Kitchee SC

History

Following its return to the First Division in 2003, Kitchee became one of the most prominent teams in Hong Kong, winning three trophies in two seasons under coach Dejan Antonic: two in (2005–2006) and one in 2006–07 season. Kitchee secured 2nd place in the league, where champions South China had already qualified for ilr AFC Cup as the Hong Kong Senior Shield winner. As a result, Kitchee became one of the two Hong Kong representatives in 2008 AFC Cup.

Since 2009, the club has been a partner of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in its Injury Prevention and Performance Enhancement (IPPE) program.

Kitchee were invited to take part in the 2010 Singapore Cup, becoming the first Hong Kong team to take part in the tournament. The club lost to Etoile FC 4:6 over two legs in the quarter final.

In the 2010–11 Hong Kong First Division League season, under coach Josep Gombau, Kitchee won its first league title in 47 years by one point over arch rival South China AA, allowing the club to compete in both the 2011 Barclays Asia Trophy, where they lost 0:4 to Chelsea FC and 0:3 to Blackburn Rovers, and in the 2012 AFC Cup.

In 2012, Kitchee Foundation submitted a successful proposal to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for a youth football training centre. The club is to receive over HK$44 million from the trust for the establishment of a centre at Shek Mun, Shatin, New Territories to be called the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre, scheduled to open in 2014. The trust will provide 90% of the costs, with the rest coming in part from the proceeds of the Kitchee vs Arsenal exhibition match. Apart from serving as the training ground of Kitchee first team and Kitchee Academy, the Centre also provides facilities for the Education Bureau-approved Professional Footballer Preparatory Programme, which Kitchee jointly offers with Yan Chai Hospital Tung Chi Ying Memorial Secondary School, in order to integrate football training into regular school curriculum and schedule.

In July 2012, Kitchee played an exhibition match against Arsenal FC for The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Challenge Cup, drawing 2–2 in front of a full house at the Hong Kong Stadium. This was Arsenal's first time in Hong Kong for 17 years. In October 2012, Arsenal further donated HK$780,000 to Kitchee Foundation in support of the youth training centre.

Kitchee played Manchester United in Hong Kong during the summer of 2013 after Kitchee Foundation received HK$8 million from the Mega Events Fund to host the match. The game took place on 2 August 2013, Manchester United won 2–5.

Honours

Major trophies are listed below.

League

Hong Kong Premier League

Winners (1): 2014–15Runners-up (1): 2015–16

Hong Kong First Division League

Winners (6): 1947–48, 1949–50, 1963–64, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14Runners-up (7): 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2012-13

Cup Competitions

Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield

Winners (5): 1949–50, 1953–54, 1959–60, 1963–64, 2005–06, 2016–17Finalists (6): 1948–49, 1951–52, 1955–56, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2014-15

Hong Kong FA Cup

Winners (3): 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15Finalists (2): 2003–04, 2013–14

Hong Kong League Cup

Winners (5): 2005–06, 2006–07, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16

Hong Kong Season Play-offs

Winners (2): 2012–13, 2015–16

Hong Kong Community Shield

Winners (1): 2009

Performance in AFC competitions

AFC Cup: 6 appearances

AFC Champions League:1 appearance

Kit manufacturers

2003–04: Diadora

2004–08: Mizuno

2008–present: Nike

Shirt sponsors

2003–04: Xplore

2004–13: Canon

Current squad

As of 11 January 2017.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Remarks:
^FP These players are considered as foreign players at Hong Kong domestic football competitions.
^LP These players are considered as local players at Hong Kong domestic football competitions.
^NR Not registered in Hong Kong domestic football competition.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Reserves

As of 11 January 2017.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Club officials

Kitchee Sports Club
Kitchee Foundation Limited
Kitchee (Sports Management) Limited

Senior Club Staff

President: Ken K. Ng

General Manager: Wilson Ng

Director of Football: Chu Chi Kwong, Alex

Director of Marketing: Lo Shuk Ting

Public Relations Manager: Ng Yee Yun, Jessica

Competition Manager: Chiu Yun Shing, Lester

Customer Service Manager: Cheng Ching Yu, Macro

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Chu Chi Kwong, Alex

Assistant Coach:
Cristiano Cordeiro
Roberto Losada

Goalkeeping Coach: Roberto Sambade Carreira

Reserve Team Coach: Pedro Garcia Diaz

Reserve Team Assistant Coach:
Gao Wen
Yu Siu Chee

Head of Youth Developing: Pedro Garcia Diaz

Youth Coach:
Gao Wen(U18)
Cristiano Cordeiro(U17,U15,U14)
Chu Chi Kwong, Alex(U16,U11)
Roberto Losada(U13)
Yu Siu Chee
Sham Kwok Keung

Fitness Coach: Comas

Head of Recovery & Regeneration: Pau MP

Head of Performance: Lee Wai Yuk, Justin

Club Physiotherapist: Ngai Chi Wing, Gorman

Club Doctor: Dr. Yung Shu Hang, Patrick

Team Assistant: Lee Wing Po

Kitchee Academy

Director of Academy: Roberto Losada

Academy Coaches:
Comas
Gao Wen

Trivia

Kitchee's theme song 1st version is "We Are Kitchee!"

Kitchee's theme song 2nd version is "We Are Kitchee!"