Full name | Futbol Club Meralco Manila |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Sparks |
Short name | MER |
Founded | 2006 | , as Loyola Agila Football Club
Ground | Rizal Memorial Stadium |
Capacity | 12,873 |
Chairman | Manuel V. Pangilinan |
Head coach | Aris Caslib |
League | Philippines Football League |
2016 | 3rd (UFL) |
Website | Club website |
Active affiliates of FC Meralco Manila |
||
---|---|---|
Football | Basketball | Volleyball |
Active affiliates of FC Meralco Manila
F.C. Meralco Manila, formerly the Loyola Meralco Sparks F.C. is a Filipino professional football club based in Manila. The team currently plays in the Philippines Football League, the highest level of Philippine club football. Founded as Loyola Agila Football Club in 2006, the club changed its name to Loyola Meralco Sparks in 2011 after the acquisition of the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) and the MVP Sports Foundation, both of which are owned by Filipino millionaire Manuel V. Pangilinan.
Loyola Meralco Sparks had their first major success in 2013, when they won the United Football League Cup. Since then, they have won the PFF National Men's Club Championship once.
In 2017, the club once again changed its name to FC Meralco Manila to reflect its entry to the Philippines Football League.
The team was founded by former Ateneo de Manila University and high school varsity football players and employees in 2006 who share a common passion for the sport.
Loyola was one of the teams that joined the first season of the UFL which they finished 4th place. The team was then sponsored by ATR Kim-Eng by the 2011 season, which they finished 5th place under their team captain Patrick Ozaeta.
Straight from the 2011 National Club Championships, the brothers Phil and James Younghusband led the new signed players of the Sparks in early September 2011, along with brothers Darren, Matthew and Mark Hartmann. The team was eventually taken over by Meralco and the MVP Sports Foundation which is owned by Manuel V. Pangilinan.