PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad
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| Full name | Punjab Medical College Club Athletico Faisalabad | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Los Rojiblancos CAF | ||
| Short name | PMC | ||
| Founded | 1990 (as Punjab Medical College Football Club) | ||
| Ground | Railways Ground | ||
| Capacity | 10,000 | ||
| Affiliation | Punjab Medical College | ||
| Chairman | Saif ur Rehman Bhatti | ||
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PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad was a Pakistani football club based in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. Originally known as Punjab Medical College Football Club for its association with Punjab Medical College, the name was changed after club had a 50% share takeover by Zenith Sports in July 2008 before the start of the 2008–09 Pakistan Premier League season.
History[edit]
The club was founded in Faisalabad as an independent team. They teamed up with Punjab Medical College, making use of their home stadium and becoming Punjab Medical College Football Club or PMC F.C. for short. They were largely anonymous in Pakistan club football until they won promotion from the 2006 PFF National League to Pakistan Premier League in 2007.[1]
In the 2007–08 Pakistan Premier League in their first 10 games, they only picked up one point, but a 2-0 home win against the equally struggling Wohaib FC gave the team its first win the PPL. The team still struggled until the second half of the season where they improved to the point they closed in on 13th placed Pakistan Railways. On the final fixture of the season, they needed to win against Pakistan Navy, having a game in hand over Railwaymen. PMC FC beat Navy 2-1 at home, allowing them to stay in the PPL for another season.[2]
Between the end of the 2007–08 and the start of the 2008 season, a group called Zenith Sports with CEO Malik Riaz Hai Naveed took a 50% stake in the club. Zenith Sports at earlier planned to start a club in the Geo Super League, but with the league cancelled they decided to invest in a PPL club instead.[3] The club also signed Pakistan international players Haroon Yousaf and Sarfraz Rasool.[4][5]
The club was renamed to PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad, a name heavily influenced by Spanish football. The new name and background changes failed to improve the club's fortunes. After a good start, Athletico faltered and quickly found themselves hovering around the relegation zone. Their fortune changed in the second half of the season, and they clawed way up the table, ending the season as 7th placed.[6]
In their 2009–10 Pakistan Premier League, the club finished 13th in the table, but their relegation along with Baloch Nushki was revoked as the next season was extended to 16 teams.[7]
In the 2012–13 season of the Pakistan Premier League, the club was relegated after finishing 14th in the table.[8]
Competitive record[edit]
The club's competitive records since the 2006–07 season are listed below.
| Season | Div | Tms | Pos | National Challenge Cup | AFC President's Cup | AFC Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–07 | PFF League | 8 | 2 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2007–08 | Pakistan Premier League | 14 | 12 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2008–09 | Pakistan Premier League | 14 | 7 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2009–10 | Pakistan Premier League | 14 | 13 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2010–11 | Pakistan Premier League | 16 | 14 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2011–12 | Pakistan Premier League | 16 | 14 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2012–13 | Pakistan Premier League | 16 | 14 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| 2013–14 | PFF League | 24 | Group stage | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Notable players[edit]
The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for PMC Athletico Faisalabad.
References[edit]
- ^ "Pakistan 2006/07". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ "Pakistan 2007/08". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2010-12-31). "PMC Athletico management and supporters celebrate survival from relegation!". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ Naveed, Malik Riaz Hai (2011-02-15). "Former National skipper Haroon Yousaf becomes PMC Athletico coach". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2012-07-29). "Ex-Pakistan star Sarfraz Rasool joins Total Football Academy in UK". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ "Pakistan 2008/09". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ "Pakistan 2009/10". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2013-01-10). "PMC Athletico end 6 year PPFL stint". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-12-02.
External links[edit]
- PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad at Global Sports Archive
- FootballPakistan.Com (FPDC)