Persija Jakarta

Persija Jakarta

Full name	Persatuan Sepakbola Indonesia Jakarta
Nickname(s)	Macan Kemayoran (The Kemayoran Tigers)
Founded	28 November 1928; 92 years ago (1928-11-28), as Voetbalbond Indonesische Jacatra (V.I.J.) 1950; 71 years ago (1950), as Persija[1]
Ground	Gelora Bung Karno Stadium
Capacity	77,193[2]
Owner	PT Persija Jakarta Hebat
President Director[4]	Ambono Januarianto[3]
Coach	Angelo Alessio
League	Liga 1
2019	Liga 1, 10th of 18
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Active departments of Persija Jakarta
Football	Football (Women's)	Football U-20 (Men's)
(Men's)	(Men's)

Persatuan Sepakbola Indonesia Jakarta (commonly known as Persija Jakarta, literally translates to Indonesian Football Association of Jakarta), is a professional football club based in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta. Persija Jakarta is one of the most successful football clubs in Indonesia with 2 Indonesian League titles and 9 Perserikatan titles. It has never been in a lower league since a nationwide competition started in 1930, fifteen years before Indonesia became an independent country.^[5] Persija is one of the founders of the Indonesian football association PSSI, along with six other clubs. Persija's rivalry with fellow PSSI founder Persib Bandung has gone on for decades, occasionally marred by violence.^[6][7]

History[]

Foundation and early years[]

Persija has roots that predate the current Indonesian state, which declared independence in 1945. Its forerunner, the Voetbalbond Indonesische Jacatra (VIJ), was formed on 28 November 1928 as a football club for indigenous residents of Jakarta when the Dutch were still colonizing the country. The name Jacatra refers to a fort on the northern coast of present-day Jakarta. VIJ, along with six other indigenous clubs, established PSSI on 19 April 1930 and won the first PSSI-authorized competition in 1931.^[8][9]

Post-independence[]

VIJ changed its name to Persija in 1950, five years after the 1945 Indonesian independence. In mid-1951, a club with ethnic Chinese, Dutch and Eurasian players joined the rebranded outfit. As the Indonesian national football team in the 1950s heavily depended on Persija, its line-ups at that time were filled by many ethnic Chinese, Dutch and Eurasian players from the Jakarta club.^[10]

Amateur years (1951-1994)[]

After the 1945 independence, national football competitions in Indonesia centred on region-based associations of amateur clubs that received funding from the state. These associations, including Persija, played against each other in an annual tournament known as Perserikatan, which literally means union. Almost all of these associations were seen as representatives of the main ethnic group in their respective regions, flaming primordial sentiments. Multicultural Persija was the exception. Persija won six national titles in the Perserikatan years. However, its fanbase was small and less passionate compared to ethnic-based supporter groups of Persib Bandung, Persebaya Surabaya, PSM Makassar or PSMS Medan. As the Perserikatan games became popular and televised from the 1980s, the other clubs proved to be more dominant with their stronger band of supporters.

Semi-professional years (1994-2008)[]

PSSI tried to combine the popular Perserikatan teams with the professional clubs from the Galatama league, which was struggling to attract a healthy-sized audience as the clubs did not attract primordial sentiments, into a league called Liga Indonesia. Persija, with a weak fanbase, continued its poor streak in the early years of Liga Indonesia until former army general Sutiyoso was appointed as governor of Jakarta in 1997 amid nationwide demonstrations that demanded the end of military-backed authoritarianism and the start of democratic elections at all levels.

Recognizing that he must win support to secure another term, Sutiyoso used Persija as an outreach vehicle. In 1997, Sutiyoso rebranded Persija with a different colour. Orange replaced red to stress Persija's tiger symbol while national players were recruited and more professional management was introduced. The governor also wielded his powers to motivate other Jakarta clubs in Liga Indonesia, including the once-successful Pelita Jaya FC, to leave the capital city. To augment the fanbase, the Jakmania supporter group was created in December 1997. The total makeover paid off with Persija winning the 2001 national title, a fanbase developing into the biggest in the country and Sutiyoso securing a second term in 2002. The flip side of this top-down approach is constant taunts from supporters of other clubs calling Persija as "anak papa" (papa's boy), which has become louder since Persija won its next national title in 2018.^[11]

Professional years (2008-)[]

The emergence of the Indonesian Super League in 2008 came amid pressure on Perserikatan teams to stop relying on the state budget and increase professional management. Persija, with the ability to attract supporters, sponsors and quality players, evolved into a well-oiled machine that performed well in different forms of competitions in Indonesia. However, it failed to win a national title in these professional years until 2018 when it championed the 2018 Liga 1. While Jakmania turned the capital city orange after the crowning, supporters of other clubs mocked the victory as engineered so that Persija could finally end its 17-year drought. These naysayers argue that PSSI influenced several decisions during the season that unfairly benefitted Persija, including the goals scored in the 9 December 2018 game that sealed the title.^[12]

Controversy aside, Persija is undeniably one of Indonesia's leading clubs with a fanbase that is now considered as the biggest in Asia, according to a December 2020 survey by the Asian Football Confederation. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Persija games could easily gather more than 50,000 people inside the stadium with thousands watching on public screens in neighbourhoods across the sprawling capital. Persija holds the record for highest attendance in a AFC Cup match when it faced with Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. in 2018.^[13]

Stadium[]

Persija currently plays their home matches at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) in Central Jakarta along with the Indonesian national football team.

Before settling at the large GBK, the club used smaller stadiums in Jakarta as their home ground. For the 2017 Liga 1 and much of the 2018 Liga 1, Persija had to relocate to nearby Bekasi and use the Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium or the Wibawa Mukti Stadium when the GBK stadium underwent renovation for the 2018 Asian Games and later used for the main venue of that multi-sports event.^[14][15]

Current Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan in 2019 decided to build a new stadium for Persija in North Jakarta, which will be called the Jakarta International Stadium. The new stadium is targeted for completion by late 2021.

However, there is also a campaign to rename the stadium after intellectual and national hero, Mohammad Husni Thamrin.^{[16][17][18][19]}

Players[]

Current squad[]

As of 30 August 2021^[20]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  IDN 4 DF  BRA Yann Motta 5 DF  IDN Otávio Dutra 6 MF  IDN Tony Sucipto 7 MF  IDN Ramdani Lestaluhu 9 FW  CRO Marko Šimić 11 MF  IDN Novri Setiawan 14 DF  IDN Ismed Sofyan (2nd captain) 15 DF  IDN 17 MF  IDN 18 MF  IDN Alfriyanto Nico 19 MF  IDN Braif Fatari 23 GK  IDN Yoewanto Setya Beny 25 MF  IDN Riko Simanjuntak 26 GK  IDN Andritany Ardhiyasa (captain)

No. Pos. Nation Player 28 DF  IDN Rezaldi Hehanusa 29 GK  IDN Adixi Lenzivio 32 MF    NEP Rohit Chand 41 DF  IDN 46 FW  IDN Osvaldo Haay 47 DF  ITA Marco Motta 56 DF  IDN Maman Abdurrahman 60 MF  IDN Radzky Ginting 63 DF  IDN 69 DF  IDN 78 DF  IDN 81 MF  IDN Adrianus Dwiki 82 MF  IDN 98 FW  IDN Taufik Hidayat 99 GK  IDN

Note: The club policy lists the supporters as player number #12.

Naturalized player[]

Country	Player
Brazil	Otávio Dutra

Out on loan[]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 24 MF  IDN Resky Fandi (at Dewa United) 40 DF  IDN Al Hamra Hehanusa (at Dewa United) — DF  IDN Ryuji Utomo (at Penang) — FW  IDN Rafli Mursalim (at Dewa United)

Coaching staff[]

Position	Staff
First-team Coach	Angelo Alessio
Assistant Coach	Sudirman Ilham Ralibi Ferdiansyah
Goalkeeper Coach	Ahmad Fauzi
Fitness Coach	Alberto Lungherini
Team Doctor	dr. Donny Kurniawan, SpKO
Physiotherapist	M. Yanizar Lubis Okky Setiawan
Masseur	Aditya Julistiawan Akhmad Aditya Subkhi
Kitman	Abdul Rahman Saleh Andika Candra Darmawan

Management[]

Chief Executive Officer	Mohammad Prapanca
Financial Director	Koko Afiat
Sporting Director	Ferry Paulus
Marketing Director	Andhika Suksmana
Manager	Bambang Pamungkas
Assistant Manager	Abel Anmas
Match Organizing Committee	Haen Rahmawan
Club Secretary	M. Araaf Sidik
Media Officer	Dwi Putra
Ground (capacity and dimensions)	Gelora Bung Karno (76,127 / 105x68 metres)
Training Ground	NYTC Sawangan

Kit Colours[]

Persija Jakarta's traditional colour is red, which is used for their home kit. Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso in 1997 replaced it with orange to make it in line with the tiger symbol during his rebranding drive of the club. After 19 years, Persija in 2016 decided to return to red after a long national title drought. The experiment worked as Persija championed the top-tier league in 2018. Frequently, the colour of their away jersey is white. But sometimes, players wear black in their away matches. Orange has been kept as the color of their third jersey.^[21]

Period	Kit Provider[22]
1970s–1990s	Adidas
1998–2000	Reebok
2000–2003	Nike
2004–2007	Specs
2007–2009	Diadora
2009–2017	League
2018–2019	Specs
2020–	Juara[23]

Supporters and rivalries[]

Supporters[]

Persija Jakarta's supporters are called Jakmania. Founded in 1997 with orange colour as their identity, Jakmania is one of the biggest and loudest football fan groups in Indonesia. Persija's home matches could easily attract over 50,000 spectators before the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to the audience ban. They often travel to away matches, except for games against longtime rivals Persib Bandung and Persebaya Surabaya because of restrictions from the Indonesian Police in order to avoid clashes between supporter groups. A Persija supporter who dared to break the rule and travel to Bandung in September 2018 died after being beaten up by Persib Bandung fans.^[24] .^[25]

The Jakmania-created Persija anthem "Satu Jiwa" (One Soul) is always sung after a match.^[26]

Rivalries[]

Persija's top rival is Persib Bandung from the West Java city of Bandung, 180 km away. The two clubs have crossed paths since the early days of PSSI in the 1930s. Persija defeated Persib in the final game of the 1933 competition and repeated the feat in 1934.^[27] This derby is known as the oldest Indonesian Derby. The rivalry between the two teams has become violent in the 2000s due to the growth of ultras on each side. Influenced by some media and individuals who want the rivalry to be preserved, many hostile incidents involving the two support group have occurred with seven deaths so far. In 2014, a reconciliation was held by the West Java Police to avoid future clashes, resulting in restrictions against travelling supporters. However, fans continue to break the rule and end up in violent altercations.^[28][29]

The rivalry with PSM Makassar , known as the Red Perserikatan Derby, is also very emotional as it refers to the matches between two Perserikatan clubs that wear red and must change colour when they are in an away match. Persija also has rivalries with other former Perserikatan teams, especially Persebaya Surabaya and PSMS Medan.^{[30] [31][32]}

Honours[]

Persija has won many titles, including from international tournaments, making the club as the most successful in Indonesia. Its last national title comes from the 2018 Liga 1.

Domestic
League/Division	Titles	Runners-up	Seasons won	Seasons runners-up
Perserikatan	9	4	1931 1933, 1934, 1938, 1953-54, 1964, 1971-73, 1973-75, 1978-79	1932, 1952, 1975-78, 1987-88
Liga Indonesia Premier Division / Liga 1	2	1	2001, 2018	2005
Domestic
Cup Competitions	Titles	Runners-up	Seasons won	Seasons runners-up
Piala Indonesia	0	2		2005, 2018-19
Piala Presiden Soeharto[33]	0	3		1972,[34] 1974,[35] 1976[36]
Indonesia President's Cup	1	0	2018
Menpora Cup	1	0	2021
International
Friendly Tournament	Titles	Runners-up	Seasons won	Seasons runners-up
Quoc Khanh Cup	1	0	1973
Brunei Invitational Cup[37]	2	0	2000,[38] 2001[39]

AFC (Asian competitions)[]

• Asian Club Championship/AFC Champions League
  • 2001-02 – First round
  • 2019 – Preliminary round 2
• AFC Cup
  • 2018 – ASEAN Zonal semi-finals
  • 2019 – Group stage

Continental record[]

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2001-02	Asian Club Championship	First round	Kashima Antlers	4–1
2018	AFC Cup	Group H	Johor Darul Ta'zim	4–0	3–0	1st
			Tampines Rovers	4–1	2–4
			Sông Lam Nghệ An	1–0	0–0
		Zonal semi-finals	Home United	1–3	3–2	3–6
2019	AFC Champions League	Preliminary round 1	Home United	1–3
		Preliminary round 2	Newcastle Jets	3–1 (a.e.t.)
	AFC Cup	Group G	Becamex Bình Dương	0–0	3–1	3rd
			Shan United	6–1	1–3
			Ceres Negros	2–3	1–0

AFC club ranking[]

As of 26 February 2020.^[40]

Current Rank	Country	Team	Points
78		Al-Faisaly	17.78
79		Dhaka Abahani	16.37
80		Persija Jakarta	16.13
81		Al-Wahda	15.66
82		Bangkok United	15.17

Former Coaches[]

After becoming professional, Persija Jakarta has been trained by a combination of foreign and local coaches. Sofyan Hadi was the first head coach who won a professional national title for Persija Jakarta in 2001 when he was also playing for the team. Brazilian Antonio Claudio also was playing in and coaching the same team, but as a fitness coach. Another Brazilian, Stefano Cugurra, led Persija to the 2018 national title.^[41]

Years	Name
1999–2000	Ivan Kolev
2001
2003
2004	Carlos García Cambón
2005–2006	Arcan Iurie
2006–2007	Rahmad Darmawan
2007–2008	Sergei Dubrovin
2008–2009	Danurwindo
2009–2010	Benny Dollo
2010–2011	Rahmad Darmawan
2011–2012
2013–2014	Benny Dollo
2014–2015	Rahmad Darmawan
2015–2016	Bambang Nurdiansyah
2016	Paulo Camargo
2016
2017–2018	Stefano Cugurra
2019	Ivan Kolev
2019	Julio Bañuelos
2019	Edson Tavares

Notable former players[]

This is the list of several domestic and foreign former notable or famous players of Persija from time to time.

Indonesia[]

• Soetjipto Soentoro
• Tan Liong Houw
• Sutan Harhara
• Rully Nere
• Dede Sulaiman
• Rahmad Darmawan
• Widodo Cahyono Putro
• Anang Ma'ruf
• Budiman Yunus
• Imran Nahumarury
• Francis Wawengkang
• Hendro Kartiko
• Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto
• Charis Yulianto
• Elie Aiboy
• Budi Sudarsono
• Aples Gideon Tecuari
• Hamka Hamzah
• Ortizan Solossa
• Atep Rizal
• Muhammad Ilham
• Aliyudin
• Agus Indra Kurniawan
• Rochy Putiray
• Nur'alim
• Anjas Asmara
• Anindito Wahyu
• Beto Gonçalves
• Osas Saha
• Adam Alis
• Gendut Doni Christiawan
• Alexander Pulalo
• Muhammad Roby
• Leo Saputra
• Greg Nwokolo
• Addison Alves
• Firman Utina
• Ponaryo Astaman
• Amarzukih
• Stefano Lilipaly
• Raphael Maitimo
• Farri Agri
• Bambang Pamungkas
• Gunawan Dwi Cahyo
• Silvio Escobar
• Fitra Ridwan
• Valentino Telaubun
• Michael Orah
• Talaohu Musafri
• Leonard Tupamahu
• Alfin Tuasalamony
• Maman Abdurahman
• Dany Saputra
• Nol van der Vin
• 
• Fahreza Agamal
• Defri Rizky
• 
• Mulky Alifa Hakim
• Marc Klok

Asia[]

• Miro Baldo Bento
• João Bosco Cabral
• Rohit Chand
• Precious Emuejeraye
• Agu Casmir
• Baihakki Khaizan
• Fahrudin Mustafic
• Jahongir Abdumominov
• Lam Hok Hei
• Park Kyung-min
• Jeong Kwang-sik
• Hong Soon-Hak
• Reinaldo Elias da Costa

Africa[]

• Roger Batoum
• Abanda Herman
• Emaleu Serge
• Louis Berty Ayock
• 
• Pierre Njanka
• Eric Bayemi
• Emmanuel Kenmogne
• 
• Boakay Eddie Foday
• Olivier Makor
• Frank Jean Seator
• 
• Sam Ayorinde
• Vata Matanu Garcia
• Alex Brown

Europe[]

• Martin Vunk
• Evgeny Kabaev
• Ivan Bosnjak
• Evgheni Hmaruc
• Želimir Terkeš
• Steven Paulle
• Joan Tomàs Campasol

America[]

• Antonio Claudio
• Lorenzo Cabanas
• Ronald Fagundez
• Emanuel De Porras
• Gustavo Hernan Ortiz
• Robertino Pugliara
• Luciano Leandro
• Javier Rocha
• Gustavo Chena
• Pedro Velázquez
• Fabiano Beltrame
• Renan Silva
• Willian Pacheco
• Jaimerson Xavier
• Bruno da Silva Lopes
• Luiz Júnior
• Ivan Carlos
• Rodrigo Tosi
• Bruno Oliveira de Matos
• Xandão
• Adolfo Fatecha
• 

Further reading[]

• Ayati, Nur (2010). Liga Indonesia: Persija vs Persib (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Elex Media Komputindo. p. 24. ISBN 978-979-27-7425-2.^[42]

References[]

External links[]

• Official Website