Young Elephants FC

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Young Elephants Football Club, commonly known as Young Elephants, is a Laotian professional football club based in Vientiane, Laos. The club currently competes in the Lao League 1, the top tier football league in Laos. 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
ສະໂມສອນ ຊ້າງນ້ອຍ ເອຟຊີ
Full nameYoung Elephants Football Club (ສະໂມສອນບານເຕະ ຊ້າງນ້ອຍ)
Nickname(s)The Elephants
Short nameYE
Founded2015; 9 years ago (2015)
GroundNew Laos National Stadium
Capacity25,000
OwnerJason Lim
ChairmanJason Lim
CoachPhoutpasong Sengdalavong
LeagueLao League 1
2023Lao League 1 ; 1st of 8 (Champions)
Current season


Young Elephants players comprise about 80% of the Laos national team.

History edit

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 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 Singaporean head 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.

Back-to-back Invincibles (2022–2023) edit

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 edit

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 then 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 edit

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

Affiliated clubs edit

Players edit

As of 24 February 2024[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   LAO Solasak Thilavong
3 DF   LAO Kittisak Phomvongsa
4 DF   LAO Somsavath Sophabmixay
5 DF   LAO Sengvilay Chanthasily
7 FW   LAO Vilay Kulangsy
8 MF   LAO Manolom Phetphakdy (captain)
9 FW   LAO Kydavone Souvanny
10 FW   LAO Somxay Keohanam
13 DF   LAO Thanouthong Kietnalonglop
14 MF   LAO Phithack Kongmathilath
15 DF   LAO Thipphachanh Inthavong
16 GK   LAO Outthilath Nammakhoth
17 DF   LAO Phonsak Sisavath
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF   LAO Loungleung Keophouvong
19 DF   LAO Kaharn Phetsivilay
20 DF   LAO Sengdaovy Hanthavong
21 MF   LAO Souphan Khambaion
23 DF   LAO Chitpasong Latthachack
25 MF   LAO Phetsavanh Bounsoulin
26 GK   LAO Vilasack Vanthanoulath
27 MF   LAO Sisouphon Akkhavong
MF   LAO Anousone Xaypanya
MF   LAO Kadam Koneyer
FW   JPN Takumu Nishihara
GK   LAO Anoulak Vilaphon

Technical staff edit

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

Stadium edit

 
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 edit

Name Period
  Bounma Patthammavong January

2018

  Kanlaya Sysomvang February

2018

  Kovanh Namthavixay January

2019

  Perianan Sugunan January

2020

  Bounlap Khenkitisack March

2021

  Satyasagara March

2022–present

Honours edit

Continental record edit

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

References edit

  1. ^ "Young Elephants' Profile on the-afc-com". AFC. Archived from the original on 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2022-06-22.

External links edit