The 2022–23 Philippines Football League was the fifth season of Philippines Football League (PFL), the professional football league of the Philippines. This is the second season of the PFL under the sponsorship of Qatar Airways. The season began on August 7, 2022, and concluded on June 11, 2023, marking the first time during the Philippines Football League era that a season takes place in an inter-year format. The league was initially contested by seven teams (later reduced to five), and played each other four times during the season.
The 2021 Philippines Football League season was planned to commence in late 2021 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was eventually replaced by the league cup tournament, the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara. Marking a change in the format of the previous seasons, the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara was held before the league season, with United City emerging as first-time winners of the competition. The success of the Copa, as well as the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the return of fans, prompted the league season to resume in August.
The 2022 season saw the first time since 2019 that teams will play home and away. Several changes were witnessed in the league's system, such as the format changing from an intra-year to an inter-year format, with seasons spanning two years rather than one. After changing the foreigner restrictions in the Copa Paulino Alcantara, the league also increased its foreigner count from 3+1 to 5+1, adhering to the new AFC regulations. While all matches were held at the PFF National Training Center for the 2020 season, matches are played in the home stadiums of the PFL clubs for the 2022 season, with plans to allow fans back after the success of the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara. Dynamic Herb Cebu is the only new team competing for this season.
Kaya–Iloilo secured their first league title on May 24, 2023 with one match to spare.
Sponsored by Qatar Airways, the competition is officially known as The 2022–23 Philippines Football League brought to you by Qatar Airways.
Format changes Since the league was last held in 2020, there have been several changes. All six teams of the 2020 season are set to compete, with Dynamic Herb Cebu being the new team joining after previously competing in the 2021 and 2022 editions of the Copa Paulino Alcantara. While the 2020 edition was held under closed-circuit format to limit the spread of COVID-19, this season marks the first time since 2019 that the league reverts to a home-and-away Round-robin tournament, with all teams playing each other 4 times, for a total of 24 matches.
Since the 2020 Philippines Football League, several clubs have undergone location changes. United City, who previously competed without a home city and stadium, will be temporarily based in Capas, Tarlac, while their stadium is under construction. After the 2022–23 season, they will rename to United Clark from United City. Maharlika Manila, who also competed without a home stadium but represented the city of Manila, will play their games at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The most noticeable change this season is the league changing its format for scheduling. Previously, the league followed the scheduling system of most Asian leagues such as the Singapore Premier League or Malaysia Super League. However, in 2022, the Asian Football Confederation changed its system of scheduling, shifting from an intra- to an inter-year system. Several leagues followed this, such as the Thai League 1, the Indonesia Liga 1, and the Indian Super League, prompting the PFL to switch to this format as well.
Teams All 6 clubs from the previous PFL season are set to compete, with Maharlika Manila and United City competing for the first time in 2 years, having taken a break during the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara. Dynamic Herb Cebu were given a provisional club license, which would have allow the club to debut in the cancelled 2021 season, but due to the season's cancellation, 2022 was their first league season in the Philippine top flight.
Two potential new entries in the 2022 season were LAOS (Leyte Association of Organized Sports), who last competed in the 2016 United Football League, and new club Rapids F.C. from Cagayan de Oro. The two clubs started their license application process at the same time as Dynamic Herb Cebu. However, the PFF approved Cebu's license while the other two clubs' licenses were still found lacking in requirements. United City withdrew mid-season in February 2023. Azkal Development Team soon withdrew as well in May 2023.
Stadiums and locations Several of the teams have nominated venues as temporary home venues due to their home stadiums being under construction. United City is temporarily based in the New Clark City Athletics Stadium, while Mendiola 1991 is temporarily holding their home matches in the City of Imus Grandstand and Track Oval. United City plan to hold their future home matches in their "field of dreams" in Pampanga while Mendiola 1991 will build their stadium in Taytay, Rizal.
In February 2022, the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig was approved by the PFL as Maharlika Manila's home stadium.
Team Location Stadium Capacity Azkals Development Team Carmona, Cavite PFF National Training Center 1,000 Dynamic Herb Cebu Talisay, Cebu Dynamic Herb Sports Complex 550 Kaya–Iloilo Iloilo City, Iloilo Iloilo Sports Complex 7,000 Maharlika Manila Manila, Metro Manila Rizal Memorial Stadium (until February 2023) 12,873 Taguig, Metro Manila McKinley Hill Stadium (February 2023 onwards) 2,000 Mendiola 1991 Imus, Cavite City of Imus Grandstand and Track Oval 4,800 Stallion Laguna Biñan, Laguna Biñan Football Stadium 3,000 United City Capas, Tarlac New Clark City Athletics Stadium 20,000
Home venues of PFL clubs
Personnel and kits As part of the criteria imposed by the sponsorship of Qatar Airways, each team's kit should contain the Qatar Airways logo where the manufacturer's logo would usually be. The official logo of the PFL should also be placed on one of the sleeves of the kit. TeamHead coachCaptain Kit manufacturerSponsorsAzkals Development Team Stephan Schröck Quincy Kammeraad Monté4Gives, Chooks-to-Go, PHSDDynamic Herb Cebu Mehmet Kakil Nathanael Villanueva RAD ApparelWinZir, Leylam, Beko, Tigertek Sports, Pocari Sweat, The Green TableKaya–Iloilo Yu Hoshide Jovin Bedic LGRLBC, Fitogether, ICanServe, Peakform, Pretty HugeMaharlika Manila Roxy Dorlas David Basa Equipt StudiosAIA, Reparil Ice-Spray, Elan Vita, Wheyl Nutrition, Kinetix LabMendiola 1991 Joel Villarino Jim Ashley Flores RopaVill-Mell Trading, Jon Enterprises, Thunderbird Feed, Best DiagnosticStallion Laguna Ernest Nierras Ruben Doctora Cutz ApparelGiligan's Restaurant, Airlock389, South Coast Industrial Door, Pi TracerUnited City Joan Esteva Alan Robertson Chronos AthleticsAllianz, Gravity Sport, Sportskred, Rsportz, BCDA, Klean Athlete Notes: Located on the front of the shirt. Located on the back of the shirt. Located on the sleeves. Located on the shorts.
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming coach Date of appointmentMaharlika Manila Arvin Soliman End of contract Undisclosed Pre-season Jeongil KimFebruary 20, 2022Mendiola 1991 Dan Padernal Personal Reasons February 2022 Christopher PedimonteMarch 10, 2022Azkals Development Team Giovanni Villagracia Undisclosed January 2022 Norman FegideroMarch 11, 2022Dynamic Herb Cebu Oliver Colina Appointed by Philippines U23March 14, 2022 Mehmet KakilMarch 18, 2022Azkals Development Team Norman Fegidero Undisclosed June 2022 Giovanni VillagraciaJune 23, 2022Mendiola 1991 Christopher Pedimonte Appointed by Philippines U17 July 2022 Joel Villarino July 31, 2022United City Franklin Muescan Demoted to assistant coach September 17, 2022 2nd Joan Esteva September 19, 2022 Maharlika Manila Jeongil Kim Mutual consent September 21, 2022 7th Arman Esteban September 22, 2022 Arman Esteban End of contract Undisclosed Roxy Dorlas January 2023Azkals Development Team Giovanni Villagracia Demoted to assistant coach February 2023 4th Stephan Schröck February 25, 2023
Foreign players A maximum of six foreigners are allowed per club, with five players of any nationality and a sixth coming from an AFC member nation. This is in line with the upcoming AFC regulations that allow for more foreigners to be signed by clubs. However, only 4 foreign players can be registered in the starting 11 during a matchday, with one of them being from an AFC member nation. A further two foreign substitutes may be placed on the bench.
Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window. The window lasted from 1 January 2023 to 26 March 2023, with the initial deadline for registered squads set on February 9. Club Players Former players Azkals Development TeamWithdrew mid-season Dynamic Herb Cebu Leaford Allen Mert Altınöz Rintaro Hama Marius Kore Ibrahim Moro Mohamed Soumah Arda Çınkır Ren Okuda Kaya–Iloilo Milad Behgandom Daizo Horikoshi Tamon Horikoshi Robert Lopez Mendy Dylan Nobiraki Ryo Fujii Carlyle Mitchell Patrick Arthur Maharlika Manila David Asare Kim Sungmin Ben Konaté Ibrahima Ndour Emmanuel Otuyemi Bienvenido Villaflor Isaac Essel Frank Baring Boris Moundang Ousman Jeng Mendiola 1991 Ali Ghamloush Hamed Hajimehdi Serge Kaole Mahdi Keyghobadi Mahan Rahmani Junior Ngong Sam Stephen Appiah Alassane Wade Henri Bandeken Kim Min-su Stallion Laguna Kraig Bonanken Yusuke Hayashi Rafael Nogueda Abraham Placito Kosuke Uchida Abou Sy Hamed Hajimehdi Juan Trujillo Leonardo Nogueira Gabriel Silva Amir Memari United CityWithdrew mid-season Amirbek Juraboev Simen Lyngbø Alan Robertson Ricardo Sendra
Notes 1. Former players only include players who left after the start of the 2022–23 season. 2. Jesse Curran was originally a citizen of Australia but was called up by the Philippines national football team to participate in the 2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series, while Simen Lyngbø was considered a Norwegian import until he played for the Philippines in the 2022 AFF Championship.
Foreign players by confederation AFC (6), (3), (1), (1) CAF (1), (2), (3), (1), (1), (1), (1), (1) CONCACAF (5), (1) UEFA (1)
League table
Positions by round
Results by round
Results The seven clubs will play each other in two rounds of home and away matches. A total of 82 matches will be played. United City withdrew mid-season in February 2023 and will not feature in the second round.
First round
Second round
Season statistics Scoring Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Daizo Horikoshi Kaya–Iloilo152 Jarvey Gayoso Kaya–Iloilo123 Arda Çınkır Dynamic Herb Cebu8 Eric Giganto Kaya–Iloilo5 Jesus Melliza Kaya–Iloilo7 Chima Uzoka Dynamic Herb Cebu7 Kenshiro Daniels United City6 Junior Ngong Sam Mendiola 19919 Andres Aldeguer ADT5 Mert Altınöz Dynamic Herb Cebu Daniel Gadia Dynamic Herb Cebu Robert Lopez Mendy Kaya–Iloilo Griffin McDaniel Stallion Laguna Ricardo Sendra United City
Top assists
Rank Player Club Assists1 Daizo Horikoshi Kaya–Iloilo192 Mert Altınöz Dynamic Herb Cebu8 Jeremiah Borlongan Dynamic Herb Cebu4 Arnel Amita Kaya–Iloilo75 Griffin McDaniel Stallion Laguna6 Hikaru Minegishi United City7 Arda Çınkır Dynamic Herb Cebu5 Eric Giganto Kaya–Iloilo Marius Kore Dynamic Herb Cebu Jesus Melliza Kaya–Iloilo Juan Trujillo Stallion Laguna
Own goals
RankPlayerClubOwngoals1 Alan RobertsonUnited City1 Richard TalarocMendiola 1991 Ben KonatéMaharlika Manila
Hat-tricks
PlayerClubResultAgainst Date Jarvey GayosoKaya–Iloilo 4–1 (H)Maharlika Manila27 August 2022 Arda Çınkır4Dynamic Herb Cebu 7–1 (H)Mendiola 199116 September 2022
Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 Player scored four goals
Clean sheets