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Young Elephants Football Club, commonly known as Young Elephants, is a professional football club based in Vientiane, Laos. The club currently competes in the Lao League 1, the top-tier football league in Laos. The club is own by Singaporean businessman Jason Lim since 2018. The club has won 2 league titles (back to back undefeated) and 1 Lao FF Cup.
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| Full name | Young Elephants Football Club (ສະໂມສອນບານເຕະ ຊ້າງນ້ອຍ) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Elephants | ||
| Short name | YE | ||
| Founded | 2015 | ||
| Ground | New Laos National Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 25,000 | ||
| President | Jason Lim | ||
| Head coach | Satyasagara | ||
| League | Lao League 1 | ||
| 2023 | Lao League 1, 1st of 8 (Champions) | ||
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Young Elephants players comprise majority of the Laos national team.
History
editYoung Elephants were founded in 2015 by the Lao Football Federation (LFF) with the aim of giving exposure to footballers aged 16 to 19 years old and helping them launch their professional careers. But in 2017, the LFF gave up ownership of the club due to rules around club licensing and privatisation and sought out Jason Lim, who was well known to the federation due to his voluntary work as team manager for the Laos under-23 between 2009 and 2017. A year later, Jason Lim took the reins and roped in other Singaporeans based in Laos which are Kevin Pereira and Philip Tay as the club board members. Yet, this has required significant outlay. Since 2018, Jason Lim has been the president and chairman of the Young Elephants, injecting his passion and resources into the team. Jason Lim said that he has spent close to $1 million since taking over the club and also visits Peninsula Plaza back in Singapore each year to buy the latest football boots for the whole squad so that his players "truly feel like professional players with the bulk of the expenditure has gone towards raising players salaries. Under Jason Lim’s visionary leadership, the Young Elephants experienced a meteoric rise in the Laotian football landscape. What makes the Young Elephants’ achievements even more astounding is the fact that the players comprise approximately 80% of the Laos national team. Their dominance on the domestic front is a testament to their talent and influence within the country. Young Elephants have cultivated a culture of unity, determination, and hard work under the guidance of their Singaporean head coach, Satyasagara, who took charge of the club in March 2022. His coaching philosophy goes beyond the tactical aspects of the game with him winning the league undefeated back to back in both season. Satyasagara has created an environment where each player feels valued and understood. By establishing a deep bond with his team, the coach has fostered a sense of trust and camaraderie that fuels their on-field performances.
Back-to-back Invincibles (2022–2023)
editIn the 2022 season, the Young Elephants embarked on a remarkable Lao League 1 campaign that would go down in the history of Laos football. With an unbeaten run that spanned the entire league, they asserted their authority on the pitch. Out of the 18 matches they played, the Elephants emerged victorious in 13 and secured five draws, amassing 44 points.Their tally was a resounding 11 points ahead of their nearest challengers, Master 7, leaving no doubt that they were the deserving 2022 Lao League 1 champions. After securing their maiden Lao League 1 title, the Young Elephants faced the daunting challenge of defending their crown in the 2023 season. Many wondered if they could maintain the same level of dominance and go undefeated once again. The answer came with resounding clarity. Once again, the Elephants proved their indomitable spirit by remaining unbeaten and clinching their second consecutive Lao League 1 championship. Out of the 14 games played in the 2023 season, the Elephants emerged winners in 12 and secured two draws, demonstrating their unyielding hunger for success.
AFC Cup debut
editYoung Elephants make their 2022 AFC Cup debut being drawn in Group I with Viettel from Vietnam, Hougang United from Singapore and Phnom Penh Crown from Cambodia, however, the club suffered a defeat to all of them and crash out from the group stage.
Young Elephants also played in the 2023–24 AFC Cup qualifying play-off facing against Phnom Penh Crown in the 2nd preliminary round but lost 3–0 thus didnt qualified to the 2023–24 AFC Cup.
Young Elephants also qualified to the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League directly after winning the 2023 Lao League 1. Young Elephants was also invited to the 2024–25 ASEAN Club Championship but was drawn in the qualifying round against Cambodian club Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng. Young Elephants lost 8–3 on aggregate and didn't qualified which they turned their main focus on the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League. The club was then drawn in Group D alongside Taiwanese club Tainan City and Myanmar club Shan United. Young Elephants bowed out from the tournament after losing 2–0 to Shan United and 3–2 to Tainan City with Indonesian Brylian Aldama becoming the only player to score in the tournament for the club
Team Image
edit
Stadium
editYoung Elephants play their home matches at the New Laos National Stadium. The stadium is located about 17 km from the centre of Vientiane City and comprises a 25,000-seat capacity stadium.
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors
edit| Period | Kit Manufacturer | Sponsors |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–present |  FBT
|
2024–present |
Affiliated clubs
editPlayers
edit- As of 22 September 2024 [1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Technical staff
edit| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President |  Jason Lim
|
| CEO |  Bon Soundala
|
| Vice-president 1 | Kevin Pereira
|
| Vice-president 2 | Douangmany Souvannavong
|
| Team manager | Soulisay Chanthalanouvath
|
| General secretary | Jeremy Choong
|
| EXCO member | Philip Tay
|
| Head coach | Satyasagara
|
| Assistant coach | Sengvilay Chanthasily
|
| Phoutpasong Sengdalavong
| |
| Goalkeeping coach | Vilasack Vanthanoulath
|
| Physiotherapist | Souvanny Sony
|
| Director of footballs |  Andrew Woodward
|
List of manager history
edit| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| Bounma Patthammavong
|
January
2018 |
| Kanlaya Sysomvang
|
February
2018 |
| Kovanh Namthavixay
|
January
2019 |
| Perianan Sugunan
|
January
2020 |
| Bounlap Khenkitisack
|
March
2021 |
| Satyasagara
|
March
2022–2023 |
| Phoutpasong Sengdalavong
|
May
2024- |
Performance in AFC club competitions
edit| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | AFC Cup | Group I |  Viettel
|
1–5 | 4th | |
| Hougang United
|
1–3 | |||||
 Phnom Penh Crown
|
2–4 | |||||
| 2023–24 | AFC Cup | Preliminary round 2 | Phnom Penh Crown
|
0–3 | 0–3 | |
| 2024–25 | AFC Challenge League | Group Stage |  Shan United
|
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 Tainan City
|
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Performance in AFF club competitions
edit| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | ASEAN Club Championship | Qualifying play-off | Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng
|
2–3 | 1–5 | 3–8 |
Honours
edit- Lao League 1
- Champions (2): 2022, 2023
- Lao FF Cup
- Winners (2): 2020, 2022
References
edit- ^ "Player list in Laos League 1 season 2024–25". 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.