April 25 Sports Club facts for kids
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| Full name | April 25 Sports Club | ||
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| Founded |
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| Stadium | Kim Il Sung stadium, Pyongyang | ||
| Stadium capacity |
50,000 | ||
| Owner | Ministry of People's Armed Forces | ||
| Chairman | Ri Mun-song | ||
| Manager | O Yun-son | ||
| League | DPR Korea Premier Football League | ||
| 2023–24 | 1st of 12 (Champions) | ||
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| April 25 Sports Club | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl |
4.25체육단
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| Hancha |
4.25體育團
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| Revised Romanization | Sa io cheyukdan |
| McCune–Reischauer | Sa io ch'eyuktan |
April 25 Sports Club (Korean: 4.25체육단, Sa io ch'eyuktan), often called 4.25 SC, is a large sports club based in Pyongyang, North Korea. It is best known for its men's and women's football (soccer) teams. The club is part of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces. This means that all the professional players are considered officers in the Army.
Contents
Club History
The club started in March 1947 or July 1949. Back then, it was called the Central Sports Training School Sports Club.
The club's name changed to April 25 Sports Club on June 25, 1971, or June 26, 1972. This new name honors the date April 25, 1932. This was the day Kim Il Sung's anti-Japanese guerrilla army was formed. This army is seen as the start of the Korean People's Army.
Men's Football Team
The men's football team plays in the DPR Korea Premier Football League. They are the most successful football club in North Korea. They have won 22 national championships.
April 25's home stadium is the Yanggakdo Stadium. For international matches, they usually play at the Kim Il Sung Stadium. In 2015, both the men's and women's teams won their national championships. This was a rare and impressive achievement.
In 2019, 4.25 SC reached the final of the 2019 AFC Cup. This is a big international club competition in Asia. They played against Al-Ahed from Lebanon in the final, which took place in Kuala Lumpur. April 25 lost the final match.
To reach the final, 4.25 SC had a goalless draw against Hanoi FC from Vietnam. This game was played at the Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang. About 5,500 fans watched the match. April 25 SC often plays home games in front of thousands of supporters. In the 2019 AFC Cup, they had an average of 4,050 fans at their four home games.
Club Similarities
There is another club called February 8 Sports Club. It has many similarities with April 25 Sports Club. However, the North Korean Ministry of People's Armed Forces manages both clubs separately. In 2017, April 25 Sports Club won the Paektusan Prize and the Mangyongdae Prize. February 8 Sports Club finished second in both competitions.
Team Rivalries
April 25 has a main rival called Amnokgang. Amnokgang belongs to the Ministry of People's Security. The competition between the Military and the Police carries over into their sports matches.
There is also a strong rivalry with Pyongyang. This match is known as "the Pyongyang Derby."
Club Achievements
Domestic Titles
- DPR Korea Premier Football League
- Winners (22): 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Runners-up (2): 2014, 2016
- Hwaebul Cup
- Winners (4): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Man'gyŏngdae Prize
- Winners (7): 2002, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Paektusan Prize
- Winners (1): 2017
- Poch'ŏnbo Torch Prize
- Winners (3): 2005, 2011, 2014
- DPR Korea Championship
- Winners (3): 2001, 2006, 2011
Continental Titles
- AFC Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2019
- Asian Club Championship
- Fourth place (1): 1990–91
Invitational Titles
- DCM Trophy
- Winners (1): 1972
Women's Football
April 25 also has a very strong women's football team. They are one of the best women's teams in North Korea. They have won the national championship at least six times. Their wins were in 2002, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015.
Other Sports
Besides football, April 25 Sports Club takes part in many other sports. These include athletics, ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, and handball.
Basketball
April 25 has a basketball team. In May 2015, they visited Mongolia. They helped train the Mongolian national team for a championship.
Ice Hockey
April 25's ice hockey team won the national championship in 1989.
Volleyball
April 25 has both women's and men's volleyball teams. The women's team played in the 2015 VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup in Vietnam. They won the bronze medal in that tournament. One of their players, Jong Jin Sim, was named the Most Valuable Player.
Volleyball Achievements
- VTV Bình Điền Cup: 1
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- Champions: 2015
- VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup: 2
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- Champions: 2008
- Third place: 2015
See also
In Spanish: 4.25 Sports Club para niños
- February 8 Sports Club
