, the press was headlining, thinking that I was telling lie to PR myself and local authorities tried to stop me. They said I was crazy.”

The press and Thai fans also voiced their opposition to the deal, because there was no way the living monument of ‘Changsuek’ would come to play for the First Class team in Vietnam. Thai media has continuously published many articles with the title "What is Hoang Anh? Where is Gia Lai?".

Indeed, at first Kiatisak Senamuang was 'stubborn' and did not respond emails from Hoang Anh Gia Lai. But Bau Duc's determination made 'Zico Thai' melted and agreed to meet.

The owner of Pho Nui football team prepared the contract, leaving the salary box and declared to pay Kiatisak 20% higher than competitors and many preferential regimes such as villas, Mercedes cars ...

However, the legend of Thai football at that time did not believe what he said and asked 'Where did you get the money to pay me?'. Immediately, the owner of HAGL called and asked the finance department to transfer 2 years of salary to the account of Kiatisuk.

Exactly at that time, HAGL president paid Kiatisak 7,000 USD / month. This was the highest salary in Southeast Asia and many times higher than the highest paid player in Vietnam is Le Huynh Duc (1,500 USD / month).

Regarding HAGL, Kiatisak played with Trinh Duy Quang, Nguyen Van Dan, goalkeeper Tran Quoc Tuan, strikers Duong Minh Ninh, Chu Ngoc Canh ... in First Division 2001/2002 and won tickets to V.League.

After that, Duc continuously brought other Thai stars Chukiat, Dusit, Sakka and many other quality domestic players such as Nguyen Huu Dang, Sy Hung, Nguyen Van Hanh, Nguyen Manh Dung, Phi Hung, Pham Minh Duc. , Nguyen Viet Thang, Ngo Quang Truong ... to create "Dream Team" with 2 V-League championships in 2003, 2004.

The appearance of Kiatisak has created a heroic history for HAGL. Up to now, Hoang Anh Gia Lai is the only team to win twice in  the domestic league.​