Malaysia Super League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Malaysia Super League |
|---|
 2007-08 Season |
| Founded |
| 2004 |
| Nation |
 Malaysia Brunei |
| Relegation To |
| Malaysia Premier League |
| Number of Teams |
| 13 |
| Qualifications |
| AFC Cup |
| Cups |
| Malaysia Cup Malaysia FA Cup |
| Current Champions (2007-08) |
 Kedah FA |
| Website |
| Official |
The Malaysia Super League is the top flight of football in Malaysia. It replaced the M-League as the highest division a professional football team in Malaysia can participate in.
Introduced in 2004, the Malaysia Super League catered only to the top eight football teams in the country. The bottom two teams at the end of the season are usually relegated to the Malaysian Premier League. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) also decided to privatize the league and created MSL Sendirian Berhad (or MSL Proprietary Limited) to oversee the marketing aspects of the game.
The league used to have eight teams and teams would play three rounds of matches (21 matches in total). The first two rounds were played on a home/away format while the third round would be hosted by the stadium which had the bigger attendance during the first two rounds.
From Malaysia Super League 2006-07 the league will have 14 teams, and all teams will play each other only twice (26 matches total).
Contents |
[edit] Malaysia Super League Champions
Since its inception in 2004, the Malaysia Super League title has seen four different teams become champions. Kedah FA becomes the first club that won the Malaysia Super League title back-to-back, in 2006-07 season and in 2007-08 season.
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 2007-08 | Kedah FA |
| 2006-07 | Kedah FA |
| 2005-06 |  Negeri Sembilan FA |
| 2005 |  Perlis FA |
| 2004 |  Pahang FA |
(For detailed information on a particular season, click on the season.)
[edit] Teams
These teams will be playing in the Malaysia Super League 2008-09 season.
- Kedah FA
- Negeri Sembilan FA
Selangor FA
Johor FC
Perak FA
Terengganu FA- Perlis FA
- Pahang FA
- UPB-MyTeam FC
PDRM FA- DPMM FC (Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota FC)
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Penang FA- Kuala Muda NAZA FC¹
- KL PLUS FC¹
¹ - promoted from Malaysia Premier League
[edit] Former teams
Malaysia Super League
- Public Bank FC (defunct)
- Selangor MPPJ (defunct)
Melaka TMFC (defunct)
M-League
Singapore M-League Team (defunct)- Brunei M-League Team (defunct)
[edit] History
A football league competition involving the representative sides of the state football assiociations was first held in Malaysia in 1982. When it began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the final knock-out stages of the Malaysia Cup. However over the years since then, 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 FA's sides, 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 groups:
- 1) First Division: Malaysian Premier I League
- 2) Second Division: Malaysian Premier II League
Between 2004 to 2006, the professional football league in Malaysia was divided into three groups:
- 1) First Division: Malaysian Super League
- 2) Second Division: Malaysian Premier League Group A
- 3) Second Division: Malaysian Premier League Group B
- 4) Second Division: Malaysian Premier League Championship
Between 1994 to 1997, there was no second level league as the top two leagues were combined.
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).
[edit] Pre-2004 Malaysian football league top-level champions
| Year | Champions |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Premier I: Perak FA |
| 2002 | Premier I: Perak FA |
| 2001 | Premier I: Penang FA |
| 2000 | Premier I: Selangor FA |
| 1999 | Premier I: Pahang FA |
| 1998 | Premier I: Penang FA |
| 1997 |  Sarawak FA |
| 1996 |  Sabah FA |
| 1995 | Pahang FA |
| 1994 | Singapore |
| 1993 | Division I: Kedah FA |
| 1992 | Division I: Pahang FA |
| 1991 | Division I: Johor FA |
| 1990 | Division I: Selangor FA |
| 1989 | Division I: Selangor FA |
| 1988 | Kuala Lumpur FA |
| 1987 | Pahang FA |
| 1986 | Kuala Lumpur FA |
| 1985 | Singapore |
| 1984 | Selangor FA |
| 1983 | Malacca FA |
| 1982 | Penang FA |
Note: * Melaka TMFC pulled out from the Malaysia Super League 2007-08 season due to concentrating on sponsoring the Malaysian Super League.
[edit] Criticism
The Malaysia Super League has had its share of criticism throughout its history.
[edit] 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 Malaysia Super League was only saved with 2 straight wins in the final rounds of the season. In the end they finished in a disappointing 5th place.
[edit] Constant Format Changes
The reasons given for the formation of the Malaysian Super League was the need to improve the standard of football in Malaysia. However, the Malaysian 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 Malaysian Super League has gone through two format changes in its short history spanning three-years. The Football Association of Malaysia decided to expand the Malaysian Super League to accommodate 14 teams instead of 8, which was the number of league teams in the Malaysian Super League's first three seasons.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Players
[edit] Golden Boot Winners
| Season | Players | Teams/Clubs | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 |  Marlon Alex James |
Kedah FA |
23 |
| 2006-07 |  Keita Mandjou Mohd Shahrazen Said |
Perak FA DPMM FC |
21 |
| 2005-06 | Keita Mandjou |
Perak FA |
17 |
| 2005 |  Julio Cesar Rodrigues Zacharia Simukonda |
Sabah FA Perlis FA |
18 |
| 2004 | Indra Putra Mahayuddin |
Pahang FA |
15 |
| 2003 | Phillimon Chepita |
Perlis FA |
23 |
| 2002 | Muhamad Khalid Jamlus |
Perak FA |
17 |
| 2001 | Norizam Ali Hassan |
Perak FA |
13 |
| 2000 | Azizul Kamaluddin |
Pahang FA |
12 |
| 1999 | Azman Adnan |
Penang FA (Penang E & O) |
13 |
| 1998 |  Vyatcheslav Melnikov |
Pahang FA |
17 |
| 1997 |  Laszlo Repasi |
Perak FA |
19 |
| 1996 |  Scott Ollerenshaw |
Sabah FA |
18 |
| 1995 | Scott Ollerenshaw |
Sabah FA |
22 |
| 1994 | Mohd Hashim Mustapha |
 Kelantan FA |
25 |
| 1993 | Mohd Hashim Mustapha |
Kelantan FA |
13 |
| 1992 | Zainal Abidin Hassan |
Pahang FA |
12 |
| 1991 | Abbas Saad |
Johor FA |
11 |
| 1990 | Alistair Edwards |
Singapore |
- |
| 1989 | Zainal Abidin Hassan |
Selangor FA |
12 |
| 1988 | Fandi Ahmad |
Kuala Lumpur FA |
- |
| 1987 | - | ||
| 1986 | - | ||
| 1985 | - | ||
| 1984 | - | ||
| 1983 | - | ||
| 1982 | - |
[edit] Records
Below are the record of teams in Malaysian football competitions (1921-present).
| Team | Top-flight League Malaysia Super League/Premier 1/Division 1 titles | Second-tier League Malaysia Premier League/Premier 2/Division 2 titles | Malaysia FA Cup | Malaysia Cup | Malaysia Charity Shield | AFC Cup | AFC Champions League | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selangor FA |
4 (2) | 2 | 4 (1) | 32 (15) | 6 (4) | - | (1) | 48 |
| Singapore |
2 (2) | - | - | 24 (19) | 1 (1) | - | - | 27 |
| Perak FA |
2 (1) | (1) | 2 | 7 (11) | 3 | - | - | 14 |
| Kedah FA |
3 (4) | 3 | 2 | 3 (6) | 2 (2) | - | - | 13 |
| Kuala Lumpur FA |
2 | - | 3 (1) | 3 (1) | 3 (4) | - | - | 11 |
| Pahang FA |
5 (3) | - | 1 (1) | 2 (4) | 2 (4) | - | - | 10 |
| Penang FA (Penang E & O) |
3 (3) | - | 1 (2) | 4 (9) | 1 | - | - | 9 |
| Johor FA |
1 (1) | 1 | 1 | 2(1) | 1 (2) | - | - | 6 |
| Perlis FA |
1 | 1 | (3) | 2 (1) | 2 (1) | - | - | 6 |
| Terengganu FA |
(2) | 2 | 1 (2) | 1 (3) | 1 (1) | - | - | 5 |
| Negeri Sembilan FA |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 (2) | (1) | - | - | 4 |
| Sarawak FA |
1 | - | 1 (2) | (1) | 1 (1) | - | - | 3 |
| Selangor MPPJ |
- | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | 3 |
| Sabah FA |
1 | - | 1 (3) | (3) | (1) | - | - | 2 |
| Malacca FA |
1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Kelantan FA |
- | 1 | - | (2) | - | - | - | 1 |
| Brunei |
- | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| PDRM FA |
- | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Johor FC |
(1) | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Public Bank FC |
(1) | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| ATM FA |
- | - | - | (2) | - | - | - | - |
| Kuala Muda NAZA |
- | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| UPB-MyTeam FC |
- | (1) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Melaka TMFC |
(1) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- Table shows teams' wins in all competitions
- Numbers in bracket shows runner-up finishes in competitions
- The figures in bold represent the most times this competition has been won by the team
[edit] Best performing teams in the Malaysian league (1982-present)
| # | Club | Wins | Runner-ups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pahang FA |
5 | 3 |
| 2 | Selangor FA |
4 | 2 |
| 3 | Kedah FA |
3 | 4 |
| 4 | Penang FA (Penang E & O) |
3 | 3 |
| 5 | Perak FA |
2 | 1 |
| 6 | Kuala Lumpur FA |
2 | - |
| 7 | Singapore |
2 | 2 |
| 8 | Johor FA |
1 | 1 |
| 9 | Perlis FA |
1 | - |
| 10 | Negeri Sembilan FA |
1 | - |
| 11 | Sarawak FA |
1 | - |
| 12 | Sabah FA |
1 | - |
| 13 | Malacca FA |
1 | - |
[edit] See also
- Malaysia Super League seasons
- Malaysia Charity Shield
- Malaysia Premier League
- Malaysia President Cup
- List of foreign Malaysian League players
- 100Plus-F.A.M National Football Awards
[edit] External links
- Football Association of Malaysia
- Malaysia Soccer
- History of football in Malaysia
- RSSSF.com: Malaysia - List of Champions
- SoccerDB: Malaysia Super League
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