2023 Kuala Lumpur City F.C. season

Kuala Lumpur City
2023 season
PresidentShahidan Kassim
CEOStanley Bernard
ManagerNenad Baćina
StadiumKuala Lumpur Stadium
Malaysia Super League7th
Malaysia FA CupRunner-up
Malaysia CupSemi Finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Romel Morales (8)
All:
Romel Morales (13)
← 2022
2024–25 →

The 2023 season is the 45th season in the existence of Kuala Lumpur City's and the club's 3rd consecutive season in the top flight of Malaysian football. In addition to the domestic league, the club also participating in this season's edition of Malaysia FA Cup and the Malaysia Cup.

Management team

Position Name
Manager/Head coach Croatia Bojan Hodak
Assistant head coach Croatia Miroslav Kuljanac
Assistant coach Croatia Miro Petric
Malaysia Shukor Adan
Goalkeeper coach Brazil Guilherme Azevedo
Fitness coach Malaysia Afeeq Aqmal
Team doctor Malaysia Adzlan Amin
Malaysia Hannan Haziq
Physiotherapist Malaysia Afiqfuddin Salleh
Malaysia Renesh

Squad information

First-team squad

As of 25 February 2023[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Philippines PHI Kevin Ray Mendoza S
3 DF Malaysia MAS Muhammad Faudzi
4 DF Malaysia MAS Kamal Azizi
5 DF Croatia CRO Matko Zirdum I
6 DF Malaysia MAS Ryan Lambert
7 MF Colombia COL Romel Morales I
8 MF Malaysia MAS Zhafri Yahya
9 DF Australia AUS Giancarlo Gallifuoco A
12 DF Malaysia MAS Declan Lambert
14 MF Malaysia MAS Akram Mahinan
15 DF Malaysia MAS Khair Jones
16 MF Malaysia MAS Partiban Janasekaran
17 MF Malaysia MAS Sean Giannelli
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF Italy ITA Sebastian Avanzini I
20 GK Malaysia MAS Azim Al Amin U23
21 MF Malaysia MAS Kenny Pallraj
23 FW Ivory Coast CIV Kipré Tchétché I
25 DF Malaysia MAS Anwar Ibrahim
26 MF Malaysia MAS Saravanan Thirumurugan U23
28 MF Brazil BRA Paulo Josué (captain)
30 GK Malaysia MAS Azri Ghani
33 FW Malaysia MAS Juzaerul Jasmi U23
37 FW Malaysia MAS Haqimi Azim Rosli U20
41 MF Malaysia MAS Firdaus Saiyadi (on loan from Perak)
48 FW Malaysia MAS Faizal Hafiq
49 MF Malaysia MAS Hadi Mizei
77 DF Malaysia MAS Nazirul Naim
— DF Singapore SGP Aiman Zavyan

S

— MF Lebanon LBN Rabih Ataya

A

Remarks:
S These players are registered as ASEAN foreign players.
I These players are registered as International foreign players.
A These players are registered as Asia foreign players.
U23 These players are registered as Under-23 players.
U20 These players are registered as Under-20 players.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
29 MF Malaysia MAS Arif Shaqirin (loan to Perak)

Transfers

In: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Brazil BRA Caion (from Selangor)[2]
— FW Ivory Coast CIV Kipré Tchétché (from Terengganu)[3]
— DF Croatia CRO Matko Zirdum (from Croatia Slaven Belupo)[4]
— FW Philippines PHI Patrick Reichelt (from Thailand PT Prachuap)[5]
— MF Malaysia MAS Firdaus Saiyadi (on loan from Perak)
— MF Italy ITA Sebastian Avanzini (from Denmark Hobro)[6]
— DF Malaysia MAS Nazirul Naim (from Sabah)
— FW Malaysia MAS Sean Giannelli (from Sri Pahang)
— MF Malaysia MAS Saravanan Thirumurugan (from Selangor II)
— FW Malaysia MAS Juzaerul Jasmi
— DF Malaysia MAS Khair Jones (from Negeri Sembilan)
— FW Malaysia MAS Faizal Hafiq
— MF Malaysia MAS Hadi Mizei

Out: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Ghana GHA Jordan Mintah (loan return to Terengganu)
— FW Republic of the Congo CGO Kévin Koubemba (to Ukraine Chornomorets Odesa)
— MF Malaysia MAS Hadin Azman (to Penang)[7]
— DF Malaysia MAS Irfan Zakaria (to Sabah)[8]
— DF Malaysia MAS Nik Shahrul
— DF Malaysia MAS Nik Umar
— MF Malaysia MAS Fakrul Aiman
— FW Malaysia MAS Safee Sali (retired)
— DF Malaysia MAS Azhar Apandi
— MF Malaysia MAS Izreen Izwandy
— MF Malaysia MAS Arif Shaqirin (loan to Perak)
— DF Malaysia MAS Nabil Hakim
— MF Malaysia MAS Ridhwan Nazri

Pre-season and friendlies

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

29 January 2023 Friendly Kuala Lumpur City 0–0 Terengganu Cheras
20:30 MYT (UTC+8) Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
31 January 2023 Friendly Kuala Lumpur City 0–0 Kelantan United Cheras
20:30 MYT (UTC+8) Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
4 February 2023 Friendly Kuala Lumpur City 3–0 Perak Cheras
21:00 MYT (UTC+8)
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
14 February 2023 Friendly Kuala Lumpur City 1–1 Negeri Sembilan Cheras
20:30 MYT (UTC+8) Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium

Competitions

Malaysia Super League

Main article: 2023 Malaysia Super League

Matches

The league fixtures were announced on 25 January 2023.

25 February 2023 1 Kuala Lumpur City 2—2 Penang Cheras
21:00 MYT (UTC+8)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 1,291
Referee: Tuan Mohd Yaasin Tuan Mohd Hanafiah
1 March 2023 2 Kuala Lumpur City 0—3 Johor Darul Ta'zim Cheras
20:15 MYT (UTC+8)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 6,847
Referee: Mohd Fusser Mad Sallih
5 March 2023 3 Terengganu 0—0 Kuala Lumpur City Kuala Terengganu
21:00 MYT (UTC+8)
Report
Stadium: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium
Attendance: 11,560
Referee: Mohamad Zamzaidi Katimin
11 March 2023 4 Negeri Sembilan 0—0 Kuala Lumpur City Paroi
21:00 MYT (UTC+8) Report Stadium: Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium
Attendance: 1,614
Referee: Muhammad Usaid Jamal
17 March 2023 5 Kelantan 2—2 Kuala Lumpur City Kota Bharu
20:15 MYT (UTC+8)
Report
Stadium: Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium
Attendance: 6,678
Referee: S. Logeswaran
31 March 2023 6 Kuala Lumpur City 1—3 Selangor Cheras
22:00 MYT (UTC+8)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 4,204
Referee: Mohammad Zamzaidi Katimin
5 April 2023 7 Kuala Lumpur City 2—0 Sabah Cheras
22:00 MYT (UTC+8)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 1,194
Referee: Suhaizi Shukri
10 April 2023 8 Kuala Lumpur City 1—0 Perak Cheras
22:00 MYT (UTC+8)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 1,260
Referee: Suhaizi Shukri
18 April 2023 9 Kedah Darul Aman 2-3 Kuala Lumpur City Alor Setar
22:00 (UTC+08:00)
Stadium: Darul Aman Stadium
Attendance: 2, 590
Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin
27 April 2023 10 Kuala Lumpur City 3-0 PDRM Cheras
20:15 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 627
Referee: Usaid Jamal
14 May 2023 4 Negeri Sembilan 2-1 Kuala Lumpur City Paroi
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Tunku Abdul Rahman Stadium
Attendance: 452
Referee: Mohd Fusser bin Mad Salih
20 May 2023 11 Kelantan United 1-3 Kuala Lumpur City Kota Bharu
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Stadium: Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium
Attendance: 224
Referee: Fitri bin Maskom
24 May 2023 12 Kuala Lumpur City 1-1 Kuala Lumpur City Cheras
21:02 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 610
Referee: Zamzaidi Katimin
4 June 2023 13 Sri Pahang 1-2 Kuala Lumpur City Kuantan
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Darul Makmur Stadium
Attendance: 4, 804
Referee: Razlan Joffri Ali
8 June 2023 14 Penang 1-1 Kuala Lumpur City Georgetown
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 1, 455
Referee: Zamzaidi Katimin
3 July 2023 15 Johor Darul Ta’zim 6-1 Kuala Lumpur City Iskandar Puteri
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Sultan Ibrahim Stadium
Attendance: 11, 691
Referee: S. Logeswaran
7 July 2023 16 Kuala Lumpur City 3-3 Terengganu Chera
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 1, 464
Referee: Razlan Joffri Ali
15 July 2023 17 Kuala Lumpur City 1-1 Negeri Sembilan Cheras
17:30 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 688
Referee: Zamzaidi Katimin
29 July 2023 18 Kuala Lumpur City 5-1 Kelantan Cheras
17:30 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 1, 037
Referee: Faizudin Ismail
8 August 2023 19 Selangor 2-0 Kuala Lumpur City Petaling Jaya
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: MBPJ Stadium
Attendance: 7, 964
Referee: Suhaizi Shukri
13 August 2023 20 Sabah 3-2 Kuala Lumpur City Kota Kinabalu
19:30 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Likas Stadium
Attendance: 6, 462
Referee: Suhaizi Shukri
27 August 2023 21 Perak 0-4 Kuala Lumpur City Cheras
20:15 MYT (UTC+08:00) Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 6, 998
Referee: Zamzaidi Katimin
30 September 2023 22 Kuala Lumpur City 0-1 Kedah Darul Aman Cheras
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00) Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 2, 068
Referee: S. Logeswaran
27 October 2023 23 PDRM 2-0 Kuala Lumpur City Petaling Jaya
20:15 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: MBPJ Stadium
Attendance: 149
Referee: Khirulazuan Kidam
26 November 2023 24 Kuala Lumpur City 3-0 Kelantan United Cheras
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 397
Referee: S. Logeswaran
10 December 2023 25 Kuching City 2-3 Kuala Lumpur City Kuching
20:15 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: City Stadium
Attendance: 238
Referee: Usaid Jamal
16 December 2023 26 Kuala Lumpur City 0-0 Sri Pahang Cheras
21:00 MYT (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 1, 248
Referee: Abang Azharudin Abdullah

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
5 Sri Pahang 26 13 6 7 44 33 +11 45
6 Terengganu 26 11 7 8 45 34 +11 40 Qualification for the AFF Shopee Cup group stage[a]
7 Kuala Lumpur City 26 10 8 8 44 39 +5 38
8 PDRM 26 11 4 11 35 37 −2 37
9 Negeri Sembilan 26 6 9 11 33 49 −16 27
Updated to match(es) played on 3 December 2023. Source: MFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored.
Notes:
  1. ^ Qualified as the 2023 Malaysia Cup & 2023 Malaysia FA Cup runner-up.

Malaysia FA Cup

Main article: 2023 Malaysia FA Cup
14 April 2023 Round of 16 Kuala Lumpur City 2-0 Immigration Cheras
22:00 (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 402
Referee: Abdul Rahman Wahab
28 May 2023 Quarter-final Sabah 1-2 Kuala Lumpur City Kota Kinabalu
22:00 (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Likas Stadium
Attendance: 6,797
Referee: Zamzaimi Katimin
25 June 2023 Semi-final Terengganu 0-0 (a.e.t.)
(2-4 SO)		 Kuala Lumpur City Kuala Nerus
21:00 (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium
Attendance: 26, 540
Referee: Suhaizi Shukri
Shootout
22 July 2023 Final Johor Darul Ta’zim 2-0 Kuala Lumpur City Iskandar Puteri
21:00 (UTC+08:00)
Report
Stadium: Sultan Ibrahim Stadium
Attendance: 33, 598
Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player Total League FA Cup Malaysia Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 GK Philippines PHI Kevin Ray Mendoza 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
20 GK Malaysia MAS Azim Amin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 GK Malaysia MAS Azri Ghani 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
Defenders
3 DF Malaysia MAS Muhammad Faudzi 3 0 2+1 0 0 0 0 0
4 DF Malaysia MAS Kamal Azizi 7 0 6+1 0 0 0 0 0
9 DF Australia AUS Giancarlo Gallifuoco 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 0
12 DF Malaysia MAS Declan Lambert 7 1 7 1 0 0 0 0
19 DF Italy ITA Sebastian Avanzini 6 1 6 1 0 0 0 0
25 DF Malaysia MAS Anwar Ibrahim 2 0 1+1 0 0 0 0 0
77 DF Malaysia MAS Nazirul Naim 3 0 2+1 0 0 0 0 0
Midfielders
6 MF Malaysia MAS Ryan Lambert 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
7 MF Colombia COL Romel Morales 6 0 5+1 0 0 0 0 0
8 MF Malaysia MAS Zhafri Yahya 3 0 2+1 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF Malaysia MAS Akram Mahinan 3 0 1+2 0 0 0 0 0
16 MF Malaysia MAS Partiban 2 0 0+2 0 0 0 0 0
17 MF Malaysia MAS Sean Giannelli 3 1 0+3 1 0 0 0 0
21 MF Malaysia MAS Kenny Pallraj 7 0 6+1 0 0 0 0 0
26 MF Malaysia MAS Saravanan Thirumurugan 5 1 2+3 1 0 0 0 0
28 MF Brazil BRA Paulo Josué 7 2 7 2 0 0 0 0
41 MF Malaysia MAS Firdaus Saiyadi 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
Forwards
10 FW Brazil BRA Caion 7 0 4+3 0 0 0 0 0
11 FW Philippines PHI Patrick Reichelt 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
23 FW Ivory Coast CIV Kipré Tchétché 6 2 4+2 2 0 0 0 0
37 FW Malaysia MAS Haqimi Azim 6 0 1+5 0 0 0 0 0
Players transferred out during the season

Last updated: 10 April 2023
Source: Competitions

Under-23s

Current squad

As of 6 March 2023

These Under-23 players or Kuala Lumpur City Extension participated in Malaysian Football League cup.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Malaysia MAS Julian Bechler
20 GK Malaysia MAS Azim Al Amin
24 DF Malaysia MAS Khairul Naim Zainal Abidin
26 MF Malaysia MAS Saravanan Thirumurugan
32 DF Malaysia MAS Nashran Elias
33 DF Malaysia MAS Juzaerul Jasmi (captain)
34 MF Malaysia MAS Amirul Aiman
35 MF Malaysia MAS Adib Faris
42 DF Malaysia MAS Nadzwin Salleh
46 MF Malaysia MAS Izreen Izwandy
47 DF Malaysia MAS Faris Zabri
48 FW Malaysia MAS Faizal Hafiq
49 MF Malaysia MAS Hadi Mizei @ Termizi
No. Pos. Nation Player
50 GK Malaysia MAS Haziq Fitri
55 GK Malaysia MAS Syafiq Sabaruddin
60 MF Malaysia MAS Sachin Samuel
65 DF Malaysia MAS Syahkhir Razali
69 FW Malaysia MAS Suhaimi Abu
70 DF Malaysia MAS Loquman Syadiq
71 MF Malaysia MAS Azim Nadim
80 FW Malaysia MAS Alif Safwan
87 MF Malaysia MAS Amreel Iqbal
88 MF Malaysia MAS Ridhwan Nazri
96 MF Malaysia MAS Amirul Zul Aiman
99 FW Malaysia MAS Wan Syamil Sulaiman

Coaching staff

MFL Cup

3 March 2023 1 Kuala Lumpur City Extension 1—0 Kelantan Cheras
20:15 MYT (UTC+8)
  • Faizal Hafiq 76'
 Report Stadium: Kuala Lumpur Stadium
Attendance: 187
Referee: Muhammad Latiffi Mohd Zahrom
11 March 2023 2 Selangor II 0—1 Kuala Lumpur City Extension Shah Alam
Report Stadium: UiTM Stadium

Appearances and goals

As of 3 March 2023
Player Position Appearances Goals
Kuala Lumpur City Extension
Malaysia Azim Al Amin GK 1 0
Malaysia Nashran Elias DF 1 0
Malaysia Juzaerul Jasmi DF 1 0
Malaysia Amirul Aiman MF 1 0
Malaysia Faris Zabri DF 1 0
Malaysia Faizal Hafiq FW 1 1
Malaysia Hadi Mizei @ Termizi MF 1 0
Malaysia Sachin Samuel MF 1 0
Malaysia Suhaimi Abu FW 1 0
Malaysia Loquman Syadiq DF 1 0
Malaysia Alif Safwan FW 1 0
Malaysia Khairul Naim DF 1 0
Malaysia Izreen Izwandy MF 1 0
Malaysia Azim Nadim MF 1 0
Malaysia Amirul Zul Aiman MF 1 0
Own goals 0
Total goals 1

References

  1. ^ "Team Detail – Kuala Lumpur City FC". Football Association of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Caion vows to be a giant up front for KL". thestar.com.my. The Star. 21 January 2023.
  3. ^ "KL City set to sign Tchetche". nst.com.my. New Straits Times. 15 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Matko Zirdum tekad penuhi percaturan Kuala Lumpur City". stadiumastro.com. Stadium Astro. 23 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Patrick Reichelt moves to Kuala Lumpur City FC". philstar.com. philstar. 17 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Sebastian Avanzini Kini Import Baru KL City". makanbola.com. Makan BOLA. 10 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Hadin Azman Tekad Kembali Bangkit, Mahu Bantu Penang". vocketfc.com. Vocket FC. 17 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Mahu pengalaman baru, Irfan pilih sertai Sabah FC". stadiumastro.com. Stadium Astro. 2 December 2022.