Taneekarn Dangda: A Journey Beyond Dreams
When football takes you farther than you ever imagined.
As winter sets in over a small town in Japan—about three hours from Tokyo by car, or just over an hour by bullet train—a Thai footballer steps onto the training ground of AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies. This area, known for its natural beauty and rising popularity among Thai tourists for skiing, has become the current home of one of Thailand's most decorated female players.
"Before, Thai people who wanted to ski had to go to Hokkaido. But now Hakuba is getting really popular. More and more Thai people are coming here to visit."
Here, in Nagano, surrounded by cold mountain air and calm landscapes, "Mai" Taneekarn Dangda is living her life as a professional footballer in Japan's top women's league. She is only the second Thai woman to play in this fully professional league, following in the footsteps of Pornpirun Pilawan, who once played for MyNavi Sendai.
Every day is a challenge—intense and demanding. But the reward isn’t just for her. It’s for the next generation of Thai female footballers. She is a trailblazer, planting the Thai flag for others to follow.
"The fans here support both men's and women's football. One day they'll go cheer for the men's team, and the next day they'll come watch us. The city supports us 100%. There are posters of us everywhere—on the streets, in the train stations. It's like we're the face of the city."
"Before the season started, we even went around handing out posters to promote the team, to let the locals know—this is your team, your province. Come support us."
It Didn’t Start With a Dream
While Thailand's women’s national team has made it to the World Cup twice—in 2015 and 2019, women’s football has never received the level of popularity it deserves. And many would assume the only way to make it is to start with a burning passion. But for Mai, it began with nothing more than childhood curiosity.
"Back then, I didn’t want to play football. But I saw my brother go abroad and get free gear, and I just wanted that. I told my dad to teach me. I didn’t want to train with anyone else. If he could train my brother to be that good, he could train me too."
Her inspiration didn’t come from a love for football, but from growing up in a football family. Especially when your brother is none other than "Mui" Teerasil Dangda.
But his name, his fame, and his success didn’t exactly inspire her. Instead, they cast a shadow. Being "Mui’s little sister" came with pressure.
"When I was younger, sometimes I felt a bit down about it. I even thought about quitting. I felt like—why can’t people see me for me? But now I understand. I’m proud that when people think of me, they think of Mui too. Because in the end, we’re family. That’s what matters."
When Football Took Her Farther
Mai began her club career in Bangkok, but everything changed when she got a chance to play abroad. That first taste of football outside Thailand opened her eyes.
🇸🇪 Sweden, 2014 — A young, rising star, Taneekarn joined Ostersunds DFF in Sweden’s Division 2. In just over two months, she played a key role in helping the team gain promotion to Division 1.
"It was the first time I had ever lived abroad on my own. I realized how much bigger the football world really is. Their training sessions weren’t long, but they were intense, fun, and free."
Being alone in a foreign country, training in a completely different culture, didn’t discourage her. It pushed her to try even harder—because now, she truly knew this was the path she chose for herself.
From Canada to France: The World Cup Dream
For any footballer, being called to the national team is an honor. But playing in the World Cup is something even fewer ever experience.
Taneekarn was part of Thailand’s historic squad that qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada 🇨🇦 —the first ever appearance by a Thai women’s team. She didn’t play in any match that tournament.
"I came back from Canada feeling like... I hadn’t really played in the World Cup. So I told myself—this can’t be my last one."
That moment became fuel. She wanted more than just her name on a squad list. She wanted to be in the game.
Four years later, in France 🇫🇷, she got her chance.
"That assist... it’s the proudest moment in my football life. It made everything worth it."
Her long ball to Kanjana Sung-Ngoen resulted in Thailand’s only goal of the tournament—a counterattack against Sweden that ended with Kanjana firing it past the keeper.
Watch on Youtube
Thailand lost the match 1–5, but that goal remains a shining moment in Thai football history.
🇨🇳 China: Dreams Interrupted
After the 2019 World Cup, she signed with Yunnan Hengjin in China. She was starting, scoring, and making an impact—until the COVID-19 outbreak forced her to return to Thailand earlier than planned. Everything paused. But the dream didn’t end.
🇯🇵 Japan: The Next Chapter
Now in the WE League with AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies, Taneekarn is back on foreign soil. She plays alongside fellow Thai international "Ampare" Nutwadee Pram-nak.
AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies, Taneekarn is back on foreign soil. She plays alongside fellow Thai international "Ampare" Nutwadee Pram-nak.
"Japan has gone so far... now their players are in the Premier League—Chelsea, Leicester, and more."
Despite being the only true striker in the team, she isn’t guaranteed a starting role.
"In Japan, coaches can put players anywhere. It’s like that for every team. Players here are trained to be able to switch roles, so I had to adjust a lot."
Adapting to the Japanese style meant more than just learning tactics—it meant building endurance, changing habits, and embracing discipline.
"When they press, they don’t do it one person at a time. They press as a whole team."
Her daily life in Japan is routine and rigorous. Up at 8 a.m., breakfast, gym, rest, lunch, then training at 2:30 p.m., followed by onsen, dinner, and sleep.
"Here, every match is a test. Every day is preparation. Whether you play or not, you have to be 100%. There’s no such thing as a day off for a pro here."
"On match day, some players run up to 12 kilometers—more than the men. No one stands still. If I don’t play that day, I’ll be put in a full training match the next day with the reserves. Everyone has to be ready, always."
"As a professional footballer here, days off don’t exist. Playing in Japan challenges me in every way. Everything is precise—from training time to physical care. And everyone here runs a lot. Running is in the DNA of Japanese players."
Here’s what Mai shared with us—glimpses of a life far from home, built on discipline, quiet resilience, and a relentless love for the game.
On and Off the Pitch: A Cultural Bridge
(1) Her presence in Nagano goes beyond football. Club technical director Tetsuya Murayama, who once worked with her brother Teerasil in Hiroshima and has ties to Thai football, was instrumental in signing her, as detailed in an article by Targma.jp (N-Maga Nagano Magazine).
He valued her strength, build (173 cm), finishing, and ability to hold the ball—plus the potential to grow the club’s international image. With over 80,000 followers on Instagram, she is helping attract more Thai fans to Nagano.
(2) She’s been featured on local TV through TBS News Dig (Shinetsu Broadcasting System – SBS), joined city campaigns, promoted local businesses, and even helped introduce Nagano to Thai tourists.
(3) Go-Nagano.net (Nagano Prefecture Official Tourism Website), The prefecture’s official tourism site describes her as “quiet, calm, and quick to adapt,” a sign of how well she has adjusted to life in Japan.
Back with the National Team 🇹🇭
With Japan’s Futoshi Ikeda now coaching Thailand’s national team, Taneekarn has been called back into the squad twice. She sees many similarities in training and discipline.
"It’s nothing to worry about. He’s a world-class coach—he knows what to do."
Now 33, Taneekarn is one of the senior players in camp. But she welcomes the new generation with open arms.
Her long journey in football has also made her a senior figure in the national team camp—someone younger players look up to and feel comfortable approaching.
"Anyone who can strengthen the team—whether they’re half-Thai from abroad or Thai-born locals—if they’re ready, we welcome them. If they can really help the team, there’s no problem. They have Thai blood, too."
"If they can become part of the team and help us reach the World Cup—whoever they are—we’re in this together."
To Be Continued…
"I’m 33 now. But if I can, I want my career to end at the World Cup. I don’t know if it’ll happen. But I still want to be part of it. Always."
She hopes her story inspires young boys and girls in Thailand.
"Whatever you think you’re good at—you can still be better. Keep improving. On and off the field."
Football isn’t just a sport for her. It’s life. And it’s taken her farther than she ever thought possible.
And her story is still being written.
Follow her journey:
Facebook: taneekarn.dangda
Instagram: @Taneekarn17
Photo: Parceiro, Taneegarn Dangda, Targma, TBS, Go-Nagano
Reference: Targma.jp(1), TBS News Dig(2), Go-Nagano.net(3)
