Laos
Laos Football Club was a professional Filipino association football club based in Quezon City, Metro Manila, founded in March 2000. The club competed in various leagues including the United Football League and the Weekend Football League, achieving notable success as inaugural champions of the UFL second division in 2009 and winning the UFL Division 2 Championship in 2015. The team was considered a sister club to Global Football Club and contributed to Philippine football development through their participation in domestic competitions.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Laos Football Club was a professional association football club that represented Quezon City in Metro Manila. The club operated as a sister team to Global Football Club, sharing its history and development under the ownership of Dan Palami. Throughout its existence, the team participated in several domestic leagues, contributing to the growth of Philippine football.
Most recent season and achievements
The club's final competitive participation was in the Elite Division of the Weekend Football League during the 2017 season. Following the disbandment of the United Football League, Laos FC successfully campaigned in this competition alongside other notable teams including second teams of Philippines Football League clubs and former UFL participants.
History
Early years
The club's origins trace back to March 2000 when a group of football enthusiasts from Tacloban organized weekly football practice sessions as a leisure activity. This group, which included Dan Palami and employees from his company, initially played their games behind the Quezon City hall before relocating to the Sunken Garden football field at the University of the Philippines Diliman. The team began participating in minor tournaments around Manila under the name "Laos F.C.," with the name derived from the Filipino term "laos" meaning "has beens."
Successful period
With the establishment of Global Football Club in 2009, Dan Palami formed a separate team that retained the Laos Football Club name. The club achieved its first major success in the United Football League during the 2015 season, winning the UFL Division 2 Championship with an unbeaten record. This championship earned them promotion to the first division, marking their debut in the Philippines' top flight football.
Current period
After the UFL was disbanded, Laos FC joined the Elite Division of the Weekend Football League for the 2017 season. The club later applied to join the Philippines Football League with intentions to debut in the professional league's 2021 season.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Laos Football Club achieved significant success in domestic competitions, serving as inaugural champions of the United Football League second division in 2009. The club repeated this achievement by winning the UFL Division 2 Championship in 2015 with an unbeaten record, which earned them promotion to the first division.
Traditional Rivals
Global Football Club
As sister clubs under the same ownership, Laos FC and Global Football Club shared a unique relationship rather than a traditional rivalry, with both teams contributing to Philippine football development under Dan Palami's guidance.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Ownership and finances
The club was owned by Dan Palami, who also owned Global Football Club. Under his ownership, both teams operated as sister clubs, sharing their developmental history and contributing to the advancement of Philippine football.
Nicknames
The club's name "Laos" was derived from the Filipino term meaning "has beens," reflecting the humble origins of the founding group of football enthusiasts who initially viewed themselves as casual players rather than serious competitors.