PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad
PMC Club Athletico Faisalabad was a professional 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.
| Full name | Punjab Medical College Club Athletico Faisalabad | ||
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| 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 | ||
| Manager | Vacant | ||
| League | Pakistan Football Federation League | ||
| 2017–18 | Pakistan Football Federation League, 8th of 24 | ||
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History
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 Pakistan Football Federation League to Pakistan Premier League in 2007.
However, they found life difficult in the Pakistan Premier League in which they suffered heavy defeats. 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 and safety. 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.
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.
They renamed it 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.
Final players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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