Another Filipino football player is set to bring his skills to Thailand’s premier competition.
Nakhon Ratchasima Football Club announced that they have signed Dennis Villanueva, an erstwhile member of Global Cebu and United City, to fulfill its ASEAN player quota for the current Thai League 1 campaign.
The 28-year-old, who was a member of the squad that recently won the 2020 Philippines Football League crown, joins the likes Jarvey Gayoso, Mar Diano, and OJ Porteria as players who have become new signings for Thai clubs looking for top Southeast Asian players who can beef up their lineups.
The 5-foot-10 defender joins a team that currently sits at 13th place in the standings, which is one place above the division’s relegation places, with 16 points and a record of four wins, four draws, and seven losses.
Nakhon Ratchasima previously won the Thai League 1 title back in 2014 and it currently plays in the 80th Birthday Stadium under the tutelage of head coach Teerasak Po-on.
Villanueva was born to Filipino parents in Rome, Italy, and he learned the tricks of the trade of football with his in the SS Lazio youth system, which is one of the most prestigious clubs in Italy. He then started his professional career with current Italia Serie D side Associazione Sportiva Ostia Mare Lido Calcio, which is based in the Italian capital.
Aside from suiting up for Global, with whom he won the 2016 United Football League and United Football League Cup, and Ceres-Negros/United City, Villanueva also suited up for Davao Aguilas.
He was also part of the national team in its forays in the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint qualification matches.
