Young Elephants FC

Young Elephants FC is a professional football club based in Vientiane, Laos, which play in the Lao League 1, the top national football league in Laos. The club's players comprise about 80% of the Laos national football team. The club is own by Singaporean business man, Jason Lim who acquired the club in 2018. It is a club that he inherited from ground zero after he was appointed president and chairman of the club. The club have won 2 league titles (including back to back undefeated league title) and 1 Lao FF Cup.

Young Elephants FC
ສະໂມສອນ ຊ້າງນ້ອຍ ເອຟຊີ
Full nameYoung Elephants Football Club (ສະໂມສອນບານເຕະ ຊ້າງນ້ອຍ)
Nickname(s)The Elephants
Founded2015 (2015)
GroundNew Laos National Stadium, Vientiane
Capacity25,000
ChairmanJason Lim
CoachSatyasagara
LeagueLao League 1
2023Lao League 1 ; 1st (Champions)


Young Elephants FC currently consists of two teams, one in the Lao Premier League and their reserves in the Lao League 2.

History

Young 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 national U-23 football team 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 football 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 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.

Invincibles

In 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 FC, 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

The 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 than qualified to the 2023–24 AFC Cup qualifying play-off facing against Phnom Penh Crown in the 2nd preliminary round.


Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit Manufacturer Sponsors
2019–present Thailand FBT T-Plus
Foodpanda

Players

As of 22 June 2022[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Laos LAO Solasak Thilavong
3 DF Laos LAO Kittisak Phomvongsa
4 DF Laos LAO Somsavath Sophabmixay
5 DF Laos LAO Sengvilay Chanthasily
7 FW Laos LAO Vilay Kulangsy
8 MF Laos LAO Manolom Phetphakdy (captain)
9 FW Brazil BRA Allan Machado
10 FW Laos LAO Somxay Keohanam
11 MF Liberia LBR Emmanuel Jugbe Doe
13 DF Laos LAO Thanouthong Kietnalonglop
15 DF Laos LAO Thipphachanh Inthavong
16 GK Laos LAO Outthilath Nammakhoth
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF Laos LAO Loungleung Keophouvong
19 DF Laos LAO Kaharn Phetsivilay
20 DF Laos LAO Sengdaovy Hanthavong
21 MF Laos LAO Souphan Khambaion
22 FW Laos LAO Kydavone Souvanny
23 DF Laos LAO Chitpasong Latthachack
25 MF Laos LAO Phetsavanh Bounsoulin
27 MF Laos LAO Sisouphon Akkhavong
32 MF Laos LAO Chanthaphone Waenvongsoth
44 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Clyde O'Connell (on loan from Svay Rieng)
77 FW Myanmar MYA Kaung Myat Thu
MF Laos LAO Phithack Kongmathilath
FW Laos LAO Thanongsay Rammangkoun
DF Laos LAO Phonsak Sisavath

Technical staff

As of 1 October 2021
Position Name
President Singapore Jason Lim
CEO Laos Bon Soundala
Vice-president 1 Singapore Kevin Pereira
Vice-president 2 Laos Douangmany Souvannavong
Team manager Laos Soulisay Chanthalanouvath
General secretary Singapore Jeremy Choong
EXCO member Singapore Philip Tay
Head coach Singapore Satyasagara
Assistant coach Cameroon William Constant
Assistant coach Laos Khamsai Chanthavong
Goalkeeping coach Laos Vilasack Vanthanoulath
Physiotherapist Laos Souvanny Sony

Stadium

Young Elephants home games are played at the New Laos National Stadium.

Young 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.



Coaches

Name Period
Laos Bounma Patthammavong January

2018

Laos Kanlaya Sysomvang February

2018

Laos Kovanh Namthavixay January

2019

Singapore Perianan Sugunan January

2020

Laos Bounlap Khenkitisack March

2021

Singapore Satyasagara March

2022–present

Honours

Continental record

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2022 AFC Cup Group I Vietnam Viettel 1–5 4th
Singapore Hougang United 1–3
Cambodia Phnom Penh Crown 2–4
2023-24 AFC Cup Preliminary round 2 Cambodia Phnom Penh Crown

Affiliated clubs

References


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