Minerva Academy FC

For Indian Super League club, see Punjab FC.

Minerva Academy
Full nameMinerva Academy Football and Cricket Club
Nickname(s)
  • The Warriors
  • The Factory
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
(as Minerva Academy)
GroundMinerva Academy Ground
OwnerRanjit Bajaj
Head coachTushar Soodan
League
Websiteminervaacademyfc.com

Minerva Academy Football Club (often referred to as Minerva Punjab) is an Indian professional multi-sports club based in Chandigarh, Punjab, best known for its football, cricket and futsal teams.[1][2] The club's football section predominantly competed in the Punjab State Super League.[3][4]

Minerva previously participated in the I-League, then the highest division of Indian football league system.[5][6][7] The club reached the AFC Cup Group stage, in the 2019 edition of the continental second tier.[8] After selling Punjab FC to Roundglass Sports, owner Ranjit Bajaj bought stakes in Delhi FC. However, Minerva Academy remained active since its inception.[9][10]

After being promoted into the I-League in 2016,[11] the academy based club was rebranded as Minerva Punjab FC, and in 2019 the football section was relabeled as Punjab FC. The club has won the I-League title once, in 2017–18. Widely known as "the factory" of Indian football, Minerva is one of the most successful sports academies in the country.[12][13]

  1. ^ "Mahesh Singh's Late Strike Scripts Shillong Lajong's Win Against Minerva Punjab FC". india.com. 25 January 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  2. ^ Bhattacharjee, Neeladri (29 July 2023). "Minerva Academy treading path of Pirlo, Shearer and Ibrahimovic with Gothia Cup win". sportstar.thehindu.com. Chennai: Sportstar – The Hindu News. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. ^ "33rd JCT Punjab State Super Football League 2019". indiafooty.com. 15 September 2019. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  4. ^ @minervapunjabfc (29 September 2018). "A quick look at the latest #PunjabFootballLeague table 📈 #chakdephatte" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "Minerva Punjab 0–5 East Bengal". int.soccerway.com. Soccerway. 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  6. ^ "I-League 2017: Aizawl FC 1–0 Minerva Punjab – Supersub Ashutosh wins it at the death". Goal.com. 13 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  7. ^ "I-League: East Bengal miss penalty, hold Minerva for a 2–2 draw". timesofindia.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  8. ^ Mullick, Sounak (10 August 2019). "Indian football transfers: Minerva Punjab FC rope in Sergio Barboza Jr and Orok Essien in a double deal". Sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Minerva Academy FC enters into a historic partnership with Delhi FC!". Arunava about Football. 6 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  10. ^ "His goal: India in football World Cup!". tamilmurasu.com.sg. SPH Digital News. Indo-Asian News Service. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  11. ^ Bharat, Khelchandra (6 July 2016). "Durand Cup 2016: Minerva Academy FC Gets Direct Entry Along With 7 Other Clubs". indianfootballnetwork.com. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  12. ^ Parasar, Swapnaneel (5 August 2018). "Minerva Punjab win U-13 Youth League title". sportingnews.com. The Sporting News India. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  13. ^ Jaison, Anson (17 June 2023). "Minerva Academy Revolutionizes Indian Football with New Residential Program at Bengaluru SAI Facility". halfwayfootball.com. Halfway Football India. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.