Persija Jakarta
Association football team in Indonesia
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Persatuan Sepakbola Indonesia Jakarta (lit. 'Indonesian Football Association of Jakarta'), abbreviated as Persija (Indonesian pronunciation: [pərsidʒa]), is an Indonesian professional football club based in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta. Persija Jakarta is the most successful football clubs in Indonesia with 2 Indonesian League titles and 9 Perserikatan titles. It has never been in a lower league since a nationwide competition started in 1930.[4] Persija is one of the founders of the Indonesian football association PSSI, along with six other clubs. Persija's rivalry with fellow PSSI founder Persib Bandung, referred to as the Derbi Indonesia, has gone on for decades, occasionally marred by violence.[5][6]
(Kemayoran Tigers)
30 June 1929, as Voetbal Indonesia Jacatra (V.I.J.)
May 1942, as Persidja[1]
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| Full name | Persatuan Sepakbola Indonesia Jakarta | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | Macan Kemayoran (Kemayoran Tigers) | |||
| Short name | Persija | |||
| Founded | 28 November 1928, as Voetbalbond Boemipoetera (V.B.B.) 30 June 1929, as Voetbal Indonesia Jacatra (V.I.J.) May 1942, as Persidja[1] | |||
| Ground | Jakarta International Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 82,000 | |||
| Owner | PT Persija Jaya Jakarta | |||
| Director[2] | Mohamad Prapanca[3] | |||
| Head coach | Shin Tae-yong | |||
| League | Super League | |||
| 2025–26 | 3rd of 18 | |||
| Website | persija | |||
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The club is associated with a women's team and a U-20 team.
History
Foundation and early years
Persija has roots that predate the current Indonesian state, which declared independence in 1945. Its forerunner, the Voetbalbond Indonesia Jacatra (VIJ), was formed on 28 November 1928 as a football club for Indonesian residents of Jakarta when the Dutch were still colonizing the country. The name Jacatra refers to a fort on the northern coast of present-day Jakarta. VIJ, along with six other Indonesian clubs, established PSSI on 19 April 1930 and won the first PSSI-authorized competition in 1931. In 1937, VIJ did not enter the competition but after that the club was always in the top division.[7][8]
Post-independence
VIJ changed its name to Persija in 1950, five years after the Indonesian independence. In mid-1951, a club with ethnic Chinese, Dutch and Eurasian players merged with the rebranded outfit. As the Indonesia national football team in the 1950s heavily depended on Persija players, its line-ups at that time were filled by many ethnic Chinese, Dutch and Eurasian players from the Jakarta club.[7]
Amateur years (1951–1994)
After the 1945 independence, national football competitions in Indonesia centred on region-based associations of amateur clubs that received funding from the state. These associations, including Persija, played against each other in an annual tournament known as Perserikatan, which literally means union. Almost all of these associations were seen as representatives of the main ethnic group in their respective regions, flaming primordial sentiments. Multicultural Persija was the exception. Persija won six national titles in the Perserikatan years. However, its fanbase was small and less passionate compared to ethnic-based supporter groups of Persib Bandung, Persebaya Surabaya, PSM Makassar or PSMS Medan. As the Perserikatan games became popular and televised from the 1980s, the other clubs proved to be more dominant with their stronger band of supporters.
Semi-professional years (1994–2008)
Following the merger of the amateur Perserikatan and semi-professional Galatama leagues by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) in 1994, Persija Jakarta entered the inaugural 1994–95 Liga Indonesia Premier Division. The transition proved difficult for the capital city club, which lacked the modernized corporate structure and large, consolidated fan bases enjoyed by regional rivals like Persib Bandung or Persebaya Surabaya. Consequently, during the first three seasons of the unified league, Persija consistently finished in the mid-table of the West Division, failing to qualify for the championship knockout stages.
The club's trajectory shifted decisively in late 1997 following the appointment of Sutiyoso as the Governor of Jakarta, who took an active role as the club's chief patron. Seeking to revitalize football in the capital, Sutiyoso initiated a comprehensive administrative and visual overhaul. He changed the club's primary kit color from its historical red and white to orange to forge a distinct identity built around the team's Macan Kemayoran (Kemayoran Tigers) moniker. Administratively, the club received increased financial backing and appointed Diza Rasyid Ali as team manager to aggressively recruit elite Indonesian national team players, while simultaneously establishing the official supporter group, The Jakmania, on 19 December 1997 to organize the city's fragmented football fans.
These institutional reforms rapidly translated into competitive success on the pitch. Under the tactical guidance of head coach Sofyan Hadi, Persija emerged as the dominant team during the 2001 Liga Indonesia Premier Division. After topping the West Division in the regular season, the club advanced to the final at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on 7 October 2001. Playing before a capacity crowd of approximately 60,000 spectators, Persija secured its first national league title of the unified era by defeating defending champions PSM Makassar 3–2, driven by an early goal from Imran Nahumarury and a decisive brace from striker Bambang Pamungkas.[9]
Following the 2001 championship, Persija remained a perennial title contender throughout the mid-2000s, heavily supported by municipal backing. The club consistently reached the late knockout rounds of the domestic league and finished as runners-up in both the 2005 Premier Division championship, where they fell to Persipura Jayapura, and the 2005 Copa Indonesia. This sustained period of semi-professional competitiveness concluded in 2008 when PSSI overhauled the national football pyramid to comply with Asian Football Confederation professional standards, officially transitioning the top flight into the fully professional Indonesia Super League.
Professional years (2008–present)
The restructuring of the national football pyramid by the PSSI in 2008 marked Persija Jakarta's transition into the fully professional era, beginning with the inaugural 2008–09 Indonesia Super League (ISL) season. The initial years of this professional transition were characterized by financial volatility and political decoupling, as the government banned the use of regional government budgets (APBD) to fund professional clubs. Persija struggled to maintain its elite status under these new financial restrictions, enduring a title drought for over a decade. The club experienced significant administrative upheaval, frequent coaching changes, and temporary relocations away from Jakarta due to stadium availability and security challenges, which hindered their consistency despite maintaining a strong, loyal fanbase through The Jakmania.
The club's fortunes shifted significantly following corporate stabilization in the late 2010s, culminating in a historic 2018 season under the tactical guidance of Brazilian head coach Stefano Cugurra. Persija achieved a historic domestic treble by winning the 2018 Indonesia President's Cup pre-season tournament, the Boost Sports Super Fix Cup in Malaysia, and ultimately the 2018 Liga 1 title. The league championship was secured on 9 December 2018 after a dramatic 2–1 victory over Mitra Kukar at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, ending a 17-year national league title drought. This successful campaign was spearheaded by prolific Croatian striker Marko Šimić, veteran midfielder Riko Simanjuntak, and long-serving club icons Ismed Sofyan and goalkeeper Andritany Ardhiyasa.[10]
Following their 2018 triumph, Persija consolidated its position as a modern, professionally run club. They achieved continental representation in the AFC Cup and won the 2021 Menpora Cup during the domestic restart following the COVID-19 pandemic suspensions. The club continued to invest in world-class infrastructure and top-tier technical staff, notably hiring former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Doll in 2022, which led to a runners-up finish in the 2022–23 Liga 1 season. Persija transitioned into its next era of leadership by appointing national team manager Shin Tae-yong to guide the first team, while simultaneously achieving long-term stability by moving its primary home base to the state-of-the-art, 82,000-seat Jakarta International Stadium (JIS), ensuring a world-class venue for both the club and its massive Jakmania support network.
This footage from the Persija U-20 2025/2026 Elite Pro Academy Championship showcases the modern era of the club, highlighting its emphasis on youth development and the electric matchday atmosphere generated by The Jakmania inside the newly adopted Jakarta International Stadium.
Persija is undeniably one of Indonesia's leading clubs with a fanbase that is now considered as the biggest in Asia, according to a December 2020 survey by the Asian Football Confederation. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Persija games could easily gather more than 50,000 people inside the stadium with thousands watching on public screens in neighbourhoods across the sprawling capital. Persija holds the record for highest attendance in an AFC Cup match when it faced with Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. in 2018.[11]
In April 2022, Persija appointed former Borussia Dortmund manager, Thomas Doll, as the new head coach and manager in a three-year deal.[12] Doll brought Persija to second place in the 2022–23 season by only conceding 27 goals. Persija and Doll agreed to mutually part ways before the 2024–25 season after a disappointing eight place finish in the 2023–24 Liga 1 season.[13][14]
Doll was replaced by former Ratchaburi head coach, Carlos Peña in a one-year deal for the 2024–25 Liga 1 season.[15][16]
Stadium
Persija currently plays their home matches at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) in Central Jakarta, along with the Indonesia national football team. As VIJ, Persija first played at VIJ Stadium Petojo, Gambir.[17]
Before settling at the GBK, the club used smaller stadiums as their home ground. For the 2017 Liga 1 and much of the 2018 Liga 1, Persija had to relocate to nearby Bekasi and use the Patriot Chandrabhaga Stadium or the Wibawa Mukti Stadium, when the GBK stadium underwent renovation for the 2018 Asian Games.[18][19]
Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan decided in 2019 to build a new stadium for Persija in North Jakarta, called the Jakarta International Stadium. The new stadium was completed in 2022. However, there had been a campaign to rename the stadium after intellectual, national hero and Jakarta native, Mohammad Husni Thamrin.[20][21][22][23] Thamrin also played an important part in the founding of Persija as VIJ by contributing his own money to build VIJ's first football pitch and stadium, VIJ Stadium.[17]
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
The following is a list of players who remain part of Persija Jakarta in the 2025–2026 season (both first team and youth), but currently on loan at other clubs.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Retired numbers
- 12 – The 12th man, reserved for club supporters "the Jakmania"[26]
- 14 – Ismed Sofyan[27]
- 20 – Bambang Pamungkas[28]
Personnel
First team coaches & staffs
The following is a list of coaches and staffs of Persija Jakarta's first team for the 2026–2027 season.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Shin Tae-yong |
| Assistant Manager | |
| Goalkeeping coach | |
| Fitness coach | |
| Analyst | |
| Interpreter | Jeong Seok-seo |
| Team secretary |  Regi Hariansyah |
| Team doctor | |
| Physiotherapist | |
| Masseur | Ahmad Aditya Subkhi Aditya Julistiawan |
| Kitman | Candra Darmawan Aries Tri Kurniawan |
| Media officer | Kukuh Wahyudi |
| Photographer | Khairul Imam |
| Videographer | Faizal Maulana Akbar |
Corporate management
The following is a list of individuals in the management of PT Persija Jaya Jakarta, the company that owns Persija Jakarta for the 2025–2026 season.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| President commissioner | Sharif Cicip Sutardjo |
| Commissioner | Bambang Irawan Hendradi Budiman Dalimunte |
| Director | Mohamad Prapanca |
| Sports director | Bambang Pamungkas |
| Technical & youth development director | Ricky Nelson |
| Marketing director | Agus Julianto |
| Fans engagement manager & head of LOC | Tauhid Ferry Indrasjarief |
| HR & GA manager | Tazkia Edelia Sumedi |
| Accounting & reporting manager | Rizki Putri Nurdiati |
| Media manager | Yudhistira Achmad Nugroho |
Kit colours
Persija Jakarta's traditional colour is red, which is used for their home kit. Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso in 1997 replaced it with orange to make it in line with the tiger symbol during the rebranding of the club. After 19 years, in 2016, Persija decided to return to red after a long national title drought. The experiment worked as Persija championed the top-tier league in 2018. Frequently, the colour of their away jersey is white. But sometimes, players wear black in their away matches. Orange has been kept as the color of their third jersey.[29]
Supporters
Persija's main supporter group is called the Jakmania or simply the Jak. Founded in 1997 by Gugun Gondrong and Ferry Indra Sjarif, the Jakmania is one of the biggest football fan groups in Indonesia and uses orange as their main colour.
The anthem of Persija, Persija Menyatukan Kita Semua, written by the Jakmania, is always sung after the match.[32]
Rivalries
Persija typically has rivalries with former Perserikatan teams such as PSM Makassar, Persebaya Surabaya and PSMS Medan due to long history of meetings.[33][34][35] However, its top rival are Persib Bandung from the West Java city of Bandung, 180 km away.[36] This derby is known as Duel Klasik or Laga Klasik. The rivalry between the two teams has become violent in the 2000s due to the growth of ultras on each side. Influenced by mass media and individuals who want the rivalry to be preserved, many hostile incidents involving the teams' supporter groups have occurred with seven deaths so far. Most notable was that of the Jakmania's Haringga Sirla, who was beaten to death by a group of Vikings, supporters of Persib, at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium in September 2018.[37][38]
In 2014, a reconciliation was held by the West Java Police to avoid future clashes, resulting in restrictions against travelling supporters. However, fans continue to break the rule and end up in violent altercations.[39][40]
Persija also has rivalries with other Jakarta-based football clubs, dubbed Derby Ibukota (the Capital Derby) or Jakarta Derby. However, unlike its rivalries with former Perserikatan teams, Persija's rivalries with other Jakarta-based clubs are low in intensity due to fewer matches held against them. The only rivalry worth mentioning between Persija and said clubs is with Persitara Jakarta Utara.[41]
Honours
Persija Jakarta has won many titles, including International Tournaments, making the club as the most successful football club in Indonesia. Persija last domestic title comes from the 2018 Liga 1.
| Type | Format | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Perserikatan/Liga Indonesia Premier Division/Indonesia Soccer Championship A/Super League | Top Tier Division | 11 | 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1953–54, 1964, 1971–73, 1973–75, 1978–79, 2001, 2018 |
| Piala Presiden/Piala Menpora | Domestic Cup Competitions | 2 | 2018, 2021 |
Other Achievements
- Domestic League Top Tier Division
Domestic Cup Competitions
- Piala Presiden Soeharto/Piala Indonesia
- AFC (Asian competitions)
- AFC Champions League Elite
- First round (1): 2001-02
- AFC Champions League Two
- ASEAN Zonal semi-finals (1): 2018
- Friendly Tournament
Season-by-season Records
| Season | League/Division | Teams | Position | Piala Indonesia | AFC competition(s) | ASEAN Club Championship | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Premier Division | 34 | 13 in West Div. | – | – | – | – |
| 1995–96 | Premier Division | 31 | 14 in West Div. | – | – | – | – |
| 1996–97 | Premier Division | 33 | 10 in West Div. | – | – | – | – |
| 1997–98 | Premier Division | 31 | did not finish | – | – | – | – |
| 1998–99 | Premier Division | 28 | Semifinals | – | – | – | – |
| 1999–2000 | Premier Division | 28 | Semifinals | – | – | – | – |
| 2001 | Premier Division | 28 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 | Premier Division | 24 | Second round | – | Asian Club Championship | First round | – |
| 2003 | Premier Division | 20 | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| 2004 | Premier Division | 18 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| 2005 | Premier Division | 28 | 2 | Runner-up | – | – | – |
| 2006 | Premier Division | 28 | Second round | 3rd place | – | – | – |
| 2007–08 | Premier Division | 36 | Semifinals | 3rd place | – | – | – |
| 2008–09 | Indonesia Super League | 18 | 7 | Quarter-finals | – | – | – |
| 2009–10 | Indonesia Super League | 18 | 5 | Quarter-finals | – | – | – |
| 2010–11 | Indonesia Super League | 15 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| 2011–12 | Indonesia Super League | 18 | 5 | Not Participated | – | – | – |
| 2013 | Indonesia Super League | 18 | 11 | – | – | – | – |
| 2014 | Indonesia Super League | 22 | 5 in West Div. | – | – | – | – |
| 2015 | Indonesia Super League | 18 | did not finish | – | – | – | – |
| 2016 | Soccer Championship A | 18 | 14 | – | – | – | – |
| 2017 | Liga 1 | 18 | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| 2018 | Liga 1 | 18 | 1 | Runner-up | AFC Cup | Zonal Semi-finals | – |
| 2019 | Liga 1 | 18 | 10 | AFC Champions League | Preliminary round 2 | – | |
| AFC Cup | Group stage | ||||||
| 2020 | Liga 1 | 18 | did not finish | – | – | – | – |
| 2021–22 | Liga 1 | 18 | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| 2022–23 | Liga 1 | 18 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| 2023–24 | Liga 1 | 18 | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| 2024–25 | Liga 1 | 18 | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| 2025–26 | Super League | 18 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| 2026–27 | Super League | 18 | TBD | – | – | – | – |
Continental Record
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Asian Club Championship | First round |  Kashima Antlers |
1–4 | ||
| 2018 | AFC Cup | Group H |  Johor Darul Ta'zim |
4–0 | 0–3 | 1st |
 Tampines Rovers |
4–1 | 4–2 | ||||
 Sông Lam Nghệ An |
1–0 | 0–0 | ||||
| Zonal semi-finals | Home United |
1–3 | 2–3 | 3–6 | ||
| 2019 | AFC Champions League | Preliminary round 1 | Home United |
1–3 | ||
| Preliminary round 2 |  Newcastle Jets |
3–1 (a.e.t.) | ||||
| AFC Cup | Group G | Becamex Bình Dương |
0–0 | 1–3 | 3rd | |
 Shan United |
6–1 | 3–1 | ||||
 Ceres Negros |
2–3 | 0–1 | ||||
AFC Ranking
- As of 4 May 2025[46]
| Current Rank | Country | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87 |  | Aluminium Arak FC | 1361 |
| 88 |  | Tianjin Jinmen Tiger | 1361 |
| 89 | | Persija Jakarta | 1360 |
| 90 | | Bali United F.C. | 1360 |
| 91 | | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | 1358 |
Former Coaches
After becoming a professional club, Persija Jakarta has been trained by many foreign and local coaches. Sofyan Hadi was the first local head coach who won a professional national title for Persija Jakarta in 2001, when he was also played for the club in 1970s. Brazilian defender Antônio Cláudio also was a player in 2000s and a fitness coach in 2018–2019. Another Brazilian coach, Stefano Cugurra, led Persija to the 2018 national title as a head coach.[47]
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 |  Ivan Kolev |
| 2001 | Sofyan Hadi |
| 2002 | Mundari Karya |
| 2003 | Atanas Georgiev |
| 2004 |  Carlos García |
| 2005–2006 |  Arcan Iurie |
| 2006–2007 | Rahmad Darmawan |
| 2007–2008 | Sergei Dubrovin |
| 2008–2009 | Danurwindo |
| 2009–2010 | Benny Dollo |
| 2010–2011 | Rahmad Darmawan |
| 2011–2012 | Iwan Setiawan |
| 2013–2014 | Benny Dollo |
| 2014–2015 | Rahmad Darmawan |
| 2015–2016 | Bambang Nurdiansyah |
| 2016 |  Paulo Camargo |
| 2016 | Zein Al Hadad |
| 2017–2018 | Stefano Cugurra |
| 2019 | Ivan Kolev |
| 2019 |  Julio Bañuelos |
| 2019 | Edson Tavares |
| 2020 | Sérgio Farias |
| 2020–2021 | Sudirman |
| 2021–2022 |  Angelo Alessio |
| 2022 | Sudirman (caretaker) |
| 2022–2024 |  Thomas Doll |
| 2024–2025 | Carlos Peña |
| 2025 | Ricky Nelson (caretaker) |
| 2025–2026 | Maurício Souza |
Notable players
The following list is several former famous or legendary players of Persija Jakarta over the years.
Note: Not all famous players who have played for Persija Jakarta are included in this list. Only players who are strongly associated with Persija Jakarta presented here.
Soetjipto Soentoro- Tan Liong Houw
- Sinyo Aliandoe
- Oyong Liza
- Patar Tambunan
- Anjas Asmara
- Iswadi Idris
- Sofyan Hadi
- Rahmad Darmawan
- Rochy Putiray
- Vennard Hutabarat
Mbeng Jean
Luciano Leandro- Nuralim
- Widodo C. Putro
- Budiman Yunus
- Gendut Doni
- Budi Sudarsono
- Bambang Pamungkas
- Hendro Kartiko
- Anang Ma'ruf
- Imran Nahumarury
Aleksandar Dimitrov- Ismed Sofyan
- Elie Aiboy
- Ortizan Solossa
- Aris Indarto
- Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto
- Charis Yulianto
- Roger Batoum
Emanuel De Porras
João Bosco Cabral- Francis Wewengkang
- Hamka Hamzah
- Leonard Tupamahu
Abanda Herman- Aliyudin
- Robertino Pugliara
- Greg Nwokolo
- Ponaryo Astaman
- Pierre Njanka
- Andritany Ardhiyasa
- Ramdani Lestaluhu
Fahrudin Mustafić- Baihakki Khaizan
- Firman Utina
- Fabiano Beltrame
Ivan Bosnjak
Rohit Chand- Emmanuel Kenmogne
Hong Soon-Hak- Maman Abdurrahman
- Rezaldi Hehanussa
- Riko Simanjuntak
- Marko Šimić
Marco Motta
Ondřej Kúdela
Hanno Behrens
Abdulla Yusuf Helal- Michael Krmenčík
- Rizky Ridho
- Jordi Amat
Further reading
- Ayati, Nur (2010). Liga Indonesia: Persija vs Persib (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Elex Media Komputindo. p. 24. ISBN 978-979-27-7425-2.[48]
