Penang F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Penang

Full name	Penang Football Club
Nickname(s)	Harimau Kumbang (The Black Panthers)
Founded	1920; 105 years ago (1920) (unofficial) 21 October 1921; 103 years ago (21 October 1921) as FAP 2020; 5 years ago (2020) as Penang FC
Ground	City Stadium
Ground Capacity	20,000
Owner	Penang Football Club Sdn Bhd
Chairman	Daniel Gooi
Head coach	Wan Rohaimi
League	Malaysia Super League
2024–25	Super League, 10th of 13
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Penang Football Club, often called Penang FC, is a professional football team from George Town, Penang, Malaysia. They play in the Malaysia Super League, which is the top football league in Malaysia.

The club started unofficially in 1920. It became official on October 21, 1921, as the Football Association of Penang (FAP). The team usually wears blue home kits.

Penang FC has a big rivalry with Kedah. Their matches are known as the "Northern Region Derby" because both teams are from northern Malaysia.

Their home games are played at the City Stadium in George Town. This stadium can hold 20,000 fans.

Penang FC was a very strong team from the 1950s to the 1970s. They have won many titles in Malaysia. These include 3 Malaysia Super League titles, 4 Malaysia Cups, and 1 Malaysia FA Cup. In 1976, they became the first Malaysian club to win an Asian title, the Aga Khan Gold Cup. This was an early version of the AFC Champions League.

In 2016, Faiz Subri from Penang FC scored an amazing free kick goal. Videos of his goal went viral online. In 2017, he won the FIFA Puskás Award for this goal. He was the first Asian player to win this international award for the best goal of the year.

Club History: How Penang FC Started and Grew

The club began unofficially in 1920. It was officially formed as the Football Association of Penang (FAP) in 1921. Penang is one of the oldest football clubs in Malaysia and in Asia. It is the fourth most successful team in Malaysian football history, with 16 titles.

Early Days: Building the Team (1920s-1950s)

The club officially started on October 21, 1921. Many important matches were played at Victoria Green. In 1934, they lost their first cup final to Singapore FA.

Glory Years: Winning Big (1950s-1970s)

The 1950s were a great time for Penang. Players like Yeap Cheng Eng and Aziz Ahmad became famous. Aziz Ahmad scored the winning goal in the 1953 Malaya Cup final against Singapore. Penang won 3 Malaysia Cups (1953, 1954, 1958) and 4 FAM Cups (1952, 1955, 1956, 1957).

In 1963, Penang had a huge 13-0 win against Perlis FA in a Malaysia Cup game. Later, brothers Namat and Shaharuddin became key players. In 1974, Namat Abdullah led Penang to a 2-1 victory in the Malaysia Cup final. This was the state's last Malaysia Cup win for a long time.

In 1976, Penang made history by winning the Aga Khan Gold Cup. They beat Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club 3-0 in the final. This made them the first and only Malaysian club to win an Asian title.

Tough Times: Challenges and Comebacks (1980s-2012)

In 1982, Penang won the first Malaysia First Division League. But after that, the team struggled for many years. They did not win any major trophies until the late 1990s.

The late 1990s brought new success. Penang reached the FA Cup final in 1997. They then won the Malaysia Super League in 1998. They were runners-up in 1999 and 2000. In 2001, Penang became champions again. In 2002, they won the FA Cup for the first time.

From 2003 to 2012, the team faced financial problems. Their performance declined, and they were relegated from the top league in 2010. In 2011, they were relegated again to the third division. This was a very difficult period for the club.

Rising Again: The Comeback Story (2013-2020)

In 2013, Penang FC legend Merzagua Abderrazak became the coach. He helped the team get promoted and win the FAM League title. This was their first trophy in 11 years.

In 2015, Penang finished second in the Premier League. This earned them a spot back in the top league. In 2016, they managed to stay in the Super League on the very last day of the season.

After being relegated again in 2017, Penang worked hard to return. In 2019, they almost got promoted but lost points due to an old player payment issue. However, in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic stopping sports, Penang FC won the Premier League title. They were unbeaten in 8 matches and secured promotion to the 2021 Malaysia Super League.

Team Players: Meet the Squad

Current First-Team Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Khairulazhan Khalid 3 DF Akmal Zahir 5 DF Limbikani Mzava 6 DF Khairul Akmal 7 MF Dylan Wenzel-Halls 9 MF Lim Inkyu 10 FW Bruno Suzuki 11 MF Wan Zack Haikal 14 MF Firdaus Saiyadi 15 DF Stefano Brundo 16 MF Ahmad Irfan 19 MF Chia Ruo Han 20 FW Danilo Šipovac 22 GK Ramadhan Hamid

No. Position Player 23 FW Kipré Tchétché 27 DF Ariff Farhan Isa 35 MF Hasbullah Abu Bakar 36 GK Ashriq Izzat Mazlan 46 DF Adib Raop 71 MF Haziq Kutty Abba 77 DF Amirul Hisyam Kechik 80 MF Izzat Zikri 92 MF Thiago Fernandes 97 GK Khatul Anuar 98 MF Muhammad Akid Zamri 99 FW Alif Ikmalrizal

Team Management and Coaching

Penang FC has a team of people who manage the club and coach the players.

Board of Directors

Position	Name
Chairman	YB Daniel Gooi
General manager	Jeffrey Chew
Board members	Dato' Zakuan Zakaria Faidrol Radzi Muashraf Mohamed YB Dato' Zabidah Safar Datin Bharathi Suppiah YB Kumaresan Aramugam

Coaching Staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Wan Rohaimi
Assistant head coach	Mat Saiful Mohd
Assistant coach	Rafiz Abu Bakar
Goalkeeping coach	Mohd Hisham Jainudin
Fitness coach	Rozy Abdul Majid
Team doctor	Dr. Hardeep Singh Jaginder Singh Dato' Dr. Parmjit Singh Kuldip Singh
Physiotherapist	Ridhwan Noor Akmal
Team analyst	Anwar Azahari
Masseur	Megat Loutfie
Kitman	Sufie Noorazizan

Team Look: Crest and Colours

Penang FC has had two main crests (logos) since 1921. The first one had navy blue and white colours. It showed the letters 'F' and 'A' for 'Football Association'. It also had an old-style football and the Prince of Wales's feathers.

In the early 1990s, the crest was updated. The letters 'F' and 'A' became 3D. The football looked more modern, and the Prince of Wales's feathers were also updated.

Team Colours

Penang's home colours are sky blue and yellow. These colours come from the Penang state flag. Sky blue stands for the sea around the island, and yellow means peace. Sometimes, navy blue and yellow have also been used.

Away kits have usually been yellow or white. In recent years, they have also used green, pink, and orange. The current home jersey is a lighter blue, like the state flag. The away jersey is white, and the alternate jersey is black with yellow stripes.

Fan Power: Penang FC Supporters

Penang FC has many fans from all over George Town and nearby areas. The most dedicated fans are called the Ultras Panthers, also known as Green Terrace Comrades UP11. They started in 2011.

At every match, the Ultras Panthers stand together in the supporters' area. They usually wear blue with blue-yellow scarves and bring banners. They also bring drums and large colourful flags to cheer on the team.

The Penang Football Fans Club (PFFC) is the official supporter club, started in 2017. Its main goal is to bring all Penang football fans together. It also helps fans communicate with the team.

Other fan clubs include Demi Pulau Pinang, Penang Brotherhood, and Haria Penang 69. In 2016, Penang had an average of 7,301 fans at each game. Even tourists sometimes come to watch!

As of June 2020, Penang FC had over 134,000 followers on social media. This was the ninth highest among Malaysian football clubs.

Fans sing chants like "Haria Penang Haria" and "Sehati Sejiwa" (meaning "One Heart, One Soul"). They also sing the state anthem, "Untuk Negeri Kita" ("For our state"). Fans sometimes throw toilet rolls onto the pitch before matches. "Haria Penang Haria" is a very popular slogan among supporters.

Big Games: Team Rivalries

Kedah Darul Aman is Penang's biggest rival. Fans also see Perak and Perlis as rivals. Matches against these teams are always exciting.

Northern Region Derby

The "Northern Region Derby" is the name for football matches between Penang and Kedah. Both teams are from the northern part of Malaysia. The City Stadium and Darul Aman Stadium are always full of fans during these derby games. The matches create a lively atmosphere with many banners before the game starts.

Friendly Connections

Even though Penang has big rivalries, especially with Kedah, there are also good friendships between fans. Fans of Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Perlis sometimes use the slogan "This is the northern region" to show their good relationships.

Team Gear: Kit Makers and Sponsors

Home Fields: Where Penang FC Plays and Trains

Main Stadiums

Penang City Stadium

Before the City Stadium was built, big matches were played at Victoria Green. The City Stadium was finished in the 1950s.

The Penang State Stadium in Batu Kawan was also a home ground from 2000 to 2011 and again from 2016 to 2017. It was built in 2000 and can hold 40,000 people.

The City Stadium can hold 20,000 people. It is the oldest stadium still used in Malaysia. It is famous for its loud home crowd, known as the "Keramat Roar." In 2019, the team returned to the City Stadium as their main home.

Training Grounds

The Jawi Public Field in South Seberang Perai District, Penang, is a training ground for Penang FC.

Before this, the USM Sports Centre at Universiti Sains Malaysia was used for training. It has several grass pitches. The Penang Sports Club in George Town is also sometimes used for training.

Team Records and Achievements

Penang is the fifth most successful football club in Malaysia, with 15 national titles. They won the first ever Malaysia League in 1982 and the first FAM Cup in 1952.

Their best league finish was 1st place in the Super League in 1982, 1998, and 2001. Their lowest was 6th in the 2012 Malaysia FAM League.

Penang's biggest win in a Malaysia Cup final was 3-0 against Singapore FA in 1954. Their biggest loss in a Malaysia Cup final was 1-8 against Selangor FA in 1968.

Asian Record

⁰ due to economic problems in the country.
¹ due to club financial problems.

Player Achievements

Shukor Salleh played for Penang FC for 20 years, his entire career. He won the National Sportsman Award in 1977. He was also recognized by the AFC and FIFA for playing over 100 international games for Malaysia.

Lutz Pfannenstiel holds a unique record: he is the only footballer to play professionally in all six of FIFA's recognized continents.

In 2017, Mohd Faiz Subri became the first Asian to win the FIFA Puskás Award. He won it for his amazing free kick goal against Pahang FA in 2016.

On August 3, 2021, Rafael Vitor scored the fastest goal in the Malaysia Super League. He scored just 9 seconds into the game against Perak FC.

Top Goal Scorers (Since Professional Era)

Players who scored 10 or more goals are listed.

Season	Player	Goals
1995	John Hunter	10
1999	Azman Adnan	13
2002	Gustavo Romero	14
2003	Gustavo Romero	11
2004	Vyacheslav Melnikov	16
2005	José Ramirez Barreto	15
2013	Norizam Salaman	12
2014	Lee Gil-hoon	17
2015	Mohd Faiz Subri	10
2019	Julián Bottaro	10
2020	Casagrande	10
2021	Casagrande	12

Club Honours: Trophies Won

Domestic Titles

(*inaugural winners) (**Penang FA Reserves) (***Persatuan Bolasepak Melayu Pulau Pinang (PBMPP))

Asian Titles

Famous Players: Penang FC Legends

This list includes important players who played for Penang FC. They either played for their national team while with Penang, helped the team a lot, or became famous in football before or after playing for Penang.

• Yeap Cheng Eng
• Aziz Ahmad
• Dave MacLaren
• Namat Abdullah
• Shaharuddin Abdullah
• Mohammed Bakar
• Shukor Salleh
• Ali Bakar
• Isa Bakar
• Desmond David
• Ahmad Yusof
• Lutz Pfannenstiel
• Azman Adnan
• Wan Rohaimi
• Mohd Hasmawi Hassan
• Chee Wan Hoe
• Merzagua Abderrazak
• Kamarulzaman Hassan
• Ooi Hoe Guan
• Norizam Salaman
• Faiz Subri
• Yong Kuong Yong
• Mafry Balang
• R. Surendran
• M.Yoges
• Azmi Muslim
• Syukur Saidin
• Bobby Gonzales

Club Ownership and Finances

The Penang Chief Minister Incorporated owns Penang FC. It is one of the government-linked companies (GLCs). The chairman is Soon Lip Chee, who is also the Penang State Executive Councillor for Youth and Sports.

Before football clubs became private, the Football Association of Penang (FAP) owned the club. FAP also ran the local leagues in the state.

Team Coaches: Leading the Way

Head Coaches Since the Semi-Pro Era

Years	Name	Achievement
1975–1980	Lim Boon Kheng	1976 Aga Khan Gold Cup champions
1986–1990	M. Kuppan	1974 Malaysia Cup champions
1991–1993	Blagoje Bratić	1992 Division 2 runner-up
1995–1996	Mohd Bakar
1997–1999	Moey Yoke Ham	1997 FA Cup runner-up 1998 Division 1 champions 1999 Division 1 runner-up
2000–2003	Irfan Bakti Abu Salim	2000 FA Cup runner-up 2000 Division 1 runner up 2001 Division 1 champions 2002 FA Cup champions 2003 Charity Shield champions
2003–2004	Yunus Alif
2005	Norizan Bakar
2006–2007	Joseph Herel
2008	Mohd Bakar
2008–2009	S. Veloo
2010	Mohd Bakar Shukor Salleh Reduan Abdullah
2011	Robert Scully Shukor Salleh (caretaker) Ahmad Yusof
January 2012 – November 2012	Jánós Krécská
December 2012 – November 2013	Merzagua Abderrazak	2013 FAM League champions
November 2013 – November 2014	K. Devan
November 2014 – April 2016	Jacksen F. Tiago	2015 Premier League runner-up
April 2016 – May 2016	Manzoor Azwira (caretaker)
May 2016 – November 2016	Nenad Baćina
December 2016 – March 2017	Ashley Westwood
March 2017	Darren Read (caretaker)
March 2017 – October 2018	Zainal Abidin Hassan
October 2018 – March 2019	Ahmad Yusof
March 2019	Kamal Kalid (caretaker)
April 2019 – December 2020	Manzoor Azwira	2020 Malaysia Premier League champions
December 2020 – April 2022	Tomáš Trucha
May 2022	Manzoor Azwira (caretaker)
June 2022 - October 2022	Zainal Abidin Hassan
October 2022 - March 2023	Chong Yee fat
March 2023 - Nov 2023	Manzoor Azwira (caretaker)
Nov 2023 - Nov 2024	Akmal Rizal
Nov 2024 -	Wan Rohaimi

See also

In Spanish: Penang Football Association para niños