Kuala Lumpur City F.C. Explained

Clubname:Kuala Lumpur City
Fullname:Kuala Lumpur City Football Club
Nickname:The City Boys[1] [2]
Short Name:KL City FC, KLCFC
Upright:0.6
Founded:
(as Federal Territory)[3]
Ground:Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Capacity:18,000
Owner:Rinani Group Berhad
Kuala Lumpur Football Association[4]
Chrtitle:President
Chairman:Fahmi Fadzil
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Miroslav Kuljanac
League:Malaysia Super League
Season:2023
Position:Malaysia Super League, 7th of 14
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Website:https://kualalumpurfootball.com

Kuala Lumpur City Football Club, known simply as KL City FC, is a Malaysian professional football club based in Kuala Lumpur. The club competes in the Malaysia Super League, the top level of Malaysian football, and was founded in 1974 as Federal Territory by the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA). It was later renamed Kuala Lumpur FA and Kuala Lumpur United, before renaming to its current name in 2021.

Kuala Lumpur City won two Malaysian league titles, four Malaysian Cups, three Malaysian FA Cups, and three Malaysian Charity Shields. It also played in the group stages of the Asian Club Championship on two occasions.

Following its founding, a fierce rivalry developed between Kuala Lumpur and Selangor mainly due to their geographical location. The battle between these two teams is often referred to as the Klang Valley Derby, which was renewed in the 2010 season after Kuala Lumpur ended a seven-year spell in the second-tier with promotion to the Malaysia Super League. Kuala Lumpur were relegated to the second-tier Malaysia Premier League in 2012 and the following year, in 2013, Kuala Lumpur were relegated to the third-tier Malaysia FAM League for the first time in its history.

History

Kuala Lumpur had its most successful period in the late 1980s when they won the national league twice, in 1986 and 1988.[5] They also won the Malaysia Cup for three consecutive years (1987, 1988 and 1989).[6] The team enjoyed considerable success in cup competitions in the 1990s, winning the Malaysian FA Cup in 1993, 1994 and 1999.[6] Kuala Lumpur won the Malaysian Charity Shield on three occasions, in 1988, 1995 and 2000.[6]

In September 2020, the club was privatized in accordance to the privatization process by the Football Association of Malaysia and was renamed as Kuala Lumpur United.[7] [8] In December 2020, Stanley Bernard was named the new CEO of the club.[9]

In March 2021, prior to the 2021 Malaysia Super League season, the team changed its name to Kuala Lumpur City.[10] During the same season, Kuala Lumpur City defeated Johor Darul Ta'zim 2–0 in the final of the 2021 Malaysia Cup, winning the cup for the first time in 32 years.[11]

In February 2023, Rinani Group Berhad acquired a majority stake in the club.[4]

Players

Current squad

[12]

Management and coaching staff

PositionStaff
Head coach Miroslav Kuljanac
Assistant head coach Wan Rohaimi Wan Ismail
Assistant coach Ahmed Mohamed Sayed Mohamed Elwardani
Goalkeeper coach Guilherme Azevedo
Fitness coach Mohd Azizan Ghazali
Physiotherapist Renesh Prabaharan
Team admin Al-Naliq Hasmi Abu Hassan
Media officer Ahmad Shznazri Ahmad Hishamnuri
Masseurs Hamzah Zakaria
Iqbal Afiq Azmi
Kit managers Muhammad Syafiq Danish
Muhammad Syahmi Syazwan

List of head coaches

YearsNat.NameAchievement
1979–1981Yunus Tasman
1982–1984S. Subramaniam
1985–1986Jozef Vengloš1986 League Championship
1987–1989Chow Kwai Lam1987 Malaysia Cup
1988 Malaysia Cup
1989 Malaysia Cup
1988 League Championship
1988 Charity Shield Cup
1989 ASEAN Club Championship
1990Jozef Jankech
1991Milouš Kvaček
1992Chow Kwai Lam
1993S. Subramaniam1993 Malaysia FA Cup
1994Ken Shellito1994 Malaysia FA Cup
1995 – May 1998Chow Kwai Lam1995 Charity Shield Cup
May 1998 – June 2000Mat Zan Mat Aris1999 Malaysia FA Cup
2000 Charity Shield Cup
June 2000 – December 2000Lim Kim Lian
2001–2002Wathiq Naji
2001–2002Lim Kim Lian
2003Igor Novak
2004–2007Mat Zan Mat Aris
January 2008Hans Jurgen Gede
April 2008 – 2012Razip Ismail
2013Stanislav Leiskovsky
2014Tang Siew Seng
January 2015Ricardo Formosinho
April 2015Tang Siew Seng
December 2015 – November 2016Ismail Zakaria
December 2016 – March 2017 Wanderley Junior
March 2017 – September 2018 Fábio Magrão2017 Malaysia Premier League
December 2018 – March 2019Yusri Che Lah
March 2019 – June 2019Chong Yee Fatt
July 2019 – November 2019Rosle Md Derus
January 2020 – November 2020Nidzam Adzha
January 2021 – July 2023Bojan Hodak2021 Malaysia Cup
July 2023 – March 2024Nenad Baćina
March 2024 – presentMiroslav Kuljanac

Honours

Domestic

League

Cup

Continental

1987

Group stage (2nd in Group B)

1989–90

Group stage (2nd in Group A)

1994–95

Quarter-finals

U21 team

Season-by-season record

SeasonDivisionPositionMalaysia CupMalaysian FA CupMalaysian Charity ShieldContinental
As Federal Territory
1979Preliminary16th of 17Did not qualify
1980Preliminary17th of 17Did not qualify
1981Preliminary14th of 17Did not qualify
1982League Cup2nd of 16Quarter-finals
1983League Cup8th of 16Quarter-finals
1984League Cup4th of 16Quarter-finals
1985League Cup5th of 16Runners-up
1986League Cup1st of 16Quarter-finals
As Kuala Lumpur
1987League Cup2nd of 17WinnersRunners-upACC – Group stage (2nd)
1988League Cup1st of 17WinnersWinners
1989Division 12nd of 9WinnersRunners-upACC – Group stage (2nd)
1990Division 14th of 10QF Group A (3rd of 4)First roundRunners-up
1991Division 14th of 10Semi-finalsSemi-finals
1992Division 15th of 10Semi-finalsRunners-up
1993Division 19th of 10Did not qualifyWinners
1994Liga Perdana11th of 16Did not qualifyWinnersRunners-upACWC – Quarter-finals
1995Liga Perdana11th of 15Did not qualifyR1 Group E (3rd of 4)Winners
1996Liga Perdana14th of 15Did not qualifyFirst round
1997Liga Perdana9th of 15QF Group A (4th of 5)Quarter-finals
1998Perdana 18th of 12QF Group A (4th of 5)Semi-finals
1999Perdana 15th of 10QF Group B (5th of 6)Winners
2000Perdana 18th of 12QF Group B (3rd of 4)Semi-finalsWinners
2001
Perdana 110th of 12QF Group A (4th of 4)Second round
2002Perdana 113th of 14Did not qualifySecond round
2003Perdana 25th of 12Did not qualifyFirst round
2004Liga Premier Group B3rd of 13R1 Group C (4th of 4)Second round
2005Liga Premier Group A4th of 8R1 Group C (4th of 4)Semi-finals
2006Liga Premier Group B5th of 8Did not qualifyFirst round
2007Liga Premier7th of 11R1 Group A (3rd of 6)First round
2008Liga Premier12th of 13R1 Group B (4th of 6)Second round
2009Liga Premier4th of 13R1 Group C (3rd of 4)Second round
2010
Super League9th of 14R1 Group B (4th of 4)Second round
2011
Super League12th of 14R1 Group D (3rd of 4)Quarter-finals
2012
Super League14th of 14Did not qualifySecond round
2013Premier League11th of 12Did not qualifyFirst round
2014FAM League2nd of 12Did not qualifyFirst round
2015Premier League11th of 12Did not qualifyThird round
2016Premier League5th of 12R1 Group B (4th of 4)Quarter-finals
2017
Premier League1st of 12Group StageSecond round
2018
Super League10th of 12Group StageQuarter-finals
2019
Super League12th of 12Did not qualifyQuarter-finals
2020
Premier League3rd of 12Cancelled
As Kuala Lumpur City
2021
Super League6th of 12WinnersNot held
2022
Super League6th of 12Quarter-finalsSecond roundRunners-upAFC – Runners-up
2023
Super League7th of 14Semi-finalsRunners-up

Note: A single round-robin league system was instituted in 1979 following the entry of Brunei FA, Kuala Lumpur FA, Sabah FA and Sarawak FA into mainstream Malaysian football. For three years until 1981, the league remained no more than a preliminary round for the knock-out stages of the Malaysia Cup. In 1982, a League Cup was introduced to differentiate the league winners from the Malaysia Cup champions.

Continental record

All results list Kuala Lumpur's goal tally first.

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
1987Asian Club ChampionshipQualifying round (Group 6) Tiong Bahru0–01st out of 4
Kota Ranger8–1
Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian2–0
Semi-finals (Group B) August 11–12nd out of 4
Yomiuri FC1–0
Kazma SC1–1
1989–90Asian Club ChampionshipQualifying round (Group 5) Philippine Air Force6–01st out of 5
Muara Stars7–1
Pelita Jaya2–1
Geylang International4–2
Semi-finals (Group A) Nissan Yokohama1–22nd out of 3
Fanja2–0
1994–95Asian Cup Winners' CupFirst round ABDB5–12–07–1
Second round Gelora Dewata2–10–2
Quarter-finals Telephone Org. Thailand2–3 1–23–5
2022AFC CupGroup H PSM Makassar0–02nd out of 3
Tampines Rovers2–1
ASEAN Zonal semi-finals Viettel0–0
ASEAN Zonal final PSM Makassar5–2
Inter-zone play-off semi-finals ATK Mohun Bagan3–1
Inter-zone play-off final Sogdiana Jizzakh0–0
bgcolor=silverFinal Al-Seeb0–3
2024–25ASEAN Club ChampionshipGroup B Kaya–Iloilo
Borneo Samarindaalign="center"
Lion City Sailors
Công An Hà Nộialign="center"
Buriram United

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The City Boys have issues with match officials . 25 April 2021 . . 19 July 2021 . 19 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210719185109/https://www.nst.com.my/amp/sports/football/2021/04/685113/city-boys-have-issues-match-officials . live .
  2. Web site: City Boys buy Perak duo . 12 May 2021 . . 19 July 2021 . 19 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210719185413/https://www.nst.com.my/amp/sports/football/2021/05/689667/city-boys-buy-perak-duo . live .
  3. Web site: Kuala Lumpur United . worldfootball.net . 21 February 2021 . en . 20 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211020125326/https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/kuala-lumpur-city-fc/ . live .
  4. Web site: Rinani Acquires KL City FC . acnnewswire.com . 7 February 2023 . 7 February 2023. 9 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209103423/https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/81032/.
  5. Web site: Malaysia – List of Champions . . 21 February 2021 . 17 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140717021349/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malaychamp.html . live .
  6. Web site: Malaysia – List of Cup Winners . . 21 February 2021 . 10 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141010060528/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malaycuphist.html . live .
  7. Web site: All Malaysian league clubs complete initial privatisation process, seven receive conditional license . goal.com . 19 February 2021 . 6 October 2020 . 7 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210307153745/https://www.goal.com/en-my/news/all-malaysian-league-clubs-complete-initial-privatisation/cwe9n47ji05q1d6rmdra4zhyj . live .
  8. Web site: Azharie . Farah . Legal wrangle over FA or FC . . 20 February 2021 . en . 29 January 2021 . 29 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210129030901/https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2021/01/661438/legal-wrangle-over-fa-or-fc . live .
  9. Web site: Kuala Lumpur United appoint ex-player Stanley Bernard as club CEO . goal.com . 21 February 2021 . 13 December 2020 . 2 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213304/https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/kuala-lumpur-united-appoint-ex-player-stanley-bernard-club/177ymxtussold1ajih41d9fdxm . live .
  10. Web site: Fans in a flap over KL's name change . . 7 March 2021 . en . 6 March 2021 . 13 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210713084243/https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2021/03/671361/fans-flap-over-kls-name-change . live .
  11. Web site: After 32 years – KL are Malaysia Cup champions again . Free Malaysia Today . 30 November 2021 . en . 30 November 2021 . 30 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211130233603/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/11/30/after-32-years-kl-are-malaysia-cup-champions-again/ . dead .
  12. Web site: Team Detail – Kuala Lumpur City FC – Liga Super Malaysia 2024 . 11 May 2024 . Football Association of Malaysia.
  13. Web site: KLUFC juara sulung Piala Prihatin Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan . Astro Awani . 28 February 2021 . ms . 27 February 2021 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810141050/https://www.astroawani.com/berita-sukan/klufc-juara-sulung-piala-prihatin-menteri-wilayah-persekutuan-285155 . live .
  14. Web site: KL City rampas Piala Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan. Astro Awani . 6 February 2023 . ms . 4 February 2023 . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206143144/https://www.astroawani.com/berita-sukan/kl-city-rampas-piala-menteri-wilayah-persekutuan-405070 . live .
  15. Web site: Honours List KLCFC. Kuala Lumpur City F.C.. 12 February 2022. 12 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220212110250/https://kualalumpurfootball.com/honours-list-klcfc/. live.