Punjab Football Club

Punjab Football Club represents a significant entity in the landscape of Indian professional football, currently competing in the Indian Super League (ISL), the highest tier of the sport in the country. The club's journey began as Minerva Academy, founded by Ranjit Bajaj in 2005 to develop young talent. It was rebranded as Minerva Punjab FC upon promotion to the I-League in 2016. A pivotal moment in its history was winning the 2017-18 I-League title, a major achievement for a club from North India.

The club's ownership structure evolved when RoundGlass Sports, a venture founded by Seattle-based entrepreneur Sunny Gurpreet Singh, initially acquired a 50% stake in 2019. This led to the club being renamed Punjab FC. By April 2020, RoundGlass Sports completed a full acquisition, taking over the remaining 50% from founder Ranjit Bajaj. This transition marked a new strategic direction, with RoundGlass aiming to build a world-class academy and football ecosystem in Punjab, focusing on holistic player development from grassroots levels (U-7) to the senior team. The parent company, RoundGlass Sports, operates under a global organization focused on holistic well-being, a philosophy integrated into the club's operations.

The club's business model is centered on professional football operations, including participation in national leagues which generates revenue through media rights, sponsorships, and prize money. The club voluntarily paid the ISL franchise fee to partake in the central media revenue distribution. A primary operational focus is its robust youth development system. The club operates numerous grassroots centers across Punjab and its academy has gained 'elite category' accreditation from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). This academy not only nurtures talent for its senior team but also serves as a pipeline for Indian football.

A landmark achievement was winning the 2022-23 I-League, which secured its historic promotion to the Indian Super League, becoming the first club to do so on sporting merit. This promotion, confirmed after meeting the AIFF's stringent licensing criteria, solidified its position among India's elite football clubs. The club plays its home games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.

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