Football is a loveable sport for almost all ages. And in Malaysia, especially when there’s a game, no one could be more excited than us Malaysians! Forget famous football clubs in foreign country, we have our very own team that really outdid themselves this season.
The Kuala Lumpur City Football Club dates back to 1975 when the Federal Territory Football Association (FTFA) was established. Top-level football in Malaysia was unique in that it was an inter-state affair with teams overseen by state associations.
Between 1986 and 1989, the team dominated, winning three Malaysia Cups, two League Championships, and two Asian Club Championships. In the 1990s, Kuala Lumpur had even more success, winning three FA Cup championships.
Following a third-place performance in the 2020 premier league season, Kuala Lumpur returns to the Malaysian Super League after a one-year sabbatical. As Malaysian football clubs transition to private ownership, Kuala Lumpur has named one of their own, Stanley Bernard, as the club’s Chief Executive Officer to guide the club through this exciting moment of opportunity.
The transition from a football association-run squad to a full-fledged professional football club opens up a plethora of business options. Kuala Lumpur City Football Club, like any other corporation, is guided by corporate governance principles, which include a system of rules, practises, and processes for directing and controlling the club, as well as a proper structure that identifies those with power and accountability, as well as those who make decisions.
Following a third-place performance in the 2020 premier league season, Kuala Lumpur City returns to the Malaysian Super League after a one-year sabbatical. As Malaysian football clubs transition to private ownership, Kuala Lumpur City has named one of their own, Stanley Bernard, as the club’s Chief Executive Officer to steer the club through this exciting moment of opportunity.
Values and Identity
The Kuala Lumpur City Football Club is a football club that represents Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Prior to the change to professionalism and a club-based strategy, Kuala Lumpur was the only non-state Malaysian team competing in national-level domestic events.
Kuala Lumpur is a one-of-a-kind metropolis with a diversified population and a cultural melting pot. Its citizens come from all around the country, but the club is mostly supported by those who identify with the city as their hometown. Given that this group is outnumbered by those who remain loyal to their home nations, all who embrace it develop a powerful sense of identification.
After splitting from the FA of Selangor in 1975, the club developed an independent bent and has been blazing its own way ever since. While every club wants to be successful on and off the field, it will never sacrifice the club’s essential principles of respect, collaboration, enjoyment, and teamwork. Not only do they get results, but they do so in a way that makes each KLCFC supporter happy to be a fan.
The Team
The Kuala Lumpur City Football Club is a football club that represents Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Prior to the change to professionalism and a club-based strategy, Kuala Lumpur was the only non-state Malaysian team competing in national-level domestic events.
Kuala Lumpur City Football Club has a mixture of player. Instead of just having players from just Malaysia, the team also has players from Philippines, Colombia, Australia, Mauritius and Brazil.
This football club has won 10 honours since the beginning of its establishment and here’s a list of them:
1. League Championship
- Winners: 1986, 1988
- Runners-up: 1982, 1987, 1989
2. Premier League (2nd Tier)
- Winners: 2017
3. Fam League (3rd Tier)
- Runners-up: 2014
4. Malaysia Cup
- Winners: 1987, 1988, 1989, 2021
- Runners-up: 1985
5. FA Cup
- Winners: 1993, 1994, 1999
- Runners-up: 1992
6. ASEAN Club Championship
- Winners: 1987, 1989
7. Charity Cup
- Winners: 1988, 1995, 2000
- Runners-up: 1987, 1989, 1990, 1994
8. President’s Cup (Under-21)
- Winners: 1989, 1992, 1998
- Runners-up: 1995, 2010
9. Youth Cup (Under-19)
- Winners: 2004
- Runners-up: 2005, 2007
10. Razak Cup (Under-19)
- Winners: 1984, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997
- Runners-up: 1983, 1985, 1988, 1994
Current Standing
Kuala Lumpur City FC is currently ranked 6th in the list after JDT, Kedah, Penang, Terengganu, and Selangor. The last time Kuala Lumpur City FC lifted the oldest trophy was in 1989 which saw them set a record after emerging champions in 1987 and 1988.
On 30 November 2021, a match between Johor Darul Ta’zim and Kuala Lumpur City FC was held at the Bukit Jalil Stadium. JDT has won the Malaysian Super League for the previous eight years in a row, most recently in 2019 and they are the opponent for Kuala Lumpur City FC in the finale.
Despite dominating for lengthy stretches of the game, JDT was surprised in the 66th minute when City Boys midfielder Zhafri scored a tap-in after ghosting in at the far post. JDT made a last-ditch effort to save the game in the last minutes, but the KL defence, captained by Filipino goalkeeper Kevin Mendoza, held fast to secure victory. City defeated the affluent holders of Johor 2-0 thanks to strikes from Zhafri Yahya and Paulo Josue in the second half. And this is Kuala Lumpur City FC’s first victory.
The victory meant a lot to the team who was also called ‘The City Boys’, who ended their 32-year wait of recapturing the prestigious trophy and it was even sweeter to do so on the 100th anniversary of the Malaysian Cup, apart from winning tickets to the AFC Cup next season.
Sources: Kuala Lumpur Football, Kuala Lumpur City Football Club,