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United City F.C.

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United City
File:United City FC crest.png
Full nameUnited City Football Club
Founded2012; 12 years ago (2012) (as Ceres La-Salle FC)
OwnerMMC Sportz Asia
Head coachVacant
LeaguePhilippines Football League
2019Philippines Football League, 1st of 7 (champions) (as Ceres-Negros FC)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

United City Football Club is a Filipino professional football club that competes in the Philippines Football League (PFL), the top-tier league in Filipino football. From 2012 until 2020, the club was commonly known as Ceres (founded as Ceres–La Salle; renamed as Ceres–Negros in 2017 when it joined the PFL) and associated with Ceres Liner, a bus transport firm owned by Leo Rey Yanson. Yanson was the club chair and owner of the club during that period. As Ceres, the club had Panaad Stadium in Bacolod, Negros Occidental as its home venue.

As Ceres–La Salle, the club had their first major success in the United Football League during the 2014 season, when they won the United Football League Division 2 Championship, earning them promotion to the first division. Since then, they have won the UFL FA League Cup (2014) and the United Football League Division 1 Championship (2014) and (2015). The club is also a two-time PFF National Men's Club Championship champion (2012–13 and 2013–14) and a one-time United Football League champion (2015).

As Ceres–Negros, the club was a three-time Philippines Football League champion (2017, 2018, and 2019) and winner of the Copa Paulino Alcantara (2019).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting operations of Ceres Liner, Yanson was forced to sell the club to a new managing entity. Emirati-Philippine sports marketing firm MMC Sportz Asia took over management of the club, retaining the majority of players from Ceres-Negros, and renamed the club United City F.C.

History

File:Fans of Ceres Negros FC.jpg
Ceres-Negros FC Fans

Early years

United City was founded by Leo Rey Yanson in 2012 as Ceres—La Salle FC[1][2][3] because of cooperation with the University of St. La Salle of Bacolod.[4] Initially the club was composed of collegiate players reinforced by Korean players, but eventually it managed to transition to a team mostly led by members of the Philippines national team.[5]

One of their first notable victories in a tournament came in the inaugural Negros Men's Open Football Championships in January 2012. The squad won that tournament in an 11–0 win against Bacolod United F.C. in the final.[6]

Their first national tournament was the 2013 PFF National Men's Club Championship[7] qualifying in the Round of 16 after they swept all their games in the Visayas regional eliminations in San Carlos.[8] United City won the championship trophy in a 1–0 defeat against Pasargad in the final. In route to the tournament championship, they won games against Stallion, Global and Kaya.[9][10]

Joining the United Football League

After they won the 2013 PFF National Men's Club Championship, Ceres expressed intent to join the United Football League (UFL), the de facto top-tier football league in the Philippines at that time, although they were not able to play in the 2013 UFL season and instead joined for the 2013 UFL Cup.[11][12]

Ceres debuted in the UFL in the 2014 season starting from Division 2. The club dominated the second division and was promoted to Division 1 the following season.[13][14] Ceres was considered a serious contenders for the 2015 UFL Division 1 title in their first year.[15] The claimed the championship that year with a number of games still left in the season.[16] However they were not able to replicate their feat in the 2016 season and finished in second place.

First three seasons in the Philippines Football League

Main article: Philippines Football League
Davao Aguilas vs. Ceres–Negros, September 16, 2017.

When the Philippines Football League supplanted the UFL as the top-tier football league in the Philippines, Ceres was among the pioneer clubs of the inaugural season in 2017. Ceres renamed themselves as Ceres-Negros F.C., designating the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod as their home venue. Ceres-Negros won the championships in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons, as well as the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara title.

Internal affairs at Vallacar Transit affected the Ceres-Negros' operations during the 2019 season. The team's status was made uncertain due to a dispute within the Yanson family concerning Vallacar's management.[17][18] Ceres chairman Leo Rey Yanson lost control of Vallacar after four of his siblings staged a boardroom coup in July and subsequently regained control of the company in August.[19] Despite this upheaval, the club clinched the league title.[20]

Renaming as United City F.C.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and after the 2020 PFL season was postponed due to the health crisis, rumors of the Ceres–Negros' departure from the league or disbandment has circulated.[21][7] The pandemic triggered a force majeure, which ended the contract of all the club's players.[22]

In July 2020, Ceres-Negros announced that their club owner and chairman Leo Rey Yanson would step down and the club would enter into negotiations with potential investors. [23] Emirati-Philippine sports marketing firm MMC Sportz Asia was officially announced as the new owner of Ceres–Negros and renamed the club as United City F.C. The new owners said that the core of the original club, 16 out of 21 players will remain with the club.[24] MMC Sportz Asia had prior involvement in Philippine football, as sponsors of Global F.C. in 2019, however they did not renew the agreement the following season due to internal issues with said club.[25]

The new management of United City, proceeded to re-sign Ceres' former players intending to keep the core of its immediate predecessor.[26] This includes team captain Stephan Schröck who was appointed as a playing assistant coach.[27][28]

Crest and colors

Club crest (2016–2020)

As Ceres FC, the club crest was derived from the main emblem of Ceres Liner bus liner. It was encircled in green to represent the colors of the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod, which is known for its football team. The center is the oval logo of the Yanson Company – Vallacar Transit Incorporated which previously owned the club.[29]

Following the renaming of Ceres-Negros to United City FC due to the takeover of MMC Sportz Asia a competition to design a new club crest was announced. [24][30] The new crest was formally unveiled on July 29, 2020 which consists of a circular design featuring a football in its center.[31]

The design of the United City crest was made by Gerard Endaya, creative director of Grit Sports. Some of the crest elements references United City's past as Ceres; its circular shape was carried over from its predecessor, and the two stars symbolizes United City's incarnations as Ceres—La Salle and Ceres—Negros.[31][32]

Youth department

United City as Ceres—Negros also maintained a youth club under the same name.[33] The youth side competed in the 7's Football League.[34]

Head coaches

Players

First team squad

As of 13 August 2020[39]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Philippines PHI Sean Kane
5 FW Philippines PHI Mike Ott
7 FW Spain ESP Bienvenido Marañón
8 MF Philippines PHI Manuel Ott
9 MF Japan JPN Takashi Odawara
10 FW Philippines PHI OJ Porteria
11 MF Philippines PHI Tristan Robles
12 MF Philippines PHI Stephan Schröck (captain)
13 MF Philippines PHI Dennis Villanueva
15 DF Philippines PHI Arnie Pasinabo
18 DF Philippines PHI Joshua Dutosme
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 GK Philippines PHI Florencio Badelic Jr.
25 GK Philippines PHI Ronilo Bayan Jr.
29 MF Philippines PHI Hikaru Minegishi
30 MF Philippines PHI Angélo Marasigan
71 FW Senegal SEN Robert Lopez Mendy
— DF Philippines PHI Jordan Jarvis
— FW Philippines PHI Pocholo Bugas
— MF Philippines PHI Jorrel Aristorenas
— DF Philippines PHI Miguel Clarino
— GK Philippines PHI Anthony Pinthus (on loan from ADT[40])

Honours

Domestic

League

Cups

Continental record

Season Competition Round Club Score Agg. / Pos.
Home Away
2014 AFC President's Cup Group Stage North Korea Rimyongsu 2–2 Group B
(3rd)
Chinese Taipei Tatung 2–0
Turkmenistan HTTU 1–2
2015 AFC Cup Play-off Round Maldives Maziya 0–1 —
2016 AFC Cup Group Stage Malaysia Selangor FA 2–2 0–0 Group E
(1st)
Bangladesh Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi 5–0 2–0
Singapore Tampines Rovers 2–1 1–1
Round of 16 Hong Kong South China 0–1
(a.e.t) 		—
2017 AFC Cup Group Stage Vietnam Hà Nội 6–2 1–1 Group G
(1st)
Singapore Tampines Rovers 5–0 4–2
Malaysia Felda United 0–0 0–3
ASEAN Zonal Semifinal Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 2–1 2–3 4–4 (a)
ASEAN Zonal Final Singapore Home United 2–0 1–2 3–2
Inter-zone Play-off Semifinal Tajikistan Istiklol 1–1 0–4 1–5
2018 AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1 Myanmar Shan United 1–1
(a.e.t)
(4–3 p) 		—
Preliminary Round 2 Australia Brisbane Roar 3–2
Play-off Round China Tianjin Quanjian 0–2
AFC Cup Group Stage Cambodia Boeung Ket Angkor 9–0 4–0 Group F
2nd
(Best Runner-Up)
Singapore Home United 0–2 1–1
Myanmar Shan United 1–0 2–0
ASEAN Zonal Semifinal Myanmar Yangon United 4–2 2–3 6–5
ASEAN Zonal Final Singapore Home United 1–1 0–2 1–3
2019 AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1 Myanmar Yangon United 1–2 —
AFC Cup Group Stage Myanmar Shan United 3–2 5–0 Group G
(1st)
Vietnam Becamex Bình Dương 0–1 3–1
Indonesia Persija Jakarta 1–0 3–2
ASEAN Zonal Semifinal Vietnam Hà Nội 1–1 1–2 2–3
2020 AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1 Myanmar Shan United 3–2 —
Preliminary Round 2 Thailand Port 1–0 —
Play-off Round Japan FC Tokyo 0–2 —
AFC Cup Group Stage Cambodia Svay Rieng 4–0 – Group G
(TBD)
Vietnam Than Quảng Ninh 2–2 –
Indonesia Bali United 4–0 –

Overall Record

Accurate as of February 11, 2020.[44]
Competition Played Won Drew Lost GF GA GD Win%
AFC Champions League 7 3 1 3 9 11 −2 042.86
AFC Cup 39 19 9 11 81 45 +36 048.72
AFC President's Cup 3 1 1 1 5 4 +1 033.33
Total 49 23 11 15 95 60 +35 046.94

Invitational tournament

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2016 Singapore Cup Preliminary Round Singapore Young Lions 3–1 (a.e.t)
Quarter-final Brunei DPMM FC 2–3 3–0 5–3
Semi-final Singapore Tampines Rovers 2–3 1–2 3–5
Third place Singapore Balestier Khalsa 2–1
2017 Singapore Cup Preliminary Round Singapore Hougang United 0–1

AFC Club ranking

As of 28 August 2019.[45]
Current Rank Country Team
31 Australia Sydney FC
32 Philippines Ceres–Negros F.C.
33 Malaysia Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C.
34 United Arab Emirates Al Jazira
35 Japan FC Tokyo

Records

Season Division Teams League Position Copa Paulino Alcantara PFF NMCC UFL Cup League Cup Singapore Cup AFC President's Cup AFC Cup AFC Champions League
2013 — — — — Champion Quarter-final — — — — —
2014 2 (P) 12 1st — Champion — Champion — Group stage — —
2015 1 10 1st — 3rd Place Runners-up — — — Play-off Round —
2016 1 12 2nd — — Runners-up — 3rd Place — Round of 16 —
2017 1 8 2nd (Regular Season) — — — — Preliminary Round — Inter Zone Semi-final —
1st (Final Series)
2018 1 6 1st Group stage — — — — — ASEAN Zonal Final Play-off round
2019 1 7 1st 1st — — — — — ASEAN Zonal Semi-Final Preliminary Round
2020 1 — — — — — — — — — —
Updated as of 20 December 2019

References

  1. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (July 10, 2019). "Ceres Negros wins one for beleaguered owner". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  2. ^ "Ceres-La Salle graduates fete chairman". The Daily Guardian. July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  3. ^ Galunan, Jerome Jr. (August 29, 2018). "The Yansons and Negros Football". Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Terrado, Jonas (July 8, 2020). "Champion Ceres-Negros football club up for sale". Tempo. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  5. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (22 January 2017). "Road to redemption". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Ceres bags 1st Negros First Football crown". The Daily Guardian. 23 January 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  7. ^ a b Pedralvez, Manolo (7 July 2020). "As far as PFF chief is concerned, Ceres-Negros still a PFL member". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. ^ Jerome Galunan Jr. (November 26, 2012). "Ceres-La Salle FC sweeps Smart Club Championships". Watchmen Daily Journal. Watchmen Daily Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  9. ^ Flores, Celest R. (February 2, 2013). "Ceres FC clinches Pff Smart Club title". Inquirer Sports. sports.inquirer.net. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  10. ^ Almo, Alder (3 February 2013). "Cinderella Ceres completes fairy tale ending". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  11. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (February 3, 2012). "Newly-crowned champ Ceres plans to join UFL". spin.ph. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  12. ^ Jerome Galunan Jr. (August 22, 2012). "Ceres-La Salle FC to join UFL". Watchmen Daily Journal. Watchmen Daily Journal. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  13. ^ Jerome S. Galunan Jr. (3 June 2014). "In UFL Ceres is Div.2 champion, gets nod for Division 1". Watchmen Daily Journal. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  14. ^ Jaelle Nevin Reyes (14 September 2014). "Ceres FC out to prove football supremacy in UFL top division". Rappler. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  15. ^ Fenix, Ryan (6 February 2015). "Rampaging Fullback: Five things to watch for in the 2015 UFL season". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  16. ^ Michael Angelo S. Murillo (31 July 2015). "Ceres' UFL ascent a remarkable feat". Business World Online. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  17. ^ Gomez, Carla (7 August 2019). "Ceres bus services halted as Yanson family feud continues". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  18. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (6 July 2020). "Jeffrey Christaens leaves Ceres Negros". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  19. ^ https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/302777
  20. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (11 May 2020). "Ceres completes big year despite ownership troubles". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  21. ^ Ellera, Teresa (6 July 2020). "Ceres-Negros Football Club disbanding?". Sun Star Bacolod. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  22. ^ "End of an Era: Ceres-Negros set for name, ownership change". Tiebreaker Times. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  23. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (July 9, 2020). "'My family,' Yanson says of Ceres-Negros after letting go of Southeast Asia's current No. 1 club". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  24. ^ a b del Rosario, Paolo (July 23, 2020). "Ownership transfer official: Ceres Negros to rebrand to United City FC". ESPN5. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  25. ^ Juico, Vincent (July 28, 2020). "United City FC". BusinessMirror. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  26. ^ Galunan, Jerome Jr. (July 31, 2020). "More signings for United City". Sun Star. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  27. ^ Pedralvez, Manolo (24 July 2020). "Football: Priority for United City to get Schröck back with renamed club, says GM". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  28. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (28 July 2020). "Stephan Schrock 'staying' with United City". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  29. ^ McIntyre, Scott (8 May 2016). "Untold Stories, Southeast Asian Clubs: Ceres-La Salle FC". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  30. ^ "United City opens logo contest". Dugout Philippines. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  31. ^ a b https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afIV5IRW3_I
  32. ^ https://www.bworldonline.com/united-city-football-club-looks-to-make-its-own-mark/
  33. ^ "About the Club". Ceres Youth F.C. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  34. ^ Co, Adrian Stewart (15 March 2020). "Ceres-Negros finally wins in 7s Football League". Panay News. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  35. ^ Jerome S. Galunan Jr. (11 September 2014). "Ceres FC appoints new coach as they gear up for FA League Cup". Watchmen Daily Journal. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  36. ^ https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/396777/Entertainment/Korean-coach-leaves-Ceres-FC
  37. ^ "Ceres FC coach: We're ready vs Selangor". SunStar Bacolod. 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  38. ^ "Vidaković named as new Ceres coach – Ceres Football Club". 6 July 2016.
  39. ^ "United City Football Club". Twitter. United City F.C. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  40. ^ "United City completes roster with signing of goalkeeper Anthony Pinthus". ESPN5. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  41. ^ Songalia, Ryan (25 July 2015). "Ceres FC claims UFL League title with Socceroo domination". Rappler. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  42. ^ "UFL: Ceres downs Global to win FA League Cup". InterAksyon. 6 November 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  43. ^ {{cite news|title=Copa Alcantara Cup: https://sports.inquirer.net/373691/ceres-negros-caps-unbeaten-season-with-copa-triumph=16 November 2019|url-status=active}}
  44. ^ "Asian Cups - All-Time Tables". RSSSF. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  45. ^ "AFC Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking".

External links

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