 | ||||
| Full name | Azkals Development Team | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short name | ADT | |||
| Founded | 2020; 5 years ago (2020) | |||
| Ground | PFF National Training Center | |||
| Capacity | 1,000 | |||
| Owner | Philippine Football Federation | |||
| League | Philippines Football League | |||
| 2022–23 | Philippines Football League (withdrew) | |||
TheAzkals Development Team, commonly referred to asADT, is a Philippinedevelopmentalfootball club that last competed inPhilippines Football League, before officially withdrawing from the competition in May 2023.[1]
Founded in 2020, the team is under the jurisdiction of thePhilippine Football Federation (PFF), while being managed similar to a professional club. Most of the club's players are members of the Philippines' youth national teams.[2]
The team has a youth academy, called the Azkals Development Academy (ADA) where they are currently heavily investing in the academy as of 2023.
As preparation for the2019 Southeast Asian Games in thePhilippines, thePhilippine Football Federation decided to let thePhilippines U-22 team, composed of players such asYrick Gallantes,Chima Uzoka, andElias Mordal compete against the clubs of thePhilippines Football League in the2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara. The team won their first match, 1–0, againstGreen Archers United, but ultimately finished 3rd and failed to qualify for the semifinals. In the aftermath of the team's success at the SEA Games, it was reported that there were plans to have the national youth team participate in the2020 season of thePhilippines Football League (PFL) as a guest team.[3] However, such plans were dropped and a reportedly a full-fledged professional club under the nameAzkals Development Team. will enter the league instead. The formation of the club is an initiative of the National Teams Committee of thePhilippine Football Federation.[4] The coaching staff of the Philippine senior national team will be involved with ADT[5][6] withScott Cooper as head coach.[7]
The ADT was formed after it was observed that other countries participating in the games already had many players participating in professional leagues while Filipino players of the same age still involved in collegiate football. The development team is intended give "professional club environment" exposure to mainly youth players as well as select overage players from the senior national team such as individuals who recently recovered from an injury.[2] According to national team managerDan Palami, ADT is a platform to develop "homegrown" players for the national team.[8]
By January 2020, the club had begun signing its first set of players.[1] ADT played their first friendly match againstPhilippine Army on March 5, 2020, as part ofPhilippine Army's 123rd founding anniversary. ADT won 6–0.[9] ADT's debut in the PFL was delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 PFL season.[10] In preparation for the possible resumption of the season, ADT's players went toBalesin Island in September 2020. While by this time the government throughGames and Amusements Board and theInter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has allowed PFL teams to conduct team trainings, ADT's status as a guest team and non-professional side of the PFL meant that it had to secure a separate permission from the government.[11]
The club participated in the 2020 PFL season that was postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, boasting a roster with former PFL and UAAP players such asJarvey Gayoso,Mar Diano, Marvin Angeles, and Mathew Custodio. ADT played their first-ever PFL match on October 28, 2020, at thePFF National Training Center, where they lost to defending championsUnited City, 1–0.[12] On their third match of the season, on November 3, they clinched their first-ever PFL win, 2–0 overMendiola.Jarvey Gayoso scored the team's first-ever PFL goal.[13][14] The club ended up winning the next 3 games to secure 3rd place overall.
In 2021, the club brought in many new faces as well as let go of old players to other league clubs, in keeping with the club's values. The club's biggest departures wereJarvey Gayoso, who went toKaya–Iloilo,Anthony Pinthus, who transferred toUnited City, andChima Uzoka, who went toStallion Laguna, The club brought inOskari Kekkonen andSandro Reyes, two prospects who had played for thePhilippines U23 team. On the team's list wereMark Winhoffer, Lloyd Fagerlie,Niko de Vera, andMark Swainston, although none of them played a match for the club. The club participated in the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara due to the cancellation of the 2021 PFL season. In the group stage they thrashed Mendiola 1991 9–0, their biggest-ever victory, and narrowly won 2–1 in the semifinals against Stallion, setting up a final with Kaya-Iloilo, where they lost 1–0.[15] A number of their players would go on to play in the2020 AFF Championship later that year.
During the club's 2022 preseason, the team let go of many of its players who were vital in last season's cup run. Mathew Custodio andIvan Ouano went to United City,Sandro Reyes,Oskari Kekkonen,Mar Diano, andQuincy Kammeraad departed for Kaya,Troy Limbo andKainoa Bailey went to Stallion Laguna, whileChristian Rontini became the first player of the club to transfer overseas, going toPenang in theMalaysia Super League. The new-look club, as preparation for the2022 Southeast Asian Games, participated in the2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara, bringing in reinforcements such as Scott Woods, Jaime Rosquillo, and Mateo Alegre, as well as hiring experienced coach and former AzkalNorman Fegidero.[16][17] The club ended up with two wins, one draw, and three loses, finishing fourth but having to forfeit their semifinal slot due to their commitments in the ASEAN competition. After the SEA Games,Philippine National Team veteranStephan Schröck was brought in and the club saw another overhaul, letting go most of its oldest players and bringing in majority of thePhilippine U-19 National Team. With Schrock maintaining a playing coach role and acting as captain, the club impressed despite the players' young ages. The ADT finished fourth in the mid-season table, with a number of their players playing in the2022 AFF Championship.
On 23 May 2023, ADT announced its withdrawal from the PFL, forfeiting its remaining games in the season due to unspecified "recent events". Although it has committed to continue its Azkals Development Academy.[18]
| Short name | ADA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023; 2 years ago (2023) |
| League | N/A |
| CEO | Stephan Schröck |
| Parent group | Azkals Development Team |
| Website | www |
The formation of the Azkals Development Academy (ADA), which is associated with ADT,[18] was first announced in November 2022 byStephan Schröck.[19] The academy was launched by May 2023.[20]
It remains operational following ADT's withdrawal from the 2022–23 PFL season.[18] The academy was set to send a team in the2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara.[21] However, a new clubCF Manila entered the Copa from the core of ADA players.[22]
| Name | Year(s) |
|---|---|
 Scott Cooper[7] | 2020–2021 |
 Jovanie Villagracia[23] | 2021 |
| Norman Fegidero[16] | 2022 |
| Jovanie Villagracia | 2022 |
| Stephan Schröck[24] | 2023 |
| Jovanie Villagracia | 2023 |
