Full name | Pakistan Airlines Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Airliners | ||
Short name | PIA | ||
Founded | 1958 | ||
Dissolved | 2021 | ||
Ground | Korangi Baloch Stadium | ||
Capacity | 5,000 [1] | ||
Owner | Pakistan International Airlines | ||
Pakistan International Airlines Football Club, abbreviated as PIA F.C., served as the football section of Pakistan International Airlines. Based in Karachi, Sindh, the club used to compete in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League.
The club is the most successful club in Pakistan in terms of league titles, winning nine National Football Championship titles, with their first league title in 1971 and their last title win in the 1998–99 season.
The club was founded in 1958, to represent Pakistan International Airlines in the Inter-Departmental League. [2] From the 1970s until the 1990s, the club dominated the National Football Championship. [3] Their first National Football Championship title came in 1971 when they defeated Karachi in the finals. The club successfully defended their title in 1972 when they held off Peshawar White. Their third title came in the first of the two 1975 seasons, defeating provincial side Punjab A. In 1976 they retained their title, holding off a challenge from Pakistan Railways. [4] Pakistan Airlines were defending champions in 1978, after there being no football 1977 due to martial law, but they continued to dominate Pakistani football and beat Sindh Red to take the championship for a fifth time. [4]
They defeated Pakistan Air Force in 1981 to win their sixth title. They had to wait eight years for their next title win, Sindh Government Press were the team beaten in 1989. [4]
In the season of 1992–93, they won their eighth title, when they defeated Pakistan Army in the Lifebuoy Soap sponsored league structured National Football Championship. Pakistan Airlines lost their dominance until the end of the 1990s, winning their last of 9 national championships in 1997, fighting off tough competition from Allied Bank in the final. [5]
PIA failed to enter the newly formed Pakistan Premier League from 2004 to 2006 as after the PFF President Cup held in Quetta in 2003, the team was disbanded. [6]
The club was added into 2007–08 Pakistan Premier League, as the league expanded from 12 to 14 teams. In their first season, the club finished at sixth position. The club competed in 2008 National Football Challenge Cup but finished third in their group and failed to qualify.
In the 2008–09 season, the club dropped two places and finished eighth, although the club performed well in the 2009 National Football Challenge Cup, as they finished runners up to Khan Research Laboratories, losing 1–0 in the final. In 2011–12 Pakistan Premier League, the club recorded their biggest defeat when they lost 4–0 to Khan Research Laboratories at home.
The club finished their highest position in Pakistan Premier League when they finished fourth in the 2014–15 Pakistan Premier League and were runners-up in 2015 NBP National Challenge Cup, losing again to Khan Research Laboratories. In 2018–19 season, they were eliminated in 2018 National Challenge Cup group stages and withdrew from league due to financial issues, and were relegated. [7]
The club was closed after the shutdown of departmental sports in Pakistan in September 2021. [8] [9] [10]
The Pakistan Premier League is a Pakistani semi-professional league for men's football clubs. The top tier of the Pakistan football league system, the PPL operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the PFFL B Division. The league has remained inactive since the end of the 2014–15 season. The 2018–19 season was held in between after three years of inactivity, however it was reportedly not recognised by FIFA and AFC, as it was completed under a non-FIFA recognised body a month before the termination of the event.
WAPDA Lahore Football Club serves as the football section of Water & Power Development Authority. It is based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The club used to compete in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League. The club regularly participates in the PFF National Challenge Cup.
The Pakistan Army Football Club serves as the football section of the Pakistan Army. The club was established in 1950 by Pakistan Army and is the third oldest existing club in Pakistan after Karachi Port Trust (1887) and Pakistan Navy (1948). The club used to compete in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League. The club regularly participates in the PFF National Challenge Cup.
Khan Research Laboratories Football Club, sometimes abbreviated to KRL F.C. or KRL, serves as the football section of Khan Research Laboratories. Based in Rawalpindi, the club plays their home games at KRL Stadium. The club used to compete in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League. The club regularly participates in the PFF National Challenge Cup.
Pakistan Navy Football Club serves as the football section of the Pakistan Navy. The club was founded in 1948 and mostly plays their home games at the Naval Sports Complex in Islamabad. The club used to compete in the National Football Championship and the Pakistan Premier League. The club regularly participates in the PFF National Challenge Cup.
Muhammad Essa Khan is a Pakistani football manager and former footballer who played as a forward. He is the current head coach of Khan Research Laboratories.
Muhammad Rasool is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a forward for the Pakistan national football team.
Shakir Lashari is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a striker.
Jadid Khan Pathan is a Pakistani footballer who plays as a midfielder for Pakistan Premier League club Afghan Chaman, which he captains. He has also played for Pakistan at international level, earning his first international cap during the 2008 SAFF Cup against the Maldives. Khan won the Pakistan Premier League Golden Boot in the 2011–12 season, after finishing as top-scorer.
Pakistan Air Force Football Club, abbreviated as PAF FC, serves as the football section of Pakistan Air Force. The club used to compete in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League. It regularly participates in the PFF National Challenge Cup.
Sui Southern Gas Company Football Club, commonly known as SSGC or Sui Southern Gas, served as the football section of Sui Southern Gas Company. The club used to compete in the Pakistan Premier League.
Muhammad Rizwan Asif is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a winger for the Pakistan under-23 team and the senior national team.
Muhammad Ahmed Islam is a Pakistani former professional footballer who played as a centre back.
Saddam Hussain is a Pakistani professional footballer who last played as a defensive midfielder for Oman First Division club Salalah SC. He also captained the Pakistan national team.
Mansoor Khan is a Pakistani footballer who plays as a midfielder for Khan Research Laboratories. He has also represented Pakistan internationally at the senior, U23 and U16 levels.
The 2018–19 Pakistan Premier League was the 61st season of Pakistan domestic football and the 12th season of the Pakistan Premier League. It was the first edition of the league to be played since the 2014–15 season.
Pakistan Police Football Club is a Pakistani departmental football club based in Quetta, Balochistan. Founded in 1962, it is one of the oldest Pakistani football clubs. The club used to compete in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League, the top tier of national football league system. The club regularly participates in the PFF National Challenge Cup.
Muhammad Shamim Khan is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a midfielder, and former manager. Khan is among the major players of the Pakistan national football team in the 1980s.