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April 25
425SG.svg
Full name April 25 Sports Club
Founded March 1947; 77 years ago (1947-03) or July 1949; 75 years ago (1949-07),
as Central Sports Training School Sports Club
Ground Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, Pyongyang
Ground Capacity 150,000
Owner Ministry of People's Armed Forces
Chairman Ri Mun-song
Manager O Yun-son
League DPR Korea Premier Football League
2022-23 1st (Champions)
April 25 Sports Club
Chosŏn'gŭl 4.25체육
Hancha 4.25體育
McCune–Reischauer Sa io ch'eyuktan
Revised Romanization Sa io cheyukdan

April 25 Sports Club (Korean: 4.25체육단, Sa io ch'eyuktan), shortly 4.25 SC, also known as April 25 National Defence Sports Club (4.25'국방체육단', Sa io ch'eyuktan "Kukpang ch'eyuktan"), is a professional multi-sports club based in Pyongyang, North Korea, primarily known for its men's and women's football teams. The club belongs to the Ministry of People's Armed Forces; all members of the professional teams (male and female) are considered officers of the Army.

History

The club was established in March 1947 or July 1949 as the Central Sports Training School Sports Club (중앙체육강습소체육단, Chung'ang ch'eyukkangsŭpso ch'eyukdan).

On 25 June 1971 or 26 June 1972, the club's name was changed to its current name; Kim Il Sung's anti-Japanese guerilla army – Joseon People's Revolutionary Army, considered the predecessor of the Korean People's Army, was formed on 25 April 1932. (Until 1977, the original KPA's official date of establishment was 8 February 1948. However, in 1978, it was changed to 25 April 1932.This change was reverted in 2018.)

The men's football team plays in the DPR Korea Premier Football League, and is the most successful club side in the country, having won 22 national championships. April 25's home stadium is the Yanggakdo Stadium. In international club competition, home matches are usually played at the Kim Il Sung Stadium. In 2015, April 25 achieved an uncommon feat, when both the men's and women's clubs won their respective national championships.

Confusion with February 8 Sports Club

February 8 Sports Club and April 25 Sports Club have many similarities, but the North Korean Ministry of People's Armed Forces operates both sports clubs separately. The 2017 editions of the Paektusan Prize and the Mangyongdae Prize were won by April 25 Sports Club, with February 8 Sports Club finishing in second place.

Rivalries

April 25's primary rival is Amnokgang. Amnokgang belongs to the Ministry of People's Security, and the professional rivalry between the Military and the Police carries over onto the sports field. There is also a strong rivalry with Pyongyang, known as "the Pyongyang Derby".

Current squad

No. Position Player
1 North Korea GK Ri Kwang-Il
2 North Korea DF Jang Kum-nam
3 North Korea DF Ri Hyong-mu
4 North Korea DF Sim Hyon-jin
5 North Korea DF Pak Jin-myong
6 North Korea DF Kwon Chung-hyok
7 North Korea MF O Hyok-chol
8 North Korea MF Han Song-hyok
9 North Korea MF Kim Jong-chol
10 North Korea FW An Il-bom
11 North Korea FW Om Chol-song
12 North Korea DF Kim Chol-bom
14 North Korea DF Son Phyong-il
15 North Korea MF Won Song
16 North Korea MF Yun Il-gwang
17 North Korea FW Kim Ju-song
No. Position Player
18 North Korea FW Kim Yu-song
19 North Korea MF So Hyon-uk
20 North Korea MF So Kyong-jin
21 North Korea GK An Tae-song
22 North Korea MF Ri Hyong-jin
24 North Korea MF Choe Jong-hyok
25 North Korea FW Jang Hyok
26 North Korea DF Pak Myong-song
27 North Korea MF Myong Cha-hyon
28 North Korea MF Kim Kuk-bom
29 North Korea DF Pak Song-rok
30 North Korea DF An Song-il
31 North Korea GK Chol-Ryong Son
33 North Korea MF Jong Chung-son
37 North Korea DF Kim Kwang-jin
41 North Korea GK Ha Jin-myong
North Korea FW Han Kwang-song

Continental history

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1985–86 Asian Club Championship Qualifying Tournament
East Asia 1
Hong Kong Seiko 4–1 1–2 2nd
China Liaoning 3–1 0–0
1986 Asian Club Championship First round group 7 China Liaoning 0–0 0–1 0–1
1987 Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 5
China August 1 0–2 3rd
Macau Hap Kuan 2–1
1988–89 Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 6
Hong Kong South China 3–0 1st
Macau Wa Seng 4–0
China Guangdong Wanbao 1–0
Japan Yamaha Motors 3–1
Semi Final League
Group B
Bangladesh Mohammedan 0–1 3rd
Qatar Al-Sadd 1–2
Saudi Arabia Al-Ettifaq 1–1
Malaysia Pahang FA 2–0
1990–91 Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 7
Japan Nissan Yokohama 1–0 1st
China Liaoning 1–0
Group B Iran Esteghlal Tehran 1–2 2nd
Bangladesh Mohammedan 0–0
Thailand Bangkok Bank 4–3
Semi Final China Liaoning 0–3
Third Place Indonesia Pelita Jaya 2–2 (6–7 pen.) Fourth Place
1991 Asian Club Championship Group B Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0–2 3rd
Iran Esteghlal Tehran 1–1
2017 AFC Cup Group I Mongolia Erchim 6–0 5–0 1st
North Korea Kigwancha 2–2 1–1
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final India Bengaluru FC 0–0 0–3 0–3
2018 AFC Cup Group I North Korea Hwaebul SC 1–0 2–0 1st
Chinese Taipei Hang Yuen 5–1 5–1
Macau Benfica de Macau 8–0 2–0
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Singapore Home United 9–1 2–0 11–1
Inter-Zone Play-off Final Turkmenistan Altyn Asyr 2–2 1–1 3–3 (a)
2019 AFC Cup Group I Chinese Taipei Hang Yuen 5–0 0–3 1st
Hong Kong Kitchee 2–0 1–0
Hong Kong Tai Po 4–0 1–3
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Bangladesh Dhaka Abahani 2–0 3–4 5–4
Inter-Zone Play-off Final Vietnam Hà Nội 0–0 2–2 2–2 (a)
Final Lebanon Al-Ahed 0–1

Honours

Domestic

  • DPR Korea Premier Football League
    • Winners (21): 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

  • AFC Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2019
  • Asian Club Championship
    • Fourth place (1): 1990–91

Invitational

  • DCM Trophy
    • Winners (1): 1972

Women's football

Female Football 2007 Military World Games
Jang Il-ok playing in April 25 Sports Club attire at the 2007 Military World Games

April 25's women's football team is one of the strongest women's football teams in North Korea; they have become national champions at least six times, in 2002, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015.

Other sports

In addition to football, April 25 participates in dozens of different sports, including athletics, ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, and handball.

Basketball

April 25 has fielded a basketball team. In May 2015, they came to Mongolia to assist in training the Mongolian national team as preparation of the latter's campaign at the 2013 East Asian Basketball 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. April 25 participated at the 2015 VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup, an invitational tournament in Vietnam. The North Korean club won the bronze medal defeating Vietnamese side, VTV Bình Điền Long An. Their player, Jong Jin Sim was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Achievements

  • VTV Bình Điền Cup: 1
Champions: 2015
  • VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup: 2
Champions: 2008
Third place: 2015

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: 4.25 Sports Club para niños

  • February 8 Sports Club
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