Philippine Army Football Club is a professional football club based in the Philippines. It was founded in 1960 through the effort of the Philippine Army Special Services Unit, that promotes sports and physical fitness within the Army, under the direction of the commanding General. As the club name indicates, the team is composed of members of the Philippine Army. The club currently plays in the Philippines Football League, the top-flight league of football in the Philippines.
In 2003, the club participated in the inaugural edition of ASEAN Club Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia, where they finished the tournament with 2 losses playing against Indian club, Kingfisher East Bengal and Thailand club, BEC Tero Sasana.[1]
Philippine Army participated in the sole season of the Filipino Premier League in 2008, winning over Giligans in the league final match.[2]
Philippine Army played in the now-defunct United Football League, which was the de facto top-tier league in the Philippines. Initially the club was among the top teams in the league, finishing third in the 2011 season. They finished 9th in the following two seasons in. The club avoided relegation by winning against Union Internacional Manila in the playoff.[3]
For the 2014 UFL season, Philippine Army had a temporary merger with General Trias International and the military squad was bolstered by Korean players.[4] The move was done due to difficulties in scheduling the training of its players, enlisted soldiers often called into duty. The team played as Philippine Army GTI for that season.[5]
At the latter part of the 2015 season, Philippine Army was disqualified from the United Football League including any related competitions.[6]
Philippine Army announced return for the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara. In 2024, They make their debut in the top-flight league, the Philippines Football League after confirming its participation in February 2024. Philippine Army played their first ever top-flight league match on 6 April 2024 in a 3–2 lost against Manila Diggers.
As a football club under the Armed Forces of the Philippines like the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force. Philippine Army can only sign players who are also enlisted in the Philippine Army.[3] Though for the 2014 season the squad included non-Army enlistees with the temporary merger of the club with General Trias International.
The club had players who has played for the Philippines national team such as Roel Gener, Nestorio Margarse, and Eduard Sacapaño.[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Lurix Araneta Rey Saluria
Jesus Baron Judy Saluria Jeoffrey Lobaton Wilson Dela Cruz Billy Estrella Roel Gener Luisito Brillantes Eduard SacapañoNote: Performances of the club indicated here was after the UFL Division 1 is created in 2009.