Angkor City FC

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Angkor City
Full nameAngkor City Football Club
Founded2013; 11 years ago (2013) as Next Step FC
2023; 1 year ago (2023) as Angkor City
GroundHanuman Stadium
Siem Reap province, Cambodia
Capacity5,000[citation needed]
Head CoachCharlie Pomroy
LeagueCambodian League 2
2022Cambodian League 2, 11th
WebsiteClub website

Angkor City Football Club, (formerly known as Next Step Football Club) is a Cambodian professional association football club based in Siem Reap province. The club currently plays in Cambodian League 2.

History[edit]

Foundation[edit]

Next Step Football Club was founded in 2013 by Charlie Pomroy and Keo Sophal. With the help of goalkeeping coach Charles Dailey,[1] the not-for-profit football academy, working to help underprivileged children in Cambodia, joined the Cambodian second tier to participate in its first professional season in 2022.

Debut professional season[edit]

Next Step Football Club registered as a professional club in July 2021, before making its professional football debut in 2022. The team finished 11th in the league, with Brazilian striker Bruno Krenkel ending the season as the club's top scorer, logging ten goals – one of those, a long-range wonder strike, which gained global acclaim.[2]

In 2023, former Dorchester Town manager Callum Brooks joined the club as technical director.[3] Brooks stated that he joined Next Step "to be another body behind a great vision".[4]

Richard Harcus, CEO of Harcus Consultancy Group arrived at the club in November 2023 as new Director Of Football and is also tasked with the role of General Manager. [5]

Investment in the club[edit]

In 2023, Next Step teamed up with recruitment and relocation company Next Step International (NSI) “in a deal which will see the latter help hire, move and adapt the latest quality football talent from around the world” to Cambodia.[6]

Current squad[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Cambodia CAM Chhun Phally
2 DF Cambodia CAM Rith Ra
3 DF Cambodia CAM Boeun Ratha
4 DF Cambodia CAM Khun Sokmeng
5 DF United States USA Federico Diaz
6 DF Cambodia CAM Put Chomnan
8 MF Japan JPN Takuya Yamase
9 FW Cambodia CAM Chea Savey
12 DF Cambodia CAM Mab Sinai
13 MF Cambodia CAM Nhep Oeurnsovanndet
16 MF Cambodia CAM Ren Ro
17 FW Brazil BRA Bruno Krenkel
18 MF Cambodia CAM Thoeurn Soreach
19 MF Cambodia CAM Kong Reatrey
21 FW Cambodia CAM Heng Kimsong
22 GK Cambodia CAM Tuy Terdararith
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 DF Cambodia CAM Yong Mengchhay (Captain)
28 DF Cambodia CAM Khorn Sakada
29 FW Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Joslyn Ghifem Katuala
30 GK Cambodia CAM Toch Samnang
32 DF Cambodia CAM Lay Somrach
33 DF Cambodia CAM Thai Pharothana
40 DF Cambodia CAM Ta Mattamon
44 DF Cambodia CAM Seat Ouji
47 FW Cambodia CAM Mat Lyphaiyat
50 DF Japan JPN Kento Fujihara
60 MF Cambodia CAM Chhun Channy
66 DF Cambodia CAM Keo Pich
68 MF Cambodia CAM Phan Makara
90 FW Cambodia CAM Vuth Lyminh
99 GK Cambodia CAM Yeourn Rathana

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wright, Gavin. "Helping change the face of soccer in Cambodia with the Next Step FC academy". nevermanagealone.com. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Neymar Speechless! Wonder Goal by Bruno Krenkel in Cambodia".
  3. ^ "Callum Brooks Moves to Cambodia".
  4. ^ "KOF Interview Charlie Pomroy Next Step FC".
  5. ^ "Angkor City FC name Richard Harcus new Director of Football".
  6. ^ "NSI partner with Next Step FC on recruitment and relocation deal to attract new talent to Cambodian football".