Melaka United F.C.

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. 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). Since then, the football team has been competing in Malaya Cup consistently.

The era of amateur football league

In 1979, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) changed the format of Malaysia Cup when they introduced the league stage that acts as the qualifying round for the knockout stage of Malaysia Cup. When it began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the final knock-out stages of the Malaysia Cup 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 Malaysian League. 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 Malaysia Cup and only in 1989 it is changes to a new format as Malaysian Semi-Pro Football League (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. Malacca has been put in Division II for 1989 season. Malacca compete in 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 Malaysia Premier League (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.

In 1998, Malaysia Premier League was divided into two divisions consist of Malaysia Premier League 1 and Malaysia Premier League 2 (Liga Perdana 1 and Liga Perdana 2 in Malay). During 1998, Malaysia Premier League 1 consist of 12 teams while Malaysia Premier League 2 had 8 teams. Malacca competes in Malaysia Premier League 2 from 1998 until 2000 before achieving promotion to Malaysia Premier League 1 for 2001 season.

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 Malaysia Premier League 1 and a minimum of six professional players in Malaysia Premier League 2.

Malacca competes in Malaysia Premier League 1 from 2001 until 2003. Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) decided to privatise the league for 2004 season onwards where Malaysia Super League was formed.

Teams in Malaysia Premier League 1 and Malaysia Premier League 2 was then was put through a qualification and playoff to be promoted into Malaysia Super League. Malacca failed to qualify and was put into now a new second-tier league Malaysia Premier League for the 2004 season.

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 season and was promoted to top-tier league, Malaysia Super League.

Brief year in Malaysia Super League

After a successful season in second division, the club has been promoted to the top-tier division, the Malaysia Super League for 2006-07 season. 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.

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. 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. The club continue to compete and has been a consistent team in third-tier league, Malaysia FAM League for five straight season.

A comeback from lower league

The club make a comeback to second-tier league, Malaysia Premier League in 2016 after been promoted as champion 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 Malaysian League which was the league stage that served as the qualifying round for the Malaysian Cup. During that time, national footballer Soh Chin Aun was playing for Malacca

The club has achieved promotion to Malaysia Super League 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. In November 2016, the club has been rebranded to be fully privatise as Melaka United Football Club as one of the effort to be fully accountable and as a preparation to play in top-tier league. 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. Eric Williams has previously managed the Myanmar giant, Yangon United F.C. in 2014 season. The club has also only retained ten players from previous season and has recruited nine new players.

The club has set a high target for 2017 season including to be a top five in the league standing. In 18 February 2017, the club has managed to win their first match in Super League, 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, Melaka. 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 Malaysia President's Cup, Malaysia Youth League and alternative stadium for senior squad.

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.

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. 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 Melaka Tengah, 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 Malaysian League 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 became 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.

Sponsorship

Melaka United's kit has been manufactured by Kronos since 2014, which is contracted to supply the club's kit from 2014 to 2015. The partnership was extended from for another 2 years to 2017.

Melaka United's current main shirt sponsor is Edra CGN as shirt sponsor 1 and Tag Marine as shirt sponsor 2. Edra Global Energy Bhd has pens a deal to sponsor the club for three years with the amount of RM 5 Million with 3 Million for 2016 season and a million each for the subsequent years. The club has a variety of other sponsors and official partners such as Kronos, Restoran Melayu Melaka, Hatten Hotel and Mamee. For 2017 season, the club has target to raise RM 20 Million overall from sponsorship and currently has obtained a total of RM 15 Million before the season begins.

First-team squad

As of 10 January 2017

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

For recent transfers, see 2017 Melaka United F.C. season#Transfers.

Out on loan

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

Under-21s

As of 23 February 2017

Under-19s

As of 23 February 2017

Management team

As of 1 February 2016

Winners (1): 1983Winners (1): 2016Runners-up (2): 2000, 2005–06Winners (1): 2015Runners-up (2): 1957, 1958Winners: -Winners: -Winners: -Appearances: 1985

Performance in AFC competitions

Asian Club Championship / AFC Champions League: 1 appearance

Club record

Updated on 22 October 2016.

Note:

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

  1st or Champions   2nd or Runner-up   3rd place   Promotion   Relegation

Source:

Affiliated clubs

SAMB FC

Frenz United

Alor Gajah United

Melaka Tengah

Jasin