Malaysia Super League: Difference between revisions
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| logo = Logo Liga Super 2011.JPG |
| logo = Logo Liga Super 2011.JPG |
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| country = {{flag|Malaysia}} |
| country = {{flag|Malaysia}}<br />{{flag|Singapore}} |
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| confed = [[AFC]] (Asia) |
| confed = [[AFC]] (Asia) |
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| founded = 2004 |
| founded = 2004 |
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| domest_cup = [[Malaysia Cup]]<br />[[Malaysia FA Cup]] |
| domest_cup = [[Malaysia Cup]]<br />[[Malaysia FA Cup]] |
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| confed_cup = [[AFC Cup]] |
| confed_cup = [[AFC Cup]] |
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| champions = [[Kelantan FA]] |
| champions = [[Kelantan FA|Kelantan]] |
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| season = [[2011 Super League Malaysia|2011]] |
| season = [[2011 Super League Malaysia|2011]] |
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| most successful club = [[Kedah FA|Kedah]] (2)<br />[[Selangor FA|Selangor]] (2) |
| most successful club = [[Kedah FA|Kedah]] (2)<br />[[Selangor FA|Selangor]] (2) |
Revision as of 13:41, 3 September 2011
File:Logo Liga Super 2011.JPG | |
Founded | 2004 |
---|---|
Country | Malaysia Singapore |
Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
Number of clubs | 14 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Malaysia Premier League |
Domestic cup(s) | Malaysia Cup Malaysia FA Cup |
International cup(s) | AFC Cup |
Current champions | Kelantan (2011) |
Most championships | Kedah (2) Selangor (2) |
TV partners | Astro Arena RTM |
Website | malaysiansuperleague.com |
Current: 2012 Season |
The Malaysia Super League (Liga Super Malaysia) is a Malaysian professional league for association football. At the top flight of the Malaysian football league system, it is contested between 14 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Malaysia Premier League. It was previously known as the Semi-Pro League from 1989 to 1993 and the M-League (Liga-M) from 1993 to 2004. It is currently sponsored by Astro and therefore officially known as the Astro Malaysia Super League. The competition formed in 2004 following the decision by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to privatize the league. As a result, MSL Sendirian Berhad (or MSL Proprietary Limited) was created to oversee the marketing aspects of the league.
Since 1979, a total of 11 clubs have been crowned champions of the Malaysian football system. Since the inception of the Super League in 2004, six teams have won the title: Kedah (2 titles), Selangor (2), Pahang (1), Perlis (1), Kelantan (1) and Negeri Sembilan (1). The current champions are Kelantan, who won the 2011 season.
History
A football league competition involving the representative sides of the state football associations was first held in Malaysia in 1979. When it began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the final knock-out stages of the Malaysia Cup. It was not until 1982 that a League Cup was introduced to recognise the winners of the preliminary stage as the league champions. Over the years, the league competition has gained important stature in its own right.
Initially the only teams only allowed to participate in the league were the state FAs, teams representing the Armed Forces and the Police, and teams representing the neighbouring countries of Singapore and Brunei (though the Football Association of Singapore pulled out of the Malaysian League after the 1994 season following a dispute with the Football Association of Malaysia over gate receipts, and has not been involved since). In recent years, top Malaysian club teams have also been admitted to the league competition.
Between 1989 to 1993 and 1998 to 2003, the football league in Malaysia was divided into two levels:
- 1st Division: Premier 1 League Malaysia
- 2nd Division: Premier 2 League Malaysia
Between 1994 to 1997, there was no second-level league as the top two leagues were combined.
Between 2004 to 2006, the professional football league in Malaysia was divided into two levels and two groups:
- 1st Division: Malaysia Super League
- 2nd Division: Malaysia Premier League Group A
- 2nd Division: Malaysia Premier League Group B
Between 2007 until now, the professional football league in Malaysia was only divided into two levels when Malaysia Premier League combined into one level:
- 1st Division: Malaysia Super League
- 2nd Division: Malaysia Premier League
- 3rd Division: Malaysia FAM Cup
Prior to the introduction of the current set-up, the top league competition in Malaysia was known as the Semi-Pro League (1989–93), and the M-League (1994–2003).
Pre-2004 Malaysian football league top-level champions
Year | Champions |
---|---|
1979 | Singapore FA |
1980 | Selangor FA |
1981 | Singapore FA |
1982 | Penang FA |
1983 | Malacca FA |
1984 | Selangor FA |
1985 | Singapore FA |
1986 | Federal Territory FA |
1987 | Pahang FA |
1988 | Kuala Lumpur FA |
1989 | Division 1: Selangor FA |
1990 | Division 1: Selangor FA |
1991 | Division 1: Johor FA |
1992 | Division 1: Pahang FA |
1993 | Division 1: Kedah FA |
1994 | Singapore FA |
1995 | Pahang FA |
1996 | Sabah FA |
1997 | Sarawak FA |
1998 | Premier 1: Penang FA |
1999 | Premier 1: Pahang FA |
2000 | Premier 1: Selangor FA |
2001 | Premier 1: Penang FA |
2002 | Premier 1: Perak FA |
2003 | Premier 1: Perak FA |
Criticism
The Malaysia Super League has had its share of criticism throughout its history.
Radical position movements
With only eight teams in the league prior to the 2006-07 season, position movements were radical. Successive losses would condemn teams to a relegation dogfight. Similarly, successive wins would put a team in contention for the title. Notable examples include:
- In 2005 season, Perak FA was rooted at the bottom of the table (with 12 points from 3 wins, 3 draws & 8 losses) after 14 rounds (which was already two-third of the season), relegation dangers seemed imminent back then. However, 6 straight wins that followed propelled them into direct contention for 2nd place with Pahang FA (the defending champions then) on the last day of the season. They eventually lost that game, but still finished in a respectable 3rd place.
- In 2006 season, Selangor MPPJ was leading the table (with 21 points from 7 wins, 1 draw & 2 losses) after 10 rounds (which was almost half of the season), winning the title to follow up their famous victory in 2003 Malaysia Cup was certainly on the cards. However, 8 losses in a row subsequently left them in deep relegation troubles. Their place in the Super League Malaysia was only saved with 2 straight wins in the final rounds of the season. In the end they finished in a disappointing 5th place.
Constant format changes
The reasons given for the formation of the Malaysia Super League was the need to improve the standard of football in Malaysia. However, the Malaysia Super League was criticized by local press. Many called it a variation of the older M-League but with fewer teams in the top division. Many also disagreed with the fact that the league format changed almost annually and it is a problem which persists until today. The Malaysia Super League has gone through two format changes in its short history spanning three-years. The Football Association of Malaysia decided to expand the Super League Malaysia to accommodate 14 teams instead of 8, which was the number of league teams in the Super League's first three seasons.
From Super League Malaysia 2009 the league will have 14 teams, and all teams will play each other only twice (26 matches total). It was also decided that the teams will no longer feature any foreign players.
Foreign players
The professionalism of some teams have also been questioned. Most Malaysia Super League teams view foreign players as a necessity and as a result, most teams usually fill up their rosters with unknown foreigners. Teams usually sign foreigners based on their performances in pre-season trials. It is not uncommon for foreign players to be released after just two or three matches or be kept on the sidelines for an entire season.
The last case of unprofessional conduct involved Ivan Ziga, a Slovakian player who plays for Sarawak FA. Ivan Ziga claims his contract was terminated nine-months early without any explanation. He also claimed he was not paid. He took his plight to the Football Association of Malaysia but received no reply until Ivan Ziga threatened to take the case to FIFA.
Ivan Ziga's case is not uncommon in Malaysia, with most other cases involving African players who are either not paid or left stranded when their contracts are terminated early without any proper explanation given by teams.
Foreign players is coming back to Malaysia Super League starting from 2012 season onwards.
Champions
Since its inception in 2004, the Malaysia Super League title has seen 4 different teams become champions. Kedah FA becomes the first club that won the Super League Malaysia title back-to-back, in 2006-07 season and in 2007-08 season.
Astro Malaysia Super League is classified as the 18th league in Asian with a Grade D in the AFC Pro-League Ad-Hoc Committee Assessment Chart.
(For detailed information on a particular season, click on the season.)
M-League Champions
- 1982 : Penang
- 1983 : Melaka
- 1984 : Selangor
- 1985 : Singapore
- 1986 : Federal Territory
- 1987 : Pahang
- 1988 : Federal Territory
- 1989 : Selangor
- 1990 : Selangor
- 1991 : Johor
- 1992 : Pahang
- 1993 : Kedah
- 1994 : Singapore
- 1995 : Pahang
- 1996 : Sabah
- 1997 : Sarawak
- 1998 : Penang
- 1999 : Pahang
- 2000 : Selangor
- 2001 : Penang
- 2002 : Perak
- 2003 : Perak
Teams
A total of 14 teams will participate in the 2012 Malaysia Super League season.
- Kelantan FA (2011 Malaysia Super League champion)
- Selangor FA
- Terengganu FA
- Johor FC
- Kedah FA
- Negeri Sembilan FA
- T-Team
- Sabah FA
- Kuala Lumpur FA
- Perak FA
- Felda United FC
- Young Lions
- PKNS FC
- Sarawak FA
Former teams
Malaysia Super League
- DPMM FC (voided due to the deregisteration of BAFA (Brunei Amateur Football Association) by the Registrar of Societies (RoS))
- MPPJ FC (defunct)
- Naza FC (defunct)
- PLUS FC (defunct)
- Public Bank FC (defunct)
- TM FC (defunct)*
- UPB MyTeam FC (defunct)
Note: * TM FC pulled out from the 2007-08 Super League season due to concentrating on sponsoring the Malaysia Super League.
M-League
- Singapore FA (defunct)
- Brunei FA (defunct)
Players
Golden Boot Winners
Season | Players | Teams/Clubs | Goals | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Zainal Abidin Hassan | Selangor FA | 12 | ||
1990 | Alistair Edwards | Singapore FA | 13 | ||
1991 | Abbas Saad | Johor FA | 11 | ||
1992 | Zainal Abidin Hassan | Pahang FA | 12 | ||
1993 | Mohd Hashim Mustapha | Kelantan FA | 13 | ||
1994 | Mohd Hashim Mustapha | Kelantan FA | 25 | ||
1995 | Scott Ollerenshaw | Sabah FA | 22 | ||
1996 | Scott Ollerenshaw | Sabah FA | 18 | ||
1997 | Laszlo Repasi | Perak FA | 19 | ||
1998 | Vyatcheslav Melnikov | Pahang FA | 17 | ||
1999 | Azman Adnan | Penang FA | 13 | ||
2000 | Azizul Kamaluddin | Pahang FA | 12 | ||
2001 | Norizam Ali Hassan | Perak FA | 13 | ||
2002 | Muhamad Khalid Jamlus | Perak FA | 17 | ||
2003 | Phillimon Chepita | Perlis FA | 23 | ||
2004 | Indra Putra Mahayuddin | Pahang FA | 15 | ||
2005 | Julio Cesar Rodriguez Zacharia Simukonda |
Sabah FA Perlis FA |
18 | ||
2005-06 | Bambang Pamungkas | Selangor FA | 30 | ||
2006-07 | Keita Mandjou Awang Md Shahrazen Mohd Said |
Perak FA DPMM FC |
21 | ||
2007-08 | Marlon Alex James | Kedah FA | 23 | ||
2009 | Mohd Nizaruddin Yusof | Perlis FA | 18 | ||
2010 | Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin | Terengganu FA | 18 | ||
2011 | Abdul Hadi Yahya | Terengganu FA | 20 |
Records
Below are the record of teams in Malaysian football competitions since 1921 till present.
Team | Super League Malaysia | Premier League Malaysia | Malaysia FA Cup | Malaysia Cup | Malaysia Charity Shield | AFC Cup | AFC Champions League | Total of Champion(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Selangor FA | 7 (3) | 2 | 5 (2) | 32 (15) | 8 (5) | - | (1) | 54 |
Singapore FA | 4 (2) | - | - | 24 (19) | 1 (1) | - | - | 29 |
Kedah FA | 3 (4) | 3 | 3 (1) | 4 (6) | 2 (3) | - | - | 15 |
Perak FA | 2 (1) | (1) | 2 (3) | 7 (11) | 3 | - | - | 14 |
Kuala Lumpur FA | 2 (3) | - | 3 (1) | 3 (1) | 3 (4) | - | - | 11 |
Pahang FA | 5 (4) | - | 1 (1) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) | - | - | 10 |
Penang FA | 2 (2) | - | 1 (2) | 4 (9) | 1 | - | - | 9 |
Johor FA | 1 (1) | 1 | 1 | 2(1) | 1 (2) | - | - | 6 |
Perlis FA | 1 (1) | 1 | (3) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | - | - | 6 |
Terengganu FA | (3) | 2 | 2 (2) | 1 (3) | 1 (1) | - | - | 6 |
Negeri Sembilan FA | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 2 | 2 (2) | (2) | - | - | 5 |
Kelantan FA | 1 (1) | 1 | (2) | 1(3) | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Sarawak FA | 1 | - | 1 (2) | (1) | 1 (1) | - | - | 3 |
MPPJ FC | - | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
Sabah FA | 1 (1) | (1) | 1 (3) | (3) | (1) | - | - | 2 |
Malacca FA | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
Brunei FA | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
PDRM FA | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
Johor FC | (1) | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
Public Bank FC | (1) | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
ATM FA | - | - | - | (2) | - | - | - | - |
Naza FC | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
UPB MyTeam FC | - | (1) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
TM FC | (1) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- Table shows teams' wins in all competitions
- Numbers in bracket shows runner-up finishes in competitions
- Although the FA of Malaysia has not recognised retrospectively the league winners for 1979–1981, these are included for statistical comparison.
- The figures in bold represent the most times this competition has been won by the team
See also
- Malaysia Super League seasons
- FAM Football Awards
- History of Malaysian football
- Expatriate footballers in Malaysia
- List of Super League Malaysia managers