The Southern Derby (Malay: Derbi Selatan) is the nickname of the three major football clubs in southern Malaysia. The teams of Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C., Negeri Sembilan FC, and Melaka United FC have a great rivalry and are usually among the main contenders for the Malaysia Super League
Johor Darul Ta'zim is the team with the most championships, having won 12 titles. Negeri Sembilan and Melaka United have both won just 1 Malaysian championship in their history. The lowest positions the sides have ever finished in league history were 17th for Melaka United and 16th for Negeri Sembilan, both occurring during the 1987 season, and 9th for Johor Darul Ta'zim during the 2012 season.
The teams also competed in Asian club competitions since the 1980s. Johor Darul Ta'zim is the only Malaysian team to have won a continental trophy, having won the AFC Cup in 2015.
The Southern Derby is regarded as a popular and anticipated football rivalries in Malaysia, with a fanbase across the southern region. Matches between these three clubs consistently draw large crowds to the stadiums and attract television viewership. Beyond matchday attendance, the rivalry generates media coverage and high digital engagement.
The three-way rivalry
Johor DT vs. Negeri Sembilan
+Team PlWDLGFGAJohor DT36196117243Negeri Sembilan 36116194372
Melaka Utd vs. Negeri Sembilan +Team PldWDLGFGAMelaka Utd632315256174Negeri Sembilan 632515237461
Melaka Utd vs. Johor DT
+Team PldWDLGFGAMelaka Utd3117232183Johor DT3123718321
Statistics League placements Club 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th10th11th12th13thTotalTop 3Johor DT12222212114Negeri Sembilan 113133232251275Melaka Utd1121211313161
Head-to-head ranking in Malaysian league
P.828384858687888990919293949596979899000102030405060708091011121314151617181920212223242511 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 44 4 4 45 66 6 6 6 6 667 7 7 7 7 7 78 8 88 8 9 9 9 9 13 910 10 10 1011 11111111 1112 12 1212 12 12 1213 13131313 141414 14 15 1516 161717181920
Honours comparison
Numbers with this background indicate the record in the competition. OrganizationJohor Darul Ta'zimNegeri Sembilan Melaka UnitedNationalMalaysia Super League (Division 1)12 1 1Malaysia Premier League (Division 2) 12 1Malaysia FAM League (Division 3) 2— 1Malaysia Cup6 3—Malaysia FA Cup5 2—Malaysian Charity Shield11 1—Aggregate3693ContinentalAFC Cup1——Aggregate1——Total3793
Asia Competition
Club AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Two Winner Knockout Stage Group Stage Qualification Winner Knockout Stage Group Stage Johor Darul Ta'zim — 2022 (R16), 2024 (R16), 2025 (QF) 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 1996, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 2015 2016 (SF), 2017 (Zonal SF) 2009 2018 Negeri Sembilan — — — — — — 2004, 2007 Melaka United — — — 1985 — — —
Footballers who have played for all three clubs Nazrin Nawi (Negeri Sembilan 2012-2013, Johor Darul Ta'zim 2014-2016, Melaka United 2019)
Managers who have managed all three clubs K. Devan (Negeri Sembilan 2003-2006, 2015, 2021-2022, Melaka FA 2007, Johor FC 2012)
See also Royal Derby East Coast Derby Klang Valley Derby Malayan El'Clasico List of association football rivalries List of sports rivalries
References