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Persebaya Surabaya

Full name	Persatuan Sepakbola Surabaya
Nickname(s)	Bajul Ijo (The Green Crocodiles) Green Force
Short name	PBY
Founded	18 June 1927; 97 years ago (18 June 1927) (as Soerabhaiasche Indonesische Voetbal Bond)
Ground	Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium
Capacity	46,806
Owner	Koperasi Surya Abadi Persebaya (30%) PT DBL Indonesia (70%)[1]
President	Azrul Ananda
Manager	Yahya Alkatiri
Coach	Paul Munster
League	Liga 1
2024–25	Liga 1
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Persatuan Sepakbola Surabaya (lit. 'Football Association of Surabaya'), commonly known as Persebaya Surabaya or simply Persebaya, is an Indonesian professional football club based in Surabaya, East Java. The club currently plays in the Liga 1, the top flight of Indonesian football. Persebaya Surabaya is regarded as one of the most iconic and successful teams in the country, winning numerous Indonesian League titles and tournaments.

The club was founded on June 18, 1927, under the name Soerabhaiasche Indonesische Voetbal Bond (SIVB). The founders, Paijo and M. Pamoedji, established the club with the intent of housing Indonesian players. Previously, in 1910, stood Soerabaiasche Voetbal Bond (SVB), but, this club was established to be a representation of the Dutch community living in Surabaya. This club also had close ties with the Dutch East Indies government.

Both of them clearly have different policies. SIVB, which consists of Indonesians, was actively involved in the Indonesian independence movement.

Together with VIJ Jakarta (now Persija), BIVB Bandung (now Persib), MIVB Magelang (now PPSM), MVB Madiun (now PSM Madiun), VVB Surakarta (now Persis Surakarta), and PSIM, SIVB initiated the formation of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) on 19 April 1930, in Yogyakarta.

PSSI then held Perserikatan, a memberial national football competition, but, the competition was halted in 1943 after the Japanese occupied Indonesia and limited the movement of sports activities and organizations. In 1943, SIVB also changed its name to Persibaya.

Persibaya's sister club, SVB, went on to compete in a competition held by the Nederlandsch Indische Voetbal Bond (NIVB)/Dutch East Indies Football Association. NIVB (later renamed the Netherlands Indische Voetball Unie) did this because the colonial government thought NIVB was no longer able to match the PSSI.

After Indonesia's independence, the map of football also changed. PSSI is not necessarily the only football federation in the country at the time, after Sukarno plotted Indonesian independence.

During the United Republic of Indonesia (RIS) period, NIVU was still operating. They held the Indonesia State Football Association / Voetbal Union Verenigde Staten van Indonesie competition (ISNIS / VUVSI). The participants were clubs that existed during the Dutch East Indies administration, including VBO Jakarta (VIJ Jakarta / now Persija), VBBO Bandung (now Persib), VSO Semarang (now PSIS) and SVB (Persibaya).

SVB won the competition two consecutive seasons (1949 and 1950). SVB was one of the strong teams in the ISNIS competition, winning the championship eleven times, only behind VBO Jakarta, which won 13 titles.

PSSI then was revitalized after the RIS period ended, which ended on 17 August 1950. Through the PSSI congress on 2–4 September 1950 in Semarang, the federation stated that it would hold the PSSI National Championship.

SVB did not directly become an internal member of Persibaya, but merged into it and embraced that the birth date of Persibaya was June 18, 1927, which was the date of the establishment of SIVB. Later, in 1959, Persibaya changed their name to Persebaya.

Post-smelting, Persebaya appeared in the PSSI National Championship which later became known as the Perserikatan. The immediate impact was felt. Persebaya managed to become the champion in the first edition in 1951 after being able to overcome the resistance of PSM, Persija, and PSIM.

The following year they managed to retain the title. This time Bajul Ijo was able to win the competition with Persija, Persis, Persib, PSMS, Persema, and Persipro.

In the 1978 edition of the Perserikatan, the format of the competition changed into a tournament with the champion being determined through the final match. Persebaya was able to bend Persija with a 4–3 score through goals scored by Hadi Ismanto (two goals), Rudy W. Keltjes, and Joko Malis at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Persebaya again managed to win the final against Persija in the 1988 season, with a final score of 3–2. The match lasted until the extra time round.

In total, Persebaya won the Perserikatan title four times, in 1951, 1952, 1978, and 1988.

Great achievements were kept awake when PSSI merged Perserikatan and Galatama clubs into a professional league named Liga Indonesia in 1994. Persebaya won the Liga Indonesia Premier Division title in 1996–97. Even Persebaya managed to make history as the first team to win the Liga Indonesia Premier Division twice when in 2004 Green Force won the title again. Although predicated as a classic team laden with titles, Green Force also briefly felt the bitterness of being relegated in 2002. Bitter pills are immediately redeemed with the titles of First Division and Premier Division titles in the next two seasons.

The four Perserikatan titles and two Liga Indonesia titles gave Persebaya six National titles at the top-tier division of the Indonesian football league system. That distinction superseded only by Persija with eleven championship titles, Persis and Persib tied respectively with seven titles each.

The 2009 season was the beginning of Persebaya Surabaya's dualism. Persebaya Surabaya (PT Persebaya Indonesia) experienced degradation to the First Division due to being forced to rematch 3 times against Persik Kediri, namely in Kediri, Yogyakarta and Palembang. In the third rematch Persebaya refused to play. The management did not want to join the Premier Division and the name Persebaya Surabaya was changed to Persebaya 1927.

Utilizing the Persebaya slot in the Premier Division the following season, Wisnu Wardhana took over Persikubar (Kutai Barat) and registered it as Persebaya to enter the Premier Division competition. Although bearing the official name of Persebaya, the team formed by Wisnu Wardhana did not have a place in the hearts of Bonek, who were more loyal to support the "original" Persebaya.

In the 2015 season, Persebaya 1927 won a patent claim for the Persebaya name and logo. This resulted in the Persebaya Surabaya version of Wisnu Wardhana having to change its name to Bonek FC. A year later, Bonek FC again changed its name to Surabaya United at the urging of supporters.

In the 2016 season Surabaya United merged with PS Polri and then again changed its name to Bhayangkara Surabaya United. In May 2016 the national police officially bought 100% of Bhayangkara Surabaya United shares and the club was finally renamed as Bhayangkara FC.

In the 2017 season, Persebaya Surabaya again competed in Liga 2, and became the champion of the second division by defeating PSMS Medan in the final which was held at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium.^[2] Club's player, Irfan Jaya, became the best player of the season.

In the 2018 season, Persebaya managed to finish 5th in the final standings.

In 2019, Persebaya competed in the pre-season tournament President's Cup. They managed to reach the final stage and lost in the Super East Java Derby against Arema, aggregately 2–4.^[3] Club's forward Manuchekhr Dzhalilov became one of three top scorers with 5 goals.

In the end of October 2019, Persebaya appointed their legend Aji Santoso as new coach, replacing Wolfgang Pikal.^[4] Under his management, the club finished 5th in 2021–22 season.^[5]

Persebaya plays their home matches at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, which replaced the older Gelora 10 November Stadium.^[6] On 23 July 2012 there has been a friendly match between Persebaya with Queens Park Rangers in Gelora Bung Tomo. On that day the match was won by Queens Park Rangers with a score of 2–1.^[7]

Persebaya had experienced controversial events several times throughout its history. When winning the 1988 competition, Persebaya played an infamous match dubbed "elephant football" for losing on purpose to Persipura Jayapura 0–12 to eliminate their rival PSIS Semarang which, in the previous year, had shattered Persebaya's dream in the final. These tactics brought results and Persebaya won the Perserikatan in 1988 by beating Persija Jakarta 3–2.

In the 2002 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, Persebaya took action against PKT Bontang, causing them a point deduction. The incident became one of the factors which caused Persebaya's relegation to the First Division. In 2005 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, Persebaya shocked the public when they walked out in the quarter-final. The incident caused Persebaya's suspension from football for 2 years. After an appeal, the sentence was reduced to 16 months. However, the PSSI later ruled to only relegate Persebaya to the First Division.

The supporters of Persebaya are known as Bonek, this an acronym from Bondho (resource) and Nekat (reckless). Bonek is one of the biggest supporter groups in Indonesia.^[8][9]

The song "Song for Pride", is an anthem song Persebaya Surabaya, this song was composed by Mahardika Nurdian Syahputra.^[10]

Bonek has a good relationship with Bobotoh, Supporters of Persib Bandung.^[11] Their friendship began with fans who often made headlines as supporters of the rioters.

The main rivalry with Arema FC is known as the Super East Java derby this match was born from the hostility of the fans and showed the best in East Java, the supporters should not be brought together by the Indonesian Police because of the possibility of clashes between groups.^[12][13]

The match with PSIS Semarang was born from the controversy of Sepakbola Gajah since Perserikatan.^[14] Until now the two clubs when they meet always compete with high tension.^[15]

Persebaya also has another rival with Persija Jakarta, PSM Makassar, Persib Bandung in the Perserikatan era.^[16][17]

The main sponsorship list is as follows.^[18]

• Kapal Api
• MPM Honda Jatim
• Indomie
• Citicon
• Teh Bonteh
• Extra Joss

From the foundation of the club, the common home official kit includes a green shirt, green shorts, with yellow combinations. Green and yellow colours are also seen in the crest. The away kit of the club is associated with a white or black background.

As of 11 August 2024^[19]

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  IDN Lalu Muhammad Rizki 2 DF  IDN Arief Catur 3 DF  IDN Ardi Idrus (on loan from Bali United) 6 MF  POR Gilson Costa 7 MF  MEX Francisco Rivera 8 MF  IDN Andre Oktaviansyah 9 FW  IDN Rizky Dwi Pangestu 10 MF  BRA Bruno Moreira (captain) 15 DF  MNE Slavko Damjanović 17 FW  POR Flávio Silva 18 DF  IDN Randy May 21 GK  IDN Ernando Ari 23 DF  IDN Kadek Raditya

No. Pos. Nation Player 25 DF  IDN Mikael Tata 27 MF  IDN Oktafianus Fernando 28 MF  IDN Alfan Suaib 31 FW  IDN Widi Syarief 32 DF  IDN Riswan Lauhin 52 GK  IDN Andhika Ramadhani 64 GK  IDN Aditya Arya Nugraha 68 MF  IDN Toni Firmansyah 74 MF  PLE Mohammed Rashid 77 MF  IDN Kasim Botan 79 MF  IDN Malik Risaldi 96 MF  IDN Muhammad Hidayat

• 19 – Eri Irianto (posthumous)

Corporate hierarchy Position Name Manager Yahya Alkatiri[20] Operationals Director Puji Agus Sponsorship Director Lucia Cicilia Technical Director Uston Nawawi Academy Director Saleh Hanifah Future Lab Director Ganesha Putra Secretary Ram Surahman Cooperative Director Maurits Pangkay Cooperative Supervisor Hayadi Cooperative Treasurer Ali Smid Cooperative Secretary Anjar

Coaching staff Position Name Head Coach Paul Munster Assistant Coach Uston Nawawi Goalkeeper Coach Benny van Breukelen Physical Coach Muhammad Alimudin Team Doctor Ahmad Ridhoi Team Physiotherapist Dominggus Ruku Yudit Samudra Anggara Under-20's Head Coach Sony Setiawan Under-18's Head Coach Mat Halil Under-16's Head Coach Khabib Syukron Under-13's Head Coach Dani Cantona

Staff Position Name General Affair Danang Bekti Kit & Equipment Manager Sutrisno Beny Kit & Equipment Assistant Djoko Sulistyo Basori Operational Equipment Rio Wicaksono Masseur Yok Sebastian

Head coach history Head coach by years (1987–present) Name From To Rusdy Bahalwan 1987 1993 Mudayat 1993 1995 Aleksandar Kostov 1995 1996 Rusdy Bahalwan 1996 1999 Riono Asnan 1999 1999 Jacksen F. Tiago 1999 2000 Rudy Keltjes 2000 2001 Rusdy Bahalwan 2001 2002 Zein Al Haddad 2002 2003 Jacksen F. Tiago 2003 2005 Freddy Muli 2005 2006 Gildo Rodrigues 2006 2007 Ibnu Grahan 2007 2007 Suhatman Imam 2007 2007 Freddy Muli 2008 2008 Arcan Iurie 2008 2008 Aji Santoso 2008 2008 Danurwindo 2009 2010 Rudy Keltjes 2010 2010 Aji Santoso 2010 2011 Divaldo Alves 2011 2012 Ibnu Grahan 2012 2013 Fabio Oliveira [id] 2013 2013 Persebaya Not Active 2013 2016 Iwan Setiawan 2017 2017 Alfredo Vera 2017 2018 Djadjang Nurdjaman 2018 2019 Wolfgang Pikal 2019 2019 Aji Santoso 2019 2023 Josep Gombau 2023 2023 Paul Munster 2024 incumbent

As of 4 August 2024^[25]

Current rank	Country	Team	Points
1351		Albion F.C.	1314
1352		Gabala SC	1313
1353		Persebaya	1313
1354		SC Gagnoa	1313
1355		América de Quito	1313

As of 4 August 2024

Current rank	Country	Team	Points
136		Nassaji Mazandaran	1315
137		Al Raed	1314
138		Persebaya	1313
139		Semen Padang	1312
140		Shahr Khodro F.C.	1312

Key

• Tms. = Number of teams
• Pos. = Position in league

• Asian Club Championship/AFC Champions League
  • 1997–98 – First round
  • 2005 – Group stage
• Asian Cup Winners' Cup
  • 1999–2000 – Second round

• Persebaya Surabaya at Soccerway
• Official website (in Indonesian)
• Official store of Persebaya