Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool (Thai: สินทวีชัย หทัยรัตนกุล; RTGS: Sinthawichai Hathairattanakun, born 23 March 1982), formerly known as Kosin Hathairattanakool (Thai: โกสินทร์ หทัยรัตนกุล) and nicknamed Tee (Thai: ตี๋), is a Thai retired[1][2] professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.[3]
Club career
Born in Sakon Nakhon Province, Sinthaweechai spent his youth career at Assumption Sriracha School between 1999 and 2002. The young goalkeeper signed his first professional contract with a Thai Premier League club TTM Phichit (now TTM Chiangmai) in 2002, he spent 2 seasons with the club and won a league title in 2004–2005 season.
The former Thailand U23 international joined Osotsapa in 2005 before moving abroad to an Indonesian club, Persib Bandung in 2006.
In 2007, Sinthaweechai returned to Thailand, joined his local club Chonburi, and won the league title with The Sharks. Sinthaweechai also won Kor Royal Cup with the club in the next season, but failed to protect their league title from PEA. He also participated in the AFC Champions League with Chonburi in 2008 but the club was knocked out in the group stage.
Sinthaweechai rejoined Persib Bandung on a season loan in 2009.
After the loan spell with the Indonesian, Sinthaweechai returned to Chonburi and has been playing for the club regularly.
In December 2015 it was announced that Sinthaweechai would be joining Suphanburi for the 2016 season. The deal, which costs 15 million Thai baht broke the record as the most expensive domestic transfer in Thai football history.[4]
Sinthaweechai has been serving the country in almost every level; U17, U19, U23 and senior squad respectively. He was first called up for the U19 team between 2000 and 2001 but did not make much of recognition.
It was between 2002 and 2005 that the goalkeeper started to become public interest. He was called up for Thailand U23 in 2002 and since the U23 team participate many more competitions than the lower level, practically part of senior squad, he was given more chances and eventually earned no.1 status in the team.
He made totally 22 appearances for the U23 team between 2002 and 2005.
Sinthaweechai was promoted to the senior squad in 2004. However, he lost his no.1 status in numerous occasions as well, as he underperformed in matches. Sinthaweechai was also a member of the victorious T&T Cup 2008 winning squad. Anyway, under the management of Winfried Schafer, which was appointed as Thailand's head coach in July, 2011, Sinthaweechai firmly regained his first team regular in Thailand national team so far, especially in 2014 Asian World Cup Qualifying section which he earned many positive comments from the media and fans regarded to his performances against Australia.
He was part of Winfried Schäfer's 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, but didn't play in the tournament because he got a fever. Sinthaweechai played a friendly match against China, and he was captain in that match.
Sinthaweechai is known as a sweeper keeper because of his speed when he rushes off his line to anticipate opponents who have beaten the offside trap.[11] He made a name for himself by making a lung-busting run, covering almost halfway through the field, to intercept Vietnam striker Lê Công Vinh in Thailand's 1-0 victory over Vietnam during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round.[12]
