Former U23 Thai star unexpectedly quits career in Germany to become a monk at 24

Midfielder Achitpol Keereerom unexpectedly put his football career in Germany on hold and went back to his homeland Thailand to start his path as a monk.

In the football community of Thailand, it is not uncommon for players to temporarily halt their careers to enter monastic life. Recently, Achitpol Keereerom, who was trained in Europe, drew attention by choosing to return home and pursue spiritual training instead of continuing his professional football journey.

According to official Thai football channels, Keereerom left Germany to return to Loei province, where he formally ordained at a local temple. This decision came amid a lack of significant progress in his career recently. Despite spending a long time training and playing in Germany, Keereerom has yet to make a strong impact in the competitive European football environment.

Before coming back to Thailand, he played for several youth and semi-professional teams in Germany, including Augsburg II and Rosenheim. His most recent club was Schwaben Augsburg, where his role was relatively minor. At the national level, he was part of the Thai U23 team competing in the SEA Games 32, a tournament where the Golden Kingdom team suffered defeat against Indonesia in the men's football final.

Keereerom's story echoes many similar cases in Thai football. Numerous players at the peak of their careers have chosen to wear the saffron robe for a period. Previously, Ratthanakorn Maikami and Sasalak Haiprakhon, two national team players, surprised fans by temporarily pausing their careers to join a retreat in 2023. Although it lasted only a few months, the decision was highly respected by the public.

In Thailand, ordination is regarded as a distinctive cultural tradition that symbolizes spiritual discipline, moral cultivation, and filial piety towards parents. Players, artists, and celebrities who engage in monastic training must strictly follow Buddhist rules, including studying teachings, maintaining proper conduct, and going on alms rounds every morning like other monks.

For Keereerom, choosing ordination may not just be a pause in his football career but also a journey to find balance and deeper meaning in life. Whether he returns to the pitch or not, his decision reflects a uniquely Thai perspective where sports and spiritual life coexist.