F.C. Meralco Manila, formerly the Loyola Meralco Sparks F.C. is a Filipino professional football club based in Manila. The team currently plays in the Philippines Football League, the highest level of Philippine club football. Founded as Loyola Agila Football Club in 2006, the club changed its name to Loyola Meralco Sparks in 2011 after the acquisition of the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) and the MVP Sports Foundation, both of which are owned by Filipino millionaire Manuel V. Pangilinan.
Loyola Meralco Sparks had their first major success in 2013, when they won the United Football League Cup. Since then, they have won the PFF National Men's Club Championship once.
In 2017, the club once again changed its name to FC Meralco Manila to reflect its entry to the Philippines Football League.
Video F.C. Meralco Manila
History
Loyola Agila Football Club (2006-2011)
The team was founded by former Ateneo de Manila University and high school varsity football players and employees in 2006 who share a common passion for the sport.
Loyola was one of the teams that joined the first season of the UFL which they finished 4th place. The team was then sponsored by ATR Kim-Eng by the 2011 season, which they finished 5th place under their team captain Patrick Ozaeta.
Loyola Meralco Sparks Football Club (2011-2017)
Straight from the 2011 National Club Championships, the brothers Phil and James Younghusband led the new signed players of the Sparks in early September 2011, along with brothers Darren, Matthew and Mark Hartmann. The team was eventually taken over by Meralco and the MVP Sports Foundation which is owned by Manuel V. Pangilinan.
The Loyola Sparks had a successful campaign in the 2011 UFL Cup, but eventually lost to the Philippine Air Force 2-0 in the finals. The Sparks started their 2012 United Football League campaign on a high note, topping all clubs at the end of the first round of competition. However, the club ended its league run in third place after a 1-all draw against eventual league champions Global FC.
After securing first place in the first round, the club was invited to play in the 2012 Singapore Cup. In the preliminary round on 18 May 2012, they played Geylang United FC, where they won 2-1 in added extra time, advancing them to the two-legged quarter-finals. They faced Burmese club Kanbawza in early July wherein they defeated them 5-3 on aggregate after a 3-1 win and a 2-2 draw in both legs. They faced Tampines Rovers FC in a two-legged semi-finals and lost 5-0 on aggregate. They lost the third-place match 4-0 to Gombak United.
The club also participated in the 2012 UFL Cup between September 15 to December 17, 2012. The club topped Group C, with Pachanga coming in a close second, to advance to the semi-finals of the cup. However, the team was eventually defeated by Global ending their run.
2013 season
The club qualified for the 2013 PFF National Men's Club Championship alongside other UFL clubs. The club played against Flame United FC in the knock-out stage. However, they were eliminated by fellow Division 1 UFL side Kaya in the quarterfinals. They've played with Harimau Muda B in the 2013 Singapore Cup opening match which ended in favor of the club. However, they only reach the quarterfinal round when they bowed out to Tanjong Pagar United in a 5-4 aggregate.
After the elimination at the Singapore Cup, the team marked their fifth appearance at the 2013 UFL Cup. They started their campaign at the group stages by beating Dolphins United in double digits. They also faced Navy with a huge 9-0 victory.
Last 30 October 2013, Loyola set a record with the most goals scored in the United Football League, they faced Blue Guards at the Emperador Stadium. Meralco defeated them by a margin of 33 points. It is regarded as the most lopsided win in the history of the United Football League (UFL) since it began a semi-professional league in 2009. Because of that Phil Younghusband currently leads the top scorer of the cup at 18 goals and the team advances to the knockout stages of the tournament.
Football Club Meralco Manila (2017-present)
After the announcement of the formation of the Philippines Football League, which was set to replace the United Football League as the country's top-tier football league, Loyola, along with 7 other UFL clubs, expressed their desire to enter the newly-founded league. On the PFL's launching on April 21, 2017, it was confirmed that the team will be now called FC Meralco Manila and will make Manila as their home city. The team will play its home games at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Maps F.C. Meralco Manila
Crest
The club's crest is a variation of the Ateneo de Manila University seal, from which the club traces its roots. However, the seal's origin is the Shield of Oñaz-Loyola, a symbol of St. Ignatius family's Oñaz lineage.
The crest's colors are gold, maroon, and blue - representing nobility, strength, and loyalty respectively. The left side of the crest consists of seven maroon bars going diagonally from the upper left to the lower right on a gold field. The right side of the crest features a pair of rampant gray wolves flanking each side of a cooking pot. The "Loyola" name was a contraction of the words Lobo y Olla which literally meant "wolf and pot" in Spanish. The wolves are a symbol of nobility, and represents the players and fans of the club.
On 2017, the gray wolves was replaced by a sea-lion which is a representation of Manila.
Players
First team squad
- As of 17 August 2017
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Foreign players
In the Philippines Football League, there can be at least four non-Filipino nationals in a team as long as they are registered. Foreign players who have acquired permanent residency can be registered as locals.
- Joaquín Cañas
- Tahj Minniecon
- Lee Jeong-min
- Milan Nikoli?
Invitational tournament record
Honors
Domestic
League
- United Football League Division 1
- Runners-up: 2014
Cup
- PFF National Men's Club Championship
- Winners: 2014-15
- UFL Cup
- Winners: 2013
- Runners-up: 2011
- Stallions FC Invitational Cup
- Runners-up: 2017
Records
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
- 1Major shirt sponsor (names located at the front of the shirt).
- 2Secondary sponsor (names mostly located at the back of the shirt).
Current management
Coaches
See also
- MERALCO Bolts
- MERALCO Power Spikers
- MERALCO Reddy Kilowatts
References
External links
- One Meralco Sports (Official website)
- F.C. Meralco Manila on Facebook
Source of article : Wikipedia
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