Manila Digger F.C.

{{About|the men's football team|the women's team|Manila Digger F.C. (women)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Manila Digger | image = Manila Digger F.C.png | image_size = 200px | fullname = Manila Digger Football Club | nickname = The Diggers | ground = | capacity = | founded = {{start date and age|2018}} | owner = | mgrtitle = Head coach | manager = Kim Versales | league = [[Philippines Football League]] | season = [[2025–26 Philippines Football League|2025–26]] | position = Philippines Football League, 1st of 10 (champion) | pattern_la1 = _blackborder | pattern_b1 = _blackcollar | pattern_ra1 = _blackborder | pattern_sh1 = _blackbottom | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = EED202 | body1 = EED202 | rightarm1 = EED202 | shorts1 = EED202 | socks1 = 000000 | pattern_la2 = _whiteborder | pattern_b2 = _whitecollar | pattern_ra2 = _whiteborder | pattern_sh2 = _whitebottom | patter_so2 = | leftarm2 = 6CB4EE | body2 = 6CB4EE | rightarm2 = 6CB4EE | shorts2 = 6CB4EE | socks2 = FFFFFF | pattern_la3 = _blackborder | pattern_b3 = _blackcollar | pattern_ra3 = _blackborder | pattern_sh3 = | pattern_so3 = _band_black | leftarm3 = EED202 | body3 = EED202 | rightarm3 = EED202 | shorts3 = 000000 | socks3 = EED202 | website = {{URL|https://maniladiggerfc.com/}} | current = 2025–26 Manila Digger F.C. season }}

'''Manila Digger Football Club''' is a [[Football in the Philippines|Filipino]] professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Taguig]], [[Manila]] which currently plays in the [[Philippines Football League]]. The club was founded in 2018.

==History== === Foundation and early years === Manila Digger's foundation can be traced back in 2018 by a community of Chinese migrants in [[Manila]] who were working and studying in the country.<ref name="About">{{cite web|title=ABOUT US|url=https://maniladiggerfc.com/#|work=Manila Digger FC}}</ref>

Manila Digger began their journey in professional football in the [[2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara|2023 edition]] of the [[Copa Paulino Alcantara]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kaya FC Iloilo heads 17-team field in Copa Paulino Alcantara |url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/15/23/football-kaya-fc-iloilo-heads-17-team-field-in-copa-paulino-alcantara |access-date=July 15, 2023 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=July 15, 2023 |archive-date=July 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715101525/https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/15/23/football-kaya-fc-iloilo-heads-17-team-field-in-copa-paulino-alcantara |url-status=live }}</ref> They then entered the [[2024 Philippines Football League|2024 season]] of the [[Philippines Football League]].<ref>{{cite news |title=15 clubs are G this PFL '24 |url=https://www.dugout.ph/2024/02/15-clubs-are-g-this-pfl-24.html |access-date=6 February 2024 |work=Dugout Philippines |date=5 February 2024 |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206074220/https://www.dugout.ph/2024/02/15-clubs-are-g-this-pfl-24.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Rise to prominence === ==== 2024–25 season ==== During the [[2024–25 Philippines Football League|2024–25 season]], Manila Digger fell one point away to eventual league champions [[Kaya F.C.–Iloilo|Kaya–Iloilo]], but nonetheless qualified for the [[2025–26 AFC Champions League Two|2025–26 AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-off]] against Indonesian champions [[Persib Bandung]]. The club also participated in the [[2024–25 Philippines Football League Finals Series|Finals Series]], beating [[One Taguig F.C.|One Taguig]] in the semi-final following a late goal from [[Ousman Gai]] in the 83rd minute winning 2–1. The club would eventually lose to [[Cebu F.C.|Cebu]] 0–1 missing out on the [[ASEAN Club Championship]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Cebu FC crowned PFL Finals Series champs, books spot in AFF Shopee Cup|url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/636319/cebu-fc-crowned-pfl-finals-series-champs-books-spot-in-aff-shopee-cup|access-date=May 5, 2025|work=Cebu Daily News|date=May 4, 2025}}</ref>

==== Continental debut ==== {{football squad on pitch|align=left |GK_nat = Philippines |GK = [[Michael Asong|Asong]] |RB_nat = Philippines |RB = [[Shirmar Felongco|Felongco]] |RCB_nat = Gambia |RCB = [[Modou Joof|Joof]] |LCB_nat = Gambia |LCB = [[David Sambou|Sambou]] |LB_nat = Philippines |LB = [[Zachary Taningco|Taningco]] |RM_nat = Cameroon |RM = [[Dilane Wamba|Wamba]] |RCM_nat = Gambia |RCM = [[Ousman Gai|Gai]] |LCM_nat = Gambia |LCM = [[Modou Manneh|Manneh]] |LM_nat = USA |LM = [[Christian Schaffner|Schaffner]] |RCF_nat = Gambia |RCF = [[Saikou Ceesay|Ceesay]] |LSS_nat = Gambia |LSS = [[Baboucarr Touray|Touray]] |caption = The Diggers' starting lineup against [[Persib Bandung|Persib]] in the [[2025–26 AFC Champions League Two#Qualifying play-offs|AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-offs]] }}

On 13 August 2025, Manila Digger made their continental debut against [[Persib Bandung]] in the [[AFC Champions League Two]] qualification play-off round where they would eventually lose 2–1, but [[Modou Joof]] made history becoming the first Digger player to score in a continental competition.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribungroup.net/persib-bandung-berhasil-tumbangkan-manila-digger-2-1/|title=Persib Bandung Berhasil Tumbangkan Manila Digger 2-1|date=August 14, 2025|publisher=Tribungroup.net|language=id|trans-title=Persib Bandung Beat Manila Digger 2-1}}</ref> Following [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]'s continental competition format, Manila Digger qualified in the [[AFC Challenge League]] as the losers of the qualification play-off in [[AFC Champions League Two]] where they were drawn into Group D alongside Laotian club [[Ezra F.C.|Ezra]], Mongolian club [[SP Falcons]] and Cambodian club [[Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC|Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Group Stage showdowns decided|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_challenge_league.html/news/group-stage-showdowns-decided|date=August 28, 2025|work=the-afc.com}}</ref>

==== 2025–26 AFC Challenge League ==== On 26 October 2025, the club made history by winning their first [[AFC Challenge League]] match against [[Ezra F.C.|Ezra]] 3–1, becoming the first Filipino side to win a match in the AFC competition since [[United City F.C.|Ceres]] in [[2014 AFC President's Cup|2014]]. [[Ousman Gai]] and [[Dilane Wamba]] scored in the first half and [[Baboucarr Touray]] would follow up a third goal for Manila Digger in the second half.<ref>{{cite web|title=Group D: Manila Digger FC (PHI) 3-1 Ezra FC (LAO)|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_challenge_league.html/news/group-d-manila-digger-fc-phi-3-1-ezra-fc-lao|date=October 26, 2025|work=the-afc.com}}</ref> Manila Digger would win their second match against Mongolian side [[SP Falcons]] 2–0 with a goal from [[Saikou Ceesay]] in the first half and then followed by a final goal by fellow Gambian compatriot [[Ousman Gai|Gai]] in the second half to finish off the game. Manila Digger qualified for the [[2025–26 AFC Challenge League|knockout stage]], becoming the first Filipino side to qualify in a continental knockout round since [[United City F.C.|Ceres]] in [[2019 Ceres–Negros F.C. season|2019]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Group D: SP Falcons FC (MNG) 0–2 Manila Digger FC (PHI)|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_challenge_league.html/news/group-d-sp-falcons-fc-mng-0-2-manila-digger-fc-phi|date=October 29, 2025|work=the-afc.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Manila Digger through to AFC Challenge League quarterfinals|url=https://sports.inquirer.net/647171/manila-digger-through-to-afc-challenge-league-quarterfinals|date=November 15, 2025|work=inquirer.net|last1=Terrado|first1=Jonas}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AFC Challenge League Newcomer Manila Digger impresses in Groups Stage, Marches to QF|url=https://pff.org.ph/afc-challenge-league-newcomer-manila-digger-impresses-in-group-stage-marches-to-qf/|publisher=Philippine Football Federation}}</ref> Manila Digger finished runners up in Group D after drawing their match 2–2 against Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng.<ref>{{cite web|title=Group D: Manila Digger FC (PHI) 2–2 Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM)|url =https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_challenge_league.html/news/group-d-manila-digger-fc-phi-2-2-preah-khan-reach-svay-rieng-fc-cam|date=November 1, 2025|work=the-afc.com}}</ref> [[Ousman Gai]] would score a brace in the match, but it was not enough to break through, as 2 goals would come from [[Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC|Svay Rieng]] in the second half. <ref>{{cite news|title=AFC Challenge League: Juara Grup, Dewa United Perempat final|url=https://www.cnnindonesia.com/olahraga/20251101212324-142-1290898/afc-challenge-league-juara-grup-dewa-united-lolos-perempat-final|access-date=November 1, 2025|work=CNN Indonesia|language=id|trans-title=AFC Challenge League: Group winners Dewa United advance to Quarterfinals}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Manila Digger reaches AFC Challenge League quarterfinals|url=https://dailyguardian.com.ph/manila-digger-reaches-afc-challenge-league-quarterfinals/|date=November 5, 2025|work=Daily Guardian}}</ref>

The club faced against Indonesian club [[Dewa United Banten F.C.|Dewa United Banten]] in the [[2025–26 AFC Challenge League knockout stage|knockout stage]] of the tournament and hosted the first leg as runners-up of Group D where Manila Digger went on to win 1–0.<ref>{{cite news|title=Diggers Stun Dewa United|url=https://tribune.net.ph/2026/03/05/diggers-stun-dewa-united|date=March 5, 2026|work=Daily Tribune}}</ref> Manila Digger would secure a 2–2 draw in Indonesia winning on a 3–2 aggregate score to advance in the semi-finals of the tournament, when they faced [[Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC|Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Suing |first1=Ivan |title=Manila Digger advances to AFC Challenge League semifinals |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/666802/manila-digger-advances-to-afc-challenge-league-semifinals |publisher=[[Inquirer.net]] |access-date=April 4, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=QF (2nd Leg): Manila Digger hold off Dewa United to advance|url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_challenge_league.html/news/group-d-manila-digger-fc-phi-2-2-preah-khan-reach-svay-rieng-fc-cam|date=1 November 2025|access-date=March 12, 2026|work=the-afc.com}}</ref>

== Crest and colors == [[File:Manila Digger F.C.png|thumb|Crest used by the club since 2023|213x213px]] {{football kit box | pattern_la = _thinredborder | pattern_b = _yellowcollar | pattern_ra = _thinredborder | pattern_so = | pattern_sh = _yellowsides | leftarm = FFFF00 | body = FFFF00 | rightarm = FFFF00 | socks = FFFF00 | shorts = 000000 | title = 2024 home kit }}

The club traditionally plays in yellow and red kits tracing from the club's Chinese roots.<ref name="About"/><ref name="kit">{{Cite web|url=https://www.footballkitarchive.com/manila-digger-fc-kits/|title=Manila Digger FC Kit History|website=footballkitarchive.com}}</ref> The club's crest features a shield shape with yellow and red base colors and a monicker of the club's name is placed in the center.

=== Sponsors === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- !Period ![[Kit (association football)|Kit]] Manufacturer !Shirt Partner |- |2023–2024 |rowspan="3"|{{Flagicon|PHI}} UCAN<ref name="kit"/> |{{Flagicon|PHI}} OKFly1 |- |2024–2025 |{{Flagicon|PHI}} Zealand Metal1<hr>{{Flagicon|PHI}} OKFly2 |- |2025–''present'' |{{Flagicon|PHI}} Zealand Metal1<hr>{{Flagicon|PHI}} Prime Rehabilitation,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/61569870971754/posts/pfbid0ftcmtnAawA2vXiDxjXvgkq3nM5JvG1GkeLwwRcayEeyFq7jHykfs4EW4DgPfGiKwl/?app=fbl|title=Sandbox Clinic PRIME (PRIME) is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Manila Digger Football Club (MDFC) to become its official recovery and rehabilitation facility.|date=21 April 2025|publisher=Sandbox Rehabilitation (PRIME) on facebook}}</ref> {{Flagicon|HOL}} Starbalm<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/61556661515463/posts/pfbid02GDxJWzN2zAFGQQwKo4gkgh4JS1KpS5zK9biuyA1ba6PAx1LhVUyvvnzbRZtAeetDl/?app=fbl|title=Manila Digger FC is honored to have Starbalm as our official sport care partner.|date=18 September 2025|publisher=Manila Digger FC on facebook}}</ref>2<hr>{{Flagicon|PHI}} Yison3 |} *1 Major shirt sponsor ''(Names located at the front of the shirt)'' *2 Secondary sponsor ''(Names mostly located at the back of the shirt)'' *3 Located on the sleeves

==Players==

=== Current squad === {{updated|25 February 2025}} {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=1|nat=PHI|pos=GK|name=[[Michael Asong]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=2|nat=PHI|pos=DF|name=[[Jordan Jarvis]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=3|nat=CHN|pos=FW|name=[[Shou Sha]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=4|nat=GAM|pos=MF|name=[[Assan Badjie]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=5|nat=CMR|pos=FW|name=[[Dilane Wamba]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=6|nat=GHA|pos=DF|name=[[Daniel Ashley]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=8|nat=NGA|pos=MF|name=[[Ifeanyi Ugwu]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=9|nat=JPN|pos=FW|name=[[Yuga Watanabe]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=GAM|pos=FW|name=[[Saikou Ceesay]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=GAM|pos=FW|name=[[Baboucarr Touray]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat=GAM|pos=MF|name=[[Modou Manneh]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=14|nat=PHI|pos=MF|name=[[Kenji Nishioka]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=GAM|pos=MF|name=[[Ousman Gai]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat=GAM|pos=GK|name=[[Omar Njie]]|other=}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=PHI|pos=DF|name=[[Johnmar Barsanilla]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=GAM|pos=DF|name=[[Modou Joof]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=PHI|pos=FW|name=[[Jeremiah Borlongan]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=22|nat=PHI|pos=DF|name=[[Zachary Taningco]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat=GAM|pos=DF|name=[[David Sambou]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=27|nat=PHI|pos=DF|name=[[OJ Clarino]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=28|nat=PHI|pos=GK|name=[[Nelson Gasic]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=29|nat=PHI|pos=MF|name=[[Shirmar Felongco]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|Captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=30|nat=PHI|pos=DF|name=[[Charles Dabao]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=31|nat=PHI|pos=DF|name=[[Christian Schaffner]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=70|nat=PHI|pos=MF|name=[[Justin Baas]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=77|nat=CHN|pos=FW|name=[[Diao Su]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=98|nat=PHI|pos=FW|name=[[Troy Limbo]]|other=}} {{Fs player|no=99|nat=GAM|pos=FW|name=[[Mustapha Jallow]]|other=}} {{Fs end}}

==Management and technical staff== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" |- !Position !Staff |- | Team manager | {{Flagicon|CHN}} Ying Chen |- | Head coach | {{Flagicon|CHN}} Haijun Li |- | rowspan="3" | Assistant coach | {{Flagicon|CHN}} Mengyang Liu |- | {{Flagicon|PHI}} Paulo Intia |- | {{Flagicon|PHI}} Edwin Giganto Jr. |- | Goalkeeper coach | {{Flagicon|PHI}} |- |}

== Managerial history == {|class="wikitable" |- !Managers !Period |- |{{flagicon|NGR}} [[Lerche Njang]] |2023 |- |{{flagicon|PHI}} [[Pong Liman]] |2023–2024 |- |{{flagicon|SPA}} [[Oriol Mohedano]] |2024 |- |{{flagicon|SPA}} [[Juan Manuel Saez]] |2024–2025 |- |{{flagicon|PHI}} [[Kim Versales]] |2025 |- |{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Haijun Li]] |2025–''present'' |}

==Honors== ===League=== * '''[[Philippines Football League]]''' ** '''Winners''' (1): [[2025–26 Philippines Football League|2025–26]] ** Runners-up (1): [[2024–25 Philippines Football League|2024–25]]

===Cup=== * '''[[Philippines Football League Finals Series]]''' ** Runners-up (1): [[2024–25 Philippines Football League Finals Series|2024–25]]

==Records== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !Season !Division !League Position ![[Copa Paulino Alcantara]] |- |2023 |colspan=2|Did not participate |[[2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara|Group stage]] |- |2024 |rowspan="3" |[[Philippines Football League|PFL]] |[[2024 Philippines Football League|7th]] |– |- |rowspan=2|2024–25 |bgcolor=silver|'''[[2024–25 Philippines Football League|2nd]]''' (League) |– |- |bgcolor=silver|'''[[2024–25 Philippines Football League Finals Series|2nd]]''' (Finals Series) |– |- |}

===Continental record=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" ! scope="col"|Competition ! {{tooltip|Q|Tournaments Qualified for}} !! {{tooltip|Pld|Matches played}} !! {{tooltip|W|Matches won}} !! {{tooltip|D|Matches drawn}} !! {{tooltip|L|Matches lost}} !! {{tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !! {{tooltip|GA|Goals against}} !! {{tooltip|GD|Goal difference}} !! {{tooltip|W %|Win percentage}} |- | [[AFC Champions League Two]]|| 1 {{WDL |{{#expr:  1}} |{{#expr:  0}} |{{#expr:  0}} |{{#expr:  1}} |for={{#expr:  1}} |against={{#expr:  2}}|diff=yes}} |- | [[AFC Challenge League]]|| 1 {{WDL |{{#expr:  7}} |{{#expr:  3}} |{{#expr:  3}} |{{#expr:  1}} |for={{#expr:  11}} |against={{#expr:  9}}|diff=yes}} |- !scope="row"|'''Total''' !! 2 {{WDLtot|8|3|3|2|for=12|against=11|diff=yes}} |}

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Season ! Competition ! Round ! Club ! Home ! Away ! Aggregate |- |rowspan=6| [[2025–26 Manila Digger F.C. season#Competitions|2025–26]] |rowspan=1| [[AFC Champions League Two]] |rowspan=1| [[2025–26 AFC Champions League Two#Qualifying play-offs|Qualifying play-offs]] |{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Persib Bandung|Persib]] | colspan=3 style="text-align:center; background:#fdd;"|1–2 |- |rowspan=5| [[AFC Challenge League]] |rowspan=3| [[2025–26 AFC Challenge League#Group stage|Group stage]] |{{flagicon|LAO}} [[Ezra F.C.|Ezra]] |colspan="2" bgcolor=#dfd style="text-align:center;"|3–1 |rowspan="3" bgcolor=#dfd style="text-align:center;"|2nd |- |{{flagicon|MNG}} [[SP Falcons]] |colspan="2" bgcolor=#dfd style="text-align:center;"|2–0 |- |{{flagicon|CAM}} [[Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC|PKR Svay Rieng]] |colspan="2" bgcolor=#ffd style="text-align:center;"|2–2 |- |[[2025–26 AFC Challenge League knockout stage|Quarter finals]] |{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Dewa United Banten F.C.|Dewa United Banten]] |bgcolor=#dfd style="text-align:center;"|1–0 |bgcolor=#ffd style="text-align:center;"|2–2 |bgcolor=#dfd style="text-align:center;"|3–2 |- |[[2025–26 AFC Challenge League knockout stage|Semi finals]] |{{flagicon|CAM}} [[Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC|PKR Svay Rieng]] |bgcolor=#fdd style="text-align:center;"|0–3 |bgcolor=#ffd style="text-align:center;"|1–1 |bgcolor=#fdd style="text-align:center;"|1–4 |}

==Performance in AFC competitions== * '''[[AFC Challenge League]]: 1 appearance''' ::[[2025–26 AFC Challenge League|2025–26]]: semifinal

==See also== *[[Manila Digger F.C. (women)|Manila Digger (women)]]

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Football clubs in the Philippines]] [[Category:2018 establishments in the Philippines]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 2018]] {{DEFAULTSORT:Manila Digger F.C.}}