2017 Myanmar National League


The 2017 Myanmar National League, also known as the 2017 Max Cement Myanmar National League, is the 8th season of the Myanmar National League, the top Burmese professional league for association football clubs since its founding in 2009. The nation's highest professional football league was shaken up at the end of the 2016 season following a series of surprise announcements by MNL-1 teams Zwegapin United and Zeyar Shwe Myay stating that they were going to drop out of the League in the next season. Also, Manaw Myay announced the team would be disbanded, despite winning promotion to Myanmar's premier domestic league by finishing the season's MNL-2 from the first place. A committee meeting between the Myanmar Football Federation and Myanmar National League officials held in Yangon on September 10 decided to reverse Southern Myanmar's relegation to MNL-2 in the next season, while Nay Pyi Taw received a surprise promotion into the first-tier league. Facing the loss of three squads and fears of scheduling complications for an 11-team league, MFF officials resolved to allow Southern Myanmar to remain in MNL-1, despite an 11th-place finish with only 14 points in the 2016 season. MNL-2 second-place finishers G.F.A, as well as third-place Nay Pyi Taw, were also promoted to the top league to maintain a 12-team schedule.
Although Zwegapin United initially signalled their intention to drop out of contention on August 22, team owner U Hla Htay later reversed his decision and announced that his team would continue to compete in the MNL-1, with preparations under progress for a home stadium in Hpa-An. In May 2017, Max Cement company sponsored 2017 MNL for second-half season.

Teams

A total of 12 teams are competing in the 2017 season: 10 sides from the 2016 season and two promoted teams from the 2016 Myanmar National League 2.

Stadiums


ClubHome CityStadiumCapacity
Ayeyawady UnitedPatheinAyar Stadium6,000
Chin UnitedHakhaWammathu Maung Stadium*4,000
Hanthawaddy UnitedBagoGrand Royal Stadium4,000
MagweMagwayMagway Stadium*3,000
Nay Pyi TawNay Pyi TawWunna Theikdi Stadium30,000
Rakhine UnitedSittweWeithali Stadium7,000
Shan UnitedTaunggyiTaunggyi Stadium7,000
Southern MyanmarMawlamyaingRamanya Stadium10,000
YadanarbonMandalayMandalarthiri Stadium30,000
Yangon UnitedYangonYangon United Sports Complex3,500
G.F.AChin
Zwegapin UnitedHpa-AnAung Than Lwin Stadium3,000

– not ready to play. MNL clubs that have not had their home stadia ready to host home matches currently use Aung San Stadium and Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.

Foreign players

The number of foreign players is restricted to four per MNL club. A team can use three foreign players on the field in each game, including a slot for a player from among AFC countries.
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3AFC playerFormer Player
Ayeyawady United

Personnel and sponsoring

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

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyWeekTableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Zwekapin United

League table


Matches

Fixtures and results of the Myanmar National League 2017 season.

Week 8

Week 16

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1

Attendances

RankClubAverage
1Yadanarbon FC800
2Yangon United700
3Shan United518
4Southern Myanmar FC418
5Chin United382
6Ayeyawady United359
7Zwekapin United336
8Rakhine United350
9Magwe FC318
10Hantharwady United305
11Nay Pyi Taw FC375
12Gospel For Asia270