Malaysia Cup

Malaysia Cup
Founded20 August 1921; 103 years ago (1921-08-20)
(as Malaya Cup)
RegionMalaysia
Number of teams16
Current championsJohor Darul Ta'zim
(4th title)
Most successful club(s)Selangor
(33 titles)
Television broadcastersAstro Arena
RTM
Websitemalaysianfootballleague.com

The Malaysia Cup (Malay: Piala Malaysia), formerly known as Malaya Cup, is an annual football tournament in Malaysia, held at the end of the calendar year. The cup was first held in 1921.[1][2][3] Despite its prestige and popularity as the country's oldest cup tournament, it does not guarantee a place in a continental competition, which is allocated to the Malaysia FA Cup winners.[4][5] The competition was previously managed by the Football Association of Malaysia, before it was transferred to the Football Malaysia LLP (now known as the Malaysian Football League) in the 2016 season.

In the 2016 edition, the competition structure changed and only the top eleven teams of the Malaysia Super League and the top five teams of the Malaysia Premier League qualified for the cup.[6][7]

The current title holder is Johor Darul Ta'zim, who won its fourth title in the 2023 edition.

History

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The Piala Malaysia is one of Asia's longest-running football competitions.[8] Established in 1921, it was known as the Malaya Cup from 1921 to 1967, after the donation of a trophy from the British Royal Navy ship HMS Malaya.[9] The tournament was renamed the Piala Malaysia in 1967.[8][9] For much of its history, the Cup was contested by Malaysian state teams, military teams as well as foreign invitees Singapore and Brunei. Malaysian club teams were allowed entry into the competition from 2000.[9]

Origins

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In January 1921, the British Royal Navy battleship HMS Malaya called at Port Swettenham (now Port Klang), Singapore, Malacca, Penang and Port Dickson.[9] During its stay, the crew competed in friendly matches in football, rugby, hockey, sailing, and golf against local clubs.[9]

Three months later, the Chief Secretary of the Federated Malay States government received a letter from Captain H. T. Buller of HMS Malaya, which offered two cups to be competed for in football and rugby as tokens of their gratitude for the reception they received in Malaya.[9] The offer was accepted and various club representatives met to organise the tournament.[9]

First tournament

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A Malaya Cup committee was set up and it was decided to run the football competition in northern and southern sections.[9] The first tournament were entrusted to be run by the Selangor Club.[9] The first ever Malaya Cup match was played on 20 August 1921, with Selangor defeating Penang 5–1 in front of an estimated crowd of 5,000 in Kuala Lumpur.[9] The inaugural tournament were played by six teams and won by Singapore where each Singapore players received a gold badge for their victory.[10]

Pre-war years

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The popularity of the tournament was already apparent in its early years where in 1923, a newspaper described it as "by far the greatest sporting event of the year" (in Malaya).[9] The final was played outside Kuala Lumpur for the first time in 1925, when Singapore defeated Selangor 2–1 at the Anson Road Stadium. Singapore also maintained a record of appearing in every Malaya Cup final from the first in 1921 to 1941, when the competition was disrupted by World War II.[9]

In September 1926, representatives from the football associations of Selangor, Singapore, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca agreed to form a Malayan Football Association (MFA).[9] The MFA was based in Kuala Lumpur, with John Sime of Singapore as its first president, and was represented on the Malaya Cup committee which organised the competition.[9] The MFA saw little activity until 1932, when it was revived and reformed as the Football Association of Malaya (FAM).[9] The FAM also took control of the organisation of the Malaya Cup from its founding committee.[9] The same year, the British Services were allowed to enter their own teams, joining Kedah and Johor which were both in the competition by 1930.[9]

Post-war era

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The Malaya Cup resumed in 1948, and the post-war era saw Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis enter the competition.[9][11] In 1957, the final was played for the first time at the newly constructed Merdeka Stadium.[12] The majority of the finals would be held at the Merdeka Stadium until the 1990s.[9]

In 1959, the Malaya Cup departed from the traditional one round tournament to a two-round home and away format in three zones, East, South and North.[13]

In 1967, the Malaya Cup was retired and replaced with a new trophy, the Piala Malaysia, in line with political developments and since then the competition has been known as the Piala Malaysia.[8][9] The old Malaya Cup now resides at the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur.[14]

Where previous tournaments had been segmented into geographical zones, the 1979 edition saw every team play each other in a 17-team competition.[9] New entries were Federal Territory (later renamed Kuala Lumpur), the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the independent sultanate of Brunei. A one-round league competition was introduced in Malaysia in 1979.[15] The top four teams at the end of the league will face off in two semi-finals before the winners made it to the finals. In 1981, the quarter-finals stage were introduced. When the league began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the Piala Malaysia.

However, only in 1982, the league trophy was awarded to the winners of the league stage.[16] Since then, the Piala Malaysia has been held after the conclusion of the league each year, with only the best-performing teams in the league qualifying for the Piala Malaysia.

Modern era

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In 2003, MPPJ FC became the first club and a non state team to win the cup.[17] Prior to that year, the two teams which made the final had always been representative sides of the regional Football Associations, or military teams.

Teams representing two of Malaysia's neighbouring countries have been involved in the competition. Brunei won the cup in 1999 and continue to be involved though in recent years they have been represented by the club side DPMM FC, whereas initially their team was organised by the Football Association of Brunei. Singapore used to enter a team organised by the Football Association of Singapore. Their team won the cup 24 times and are the second most successful side in the competition's history after Selangor. However, after their last win in 1994, Singapore withdrew from the competition following a dispute with the Football Association of Malaysia over gate receipts and have not been involved since. In 2011, Football Association of Singapore announced that Singapore would be back to join the Piala Malaysia in 2012.[18] On 5 December 2011, Football Association of Singapore had unveiled the new squad list and line up planned for the 2012 edition of Piala Malaysia where LIONSXII was sent to compete.[19][20]

Privatisation era

[edit]

In 2015, Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) was created in the course of privatisation of the Malaysian football league system. The partnership saw all 24 teams of Liga Super and Liga Premier including FAM as the Managing Partner and MP & Silva as a special partner (FAM's global media and commercial advisor) to become stakeholders in the company.[21][22] FMLLP owns, operates and runs five entities in Malaysian football under its jurisdiction, which include Liga Super, the Liga Premier, the Piala FA, the Piala Malaysia and the Piala Sumbangsih. It aims to transform and move Malaysian football forward.

List of finals

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Below is a list of Malaysia Cup winners and finalists since its inception in 1921.[1][23][24]

Year Winners Runners-up Score Venue
1921 Singapore Selangor 2–1 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1922 Selangor Singapore 3–2 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1923 Singapore Perak 2–1 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1924 Singapore Selangor 1–0 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1925 Singapore Selangor 2–1 Anson Road Stadium, Singapore
1926 Perak Singapore 1–0 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1927 Selangor Singapore 8–1 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1928 Selangor & Singapore (trophy shared) 2–2 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1929 Selangor & Singapore (trophy shared) 2–2 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1930 Singapore Selangor 3–0 Anson Road Stadium, Singapore
1931 Perak Singapore 3–1 Chinese Assembly Hall, Ipoh
1932 Singapore Selangor 5–3 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1933 Singapore Selangor 8–2 Rifle Range Road, Singapore
1934 Singapore Penang 2–1 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1935 Selangor Singapore 3–2 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1936 Selangor Singapore 1–0 Rifle Range Road, Singapore
1937 Singapore Selangor 2–1 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1938 Selangor Singapore 1–0 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1939 Singapore Selangor 3–2 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1940 Singapore Kedah 2–0 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1941 Singapore Penang 2–1 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1942–1947 Cancelled due to the World War II – Japanese occupation of Malaya, Singapore and British Borneo
1948 Negeri Sembilan Selangor 2–2 (2–1 pen.) Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1949 Selangor ATM 3–2 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1950 Singapore Penang 2–0 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1951 Singapore Perak 6–0 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1952 Singapore Penang 3–2 Chinese Assembly Hall, Ipoh
1953 Penang Singapore 3–2 Chinese Assembly Hall, Ipoh
1954 Penang Singapore 3–0 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1955 Singapore Kelantan 3–1 Rifle Range Road, Singapore
1956 Selangor Singapore 2–1 Selangor Club Padang, Kuala Lumpur
1957 Perak Selangor 3–2 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1958 Penang Singapore 3–3 (3–1 pen.) Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1959 Selangor Perak 4–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1960 Singapore Perak 2–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1961 Selangor Perak 4–2 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1962 Selangor Penang 1–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1963 Selangor Penang 6–2 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1964 Singapore Perak 3–2 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1965 Singapore Selangor 3–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1966 Selangor ATM 1–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1967 Perak Singapore 2–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1968 Selangor Penang 8–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1969 Selangor Penang 1–0 City Stadium, George Town[25]
1970 Perak Kelantan 2–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1971 Selangor Perak 3–1 Perak Stadium, Ipoh
1972 Selangor Perak 3–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1973 Selangor Terengganu 2–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1974 Penang Perak 2–1 City Stadium, George Town
1975 Selangor Singapore 1–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1976 Selangor Singapore 3–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1977 Singapore Penang 3–2 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1978 Selangor Singapore 4–2 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1979 Selangor Singapore 2–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1980 Singapore Selangor 2–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1981 Selangor Singapore 4–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1982 Selangor Terengganu 1–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1983 Pahang Selangor 3–2 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1984 Selangor Pahang 3–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1985 Johor Kuala Lumpur 2–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1986 Selangor Johor 6–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1987 Kuala Lumpur Kedah 1–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1988 Kuala Lumpur Kedah 3–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1989 Kuala Lumpur Kedah 2–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1990 Kedah Singapore 3–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1991 Johor Selangor 3–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1992 Pahang Kedah 1–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1993 Kedah Singapore 2–0 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
1994 Singapore Pahang 4–0 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
1995 Selangor Pahang 1–0 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
1996 Selangor Sabah 0–0 (5–4 pen.) Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
1997 Selangor Pahang 1–0 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
1998 Perak Terengganu 1–1 (5–3 pen.) Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
1999 Brunei Sarawak 2–1 Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
2000 Perak Negeri Sembilan 2–0 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
2001 Terengganu Perak 2–1 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2002 Selangor Sabah 1–0 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2003 MPPJ FC Sabah 3–0 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2004 Perlis Kedah 1–0 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2005 Selangor Perlis 3–0 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2006 Perlis Negeri Sembilan 2–1 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2007 Kedah Perak 3–0 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2008 Kedah Selangor 3–2 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2009 Negeri Sembilan Kelantan 3–1 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2010 Kelantan Negeri Sembilan 2–1 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2011 Negeri Sembilan Terengganu 2–1 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
2012 Kelantan ATM 3–2 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
2013 Pahang Kelantan 1–0 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
2014 Pahang Johor Darul Ta'zim 2–2 (5–3 pen.) Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2015 Selangor Kedah 2–0 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
2016 Kedah Selangor 1–1 (6–5 pen.) Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
2017 Johor Darul Ta'zim Kedah 2–0 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
2018 Perak Terengganu 3–3 (4–1 pen.) Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
2019 Johor Darul Ta'zim Kedah 3–0 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Kuala Lumpur City Johor Darul Ta'zim 2–0 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2022 Johor Darul Ta'zim Selangor 2–1 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
2023 Johor Darul Ta'zim Terengganu 3–1 Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur

Performance by clubs

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Since its establishment, the Malaysia Cup has been won by 15 different teams. Teams shown in italics no longer exist or no longer compete in the competition.

Rank Team Wins Last final won Runners-up Last final lost Total final
appearances
1 Selangor 33 2015 17 2022 50
2 Singapore FA 24 1994 19 1993 43
3 Perak 8 2018 11 2007 19
4 Kedah Darul Aman 5 2016 9 2019 14
5 Penang 4 1974 9 1977 13
6 Sri Pahang 4 2014 4 1997 8
7 Johor Darul Ta'zim 4 2023 2 2021 6
8 Kuala Lumpur City 4 2021 1 1985 5
9 Negeri Sembilan 3 2011 3 2010 6
10 Kelantan 2 2012 4 2013 6
11 Perlis FA 2 2006 1 2005 3
Johor FA 2 1991 1 1986 3
13 Terengganu 1 2001 6 2023 7
14 MPPJ 1 2003 0 1
Brunei FA 1 1999 0 1
16 Armed Forces 0 3 2012 3
Sabah 0 3 2003 3
18 Sarawak FA 0 1 1999 1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Atsushi Fujioka; Erik Garin; Mikael Jönsson; Hans Schöggl. "Malaysia – List of Cup Winners". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  2. ^ "History". Football Association of Malaysia. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  3. ^ "History of Singapore Football". Football Association of Singapore. Archived from the original on 3 August 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ^ Zulhilmi Zainal (10 August 2014). "Is Malaysia Cup losing its appeal?". Goal.com. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  5. ^ Zulhilmi Zainal (16 July 2016). "Slight change to Malaysia Cup format may give an edge to non-favourite sides". Goal.com. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  6. ^ Dez Corkhill (25 December 2015). "Malaysia football needs professional approach and TV deal to thrive". ESPN UK. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  7. ^ Vijhay Vick (8 January 2016). "Malaysia Cup changes to bring early excitement". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "Kejohanan Piala Malaysia" (in Malay). National Library of Malaysia. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Alvin Chua (2015). "Malaysia Cup (football)". National Library Board. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Malaysia 1921". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Malaysia 1948". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  12. ^ Karel Stokkermans (11 January 2018). "Malaysia 1957". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  13. ^ Karel Stokkermans (18 January 2018). "Malaysia 1959". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Malaysia 1967". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Malaysia 1979". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Malaysia 1982". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  17. ^ Hamdan Saaid (17 February 2004). "Malaysia 2003". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  18. ^ "Singapore Lions to participate in 2012 Malaysia Cup". AsiaOne. 12 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  19. ^ "LIONSXII Squad List" (PDF). Football Association of Singapore. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  20. ^ "FAS Reveal LIONSXII Coach and Squad List". Football Association of Singapore. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Press Release: FAM Inks deal with MP & Silva to formalise FMLLP". Football Association of Malaysia. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  22. ^ Ooi Kin Fai (7 May 2015). "Malaysian football going for the German way". Goal.com. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Piala Malaysia" (in Malay). Department of Information, Malaysia. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Independence Square". ABCKualaLumpur.com. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Did you know?". New Straits Times. 1 July 1988. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
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