Persatuan Sepakbola Surabaya ( '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 Super League, 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.
History Persebaya was formed on 18 June 1927 as Soerabhaiasche Indonesische Voetbal Bond and adopted its current name in 1951 (as Persibaja, in the pre-Ejaan Yang Disempurnakan-spelling).
In the 2009–10 season, Persebaya began competing in Indonesia Super League, but ended the season relegated after a "walkover" (WO) loss to Persik Kediri. The club subsequently joined the breakaway Indonesian Premier League, with Assistant Manager Cholid Goromah claiming that the decision was driven by a desire for significant changes in Indonesian football, and denying that it was due to relegation or a lack of regional government funding (APBD). This would lead to a seven-year dispute (called dualisme in Indonesian, to go along with a league-wide issue during the same timeframe) in which there appeared to be two teams both named "Persebaya" in the then-coexisting leagues. Although the original Persebaya did not compete in the reunified Indonesia Super League in 2014 or 2015 (nor the temporary Indonesia Soccer Championship in 2016), the dispute was then resolved when the "rebel" club, which competed in those years, eventually became Bhayangkara F.C. in 2016 after several court rulings were issued disallowing the use of the "Persebaya" and "Bonek" names by the "rebel" club.
In the 2017 season, Persebaya Surabaya won the Liga 2, defeating PSMS Medan in the final which was held at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium.
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.
In October 2019, Persebaya appointed their legend Aji Santoso as new coach, replacing Wolfgang Pikal. Under his management, the club finished 5th in 2021–22 season.
Stadium Persebaya plays their home matches at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, which replaced the older Gelora 10 November Stadium. English side Queens Park Rangers played a friendly match against Persebaya on 23 July 2012 in Gelora Bung Tomo. The visitors won the match, 2–1.
Supporters and rivalries Supporters
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. also Persebaya supporters they called as Green Force which mean The Green-Green Troops are synonymous with Persebaya.
The song "Song for Pride", is an anthem song Persebaya Surabaya, this song was composed by Mahardika Nurdian Syahputra.
Friendship Bonek has a good relationship with The Jakmania, Supporters of Persija Jakarta. Their friendship began with fans who often made headlines as supporters of the rioters.
Rivalries
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 a desire to prove the best in East Java. Polri has regularly attempted to separate both Arema and Persebaya fans from derby matches because of the possibility of clashes between their supporter groups.
A side rivalry with PSIS Semarang was born from a match fixing controversy during the 1988 Perserikatan season, which gave birth to the term sepak bola gajah (elephant football) as national colloquial for match fixing in Indonesian football, well before the 1998 AFF Championship controversy.
Persebaya also has another rival with PSMS Medan, Persija Jakarta, PSM Makassar, Persib Bandung in the Perserikatan era.
Sponsorship The main sponsorship list is as follows.
Kapal Api Indomie Antangin Citicon MPM Honda Jatim Kencana Azawear Nusaboard
Colours and crest 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 yellow background. Green and yellow have become the club's official Persebaya Surabaya colors.
Players Current squad
Under-21s and Academy
Retired numbers 19 – Eri Irianto (posthumous)
Out on loan
Management
Corporate hierarchy PositionNameManager Sidiq Maulana TualekaOperationals Director Puji AgusSponsorship Director Lucia CiciliaTechnical Director Uston NawawiAcademy Director Robertino PugliaraFuture Lab Director Ganesha PutraSecretary Ram SurahmanCooperative Director Maurits PangkayCooperative Supervisor HayadiCooperative Treasurer Ali SmidCooperative Secretary Anjar
Coaching staff PositionNameHead coach Bernardo TavaresAssistant coach Paulo Renato Uston NawawiGoalkeeping coach Felipe Americo MartinsFitness coach Diogo de Carvalho Andri SuyokoTeam Analyst José Filipe Carvalho dos SantosTeam Doctor Ahmad RidhoiTeam Physiotherapist Cadu NunesUnder-20's Head coach Sony SetiawanUnder-18's Head coach Mat HalilUnder-16's Head coach Khabib SyukronUnder-13's Head coach Dani Cantona
Staff PositionNameGeneral Affair Danang BektiKit & Equipment Manager Sutrisno BenyKit & Equipment Assistant Djoko Sulistyo BasoriOperational Equipment Rio WicaksonoMasseur Yok Sebastian
Head coach history Head coach by years (1987–present) NameFromTo 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 2013 2013Persebaya Not Active20132016 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 2025 Eduardo Pérez 2025 2025 Bernardo Tavares 2025 present
Honours Domestic1st tierTitlesRunners-upSeasons wonSeasons runners-upPerserikatan481951, 1952, 1975–78, 1987–881938, 1941, 1942, 1964–65, 1969–71, 1971–73, 1986–87, 1989–90 Liga Indonesia Premier Division / Super League221996–97, 20041998–99, 2019 Indonesia Premier League012011–122nd tierTitlesRunners-upSeasons wonSeasons runners-up Liga 2302003, 2006, 2017DomesticCup competitionsTitlesRunners-upSeasons wonSeasons runners-up Piala Utama101990 Piala Presiden1120262019Piala Jusuf(Makassar)101970Piala Surya(Surabaya)301975, 1976, 1977Piala Tugu Muda(Semarang)101989Piala Persija101988202006, 2020Piala Dirgantara102017Piala Indonesia00InternationalFriendly tournamentTitlesRunners-upSeasons wonSeasons runners-upAga Khan Gold Cup011970 Unity Cup102011
Ranking World ranking
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
AFC ranking
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
Season-by-season records SeasonLeague/DivisionTms.Pos.Piala IndonesiaLeague CupAFC competition(s)ASEAN Club Championship Premier Division349 in East Div.–––––1995–96Premier Division317 in East Div.–––––1996–97Premier Division33 1–––––1997–98Premier Division31did not finish––Asian Club ChampionshipFirst round–1998–99Premier Division28 2–––––1999–2000Premier Division286 in East Div.––Asian Cup Winners' CupSecond round–2001Premier Division28Semifinal–––––2002Premier Division24 11 in East Div.–––––2003First Division26 1–––––2004Premier Division18 1–––––2005Premier Division28Second round (relegated)Quarter final–AFC Champions LeagueGroup stage–2006First Division36 1Quarter final––––2007–08Premier Division3614 in East Div.Second round––––2008–09Premier Division294 (PO Winners)Third round––––2009–10Super League18 17Quarter final––––2010–11LPI19 1–––––2011–1212 2Semi-finals––––2013Indonesian Premier League16–––––2014201520162017Liga 261 1–––––2018Liga 1185Quarter-finals––––2019Liga 118 2––––2020Liga 118did not finish–––––2021–22Liga 1185–––––2022–23Liga 1186–––––2023–24Liga 11812–––––2024–25Liga 1184–––––2025–26Super League184–––––2026–27Super League18TBD–TBD–––
Key Tms. = Number of teams Pos. = Position in league
AFC Asian Club Championship/AFC Champions League 1997–98 – First round 2005 – Group stage Asian Cup Winners' Cup 1999–2000 – Second round
Performance in AFC competitions Season Competition Round Nat Club Home Away 1997–98 Asian Club Championship First round Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i1–21–4 1999–2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup Second round Bangkok Bank0–10–5 2005 AFC Champions League Group stage Krung Thai1–20–1 Binh Dinh1–00–0 Busan IPark0–30–4
References
External links
Persebaya Surabaya at Soccerway Official store of Persebaya Persebaya 1927