Sompong Soleb

Sompong Soleb
Personal information
Full name	Sompong Soleb
Date of birth	30 July 1986 (age 35)
Place of birth	Satun, Thailand
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Club information
Current team	Sukhothai
Number	7
Youth career
2001–2003	Bangkok Christian College
2003	Everton
Senior career*
Years	Team
2004–2006	Satun
2007	Thai Port
2008–2009	BBCU
2010–2011	Thai Port
2011	Buriram
2012–2019	Bangkok United
2015	→ Port (loan)
2016	→ Super Power (loan)
2017–2019	→ Ratchaburi Mitr Phol (loan)
2019	→ Chonburi (loan)
2020	Kasetsart
2020	Chamchuri United
2021	MOF Customs United
2021–	Sukhothai
National team‡
2006–2009	Thailand U23
2010–2014	Thailand
Honours
Thailand
Asean Football Championship
	* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:40, 5 September 2017 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 01:40, 5 September 2017 (UTC)

Sompong Soleb (Thai: สมปอง สอเหลบ; born 30 July 1986), simply known as Pong (Thai: ปอง) is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a forward for Sukhothai. He debuted for the senior Thailand national football team in 2010.

He played in the 2010 Thai League Cup final and won a winner's medal after Thai Port defeated Buriram PEA F.C. 2–1.

Back in 2004, Sompong Soleb was one of three Thais selected from over 500 hopefuls to spend a year training with Everton F.C. The selection process was part of a reality TV show funded by Everton's main sponsor Chang Beer, with Everton's youth academy director Ray Hall helping judge the competition.

Club career[]

His career began when Thai Sompong third division side Satun United F.C. In 2004, he participated in a talent show, which was looking for talented soccer players. The main prize was a nine-month stay in the youth academy of the English club Everton F.C. Together with Rattapol Piyavutiskul and Teerathep Winothai he won this award.^[1] In April 2005, he took part in a three weeks trial at Chester City. The club was also willing to give him a contract.^[2] but it probably came from labor reasons for any contract with the club. Back in Thailand, he played until the end of 2006 for his hometown club before he moved to the Thai League T1 for the Port Authority in 2007. In 22 games he scored only four goals in 2008 and he went to Chula United F.C., for whom he plays ever since. In his first season, he scored nine goals for Chula and he had so large share of the league.

After missing two easy chances in the game against Samut Songkhram FC he is known by Thai fans as "Thai Welbeck".

International career[]

He represented Thailand national football team and previously played for Thailand U23. He played in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games and won the gold medal.^[3] He also played in the 2009 Southeast Asian Games. He also took part in the 2007 Summer Universiade and also won gold.^[4] In October, 2011 Sompong scored a goal for Thailand national in a match against Oman in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Third Round^[5] He played in the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup and is part of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup.

International[]

As of 3 April 2016^[6]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Thailand	2010	2	0
	2011	6	1
	2012	6	1
	2014	4	0
	Total	18	2

International goals[]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	6 September 2011	Rajamangala Stadium, Thailand	Oman	1–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification
2.	17 November 2012	Rajamangala Stadium, Thailand	Bangladesh	1–0	5–0	International Friendly