Myanmar National League

The Myanmar National League (abbreviated 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.^[1] On 16 May 2009, the league launched its inaugural two-month tournament, the Myanmar National League Cup 2009, in preparation for the first full season in 2010.^[2] Despite its national ambitions, the league held the MNL Cup 2009 matches in the country's two main stadiums in Yangon due to the 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 Champions.

The league added three clubs for the 2010 season,^[3] and one more club joined for the 2011 season, bringing the total to twelve clubs.^[4] Two more clubs representing the Chin and Shan States participated in the MNL season starting in January 2012.^[5]

Promotion and relegation will be added by the 2014 season as the MNL looks to expand once again.^[6]

In the past, professional football competition in Myanmar has only existed in a limited form. All premier leagues up to this point have been made up of Yangon-based football clubs, most of which were affiliated with government ministries. It was only after 1996, when the Premier League (Burmese: ပထမတန်း) was relaunched as the Myanmar Premier League 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 was permitted to sign at most five foreign players and one foreign coach. The government granted each club tax exemptions for an initial three-year period, while each club owner must provide a minimum initial investment of Ks.200 million (approximately US$200,000). It was expected that the annual operating cost for each club would be about Ks.500 million (US$500,000).^[1] The investment apparently covers costs such as salaries, transportation, and equipment, but does not include the club stadiums, which are all nationalized.^[7]

The Myanmar Derby, or the Classic Match of Myanmar, is the matchup between Yangon United and Yadanarbon. It is the matchup that presents Myanmar football in the modern era. The name was given to the encounter of two teams due to the hype and massive atmosphere around the match. The first encounter between them happened in the 2009 MNL Cup season. On 18 June 2009, Yadanarbon and Yangon United met at Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon. Before the match, Yadanarbon was the leader in the table after 3 matches of the season, while Yangon followed in second with one less point. Yadanarbon made the lead by 2–1 in the first forty-five minutes but Yangon bounced back to draw by the 2–2 result at the end. The match was full of the exciting and dramatic moments. As a result, it was considered one of the most classic matches in Myanmar League history. The Yangon United versus Yadanarbon matchup was dubbed as "Myanmar Derby" ever since then.

The Yangon United Dominance refers to the 2011 to 2013 season, in which Yangon United won the Myanmar National League in three consecutive seasons, a first in the league's history.

In 2019 season, Shan United, under U Aung Naing, head coach of Myanmar, had become the first club in the league's history that completed the season with an undefeated record. Shan United finished at the top of the final standing with 12 wins and 10 draws. They have had another undefeated season, this time with U Han Win Aung. They have won 15 matches and drew three times. Between these two seasons, they had secured the 2020 Myanmar National League as well.

The Shan United dominance refers to the 2019, 2020, and 2022 seasons, in which Shan United won the Myanmar National League in three consecutive seasons as the second club in the league.

(For Burmese Champions before 2009, see Myanmar Premier League)

Undefeated champions:

• Shan United in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024-2025

Delta United changed their name to Ayeyawady United to represent the Ayeyawady Division. Okkthar United changed their name to Hantharwaddy United to represent the Bago Division. Mahar United changed their name to Sagaing United to represent the Sagaing Division.

• Shan United
• Yangon United
• Hantharwady United
• Dagon Star
• Mahar United
• Yadanarbon
• ISPE
• ThitSar Arman FC
• Ayeyawady United
• Dagon Port
• Rakhine United
• Yarmanya United

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

As of 31 May 2024

Figures for active players (in bold).

As of 16 August 2024

Figures for active players (in bold) .

• Youngest player: Myat Kaung Khant (Yadanarbon) — 17 years, 6 months and 0 days (15 January 2018, Yadanarbon 5–2 Ayeyawady United, 2018 Myanmar National League)
• Oldest player: Chit Myo Hteik (Mahar United) — 41 years,(14 December 2023, Mahar United 3-1 GFA, 2023 Myanmar National League)
• Youngest scorer: Myat Kaung Khant (Yadanarbon) — 17 years, 6 months and 0 days (15 January 2018, Yadanarbon 5–2 Ayeyawady United, 2018 Myanmar National League)
• Oldest scorer: Chit Myo Hteik (Sagaing United) — 38 years,(17 August 2019, Dagon 5-2 Sagaing United, 2019 Myanmar National League)
• Fastest scorer: Myat Kaung Khant (Shan United) - 32 seconds (3 August 2023, Shan United FC 5-1 Ayeyawady United FC)
• Most consecutive matches scored: Yadanarbon - 21 Matches
• Most consecutive unconceded matches: 7 matches
  • Kyaw Zin Htet (Yangon United, 2019)
• All-time most clean sheets: 630 minutes — Kyaw Zin Htet
• Most goals in a season: 28 goals — Cezar Augusto (Yangon United, 2015)
• Most assists in a season: 12 goals — Zaw Win Thein (2023)
• Most titles won: 8 times — David Htan (Yangon United - 5 times, Shan United - 3 times)
• Most seasons appeared: 15 seasons — David Htan (2009–2023)
• All-time record for highest football transfer fee Myanmar players: Ks.15 million— Zaw Min Tun (2014)

• Champion: Ks.100,000,000/-More than
• Runner-up: Ks.75,000,000/-More than
• Third Place: Ks.50,000,000/-More than

There are 12 clubs in the Myanmar League. During the course of a season, which lasts from January to October, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 22 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then head-to-head, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the head-to-head, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The two lowest placed teams are relegated into the MNL-2 and the top two teams from the MNL-2 are promoted in their place.

In the past the champions will play in AFC Champions League playoffs and AFC Cup for the champions of General Aung San Shield.

The Myanmar League has been sponsored since 2009 until 2010 and has been sponsored again since 2015. The sponsor has been able to determine the league's sponsorship name. The list below details who the sponsors have been and what they called the competition:

Since 2013, 100PLUS has been the sponsor of Myanmar Football Federation and MNL. The sponsorship is extended to 2020 to support major football events in the country, the various football teams within the national setup, football tournaments for youth development and the local professional competitions.^[10]

• 2009–2018: Nike.
• 2019–2020: Molten
• 2021–2023: Warrix
• 2023-present: Dong Luc.

Like the reserve league, the youth league is open to all the youth teams of all professional clubs in Myanmar.

• MFF U-21 Youth League
• MFF U-20 Youth League
• MFF U-17 Youth League (2023-24)
• MFF U-15 Youth League (2023-present)

Domestic tournaments

• As a Domestic Cup
  

MNL Cup (2009,2013,2024-present)
MFF Cup (2010-2014)
General Aung San Shield (2015–2019)

• As a Super Cup
  

MFF Charity Cup (as MFF Opening Cup 2012–2015), (2016–present)

International tournaments

• AFC Challenge League
• ASEAN Club Championship
• Mekong Club Championship (defunct)

As of 15. 3. 2023.^[11]

TV broadcasters: Sky Net, Channel 9 Myanmar, MNTV Myanmar, Sky Net Sports channels numbered 1 to 6.

Online streaming: MNL YouTube Channel, MNL-2 YouTube Channel, Genius Sports, Eleven Sports, MyCujoo, AI Soccer, Be Soccer, Sky Net DTH YouTube Channel

• Official website
• League at fifa.com
• Soccer Myanmar
• RSSSF.com - Myanmar - List of champions