Malacca FA

Melaka United Football Club () was a defunct Malaysian professional football club based in Malacca that competes in the Malaysia Super League. They were owned by Kenteam Sdn Bhd which is one of nitrile glove producer in Malaysia. Previously, the club's home ground since then has been Hang Tuah Stadium before moving to Hang Jebat Stadium in Paya Rumput / Krubong in 1924. The club represents the state of Malacca in Malaysian football competitions. They currently play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League after back-to-back promotions as champion of the 2015 Malaysia FAM League and 2016 Malaysia Premier League.Melaka United layak ke Liga Perdana

The club was formerly referred to as ''Malacca'' or officially as ''Malacca Amateur FA'' and then ''Malacca FA''. Malacca FA biggest achievement in Malaysia football was becoming the Malaysian League champion in 1983 led by Asian Football Hall of Fame, Soh Chin Ann.

The club's current nickname is Hang Tuah, the name being synonymous with strength and intelligence.

Melaka United's regular kit colours are green and white for shirts, shorts and socks.

Club licensing regulations

2018 season

* This club had obtained the FAM Club License to play in the 2018 Malaysia Super League season.

2019 season

* This club had obtained the FAM Club License to play in the 2019 Malaysia Super League season.
* This club had obtained the AFC Club License and is eligible to played either 2019 AFC Champions League or 2019 AFC Cup if qualified on merit.

History

Origins

Football has been played in Malaya for a long years. Malacca has sent a football team to play in Malaya Cup since its inaugural season in 1921.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay21.html Malaysia 1921 In 1924, the team has been registered and now managed by the newly formed governance body of Malacca football, the Malacca Amateur Football Association (MAFA).http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay24.html Malaysia 1921 Since then, the football team has been competing in Malaya Cup and FAM Cup consistently. MAFA biggest achievement when they reached the final 1957 and 1958 FAM Cup led by Robert Choe.

The era of amateur football league

In 1979, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) changed the format of Piala Malaysia when they introduced the league stage that acts as the qualifying round for the knockout stage of Piala Malaysia.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay79.html Malaya Cup 1979 When it began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the final knock-out stages of the Piala Malaysia where teams compete in a one-round league before advanced to the knock-out stage.

The football league in Malaysia has only officially started in 1982 after the introduction of league trophy for the league winners, which the league has been known as Liga Malaysia.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay81.html Malaya Cup 1981http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay82.html Malaysia 1982 Malacca football team continue to compete in the league and has become the champion of the league during its second season in 1983 which has been the only time the Malacca team become a champion of the top-tier league in Malaysian football.

The era of semi-pro football league

Over the years, the league competition has gained important stature in its own right. From 1982 until 1988 the league is an amateur status continue its purpose as qualifying round for Piala Malaysia and only in 1989 it is changes to a new format as Liga Semi-Pro (MSPFL) was introduced by FAM as a 'halfway house' towards full professional status. The inaugural season of MSPFL consisted of nine teams in Division I and eight teams in Division II with total of 17 teams participated.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay89.html Malaysia 1989 Malacca has been put in Division II for 1989 season. Malacca competed in the 1992 season in Division II.

Era of professional football

MSPFL was the nation's top-tier league until it was succeeded by the formation of Malaysian first professional football league, the Liga Perdana (1994–97) in 1994 by Football Association of Malaysia. In its inaugural season 16 teams competing in a single league. The teams were based from all states in Malaysia including Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and addition of two foreign teams, Singapore and Brunei.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay94.html Malaysia 1994

In 1998, Liga Perdana was divided into two divisions consist of Liga Perdana 1 and Liga Perdana 2 (''Liga Perdana 1'' and ''Liga Perdana 2'' in Malay).http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=1998&dt=0111&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Sukan&pg=sp_01.htm Pemain Malaysia bebas ke Brunei During 1998, Liga Perdana 1 consist of 12 teams while Liga Perdana 2 had 8 teams. Malacca competes in Liga Perdana 2 from 1998 until 2000 before achieving promotion to Liga Perdana 1 for 2001 season.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay98.html Malaysia 1998

At this time the league still consist of semi-pro team where each team was allowed to register 25 players where 12 players must be a professional for Liga Perdana 1 and a minimum of six professional players in Liga Perdana 2.

Malacca competes in Liga Perdana 1 from 2001 until 2003.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay01.html Malaysia 2001http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay02.html Malaysia 2002 Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) decided to privatise the league for 2004 season onwards where Liga Super was formed.

Teams in Liga Perdana 1 and Liga Perdana 2 was then was put through a qualification and playoff to be promoted into Liga Super. Malacca failed to qualify and was put into now a new second-tier league Liga Premier for the 2004 season.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay03.html Malaysia 2003

Playing in Malaysia Premier League

The club has been in an up and down performance in Malaysia Premier League since the league inception in 2004 where they played for three seasons and was promoted to top-tier league, Malaysia Super League.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay04.html Malaysia 2004http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay05.html Malaysia 2005http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay06.html Malaysia 2006

Brief year in Malaysia Super League

After a successful season in second division, the club has been promoted to the top-tier division, the Liga Super for 2006-07 season.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay07.html Malaysia 2007 The club has splurged a big budget to buy players while removing majority of players and officials of previous winning season in order to create a more competitive team in the league during its first season in top league after a long years in lower division. However, the club has not been performing as expected as it has been relegated in their first season.

Back to second division

A slump in performance has cause the club struggling and fighting for relegation in their three years season of Malaysia Premier League from 2008 until 2010 season before the dark era as the club has been relegated to the third-tier league, the Malaysia FAM League for 2011 season.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay08.html Malaysia 2008http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay09.html Malaysia 2009http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay2010.html Malaysia 2010

Years of struggle in Malaysia FAM League

The club has been relegated from 2010 Malaysia Premier League to the Malaysia FAM League because of poor performance despite being one of the bigger clubs within it.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay2011.html Malaysia 2011 In 2012, the club management has concluded as some of the factor that causing the club a chances to be promoted was the poaching of its players by bigger club in higher division and the struggle to attract bigger status players to the club as they were playing in lower division.http://www.sinarharian.com.my/edisi/melaka-ns/pemain-berbakat-berhijrah-punca-pasukan-bola-sepak-melaka-merosot-1.63326 Pemain berbakat berhijrah punca pasukan bola sepak Melaka merosot The club continue to compete and has been a consistent team in third-tier league, Malaysia FAM League for five straight season.http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/Sukan/20121027/su_04/Sokongan-peminat-semakin-menurun---Kelab-Penyokong-Melaka Sokongan peminat semakin menurun - Kelab Penyokong Melakahttp://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay2012.html Malaysia 2012http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay2013.html Malaysia 2013http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay2014.html Malaysia 2014http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay2015.html Malaysia 2015

A comeback from lower league

The club make a comeback to second-tier league, Malaysia Premier League in 2016 after being promoted as champions of 2015 Malaysia FAM League. Before winning the FAM League, the club has experienced a 32-year trophy drought, where the last time Melaka United won the Malaysian top-tier league was in 1983 where they won the Liga Malaysia which was the league stage that served as the qualifying round for the Malaysian Cup.http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/malay83.html Malaysia 1983 During that time, national footballer Soh Chin Ann was playing for MalaccaMelaka kembali warnai Liga M
/ref>

The club has achieved promotion to Liga Super after became the champion of the Malaysia Premier League in just one year time after winning the Malaysia FAM League.

Back to top division league

After received a promotion to top division, the Malaysia Super League, Melaka United management has made a number of changes including of the restructuring of the club management and the new squad selection. On 14 November 2016, Melaka United has announced the appointment of Eric Williams to replace Mat Zan Mat Aris as the new head coach for the club. Melaka lantik Eric Williams sebagai jurulatih baru Eric Williams has previously managed the Myanmar giant, Yangon United F.C. in the 2014 season. The club has also only retained ten players from previous season and has recruited nine new players.http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3896/malaysia/2016/11/03/29130692/melaka-united-to-offer-spasojevic-solehin-and-eight-other Melaka United to offer Spasojevic, Solehin and eight other players new contracthttp://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3896/malaysia/2016/11/28/29964252/transfer-round-up-melaka-recruit-nine-new-players-jdt-signed?ICID=HP_BN_3 TRANSFER ROUND-UP: Melaka recruit nine new players, JDT signed one

The club has set a high target for 2017 season including to be a top five in the league standing.http://www.stadiumastro.com/ms/article/2016/12/26/melaka-united-sasar-kelompok-atasan-liga-super Melaka United sasar kelompok atasan Liga Super On 18 February 2017, the club has managed to win their first match in Liga Super, almost 10 years after their last win in the top division in 2006–07 season.

Stadium

Melaka United are currently based at Hang Jebat Stadium in Krubong, Malacca. The capacity of the stadium is 40,000. In addition to the football field, the stadium also consists of a running track.

The club has previously been using the Hang Tuah Stadium as their homeground before moving to current stadium. The old stadium still be used as a training ground and as a home stadium for its development and youth squad which compete in Piala Presiden, Piala Belia and alternative stadium for senior squad.

Crest and colours

Crest

Melaka United has historically utilised one primary crest before the introduction of football league in Malaysia. The first, adopted when the club was founded, was the image of A Famosa which is a historical remains from colonial age in Malacca. It was used during the club's amateur era and remained for more than half-century.

Since the introduction of football league, the club has evolved from amateur years and has adopted a new crest which features an image of Malacca tree, where the city was named after.

Since the end of 2013 season, the club has undergoes a management changes and rebranding to Melaka United where a new crest was introduced which was a slight modern design changes from the old crest. In 2015, an image of new crest was leak which has received with negative reaction among fans which the club has decided to stick with use of the old crest.

Colours

Melaka United have always worn green and white shirts as their home kit as it is an iconic colour for the club and it is different from majority of other teams in the league.

Melaka United's away colours are usually all white with green trim or various combination colours of blue, red, yellow and white as it represent the colour of Malacca's Flag.

Colours and Kit evolution

First

Away

Supporters

Ultras Taming Sari (UTS) is one of group of supporters of football in Malaysia and Malacca mainly known for their support for Melaka United.http://www.bharian.com.my/node/27708 Ultras Malaya cetus kebangkitan Founded on 11 January 2011 and currently being led by Lekir Hj. Ahmad. The group was one of many Ultras supporters group created under the branches of Ultras Malaya which was founded after the poor performance of national team in international football scene. It main purpose is to bring back the glory of football supports among Malaysian football fans. These group supporters always bring drums and large colourful flags to the stadiums alongside of chanting in the stadium in order to bring up the spirit of the players and other supporters during matches.

Melaka United are one of the most widely supported football clubs in Malacca. Melaka United's traditional fanbase comes from all over Central Malacca District, Alor Gajah and Jasin area. There are also numerous supporters clubs mainly in Malacca and also Malaysia.

Ownership and finances

The Malacca football team has been founded since 1921 and the management of the club has been taken over by the foundation of Malacca Amateur Football Association in 1924 before later on the management drop the amateur status from its name when the Liga Malaysia went semi-pro in 1989 and later on as professional in 1994. The club has been thriving with the financial backing from the state government and sponsors.

In 2014 the management went a restructuring process to become the Melaka United Soccer Association and later on as part of its further privatisation plan, the club will have its own management separating itself from the association as Melaka United Football Club from 2017 season onwards in order to comply with the club licensing regulation.http://www.hmetro.com.my/node/176335 Imej baru MUFC perkasa Melaka United ETROTV/ref>

Sponsorship

Melaka United's kit has been manufactured by Al-Ikhsan start 2020 season.

Melaka United's current main shirt sponsor is Red ONE.

Players

First-team squad

Development squad

Under-21s

Under-19s

Head coaches

Records

Team managers

Management & Coaching Staff

''

Club personnel

Honours

Domestic competitions

League

*; Liga Malaysia / Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 1 / Liga Perdana / Liga Perdana 1 / Liga Super
: Winners (1): 1983

*; Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 2 / Liga Perdana 2 / Liga Premier
: Winners (1): 2016
:: Runners-up (2): 2000, 2005–06

*; Piala FAM / Liga FAM
: Winners (1): 2015
:: Runners-up (2): 1957, 1958

Cups

*;Piala FA
: Winners: -

*;Piala Malaysia
: Winners: -

*;Piala Sumbangsih
: Winners: -

Preseason Competitions

* Malacca TYT Cup
: Winners (1): 2022

Performance in AFC competitions

* Asian Club Championship / AFC Champions League: 1 appearance
::1986: Southeast Asia Qualifying/ASEAN Champions Cup–4th place

Club record

Updated on 17 March 2018.

''Note'':

*Pld = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = Lost, F = Goals for, A = Goals against, D = Goal difference, Pts= Points, Pos = Position

Source:

Individual player awards

Malaysian League Golden boot winners

Malaysian League top goalscorers

Notable former players

This list of prominent former players, who played in this team includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is not complete or all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.

* Ilija Spasojević
* Soh Chin Ann
* Safiq Rahim
* Lim Teong Kim
* Azizan Baba
* Shukor Adan
* V. Murugan
* Nurshamil Abd Ghani
* Ong Kim Swee
* Amri Yahyah
* Marko Šimić

Affiliated clubs

* Melaka City
* SAMB
* Liga Melaka

References

External links

Official website

Melaka United at Football Malaysia
*

{{Malaysia football champions

Malaysia Super League clubs
Football clubs in Malaysia
1924 establishments in British Malaya
Sport in Malacca