Heartland F.C.

The club were founded as Spartans FC in 1976. Their first international match was a friendly played against Ararat Yerevan of the USSR which Spartans won 2–0 at the Township Stadium, Tetlow Road, Owerri, in August 1976. Spartans FC were supported by the Imo State government, which itself had been founded in 1976 following the creation of the state out of the then East Central State. The club was formed to recreate for the nascent state what Rangers FC had been to the old state, its source of pride on the Nigerian arena. Thus it was that it had the support of the state administration, including the state military. Spartans FC played matches at the Old Owerri Stadium.

Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC (1985–2006)

Spartans FC were renamed Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC in 1985 following a successful change of ownership from Imo State Government to chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. Iwuanyanwu Nationale embarked on a 3-week training tour of Brazil in January 1986. That season, Nationale finished runner-up of the Nigerian top league. The late 1980s were the most successful time in the club's history, when they won four straight championships from 1987 to 1990. During this time, the club featured several Nigerian national team players, such as Thompson Oliha, Benedict Iroha, and Uche Okechukwu. Iwuanyanwu Nationale finally emerged as League winners in 1987 ahead of Leventis United on goal difference, the first of four straight championships. The league win earned them the right to represent…

Nigerian Premier League Winners (5): 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993. Nigeria National League Winners (1): 2023 Nigerian FA Cup Winners (3): 1988, 2011, 2012. Nigerian Super Cup Winners (2): 2011, 2012.