Kelantan Red Warrior Football Club is a Malaysian professional football club based in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. They play in the second division of the Malaysian football league system, the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League.[1]
History
The club was founded on 21 December 2024 by the chairman of the Gerakan Selamatkan Kelantan FC (GSK) Nik Hafiz Naim Nik Hassan in a joint venture with the Football Association of Kelantan.[1] On 16 January 2025, Irfan Bakti Abu Salim has been appointed as the club's head coach.[2] On 5 June, the club has been accepted to join the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League.[3][4][5][6][7]
FIFA investigation, new ownership
In July 2025, FIFA issued a notice to Kelantan Red Warrior Football Club, requesting clarification on whether it is the “sporting successor” of Kelantan Football Club, due to outstanding wages and debts from the old club.[8] The club denied any legal or structural ties with Kelantan and stated it was an entirely new club.[9]
In August 2025, Nik Hafiz stepped down as the club president and relinquished all interests to facilitate the league registration.[10][11][12] Zaki Harun, the former Kelantan chief police officer, was appointed as the new president of the club.[13]
Since 2025, the club had a kit deal with Warrix worth RM 1 million for two seasons.[14]
| Period
|
Kit manufacturer
|
Shirt sponsor (chest)
|
| 2025–2027
|
Warrix[15]
|
Nasken Coffee
|
Stadium and location
Players
First-team squad
- As of 26 September 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Club staff
- As of 23 August 2025
| Position
|
Name
|
| Head coach |
Irfan Bakti Abu Salim[16]
|
| Assistant coach |
Kamarudin Anuar
|
| Mohd Sideek Samsudin
|
| Goalkeeper coach |
Ismail Chawalit
|
| Fitness coach |
Ghazali Husin
|
| Physiotherapist |
Wan Muhammad Farid
|
| Team doctor |
Mohd Azaad A. Hamid
|
| Kitman |
Muhammad Ridhuwan Mansor
|
Management
| Position
|
Name
|
| President |
Zaki Harun
|
| Chief executive officer |
Wan Mohd Fajarul Ekram
|
| Chief operating officer |
Nik Khuzaimi Nudin
|
| Head of delegate |
Nazif Ab Aziz
|
Coaches
- As of match played 26 October 2025
List of Kelantan Red Warrior coaches
| Name
|
Nationality
|
From
|
To
|
M
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
GF
|
GA
|
Win %
|
Ref
|
| Irfan Bakti Abu Salim
|
Malaysia
|
16 January 2025
|
present
|
9
|
3
|
4
|
2
|
16
|
5
|
033.33
|
|
Presidents
The following have been the presidents of the club's board of directors:
| Period
|
Name
|
| 21 December 2024–2 August 2025
|
Nik Hafiz Naim Nik Hassan[17]
|
| 18 August 2025–
|
Zaki Harun[18]
|
Seasons
- As of match played 26 October 2025
| Season
|
League
|
FA Cup
|
Malaysia Cup
|
Top goalscorer
|
| Division
|
Tier
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Pts
|
Pos
|
Name
|
Goals
|
| 2025–26
|
A1
|
2
|
Ongoing
|
–
|
–
|
Emmanuel Mbarga
|
8
|
- P = Played
- W = Games won
- D = Games drawn
- L = Games lost
- F = Goals for
- A = Goals against
- Pts = Points
- Pos = Final position
|
|
- QR1 = First Qualifying Round
- QR2 = Second Qualifying Round
- QR3 = Third Qualifying Round
- QR4 = Fourth Qualifying Round
- RInt = Intermediate Round
- R1 = Round 1
- R2 = Round 2
- R3 = Round 3
|
- R4 = Round 4
- R5 = Round 5
- R6 = Round 6
- GR = Group Stage
- QF = Quarter-finals
- SF = Semi-finals
- RU = Runners-up
- S = Shared
- W = Winners
|
See also
References
External links
Wikinews has news related to:
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