Kedah Darul Aman F.C.

Kedah Darul Aman Football Club (Malay: Kelab Bola Sepak Kedah Darul Aman) is a football club based in Alor Setar, Kedah, that competes in the Malaysia Super League. They are the only team in the history of Malaysian football to have won two trebles: in 2006–07 and 2007–08.[5] The club is managed by Darulaman Football Club Sdn Bhd.

Kedah Darul Aman
Kedah Darul Aman FC logo.svg
Full nameKedah Darul Aman Football Club
Nickname(s)Sang Kenari (The Canaries)[1]
Hijau Kuning (Green and Yellow)[2]
Short nameKDA FC
Founded1924; 99 years ago (1924) as KFA
GroundDarul Aman Stadium
Capacity35,387[3]
OwnerMohd Daud Bakar[4]
CEOTan Sri Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar
ManagerNafuzi Zain
LeagueMalaysia Super League
2022Malaysia Super League, 8th of 12
WebsiteClub website
Current season

HistoryEdit

The football team was founded in 1924 by Tunku Yaacob ibni Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah as president, though they only had limited success until the appointment of Ahmad Basri Akil as manager in 1985.[6] Under Ahmad Basri Akil, the club qualified for six Malaysia Cup final matches in a seven-year period between 1987 and 1993; and won two Malaysia Cup titles, one league title and one FA Cup title.[6]

The club experienced a lean period in the 1980s and 1990s, but enjoyed a revival in the new millennium by achieving back-to-back domestic trebles under Azraai Khor.[7] The club also reached 111th position in IFFHS club world ranking between 1 August 2007 to 31 July 2008.[8] However, the club experienced a dip in performances thereafter as a result of the loss of their influential import players; including Nelson San Martín, Cornelius Huggins and Marlon James. Problems with the new management team also led to Azraai Khor's departure.

The club were relegated to the second-tier of Malaysian football, the Malaysian Premier League, after losing 3–2 in the playoff final to Sri Pahang in a penalty shootout during the 2012 Super League season. Marijo Tot was hired to replace Wan Jamak in an attempt to bring the club back to Malaysia Super League during the 2013 Premier League season, which also saw the return of former Kedah Darul Aman's talisman, Nelson San Martín. In the 2014 season the club signed Billy Mehmet, who made an immediate impact. He helped the club reach the semi-final of the Malaysia Cup, winning the first leg 3–1, but ultimately lost the second leg 5–1. Billy Mehmet ended the season as the club's top goal scorer in the Malaysia Premier League as well as the club's top goal scorer in all competitions. He was also the second highest goal scorer in all competitions at all levels in Malaysian professional football.

Prior to the 2021 season, the club changed its name from Kedah FA to Kedah Darul Aman F.C.[9]

Crest and coloursEdit

Kedah Darul Aman Football Club's traditional colours are red and black, but the home kit's colours have been green and yellow since 1988. The colours were the result of the former Kedah Football Association Deputy President, Ahmad Basri Akil's request for a different set of colours for the home kit. The colours of green and yellow were chosen as they referenced the state's nickname of Jelapang Padi or Paddy field.[10]

The current club crest were announced by Ahmad Basri Akil alongside the club's official colours of green and yellow in 1988. Green dominates the background; the side of the crest shows 11 joint bordered lines which signify the 11 districts of the Kedah state. At the centre of the crest is a ball and Allamanda flowers; as the flower is green and yellow in colour, with the team motto (Malay: Biar Jasa Jadi Kenangan) written in yellow.

StadiumEdit

The club is currently based at the all-seater Darul Aman Stadium, located in Alor Setar, Kedah. It has a capacity of 32,387 seats and was opened in 1962.

Club cultureEdit

SupportersEdit

 
Kedah Darul Aman lineup in 2008

The song Biar Jasa Jadi Kenangan, once again idealised and written by Ahmad Basri Akil and famously recorded by a Malaysian musician Freddie Fernandez, is the anthem of the club, and has been sung by the crowd since 9 September 1987 after the club reached their first Malaysia Cup semi-final match since 1940. This famous song is sung by the club's fanatic fans to boost their beloved players' morale. The well-known and popular chants among the club supporters is Pulun Kedah Pulun. It is use since late 80's as "words of spirit" during and off the game, and as the slogan among supporters. It was inspired by the idea from Abdul Rashid Fadzil, the former Head of Kedah Fan Club.[citation needed]

Kit manufacturer and shirt sponsorEdit

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2004 Lotto Dunhill
2005 Celcom, Modenas
2005–06 Line 7[11]
2006–07 TM, PKNK[12]
2007–08
2009 Lotto
2010
2011 PKNK
2012 Line 7
2013
2014
2015 Warrix PKNK, Sada, Naza, Firefly
2016 Bina Darulaman Berhad (BDB), PKNK, Sada, Cosmic
2017 aL by Al-Ikhsan[13] ECK Development Berhad (ECK), Bina Darulaman Berhad (BDB), PKNK, Sada, Cosmic
2018 ECK Development Berhad (ECK), PKNK, Sada, Cosmic
2019 Lotto Menteri Besar Sdn Bhd (MBI), PKNK, Sada
2020 Chenang Bay,[14] Menteri Besar Sdn Bhd, PKNK
2021 Widad Langkasuka (Widad Business Group),[15] Menteri Besar Sdn Bhd, PKNK
2022 DXN, Menteri Besar Sdn Bhd, PKNK

Club recordEdit

Accurate as of 2021

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

Season League Cup Asia
Division Pld W D L F A D Pts Pos Charity Malaysia FA Competition Result
2004 Super League 21 4 3 14 30 45 −15 15 7th Runner-up 2nd round
2005 Premier League 21 13 7 1 44 11 +33 46 2nd Quarter-finals 2nd round
2005–06 Premier League 21 13 3 5 39 22 +17 42 1st Group stage 1st round
2006–07 Super League 24 17 4 3 54 21 +33 55 1st Champions Champions
2007–08 Super League 24 18 2 4 55 24 +31 56 1st Runner-up Champions Champions AFC Cup Quarter-finals
2009 Super League 26 16 3 7 45 28 +17 51 3rd Runner-up Group stage 2nd round AFC Cup Round of 16
2010 Super League 26 10 8 8 34 23 +11 38 5th Semi-finals Runner-up
2011 Super League 26 13 6 7 25 20 +5 45 4th Group stage 2nd round
2012 Super League 26 7 7 12 27 38 −11 28 12th Group stage Semi-finals
2013 Premier League 22 13 3 6 38 19 +19 42 4th Group stage 2nd round
2014 Premier League 22 11 5 6 43 25 +18 38 4th Semi-finals Quarter-finals
2015 Premier League 22 14 6 2 47 26 +21 48 1st Runner-up 3rd round
2016 Super League 22 11 7 4 30 26 +4 37[a] 3rd Champions Semi-finals
2017 Super League 22 9 8 5 45 33 +12 35 4th Champions Runner-up Champions
2018 Super League 22 9 5 8 37 36 +1 32 6th Runner-up Group stage 3rd round
2019 Super League 22 9 7 6 37 29 +8 34 4th Runner-up Champions
2020 Super League 11 7 1 3 20 13 7 22 2nd Runner-up ACL Cup Play-off round
2021 Super League 22 13 4 5 44 28 +16 43 2nd Runner-up Quarter-finals AFC Cup
2022 Super League 22 8 3 11 32 41 -9 27 8th Round 16 Second Round AFC Cup Zonal Semi Finals
2023 Super League 4 3 0 1 8 4 +4 9 4th - First Round - -

Source:[16][17]

  1. ^ Kedah Darul Aman F.C was found guilty of naming a suspended player to play against Pahang on 3 August 2016. The Football Association of Malaysia awarded three points to Pahang and deducted three points from Darulaman FC for the incident.

HonoursEdit

DomesticEdit

LeagueEdit

CupEdit

YouthEdit

DoubleEdit

Season Titles won
1993 Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 1, Malaysia Cup
2017 Malaysian Charity Cup, Malaysia FA Cup

TrebleEdit

Season Titles won
2007 Malaysia Super League, Malaysia FA Cup, Malaysia Cup
2008 Malaysia Super League, Malaysia FA Cup, Malaysia Cup

Kedah Darul Aman's former assistant coach Muhamad Radhi Mat Din said,[18]

To achieve the treble in two consecutive seasons will take another 100 years or more to come by! It takes a Herculean effort to achieve a double treble. The path to the pinnacle required a lot of sacrifices and commitment from the players, team management and the club.

Continental recordEdit

All results (home and away) list Darulaman FC's goal tally first.

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1994–95 Asian Club Championship First round   Ilhwa Chunma 1–5 3–5 4–10
2008 AFC Cup Group stage   Home United 4–1 1–5 2nd
  South China 3–0 3–1
  Victory 1–0 1–1
Quarter-final   Al-Muharraq 1–2 0–5 1–7
2009 AFC Cup Group stage   Chonburi 0–1 1–3 2nd
  Eastern 2–0 3–3
  Hanoi ACB 7–0 1–3
Round of 16   Binh Duong 2–8
2020 AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 2   Tai Po 5–1
Play-off round   FC Seoul 1–4
2021 AFC Cup Group H   Persipura Jayapura Cancelled
  Saigon
  Lion City Sailors
2022 AFC Cup Group G   Bali United 0–2 1st
  Kaya–Iloilo 4–1
  Visakha 5–1
ASEAN Zonal Semi-final   PSM Makassar 1–2

Performance in AFC competitionsEdit

RivalriesEdit

The Penang-based Penang FC are the biggest rivals of the club. The club's fans consider their main rivalries to be with (in order) Penang, Perlis and Perak. Matches against fellow northern region sides Tambun Tulang, Kuala Muda Naza, Kedah United, Sungai Ara, PBAPP, SDMS Kepala Batas and Perak YBU have only taken place intermittently, due to the clubs often being in separate divisions.

Northern Region DerbyEdit

Northern Region Derby is the name given to football matches that involves Kedah Darul Aman and Penang.[19] Both them are located in the north of Malaysia. Bandaraya Stadium and Darul Aman Stadium are packed by fans from both clubs during the derby matches. The match usually creates a lively atmosphere, with numerous banners unfolded before the start of the game.

FriendshipsEdit

Although the club's main rivals mostly are from the northern region of Malaysia, especially Penang, but there is also a strong supporter of friendship with Perlis and there are good relations with the fans of Penang and Perak "This is Utara", which means "This is the north", is a slogan which shows their good friendships among the clubs.

PlayersEdit

First-team squadEdit

As of 25 February 2023

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   MAS Ifwat Akmal
2 DF   MAS Akmal Zahir (vice-captain)
3 DF   MAS Rodney Celvin
4 DF   SRB Bojan Ciger
5 DF   RSA Alan Robertson
6 MF   TJK Amirbek Juraboev
8 MF   PHI Manny Ott (captain)
9 FW   BRA Willian Lira
10 MF   MAS Lee Tuck (vice-captain)
11 MF   MAS Al-Hafiz Harun
13 DF   MAS Loqman Hakim
15 DF   MAS Heshamudin Ahmad
17 MF   MAS Faizal Talib
18 DF   MAS Wan Amirul Afiq
19 MF   MAS Aiman Afif
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF   MAS Fadzrul Danel
21 MF   MAS Fayadh Zulkifli
22 GK   MAS Kalamullah Al-Hafiz
23 MF   ALG Zakaria Lounis
27 DF   MAS Ariff Farhan
29 MF   MAS Mior Dani (on loan from Kelantan)
31 DF   MAS Azrin Afiq (on loan from Selangor)
33 GK   MAS Fikri Che Soh
66 DF   MAS Kamil Akmal
77 MF   MAS Amirul Hisyam
79 MF   MAS Zharmein Ashraf
80 FW   GHA Ebenezer Assifuah
88 FW   ARG Manuel Hidalgo
89 FW   BRA Jonathan Balotelli

Under-23sEdit

As of 1 March 2023[20]
Name Nat. Position D.O.B
Goalkeepers
1 Muhammad Syakir Danial Ma'amal Hajri   GK (2000-03-30) 30 March 2000 (age 22)
18 Muhammad Hafizy Mohd Hajazy   GK (2003-09-17) 17 September 2003 (age 19)
21 Abdul Alim Al-Amri Ali   GK (2002-01-28) 28 January 2002 (age 21)
Defenders
2 Muhammad Hariz Mansor   CB (2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 (age 21)
3 Mohamad Fareez Amirul Fadzil   CB (2000-06-07) 7 June 2000 (age 22)
4 Muhammad Na'qib Sharipuddin   RB (2000-12-06) 6 December 2000 (age 22)
5 Norasyraf Aiman Norlizam   CB (2002-04-02) 2 April 2002 (age 20)
9 Ahmad Alfi Syahrin Rasid   LB (2001-12-15) 15 December 2001 (age 21)
12 Muhammad Nabil Ahmad Nizam   RB (2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 22)
13 Muhammad Aiman Farhan Muhammad Fauzi   RB, RWB (2001-11-30) 30 November 2001 (age 21)
16 Muhammad Iqmal Hazim Muhamed Supian   CB (2002-04-01) 1 April 2002 (age 20)
20 Muhammad Amirul Zainudin   CB (2000-08-18) 18 August 2000 (age 22)
Midfielders
6 Muhammad Azim Anuar   DM, CM (2002-09-30) 30 September 2002 (age 20)
8 Mohamad Faiz Mohamad Khairi   CM (2002-09-22) 22 September 2002 (age 20)
10 Ahmad Azraf Ahmad Azam   DM, CM (2000-01-08) 8 January 2000 (age 23)
14 Muhammad Firdaus Muhamad Kaironnisam Sahabudin   DM, CM (2002-12-10) 10 December 2002 (age 20)
15 Muhammad Ismat Imran Zainal   AMC, CM (2002-07-27) 27 July 2002 (age 20)
22 Muhammad Hafiz Izzudin Azhar   LW (2002-07-15) 15 July 2002 (age 20)
23 Zakaria Abdellillah Lounis   LW (2002-07-15) 15 July 2002 (age 20)
27 Muhammad Iman Fakhrullah Zamri   AML (2002-02-27) 27 February 2002 (age 21)
29 Muhammad Syabani Mohd Saberi   AMC (2000-09-28) 28 September 2000 (age 22)
Forwards
7 Muhammad Ad'dha Nazman   ST, AMR (2002-03-10) 10 March 2002 (age 21)
11 Mohamad Mustakim Mustapha   ST (2001-05-29) 29 May 2001 (age 21)
17 Aiman Haikhal Azman   ST (2002-02-07) 7 February 2002 (age 21)
19 Muhammad Adam Mukhriz Syamsul Ariffin   ST df=yes
28 Muhammad Rafieq Al Amzar Zulkifeli   ST (2003-04-16) 16 April 2003 (age 19)
80 Ebenezer Assifuah   ST (1993-07-03) 3 July 1993 (age 29)

Under-19sEdit

As of 5 June 2020[21]
Name Nat. Position D.O.B
Goalkeepers
1 Muhammad Ashriq Izzat Mazlan   GK 2002
24 Najmi Md Hassan   GK 2002
26 Aliman Wahiey Muhammad Amir   GK 2001
Defenders
2 Muhammad Ibrahim Adham Mohd Rosli   RB, RWB 2002
4 Aznil Asyraaf Azhar   CB 2002
5 Mohamad Zaide Mohd Zain   LB, LWB 2002
6 Muhammad Azim Anuar   CB 2002
12 Muhammad Nabil Ahmad Nizam   RB, RWB 2002
13 Muhamad Aiman Farhan Muhamad Fauzi   CB 2001
15 Abdul Hakim Ibrahim   CB, DM 2002
25 Muhammad Amsyar Ahmad Apendi   RB, LB 2002
29 Mohamad Diniy Danial Mohd Effendi   CB 2002
30 Muhammad Taqber Mukmin Satin   CB 2002
Midfielders
3 Norasyraf Aiman Norlizam   CM 2002
7 Muhammad Ad'dha Nazman   RW, RM 2001
8 Ahmad Irfan Mohd Noor   CM 2002
11 Muhammad Izdyhar Ehsan Mohd Tajudin   LW, LM 2002
17 Mohammad Shazwan Salahuddin   DM, CM 2001
18 Muhammad Adib Daniel Amiruddin   RW, RM 2001
21 Muhammad Hafiz Izzudin Azhar   LW, LM 2001
22 Mohammad Zharmien Ashraf Ismail   LW, LM 2002
27 Muhammad Amir Mohd Shukri   CM 2001
Forwards
9 Muhammad Irwan Shah Samichan   ST 2002
10 Muhammad Syafiq Aiman Mohd Azham   ST 2001
14 Muhammad Aiman Syakir Mohd Zulkifli   ST 2002
20 Mohd Idrzuwan Mohd Daud   ST 2001
28 Aiman Nulhakim Mohd Zaini   ST 2001

Head coachesEdit

Years Name
1985–1989   Ahmad Shafie (1st)
1990   Milous Kvacek
1991   Ahmad Shafie (2nd)
1992–1995   Robert Alberts
1996–1997   Mosthakeen Omar
1998   Fisol Abdul Razak
1999   Azman Hj Eusoff
2000   Ahmad Shafie (3rd)
2001–2003   Jørgen E. Larsen
2004   Mirandinha
2004–2009   Azraai Khor Abdullah
2009–2011   Ahmad Yusof
2011–2012   Wan Jamak Wan Hassan
2012–2013   Marijo Tot
2013–2014   Dave Mitchell
2014–2017   Tan Cheng Hoe
2017   Nidzam Adzha (1st)
January 2018–April 2018   Ramón Marcote Pequeño
April 2018–August 2018   Nidzam Adzha (2nd)
August 2018–October 2018   Azzmi Aziz
October 2018–October 2022   Aidil Sharin
October 2022–December 2022   Victor Andrag (interim)
January 2023–   Nafuzi Zain

Club officialsEdit

Senior officialsEdit

Position Name
President   Daud Bakar
Deputy president   Khamal Idris Ali
Vice-president I   Nelson Sam Martin
Vice-president II   Marlon Alex James
Vice-president III   Radhi Mat Din
Executive secretary   Shahrul Samsudin
Hononary treasurer   Ruzaini Radzi

Team officialsEdit

Position Name
Head coach   Nafuzi Zain
Assistant coach   Victor Andrag
Goalkeeper coach   Mohd Yazid Mohd Yassin
Assistant Goalkeeper coach   Abdul Hadi Abdul Hamid
Fitness coach   Antonio Silvio Santos Concalves
Team analyst   Hazwan Nizam Fazil
Team doctor   Jasminder Singh
Physio   Helber Richard Quintana Silva
  Shukri Che Zakaria
Sports Therapist   Hazwan Zikri
Security officer   Zaiyadur Rashad
Media officer   Tajul Arifin Kamal Baharin
Team Coordinator   Zul Fadli Rozi
Team Admin   Shahrul Samsudin
Kitman   Taufiq Mahar
  Fakhruddin Abdul Aziz
  Fahmi Irfan
U23 Team Admin   Amirul Nizam Mahadzir
U23 Head coach   Rosle Md Derus
U23 Assistant coach   Mohamad Zahid Hashim
U23 Goalkeeper coach   Suhaimi Mat Lazim
U23 Fitness coach   Mohamad Naim Mohamad Sukri
U23 Physio   Muhammad Nur'illya Samsuddin
U23 Sport Therapist   Muhamad Khairul Hanif Mohd Zuki
U23 Video Analyst   Mohd Khairul Ajmal Abdul Wahab
U23 Kitman   Anizar Hussein
U23 Security Officer   Mohd Zamri Saad

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ "Kedah Darul Aman Nama Baharu Skuad Lang Merah". Vocket FC. 21 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Kedah MB: No more Red Eagles, just Hijau Kuning". The Star Malaysia. 1 October 2020.
  3. ^ The Asian Football Stadiums at Fussballtempel.net
  4. ^ "Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar Kini Pemilik Saham Terbesar KDA" [Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Daud Bakar is now the largest shareholder of KDA FC] (in Malay). Vocket FC. 6 September 2022. Archived from the original on 6 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "Azraai's double treble with Kedah stands out in Malaysian football history". Sports247. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Sejarah Bola Sepak Kedah - Sejarah Perkembangan" (in Malay). Memori Kedah. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "Statistik: Kenali 5 Ketua Jurulatih Paling Berjaya Di Liga-M Sejak 1994" (in Malay). Axello.net. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "IFFHS Club World Ranking Top 350 (1st August 2007 - 31st July 2008)". Iffhs.de. 9 August 2008. Archived from the original on 9 August 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Ismail, Izzali (21 October 2020). "Skuad Lang Merah dikenali Kedah Darul Aman FC". Berita Harian. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Our History".
  11. ^ Line 7
  12. ^ PKNK
  13. ^ Al-Ikhsan
  14. ^ Chenang Bay
  15. ^ Widad Group
  16. ^ "Summary - Super League - Malaysia - Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  17. ^ "Malaysia 2016". Rsssf.com. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  18. ^ Noh, Dasheer (26 August 2008). "Radhi: Difficult to win double treble again". The Star. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  19. ^ "Late Goal Rescues Kedah Point in Northern Malaysia Derby". Football Tribe. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Kedah U23".
  21. ^ "Kedah U19". FAM. Retrieved 5 June 2020.

External linksEdit