Persema Malang

Persema Malang
Full namePersatuan Sepakbola Malang
NicknameBledeg Biru (Blue Lightning)
Founded8 October 1934 (8 October 1934) as PST Tumapel
20 June 1953 (20 June 1953) as Persema Malang
GroundGajayana Stadium
Malang, East Java, Indonesia
Capacity25,000
ManagerChristian Ariando[1]
CoachVacant
LeagueLiga 4
2024–254th (East Java zone)
Third round, 4th in Group D (National phase)

Persema, an acronym for Persatuan Sepakbola Malang is an Indonesian football club based in Malang, East Java. They currently compete in the Liga 4.[2]

History

The club was officially established in 1953, with primary funding from Malang's municipal budget. It was part of the Indonesian Super League until January 2011 when they hosted LPI's inaugural match and stopped relying on public funds. The other local team, Arema FC, is one of the most successful clubs in ISL. The team's nickname is "Bledeg Biru" while its home stadium is Gajayana Stadium.[3]

Persema has yet to secure a trophy throughout its tenure in the Indonesian Super League, consistently occupying mid to lower positions in the standings. The team faced relegation to Indonesia's Division One (third-tier) in 2003. However, within two seasons, Persema successfully returned to the second-tier league. Subsequently, Persema earned promotion to the ISL in 2009 and remained in the league until shifting to the LPI in 2011.

Persema is now popular as the club that first hired European-born naturalized players Irfan Bachdim and Kim Jeffrey Kurniawan whose nominations to the Indonesia national under-23 football team in 2011 were cancelled by the Football Association of Indonesia because they chose to play in the breakaway league. Its coach Timo Scheunemann is a German who was born and bred in Indonesia and has become a father figure in Indonesia for Bachdim and Kurniawan. His ability to speak Indonesian and Javanese makes him popular among local journalists.

Honours

Domestic leagues

Domestic Cups

  • Soeratin Cup
    • Champions (2): 1965, 1996–97
    • Runners-up (2): 2009, 2012

Season-by-season records

Season League/Division Tms. Pos. Piala Indonesia AFC competition(s)
1994–95 Premier Division 34 12th, East division – – –
1995–96 Premier Division 31 13th, East division – – –
1996–97 Premier Division 32 8th, East division – – –
1997–98 Premier Division 31 did not finish – – –
1998–99 Premier Division 28 4th, Group D – – –
1999–2000 Premier Division 28 8th, East division – – –
2001 Premier Division 28 7th, East division – – –
2002 Premier Division 24 10th, East division – – –
2003 First Division 26 3rd, Group B – – –
2004 First Division 24 3rd, Second round – – –
2005 Premier Division 28 7th, East Division Second round – –
2006 Premier Division 28 7th, East Division Second round – –
2007–08 Premier Division 36 13th, West Division First round – –
2008–09 Premier Division 28 2 Round of 16 – –
2009–10 Indonesia Super League 18 10 First round – –
2011 Liga Primer Indonesia 19 2 – – –
2011–12 Indonesian Premier League 12 8 Round of 16 – –
2013 Indonesian Premier League 16 Disqualified – – –
2014
2015
2016
2017 Liga 3 32 Eliminated in provincial round – – –
2018
2019 Liga 3 32 Eliminated in provincial round – – –
2020 Liga 3 season abandoned – – –
2021–22 Liga 3 64 Eliminated in provincial round – – –
2023–24 Liga 3 80 Eliminated in provincial round – – –
2024–25 Liga 4 64 4th, Third round – – –

Notable former players

References

  1. ^ "Dugaan Pengaturan Skor, Persema Minta Ngalamania Tak Terprovokasi". beritajatim.com (in Indonesian). 17 November 2021. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Profil Klub: Persema Malang". pssijatim.com (in Indonesian). 11 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Stadion Gajayana Malang". 30 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010.