Football legends such as Steven Gerrard, Steve McManaman, Claude Makélélé, Michel Salgado and Quinton Fortune were welcomed at Rajadamnern Stadium, the world’s first muaythai stadium and one of the most iconic venues in combat sports history, for an event dedicated to the culture, tradition and values of Thailand’s national sport.
The visit turned the home of muaythai into a meeting point between two global sports. The former footballers took part in a cultural and sporting experience designed to bring them closer to the essence of this discipline, from pad work and fighting techniques to the Wai Kru ceremony, one of the most respected rituals in muaythai.
An immersion in the tradition of muaythai
The session allowed the former players to experience first-hand the discipline, respect and cultural dimension that define muaythai, considered one of Thailand’s great sporting and cultural treasures. It was not merely an exhibition, but a direct introduction to a practice that combines physical preparation, technique, spirituality and a sense of belonging.
The event was led by two major figures in the sport. Buakaw Banchamek, Thailand’s muaythai ambassador and multiple world champion of the World Muaythai Council -WMC- and the International Federation of Muaythai Associations -IFMA-, acted as host alongside Daniel Rodríguez, Rajadamnern World Series -RWS- world champion and regarded as one of the greatest foreign fighters in the history of muaythai.
Their presence reinforced the symbolic nature of an event that brought together renowned figures from international football with some of the most representative names in contemporary muaythai. Rajadamnern Stadium, as the historic home of this discipline, once again served as a stage connecting tradition, spectacle and global projection.
Football and muaythai, two connected sports
The event also highlighted the growing relationship between football and muaythai, two sports with different languages but united by shared values such as discipline, respect, self-improvement and the ability to build community. The initiative forms part of the efforts of IFMA and FIFA to build bridges between both disciplines through culture and sport.
The International Federation of Muaythai Associations had previously been invited to present muaythai showcases at FIFA House, a reflection of the cooperation between the leadership of both international sporting bodies. Both FIFA and IFMA are members of SportAccord and are part of the international sporting ecosystem and the Olympic movement pyramid.
“An honour to share traditions”
“Cooperation is key. Events like this show the growing global popularity of muaythai and the power of sport to unite people, cultures and communities. It is an honour to welcome these football legends into our muaythai family and to share with them the traditions, respect and spirit that make muaythai so special,” said Stephan Fox, IFMA Secretary General and president of AIMS -Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport-.
The final message of the event summed up that spirit of unity: “One World. One Muaythai.” A motto that fits with an experience designed to celebrate the legacy of Rajadamnern, the cultural strength of muaythai and the ability of sport to bring together figures, communities and different traditions around the same values.
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