The 2017 season was Kelantan's 9th season in the Liga Super since being promoted and 22nd successive season in the top flight of Malaysian football league system. They were competing in the Liga Super, Piala FA and Piala Malaysia after placed in 5th (7th after 3 points was deducted) in 2017 Liga Super first leg matches.
On 6 January 2017, it's confirmed that Kelantan would be participated in the 2017 Liga Super.[8]
On 12 January 2017, former president, Annuar Musa was appointed as club advisor by Kelantan Football Association.[9]
On 20 January 2017, Kelantan unveiled their 2017 season squad with new three foreign players, and new local players. Mamadou Danso and Alessandro Celin replaced Okiki Afolabi after he failed the club medical test and Cédric Djeugoué got issues with his registration documents. Mohammed Ghaddar have filled the place Asian quota player. New local players signed with Kelantan were Hasmizan Kamarodin, S. Subramaniam, S. Thinagaran and Hattaphon Bun An.[10]
On 21 January 2017, the first league match between Kelantan and Melaka United scheduled at Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Bharu has been postponed to another date due to bad weather caused waterlogged pitch.[11]
On 27 January 2017, Kelantan started their league campaign with victory over PKNS with 3–1 scored.[12]
Position at the end of January
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
6
Kelantan
1
1
0
0
3
1
+2
3
Source:[citation needed]
AFC Club Ranking position in January
Rank
Country
Team
Move
MA Pts
Total
93
Kelantan FA
2.476
10.809
February[]
On 1 February 2017, league match against Johor Darul Ta'zim that was initially scheduled for 4 February 2017 will be postponed due to JDT's AFC Champions League commitments.[13][14][15]
On 11 February 2017, Kelantan won 2–1 against FELDA United which was their second league match after having two games postponed before.[16]
On 14 February 2017, during second round of Malaysia FA Cup campaign Kelantan were knocked out of the competition by Malaysia Premier League club PKNP 4–3 on penalty shoot-out after 1–1 draw after extra time.[17][18]
On 21 February 2017, the rescheduled postponed rematch between Kelantan and Melaka United were held at Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium with the home team lost 0–2 and continued their streak of two games loses without any goals scored.[19]
On 25 February 2017, the sixth league match of Kelantan at home ground ended up losing 0–2 to Selangor which continued their streak of loses without scoring goal in three matches in a row.[20]
Position at the end of February
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
10
Kelantan
5
2
0
3
5
7
−2
6
Source:[citation needed]
AFC Club Ranking position in February
Rank
Country
Team
Move
MA Pts
Total
124
Kelantan FA
2.53
4.53
March[]
On 1 March 2017, Kelantan secured the third league win over Perak in Perak Stadium. Mohammed Ghaddar scored a hat-trick and 1 goal came from Indra Putra Mahayuddin.[21]
On 4 March 2017, Kelantan finally achieved their first win at their home ground after a straight three losses before and making it their second consecutive win in the league after beating T-Team 4–2 with Mohammed Ghaddar scored his second hat-trick and a goal came from Mohd Khairul Izuan Rosli.[22]
On 7 March, Mohammed Ghaddar was announced as PFAM Player of the Month for February candidate.[23]
Position at the end of March
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
6
Kelantan
7
4
0
3
13
11
+2
12
Source:[citation needed]
AFC Club Ranking position in March
Rank
Country
Team
Move
MA Pts
Total
126
Kelantan FA
2.555
4.555
April[]
The team having a long break after the last match on 4 March 2017. This is due in conjunction with the Piala FA Matches. Kelantan started April league campaign with a defeat 1—2 against Pahang during home match in Kota Bharu.[24] On 12 April, another rescheduled match between Kelantan against the defending champion, Johor Darul Ta'zim was held that resulted in another loss for Kelantan after the away team made a comeback to overturn the 2-goal lead from Kelantan both scored by Mohammed Ghaddar resulted in a 2–3 defeat.[25] On 15 April, Kelantan continued their unbeaten streak outside of Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium by winning 5–1 against Penang with 4 goals contributed by Mohammed Ghaddar making it his third hat trick this season. On 29 April, Mohammed Ghaddar was announced as PFAM Player of the Month for April candidate.[26] On 30 April, Alfredo Carlos González Machado has been appointed as the new technical director of the team and Sanna Nyassi was introduced as a potential candidate to replace Alessandro Celin in the second transfer window.[27]
Position at the end of April
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
5
Kelantan
11
5
1
5
21
17
+4
16
Source:[citation needed]
AFC Club Ranking position in April
Rank
Country
Team
Move
MA Pts
Total
127
Kelantan FA
2.625
4.625
May[]
On 1 May, Kelantan and Johor Darul Ta'zim were fined RM10,000 due to their fan action with Kelantan fan were reported to have thrown bottles onto the pitch during the postponed match between Kelantan against Johor Darul Ta'zim.[28]
On 2 May, Kelantan were deducted 6 points after failing to complete M-League registration process thus resulted in league standing change from number 5 to number 7.[29]
On 6 May, Kelantan won 2–3 against Pahang making them still undefeated at away ground.[30]
On 9 May, Mohammed Ghaddar was announced as the April Liga Super Player of the Month.[31]
Second transfer window started on 15 May and will ended on 11 June, during this time span, some transfer activity among Kelantan FA player happened. Among them is Mohammed Ghaddar who was sold to Johor Darul Ta'zim for RM1,400,000.00[32] and his replacement, Abou Bakr Al-Mel from AC Tripoli.[33]Nik Shahrul Azim was loaned out to Negeri Sembilan for 6 month.
On 24 May, Kelantan drew 2–2 against Penang at their home ground before the league take a rest period for more than a month due to Ramadan and national team games.[34]
Position at the end of May
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
8
Kelantan
13
6
2
5
27
21
+6
20
Source:[citation needed]
AFC Club Ranking position in May
Rank
Country
Team
Move
MA Pts
Total
126
Kelantan FA
2.625
4.625
June[]
There were no competitive matches played during this month. Fakhrul Zaman and Muhd Shahrul Hakim Rahim were loaned out to MISC-MIFA.
On 17 June, there were some changes in the club officials with Alfredo Carlos Gonzales will be taking Datuk Rosmadi Ismail place as the Team Manager while Datuk Rosmadi Ismail and his assistant Datuk Muhammad Nasir Hamzah will become the Contingent Leader and Assistant Contingent Leader respectively during any matchday involving the club.[35]
On 18 June, the club were given 3 points back from the 6 points deduction thus making them goes up to 5th place.[36]
Position at the end of June
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
8
Kelantan
13
6
2
5
27
21
+6
20
Source:[citation needed]
July[]
Starting 1 July 2017, Kelantan has suffered 5 successive league defeats. Somehow, Kelantan began their Malaysia Cup campaign with winning against UiTM in their home match.[37]
Position at the end of July
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
9
Kelantan
18
6
2
10
27
34
−7
20
Source:[citation needed]
September[]
On 17 December 2017, Bibi Ramjani Ilias Khan was voted in as the new president of Kelantan Football Association for the term 2018–2021. She was appointed to the top post of the association after defeating Datuk Muhammad Nasir Hamzah in the voting process. Datuk Seri Afandi Hamzah defended his deputy president post, overcoming Datuk Rosmadi Ismail in the process.[38]
Stadium: Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium Referee: Mohd Asrol Mohd Amir Assistant 1: Mohd Faisal Ridhuan Assistant 2: Tuan Ahmad Razlan Fourth official: Al Hafiz Husain
Stadium: Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium Attendance: 8,963 Referee: Razlan Jeffri Ali Assistant 1: Azman Ismail Assistant 2: Nordin Mat Jusoh Fourth official: Ku Alaudin
Stadium: Tun Abdul Razak Stadium Attendance: 10,393 Referee: Assistant 1: Mohd Hariff Akhir Assistant 2: Mohd Abdul Suki Fourth official: Almi Abdullah
Mineiro 4', 63' 78' Syahmi 19' Doe 20' Adam Nor 20' 44' Fitri Shazwan 78' Halim 86' Bunyamin 86'
Stadium: Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium Attendance: 2,503 Referee: Zulkifli Ahmad Assistant 1: Mohd Arif Shamil Abd Rasid Assistant 2: Mohd Zulkiflin Fourth official: Mohd Hasrol Amir
Stadium: Perak Stadium Attendance: 5,570 Referee: Assistant 1: Mohd Arif Shamil Abd Rasid Assistant 2: Muhammad Juhairi Idris Fourth official: Rafifi Anuar Abdullah
Nor Hakim 46' 78' Abdullah 58' Shakir 58' Azrean 78' Badrul 87' Azalinullah 87' Tadjiyev 90'
Stadium: Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium Attendance: 10,653 Referee: Fitri Maskon Assistant 1: Azmi Ismail Assistant 2: Muhammad Juhairi Idris Fourth official: Tuan Ahmad Razlan
Afif 32' Davies 54' Muslim 57' 89' Wan Zaharulnizam 60' 86' Alves 62' Salomon 68' Ashari 68' Joseph 86' Saiful 89'
Stadium: Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium Attendance: 3,373 Referee: Assistant 1: Muhammad Juhairi Idris Assistant 2: Ahmad Faizal Mamat Fourth official: Mohd Hasrol Amir
Stadium: Penang State Stadium Attendance: 8,130 Referee: Zulkarnain Zakaria Assistant 1: Mohd Shahreen Che Omar Assistant 2: Mohd Fazli Fourth official: Muhammad Azwan
Stadium: Darul Makmur Stadium Attendance: 11,267 Referee: Nagor Amir Noor Mohamed Assistant 1: Mohd Khalid Mohd Aris Assistant 2: Ismadi Ibrahim Fourth official: Mat Zan Abd Wahab
Stadium: Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium Attendance: 1,251 Referee: Fitri Maskon Assistant 1: Azman Ismail Assistant 2: Mohd Shahril Abu Samam Fourth official: Mohd Hasrol Amir
Fadhilah 41' 51' Qayyum 45+1' 66' Indra Putra 50' Danial 51' Aziz 66' Farisham 75' Hattaphon 75' 90+1'
Stadium: Darul Aman Stadium Attendance: 11,970 Referee: Assistant 1: Mohammad Juhairi Haji Idris Assistant 2: Ahmad Azanor Huslan Fourth official: Mohd Izzat Izaini Ali
^Match #1 (3) against Melaka United was postponed due to waterlogged pitch.[46]
^Match #3 (14) was postponed due to a tight schedule following JDT's qualification for the AFC Champions League play-off round.[47]
^Match #9 (51) was rescheduled due to Malaysia national team preparation for AFC Asian Cup qualification against North Korea national football team and international Friendly match against Philippines national football team.[48]
^Match #12 (70) was rescheduled due to Malaysia national team preparation for AFC Asian Cup qualification against North Korea national football team and international Friendly match against Philippines national football team.[48]
Source: FAM, FMLLP Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored. (R) Relegated Notes:
^Kelantan and T–Team was sentenced to a six-point deduction immediately on offense failed to complete the registration process Malaysian League (M-League) 2017. Later, upon careful consideration of the aforementioned appeals, Football Malaysia have decided to lift the transfer ban and reduce the deduction of 6 points to 3 points for T-Team.
^Kelantan and T–Team was sentenced to a six-point deduction immediately on offense failed to complete the registration process Malaysian League (M-League) 2017. Later, upon careful consideration of the aforementioned appeals, Football Malaysia have decided to only reduce the deduction of 6 points to 3 points for Kelantan.
Remarks: U21 These players registered as Under-21 players at Piala Presiden competitions. FP These players are considered as foreign players at Malaysia domestic football competitions. LO These players are currently loan out to other clubs.
^Mohd Nasharizam Abd Rashid was loaned to Perlis FA until the end of the 2017 season.[49]
^Nik Shahrul Azim was loaned to Negeri Sembilan FA for 6 months until the end of the 2017 season.
^Muhd Shahrul Hakim Rahim was loaned to MISC-MIFA for 6 months until the end of the 2017 season.
^Mohd Syafiq Abd Rahman was loaned to Perlis FA until the end of the 2017 season.[49]
^Amir Zikri Pauzi was loaned to Perlis FA until the end of the 2017 season.[49]
^Fakhrul Zaman was loaned to MISC-MIFA for 6 months until the end of the 2017 season.
Starting line-up: 4-1-3-2- on 24 May 2017 vs Penang[60]
Squad statistics[]
Key:
= Appearances,
= Goals,
M = Minutes played
= Yellow card,
= Red card Player names in bold denotes player that left mid-season (loaned) (number in bracket denotes the players plays as a substitute in a match)
First transfer window started in December 2017[clarification needed] to 22 January 2017 and Second transfer window will started on 15 May 2017 to 11 June 2017.[66]