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Young Lions (Singapore football team)
Encyclopedia
The Courts Young Lions are an under-23 football
team from Singapore
. Most of the members of the squad are players from Singapore's national under-23 team. The team comes under the direct control of the Football Association of Singapore
(FAS), but is managed as a football club and has competed in Singapore's top club competition – the S.League
– since 2003. By entering the Young Lions into the S.League, the FAS hopes to expose young players to top-level competition, thus helping to prepare them for international tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games
. As such, the Young Lions are one of the few football clubs in the world which place an age restriction on team members while playing in a top-flight professional league. Most of the Singaporean members in the Courts Young Lions squad also represent the country in under-23 international tournaments.
While the bulk of the Courts Young Lions squad is made up of members of Singapore's national under-23 team, the club also takes in promising young foreign players like Luka Savic
in 2010. He played for FC Barcelona
's youth team and once played for Villarreal CF B
. He now plies his trade for SAFFC in the S-League. However, foreign players are normally only recruited into the Courts Young Lions squad if they could potentially change their nationality to Singaporean and be eligible to play international football for Singapore at some point in the future.
The aim of creating the club was to give young Singaporean players who had shown talent and a potential the opportunity for further exposure in Singapore's top league. It was also hoped that keeping the bulk of the national under-23 squad together at club level would improve Singapore's chances in the international arena, particularly at the Southeast Asian Games (where only under-23 players are allowed to compete in the football competition).
The Courts Young Lions play their league matches at the newly re-turfed Jalan Besar Stadium
. Their best S.League finish was third, which they achieved in 2004 and 2006.
reached an agreement that would see greater cooperation between the two nations. One of the intended avenues will see Young Lions play in the Malaysian Super League
and Malaysia Cup
from 2012 onwards, the first time a Singaporean team has participated in Malaysian domestic football since Singapore
won the 1994 M-League and Malaysia Cup double. Although the new Singapore team will have the existing Young Lions set up at its core, the squad will be permitted up to five local players over the age of 23, as well as a number of overseas players in accordance with the quota set out by the rules of the Malaysian competitions the team will play in.
, the youth league in Singapore.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Most of the members of the squad are players from Singapore's national under-23 team. The team comes under the direct control of the Football Association of Singapore
Football Association of Singapore
The Football Association of Singapore is the governing body of football in Singapore. It was founded in 1952. Prior to that, the Singapore Amateur Football Association, founded in 1892, was the governing body for football in Singapore...
(FAS), but is managed as a football club and has competed in Singapore's top club competition – the S.League
S.League
The S.League is the top men's professional association football league in Singapore. The league was launched in 1996 and currently involves 12 clubs.-History:...
– since 2003. By entering the Young Lions into the S.League, the FAS hopes to expose young players to top-level competition, thus helping to prepare them for international tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games
Southeast Asian Games
The Southeast Asian Games , is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia...
. As such, the Young Lions are one of the few football clubs in the world which place an age restriction on team members while playing in a top-flight professional league. Most of the Singaporean members in the Courts Young Lions squad also represent the country in under-23 international tournaments.
While the bulk of the Courts Young Lions squad is made up of members of Singapore's national under-23 team, the club also takes in promising young foreign players like Luka Savic
Luka Savic
Luka Savic is a Serbia player who currently is a free agent. His cousin, Milan 'Lola' Smiljanic, is currently contracted to Espanyol, while Milan's father, Branko, is a much-travelled coach who is well respected in Serbia.-External links:...
in 2010. He played for FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
's youth team and once played for Villarreal CF B
Villarreal CF B
Villarreal Club de Fútbol B is a Spanish football team based in Villarreal, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1999, it is the reserve team of Villarreal CF, and plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva Villarreal CF, with a 5,000-seat capacity.Unlike in...
. He now plies his trade for SAFFC in the S-League. However, foreign players are normally only recruited into the Courts Young Lions squad if they could potentially change their nationality to Singaporean and be eligible to play international football for Singapore at some point in the future.
The aim of creating the club was to give young Singaporean players who had shown talent and a potential the opportunity for further exposure in Singapore's top league. It was also hoped that keeping the bulk of the national under-23 squad together at club level would improve Singapore's chances in the international arena, particularly at the Southeast Asian Games (where only under-23 players are allowed to compete in the football competition).
The Courts Young Lions play their league matches at the newly re-turfed Jalan Besar Stadium
Jalan Besar Stadium
Jalan Besar Stadium is a football stadium located along Jalan Besar, in the Kallang area of Singapore and is the current home stadium of Young Lions, a S.League football team. The stadium can also be used for any Singapore national football team matches as the National Stadium, Singapore is being...
. Their best S.League finish was third, which they achieved in 2004 and 2006.
Malaysian domestic competition
In 2011, the Football Association of Singapore and the Football Association of MalaysiaFootball Association of Malaysia
The Football Association of Malaysia is the governing body for football in Malaysia, responsible for organising the Malaysian national football team and the major football and futsal tournaments within the country. The Football Association of Malaysia main headquarters is located at Wisma...
reached an agreement that would see greater cooperation between the two nations. One of the intended avenues will see Young Lions play in the Malaysian Super League
Malaysian Super League
The Malaysia Super League is a Malaysian professional league for association football. At the top flight of the Malaysian football league system and it is managed by the Malaysia Super League Sdn Bhd, under supervision of the Football Association of Malaysia...
and Malaysia Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...
from 2012 onwards, the first time a Singaporean team has participated in Malaysian domestic football since Singapore
Singapore Lions
The Singapore Lions is the name given to a representative team of footballers representing the Football Association of Singapore in domestic competitions run by the Football Association of Malaysia...
won the 1994 M-League and Malaysia Cup double. Although the new Singapore team will have the existing Young Lions set up at its core, the squad will be permitted up to five local players over the age of 23, as well as a number of overseas players in accordance with the quota set out by the rules of the Malaysian competitions the team will play in.
National Football Academy
Most of the Courts Young Lions players come from the NFA (National Football Academy) and new players (from the NFA) will be promoted to the Courts Young Lions squad every season. The promoted players are the ones who have played well for the NFA teams (U-17, U18) which play in the Prime LeaguePrime League
The Prime League is the reserve team soccer league of Singapore's S.League. Teams involved in the league are primarily made up of youth players from the S.League clubs. The Prime League was founded in 1997...
, the youth league in Singapore.
S.League Record
- 2003 - 12th place (Wooden SpoonistWooden spoon (award)A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
) - 2004 - 3rd place
- 2005 - 6th place
- 2006 - 3rd place
- 2007 - 5th place
- 2008 - 9th place
- 2009 - 8th place
- 2010 - 9th place
Singapore Cup Record
- 2003 - Quarter-finals
- 2004 - Quarter-finals
- 2005 - Quarter-finals
- 2006 - Quarter-finals
- 2007 - First Round
- 2008Singapore Cup 2008-First knockout round:The draw for the first knockout round was held on Friday, 5 April 2008 in Singapore. The first round matches started on 6 May.-----------------------------Quarter finals:First Legs----------------...
- 4th place - 2009 - First Round
- 2010 - 4th place
Singapore League Cup Record
- 2007 - Did not take part
- 2008 - 4th place
- 2009 - First Round
- 2010 - First Round
- 2011 - Did not take part