Punjab FC

Punjab Football Club (formerly known as RoundGlass Punjab) is an Indian professional football club based in Mohali, Punjab. The club competes in Indian Super League, the top flight of Indian football league system, following promotion from the 2022–23 I-League.

In April 2020, RoundGlass Sports Pvt. Ltd. completed the acquisition of the I-League club Punjab FC from Minerva Academy and rebranded it as RoundGlass Punjab FC. After promotion to ISL, they changed their name to Punjab FC in July 2023.

History

RoundGlass Punjab FC was incorporated after acquiring 100% ownership stake of Punjab FC, ahead of the 2020–21 I-League season. On 15 June 2020, they appointed Curtis Fleming as their head coach. On 15 July, they appointed Nikolaos Topoliatis as new technical director. As the season progressed, Punjab made it to the championship stage and finished their season with a 2–3 loss to Churchill Brothers. They achieved 2nd position with 22 points in 15 league matches.

In August 2022, Staikos Vergetis was appointed as new head coach of RoundGlass Punjab. After winning 4–0 against Rajasthan United on 4 March 2023, the club ensued their I-League win, and gaining promotion to the Indian Super League for the first time. They ended the season with 52 points in 22 league matches. RoundGlass Punjab later participated in 2023 Indian Super Cup in Kerala. Their promotion to the Indian Super League was confirmed when AIFF declared that RoundGlass Punjab have been promoted to the 2023–24 Indian Super League season after securing the Premier 1 Club Licensing which was required to play in the league. The club secured license as 'Punjab FC' and will be playing in Indian Super League as Punjab FC.

Punjab began their 2023–24 season campaign on 23 September, in a 3–1 away defeat to Mohun Bagan, in which Luka Majcen scored club's first ever ISL goal. They secured first league point on 6 October, in an 1–1 tie with NorthEast United, in their first home match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. On 19 December, French playmaker Madih Talal scored a goal, gave Punjab their historic first match win in the Super League as they defeated Chennaiyin by 1–0 at home. The club achieved their first away win later on 12 February 2024, defeating Kerala Blasters 3–1 in Kochi. The club registered their biggest win on 10 April defeating East Bengal 4–1, ended the league campaign with 24 points in 22 matches.

Crest, colours & kits

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Stadiums

In September 2023, Punjab FC officially confirmed Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi as their home venue for the 2023–24 season of Indian Super League.

Previously, Punjab FC played in Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Panchkula in the 2022–23 season of I-League. The stadium has a capacity of 12,000 spectators. The club is also the owner of Guru Nanak Stadium.

Supporters

A recognised fan club named "The Warriors" has been in support of the club. The Guru Nanak Stadium has seen an average attendance of 12,000.

Players

First-team squad

As of 14 June 2024

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

Out on loan

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

Personnel

Current technical staff

Records and statistics

Overview

League statistics

As of 10 April 2024

Managerial record

As of 10 April 2024

Notable players

The following RoundGlass Punjab players have been capped at senior/youth international level. Years in brackets indicate their spells at the club.

• Chencho Gyeltshen (2020–2021, 2023)
• Kiran Chemjong (2022–)
• Kurtis Guthrie (2021–2022)
• Adnan Šećerović (2022–2023)
• Aleksandar Ignjatović (2022–2023)
• Luka Majcen (2022–2024)

Honours

League

• I-League (as tier-II)
  • Champions (1): 2022–23
• Punjab Super League
  • Winners (1): 2022–23

Other department(s)

Football: Reserves and academy

Club's youth section was at first incorporated from Minerva Academy players and started participating in various age-group competitions of the Hero Youth League. In December 2023, club's football academy gained an 'elite category' accreditation by the All India Football Federation.

Reserve side won its first Punjab State Super Football League title in 2022–23. Managed by coach Sankarlal Chakraborty, the club clinched 2024 Reliance Foundation Development League title defeating East Bengal in final, and qualified for the PL Next Gen Cup.

Field hockey

The club also operates field hockey academy in Chandigarh, and its teams compete in various junior and sub-junior competitive events.

See also

• List of football clubs in India

References

Footnotes

Further reading

Bibliography

• Shreekumar, S. S. (15 August 2020). THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR INDIA'S FOOTBALL. HSRA Publications. ISBN 9788194721697. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
• Sharma, Nikhil Paramjit; Gupta, Shantanu (4 February 2019). India's Football Dream. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 9789353283063. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.

Other sources

• "I am not going anywhere, will produce World Cuppers: Football entrepreneur Ranjit Bajaj". newindianexpress.com. New Delhi: The New Indian Express. 16 April 2020. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
• Chatterjee, Siraj (10 December 2020). "Punjabi Football on a Roar!". footballindia.co.in. Football India. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
• "RoundGlass Punjab mutually part ways with head coach Curtis Fleming". Khelnow.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
• "RoundGlass Punjab FC part ways with head coach Curtis Fleming". voiceofindiansports.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
• "I-League: Punjab FC parts ways with Ashley Westwood, rope in Ed Engelkes as new coach". indianexpress.com. 23 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
• "Roundglass Punjab vs Aizawl FC I-League 2021 Live Score & Commentary". Sportskeeda. 9 January 2021. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
• "Former Chesterfield defender Josef Yarney 'thrilled' to complete surprise move abroad". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
• "Josef Yarney signs RoundGlass Punjab FC. Would he be a good fit?". footballexpress.in. 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
• Guha, Sayantan (8 June 2022). ""Wanted to show India that even a 28-year-old could coach a team at this level" — Rajasthan United boss Francesc Bonet opens up about the ups and downs of the I-League season". sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
• "ISL 2023–24: Martinez strike guides FC Goa to win in its opening match of the season against Punjab". sportstar.thehindu.com. Chennai: Sportstar. 3 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
• Mergulhao, Marcus (3 October 2023). "ISL: FC Goa Lucky To Escape With Win Against Punjab". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Chennai: The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.

External links

• Punjab FC on Facebook
• Punjab FC on X
• Punjab FC on Instagram
• Team profile at the-aiff.com (AIFF)
• Team archive at Arunava about Football