Sri Pahang Football Club () is a Malaysian professional football club based in Kuantan, Pahang. They played in the Malaysia Super League until 2025, the top tier of the Malaysian football league system. Founded in 1959, it has traditionally worn a yellow home kit since. At the beginning, club's home matches were held around the city public fields and outside Kuantan, predominantly around districts of Pahang.
The club was relegated to the Malaysia Premier League, but came back to the Malaysia Super League in 2013 after winning the play-off match against Kedah Darul Aman. Sri Pahang has won 5 Malaysia Super League title, 1 Malaysia Premier League title, 3 Malaysia FA Cup, 4 Malaysia Cup and 3 Malaysian Charity Shield.
On 20 June 2025, Sri Pahang F.C. have officially withdrawn from the 2025–26 Malaysian League season despite being granted a national licence by the MFL, citing of their serious financial problems.
History Early years (1959–1979) Pahang FA was established by Sultan Abu Bakar in 1959 to represent the state of Pahang in the HMS Beagle Cup. Construction of their home ground, Darul Makmur Stadium, was completed by the Council of Kuantan in 1973.
Rise to prominence (1980–2008) Led by the legendary Jamal Nasir, Pahang FA won the first cup in 1983, Piala Malaysia after a win over Selangor FA, breaking the long duopoly of them and Singapore FA. Nonetheless, the most successful era was in the 1990s, when the association reached the final of Piala Malaysia 4 times. 1992 was the year when the association won the double, the Piala Malaysia and the league. Sri Pahang year was touted as the Dream Team, when several high-profile players played for them (Dollah Salleh, Zainal Abidin Hassan, Ahmad Yusof, Khairul Azman Mohamed, Abdul Mubin Mokhtar, Australian football legend, Alan Davidson and Fandi Ahmad). The association defeated Kedah FA in final stage to win the Piala Malaysia, thanks to the fastest goal in Piala's history, scored by Zulhamizan Zakaria.
Pahang FA was also the winner of the inaugural Malaysia Super League in 2004, winning 14 matches with 5 draws and 2 losses in 21 league games. Pahang was invited to the 2005 ASEAN Club Championship in which they ended as runners-up, losing the final to Singaporean side Tampines Rovers. In 2008, many players from talented young Shahzan Muda were absorbed into Pahang FA.
Inconsistency (2009–2012) In the 2011, Pahang played their worst ever season, finishing in 13th place with 5 wins, 7 draws and 14 losses. They were relegated to the Malaysia Premier League. While in the Malaysia Premier League, Pahang showed improvements in the 2012 Malaysia FA Cup, making it to the quarter-finals. The club was also the 2012 Malaysia Premier League runner-up, 8 points behind ATM FA, qualifying for the promotion "play-off" matches to the Malaysia Super League. Pahang than beat Kedah FA 3–2 on penalties in the final, winning promotion to the 2013 Malaysia Super League.
Rise of The Elephants (2013–2018) Pahang had a great run in the 2013 Malaysia Cup, reaching all the way to the final where they won against Kelantan FA 1–0. Azamuddin Akil won the Best Player award, while Matías Conti become the joint top scorer. In the 2014 Malaysia Cup, Pahang made it all the way to the final in which they successfully defended it against Johor, winning 5–3. Dickson Nwakaeme became the cup top scorer with eight goals. Pahang also won the 2014 Piala Sumbangsih against LionsXII, and the final in which Faizol Hussien levelled at 1–1, before Nwakaeme scored to seal the win for Pahang and win the cup double.
In 2018 Pahang had another great run in the FA Cup in which they won 2–0 against Selangor FA in the final after losing 2–3 to Kedah FA in the final of the 2017 Malaysia FA Cup.
Ups and downs (2019–2025) In 2021, Pahang FA was rebranded as Sri Pahang Football Club.
Sri Pahang sees hope during the 2024–25 Malaysia Cup where they defeated Selangor 4–3 on aggregate in the round of 16. During the second leg of the quarter-final match on 22 December 2024, Manuel Hidalgo scored a hat-trick against Perak in a 3–3 draw which saw Sri Pahang advance to the semi-final with a 4–3 aggregate. In the semi-finals second leg, Kpah Sherman scored in extra time to bring the aggregate to 3–2 which saw Sri Pahang advance to the 2025 Malaysia Cup final, which they eventually lost.
Despite being granted a national licence by the MFL, Sri Pahang confirmed their withdrawal from the Malaysia Super League on 20 June 2025."Blow to MFL as giants Pahang withdraw from Super League", *The Star*, 20 June 2025. theStar.com.my."Sri Pahang out, 13 teams in for 2025–26 M-League season", *Malay Mail*, 20 June 2025. malaymail.com."Liga Malaysia: Sri Pahang sah tarik diri", *Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)*, 20 Jun 2025. berita.rtm.gov.my. Sri Pahang’s absence means the 2025–26 Super League will feature only 13 teams."Sri Pahang tidak sertai Liga Super musim depan", *Kosmo!*, 20 Jun 2025. kosmo.com.my."Sri Pahang sah tarik diri, hanya 13 kelab beraksi dalam Liga M 2025–2026", *Sinar Harian*, 20 Jun 2025. sinarharian.com.my.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors Period Manufacturer Main sponsor Other sponsors 1989–1990 Schwarzenbach Dunhill Genting Malaysia Berhad 1991 Puma 1992–1998 Diadora 1999–2000 Mikasa 2001–2003 Kronos 2004–2005 Adidas 2006–2007 TM 2008 Hummel 2009–2010 Lotto 2011 ZON Hotel 2012 Resorts World Genting Aras Kuasa 2013 Stobi Chili's 2014–2016 Puma Aras Kuasa Resorts World Genting 2017 Jako July 2017–2018 Fila 2019–2020 Umbro Football Republic 2021–2023 Hakka.Clo Visit Pahang, Invest Pahang Extra Joss 2024–2025 Voltra Pro Invest Pahang Arwana Ekspres
Stadium
Sri Pahang was based at Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan, Pahang. The capacity of the stadium is 40,000 and also has a running track. It was opened in 1970, while capacity was increased in conjunction with Kuantan hosting the Sukma Games in 1996 and 2012.
Players (2025)
From Under-23s
Club officials (2025) PositionNatStaff Technical director Tajuddin Noor Team manager Dollah Salleh Head coach Vacant Assistant coach Ahmad Yusof Ahmad Shaharuddin Team coordinator Jalaluddin Jaafar Opposition & Set Piece Analyst / Coach Rudie Imran Masih Goalkeeper coach Omar Salim Fitness coach Azmi Ibrahim Team doctor Shah Rezal Sujit Physiotherapist Adam Zuhairy Zafri Mohd Riduan Amin Masseur Muhd Hazeem Mustafar Kamal Mohd Suhaimi Ramli Security officer Muhammad Keny Anyie Kitman Ahmad Faizal Ibrahim Suffian Sulaiman Under-23's team manager Jalaluddin Mohd Deli Under-23's head coach Mohd Yazeed Hamzah Under-23's assistant coach Shahrizan Salleh Under-20's head coach Mohd Shukri ismail Under-20's assistant coach Mohd Ali Tahar Under-20's goalkeeper coach Zakaria Abu Bakar Under-20's fitness coach Mohd Kaizai Zainulddin Under-20's physiotherapist Amirul Afiq Lokiman Under-20's masseur Muhd Azrie Amirudin Under-18's head coach Hamdan Mohamad Under-18's assistant coach Mohd Hazrani Hazim Under-18's goalkeeper coach Muhd Zyuraimi Abdul majid Under-18's fitness coach Mohd Rosidi Mohamad Abdullah Under-18's physiotherapist Mumtazah Putra
Management Owners: YAM Tengku Abdul Rahman Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Mustafi Billah, Raja Dato' Shaharudin bin Raja Jalil Shah, Rizal bin Che Hashim
President: YAM Tengku Abdul Rahman Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Mustafi Billah
Deputy president: Muhammad Safian Ismail
Board of directors: Raja Dato' Shaharudin bin Raja Jalil Shah, Rizal bin Che Hashim
Chief executive officer: Suffian Awang
List of head coaches YearsNatNameAchievements 1994–1996 Yunus Alif– 1995 Liga Perdana – 1999 Liga Perdana 1 1997–1998 Jorgen Erik Larsen 1999 Alan Davidson 1999–2000 Fuzzeimi Ibrahim 2001–2002 Yunus Alif 2003 Ralf Borges Ferreira 2004–2006 Zainal Abidin Hassan– 2004 Malaysia Super League 2007 Ahmad Yusof 2008 Zainal Abidin Hassan 2009 Tajuddin Noor 2010–2013 Dollah Salleh– 2013 Malaysia Cup December 2013–March 2014 Ron Smith– 2014 Piala Sumbangsih March 2014–December 2015 Zainal Abidin Hassan– 2014 Malaysia FA Cup – 2014 Malaysia Cup December 2015–March 2016 Ahmad Shaharuddin Rosdi March 2016–December 2016 Razip Ismail December 2016–December 2020 Dollah Salleh (2)– 2018 Malaysia FA Cup December 2020–March 2021 Thomas Dooley March 2021–December 2021 Dollah Salleh (3) January 2022–July 2022 Christophe Gamel July 2022–January 2023 Dollah Salleh [interim] (4) January 2023–May 2025 Fandi Ahmad
Team managers YearsNatName 1999 Talib Sulaiman 2000–2003 Jamal Nasir Abdul Nasir Ismail 2004–2005 Shahiruddin Abdul Moin 2006–2007 Zainal Abidin Hassan 2008 Omar Othman 2009–2017 Che Nasir Salleh 2018–2021 Suffian Awang 2021–2022 Che Nasir Salleh 2023–2025 Dollah Salleh
Club records Pld = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = Lost, F = Goals for, A = Goals against, D = Goal difference, Pts= Points, Pos = Position
Season League Cup Asia Division Charity Malaysia FA Competition Result 2004 Liga Super 21 14 5 2 48 29 +19 47 1st – Semi-finals Semi-finals 2005 21 10 5 6 37 29 +8 35 2nd – Quarter-finals 1st round AFC Cup Group stage 2005–06 21 7 6 8 21 24 −3 27 7th – Group stage Champions – – 2006–07 24 7 6 11 32 41 −9 27 9th – Group stage 2nd round AFC Cup Group stage 2007–08 24 8 6 10 26 31 −5 30 8th – Group stage Semi-finals – – 2009 26 5 2 19 32 63 −31 17 13th – Group stage 1st round 2010 26 10 3 13 31 50 −19 33 8th – Quarter-finals 1st round 2011 26 5 7 14 19 36 −17 22 13th Play-off Semi-finals 2012 Liga Premier 22 14 4 4 60 29 +31 46 2nd – Quarter-finals 2nd round 2013Liga Super 22 10 5 7 36 32 +4 35 5th Champions Semi-finals – – 2014 22 11 4 7 36 30 +6 37 3rd Champions Champions Champions 2015 22 13 5 4 43 29 +14 38Pahang was deducted 6 points due to involvement in the delay in the process of solving the problem of salary and compensation by the former imports 2013 season, Mohamed Borji. 3rd Runner-up Semi-finals Semi-finals AFC Cup Quarter-finals 2016 22 6 6 10 25 40 −15 24Pahang has been awarded 3 points free from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) after offenses committed by the Football Association of Kedah (Kedah FA) putting the suspended player during the match against Pahang on August 3, 2016. 9th – Group stage 3rd round – – 2017 22 12 4 6 44 26 +18 40 2nd – Quarter-finals Runner-up – – 2018 22 9 7 6 35 21 +14 34 4th – Quarter-finals Champions – – 2019 22 12 7 3 37 21 +16 43 2nd – Semi-finals Semi-finals 2020 11 4 2 5 18 18 0 14 8th – not held not held 2021 22 4 6 12 23 37 -14 18 10th – Group Stage not held 2022 22 8 4 10 33 31 +2 28 7th – Round of 16 Quarter Final 2023 26 13 6 7 44 33 +11 45 5th – Quarter Final Second round 2024–25 24 7 8 9 35 39 -4 29 7th –Runner-up Round of 16
Source:
AFC Club ranking
Current Ranking Team Points 94 Selangor FA 9.951 95 Ayeyawady United 9.878 96 Naft Al-Wasat 9.704 97 Al-Suwaiq 9.643 98 Pahang FA 9.617
Continental record Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate 1988–89 Asian Club Championship Qualifying round group 5 Royal Thai Air Force1–2 2nd out of 5 Niac Mitra 0–0 Bandaran KB 5–1 Geylang International 2–1 Semifinal League group B Al-Sadd 0–2 5th out of 5 Al-Ittifaq 1–4 Mohammedan SC 2–1 April 25 0–2 1993–94 Asian Club Championship Preliminary Round Thai Farmers Bank FC Withdrew 1995 Asian Club Championship First Round Cảng Sài Gòn Walkover Second Round Ilhwa Chunma 2–3 0–2 2–5 2005 AFC Cup Group E Home United 3–3 1–2 3rd out of 4 New Radiant 1–0 1–1 Happy Valley 3–1 1–1 2005 ASEAN Club Championship Group A Hoàng Anh Gia Lai 4–0 1st out of 4 FC Zebra 8–0 Nagacorp 3–0 Semi Final DPMM FC 1–0 Final Tampines Rovers 2–4 Runners-up 2007 AFC Cup Group F Osotsapa 0–4 0–4 4th out of 4 Mohun Bagan 1–2 0–2 Tampines Rovers 1–4 0–2 2015 AFC Cup Group G Yadanarbon 7–4 3–2 2nd out of 4 Global 0–0 0–0 South China 0–1 1–3 Round of 16 Persipura Jayapura Forfeited, 3–0 win awarded to Pahang Quarterfinal Istiklol 3–1 0–4 3–5
Honours Domestic League Division 1/Liga Super Winners (5): 1987, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2004 Runners-up (6): 1984, 1991, 1998, 2005, 2017, 2019