2017 Selangor FA Season

The 2017 Selangor FA Season was Selangor FA's 12th season playing soccer in the Malaysia Super League since its inception in 2004.

Selangor FA began the season on January 21, 2017. They will also compete in two domestic cups, the Malaysia FA Cup and Malaysia Cup.

Season Overview

Pre-season

(Squad Build and First Transfers)

Selangor started the summer in December when P. Maniam was officially announced as its new coach for one season. He appeared for his first press conference with the media on December 28. K. Gunalan, last year's interim coach, will again serve as assistant coach for this season.

On December 28, 2016, P. Maniam added some new faces to the club's academy after losing several key players who moved to other teams. The players who were promoted to the first team were A. Namathevan, K. Kannan, Amirul Ashraf, Faizzudin Abidin, Badrul Amin, K. Sarkunan and Syahmi Safari.

On December 30, Dato' Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali quit as president of the Football Association of Selangor(FAS), after having held the post for two years beginning in December 2014. Amirudin Shari also joined Azmin by resigning as team manager. They made this decision after seeing the failure of Selangor's executive officers(EXCO FAS) to submit a strategic plan for Selangor's state football management, including failing to update the professional administration organization for the FAS association.

During the pre-season planning, P. Maniam also added some new local players for the season. Among them are: Afiq Azmi (Negeri Sembilan), Halim Zainal (Kuala Lumpur), K. Satish (PKNS), Fairuz Abdul Aziz (AirAsia FC) and Nurshamil Abd Ghani, a player who is on loan from Melaka United.

On December 6, S. Subramaniam was released by Selangor. Azmi Muslim left the club on the same day, and was transferred to PKNS FC after three years with the Red Giants. Hazwan Bakri and R. Gopinathan were sold to Johor Darul Ta'zim for a fee of RM1 million (Malaysian ringgit), while Nazmi Faiz had already signed an agreement to join JDT when he was with Selangor FA last season. The following day, Shahrom Kalam, and Hafiz Kamal switched sides and joined Perak this season for an undisclosed fee, while Hadi Yahya joined them on a free transfer.

P. Maniam also added new foreign players from Liberia and Romania, Francis Forkey Doe and Victoraș Astafei to replace foreign players from last season, Mauro Olivi and Patrick Wleh, whose contracts were not renewed for the current season. Patrick Wleh returned to PKNS FC following the end of his loan spell after Selangor decided not to make the loan move a permanent deal. Mauro Olivi has been released after not being offered a new contract.

Selangor agreed on a contract extension with import defender Ugo Ukah, keeping him with the club for one more year. Quota imports from Asia, Andik Vermansyah still remains with the team, with a year left on his contract. However, he sustained an ACL injury forcing Andik to rest for 5–6 months causing him to be dismissed from the team for this season. Import player Asia status will be filled by Timor-Leste players, Juliano Mineiro, who will replace him temporarily after signing a six-month contract.

Mid-season

(Second Transfers)

On second transfers day, Selangor reached an agreement with Melaka United on 17 May for AFC Cup winner Amri Yahyah, who re-joined the team for an undisclosed fee. Two days later, Selangor announced Victoraș Astafei will be released to make way for the original import, Andik Vermansyah, who will take Astafei's place until the end of the season.

On 9 June, before the second transfer window closed, Selangor officially signed a new import player from Spain, Rufino Segovia, to replace Juliano Mineiro, whose contract expired at the end of the month.

Pre-season and Friendlies Match

Selangor announced their first fixture of the 2017 pre-season schedule on 25 December 2016. On 29 December, Selangor began its pre-season campaign against Sime Darby at the training field in Shah Alam. The match finished as a goalless draw.

The next fixture, Selangor visited PDRM on 6 January at PULAPOL, Kuala Lumpur. Selangor won the match 2–1, with goals from K. Kannan and Forkey Doe. Victory against PDRM is the first pre-season win for the team.

Five days later, Selangor faced Terengganu, last season's Super League relegation team, at Selayang Stadium. Selangor won the match 2–0, with goals from two import trials, Mohamed Talaat and Kamil Poźniak.

The next day, Selangor continued their friendly matches against a club from the FAM league (third division), MOF FC. Selangor won 1–0, with a goal scored by import trials, Tiago Chulapa. It was the Red Giants' third victory after four friendly matches.

Selangor meet Kuala Lumpur for the next game on 14 January at SUK field in Shah Alam, which Kuala Lumpur won 1–0 with a goal scored by Kuala Lumpur import trials, Carlos Chamorro.

In the final matchday of the pre-season, Selangor faced another FAM league club, Petaling Jaya Rangers on the SUK field. The Red Giants lost again, 1–0, thanks to a goal from a local player, Badrul Afendy. It was the team's second defeat in six friendly matches.

Overall, Selangor finished the pre-season friendlies with 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats.

January

On 21 January, Selangor officially kicked off its Super League campaign, playing at home to Penang. Maniam fielded a 3–4–3 formation, while playing a style of defending and attacking football. Selangor went on to win the match 2–0, with goals from Adam Nor Azlin and Forkey Doe, ensuring Maniam got off to a winning start.

On 27 January, Selangor was unable to progress up the table, recording a 1–1 home draw against Melaka United. Although there was a goal from Selangor's new import signings, Victoraș Astafei, one goal from Melaka United player, Khairu Azrin held Selangor to a draw.

February

On 4 February, despite one goal from Syahmi Safari and two goals from Forkey Doe, Selangor came up short with a 5–3 away defeat to PKNS. This was their first defeat in the league after three games.

Their next away game, against defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim, ended goalless as well meaning Selangor were down in eighth place.

On 14 February, in the first FA Cup match against Negeri Sembilan, Selangor were eliminated at home with 3–4 penalty shoot-out, after the match finished as a goalless draw 0–0 (including extra-time).

Three days later, in their fifth match of the league campaign, Selangor recorded a 3–1 home win against Felda United

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