Persija Jakarta

Persija Jakarta

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 one of 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. 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.

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.

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.

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)

PSSI tried to combine the popular Perserikatan teams with the professional clubs from the Galatama league, which was struggling to attract a healthy-sized audience as the clubs did not attract primordial sentiments, into a league called Liga Indonesia. Persija, with a weak fanbase, continued its poor streak in the early years of Liga Indonesia until former army general Sutiyoso was appointed as governor of Jakarta in 1997 amid nationwide demonstrations that demanded the end of military-backed authoritarianism and the start of democratic elections at all levels.

Recognizing that he must win support to secure another term, Sutiyoso used Persija as an outreach vehicle. In 1997, Sutiyoso rebranded Persija with a different colour. Orange replaced red to stress Persija's tiger symbol while national players were recruited and more professional management was introduced. The governor also wielded his powers to motivate other Jakarta clubs in Liga Indonesia, including the once-successful Pelita Jaya FC, to leave the capital city. To augment the fanbase, the Jakmania supporter group was created in December 1997. The total makeover paid off with Persija winning the 2001 national title, a fanbase developing into the biggest in the country and Sutiyoso securing a second term in 2002. The flip side of this top-down approach is constant taunts from supporters of other clubs calling Persija as "anak papa" (papa's boy), which has become louder since Persija won its next national title in 2018.

Professional years (2008–present)

The emergence of the Indonesian Super League in 2008 came amid pressure on Perserikatan teams to stop relying on the state budget and increase professional management. Persija, with the ability to attract supporters, sponsors and quality players, evolved into a well-oiled machine that performed well in different forms of competitions in Indonesia. However, it failed to win a national title in these professional years until 2018 when it championed the 2018 Liga 1. While Jakmania turned the capital city orange after the crowning, supporters of other clubs mocked the victory as engineered so that Persija could finally end its 17-year drought. These naysayers argue that PSSI influenced several decisions during the season that unfairly benefitted Persija, including the goals scored in the 9 December 2018 game that sealed the title.

Controversy aside, 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 a AFC Cup match when it faced with Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. in 2018.

In April 2022, Persija appointed former Borussia Dortmund manager, Thomas Doll, as the new head coach and manager in a three-year deal. 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.

Doll was replaced by former Ratchaburi head coach, Carlos Peña in a one-year deal for the 2024–25 Liga 1 season.

Stadium

Persija Jakarta

Gelora Bung Karno 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.

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.

Jakarta International Stadium

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. 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.

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.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	BRA	Carlos Eduardo
3	DF	BRA	Paulo Ricardo
4	DF	IDN	Fajar Fathur Rahman
5	DF	IDN	Rizky Ridho (captain)
6	DF	BRA	Thales Lira (on loan from Arema)
8	FW	IDN	Witan Sulaeman
9	FW	IDN	Mauro Zijlstra
10	MF	BRA	Jean Mota
11	FW	IDN	Arlyansyah Abdulmanan
15	MF	BRA	Van Basty Sousa
17	FW	BRA	Allano
19	MF	IDN	Hanif Sjahbandi
21	DF	IDN	Jordi Amat
22	GK	IDN	Hafizh Rizkianur
No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
25	DF	IDN	Shayne Pattynama
26	GK	IDN	Andritany Ardhiyasa (vice-captain)
29	DF	IDN	Baihaqi Rifai
32	DF	IDN	Dia Syayid
36	MF	IDN	Aditya Warman
41	FW	MAR	Alaaeddine Ajaraie (on loan from NorthEast United)
58	MF	IDN	Rayhan Hannan
70	FW	BRA	Gustavo Almeida
77	DF	IDN	Dony Tri Pamungkas
88	FW	BRA	Bruno Tubarão
93	GK	IDN	Cyrus Margono
97	MF	BRA	Fábio Calonego
98	FW	IDN	Eksel Runtukahu
99	FW	BRA	Maxwell

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.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
2	DF	IDN	Rio Fahmi (at Arema)
7	FW	JPN	Ryo Matsumura (at Bhayangkara Presisi Lampung)
13	MF	IDN	Sultan Akbar (at Rans Nusantara)
16	MF	IDN	Raditya Raharjo (at Persikutim United)
18	FW	IDN	Jehan Pahlevi (at PSS Sleman)
23	DF	IDN	Hansamu Yama (at Arema)
24	DF	IDN	Ihsan Siregar (at Persiraja Banda Aceh)
28	MF	IDN	Figo Dennis (at PSS Sleman)
30	DF	IDN	Farhan Sopiulloh (at Persikutim United)
31	DF	IDN	Dani Ibrahim (at PSIS Semarang)
33	DF	IDN	Abi Yazid Bustomi (at Perserang Serang)
34	FW	IDN	Riko Simanjuntak (at PSS Sleman)
35	DF	IDN	Zidan Khairullah (at PSPS Pekanbaru)
37	FW	IDN	Gading Mahardian (at Perserang Serang)
No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
38	FW	IDN	Dimas Tiar (at Perserang)
39	MF	IDN	Ergun Firliansyah (at Persikutim United)
40	FW	IDN	Nathan Fariel Kusuma (at Sumsel United)
43	DF	IDN	Okan Fitroh (at Pekanbaru)
44	DF	IDN	Ikbal Khadafi (at Perserang Serang)
53	DF	IDN	Fava Sheva (at Persiraja Banda Aceh)
56	DF	IDN	Alfriyanto Nico (at Persis Solo)
57	DF	IDN	Rafa Aditya (at Pekanbaru)
67	DF	IDN	Irfan Siregar (at Perserang Serang)
74	MF	IDN	Refan Nadief (at Rans Nusantara)
79	DF	IDN	Amirul Fisabillilah (at Deltras)
80	GK	IDN	Adre Arido (at Persebaya Surabaya)
90	FW	IDN	Agi Firmansyah (at Rans Nusantara)

Retired numbers

• 12 – The 12th man, reserved for club supporters "The Jakmania" • 14 – Ismed Sofyan • 20 – Bambang Pamungkas

Personnel

First team coaches & staffs

The following is a list of coaches and staffs of Persija Jakarta’s first team for the 2025–2026 season.

Position	Name
Head coach	Maurício Souza
Team manager	Ardhi Tjahjoko
Assistant coach	Italo Bartole Resende Ricky Nelson
Goalkeeping coach	Gerson Rodrigues Rios
Fitness coach	Vitor Branco Da Cruz Ilham Ralibi
Analyst	Caio Vito Jordao
Interpreter	Claudio Luzardi
Team secretary	Regi Hariansyah
Team doctor	Muhammad Adeansah
Physiotherapist	Jeremiah Halomoan
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.

<table><thead><tr><th>Position</th><th>Name</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>President commissioner</td><td>Sharif Cicip Sutardjo</td></tr><tr><td>Commissioner</td><td>Bambang Irawan Hendradi Budiman Dalimunte</td></tr><tr><td>Director</td><td>Mohamad Prapanca</td></tr><tr><td>Sports director</td><td>Bambang Pamungkas</td></tr><tr><td>Technical & youth development director</td><td>Ricky Nelson</td></tr><tr><td>Marketing director</td><td>Agus Julianto</td></tr><tr><td>Fans engagement manager & head of LOC</td><td>Tauhid Ferry Indrasjarief</td></tr><tr><td>HR & GA manager</td><td>Tazkia Edelia Sumedi</td></tr><tr><td>Accounting & reporting manager</td><td>Rizki Putri Nurdiati</td></tr><tr><td>Media manager</td><td>Yudhistira Achmad Nugroho</td></tr></tbody></table>

Kit colours

Persija Jakarta

Orange Persija home jersey, used in the 2000 season

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.

Period	Kit Provider
1970s–1990s	Adidas
1998–2000	Reebok
2000–2003	Nike
2004–2007	Specs
2007–2009	Diadora
2009–2017	League
2018–2019	Specs
2020–2021	Juara
2021–2022	Genesa
2022–2024	Juara
2024–	Juaraga

Supporters

Persija Jakarta

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.

Rivalries

Persija typically has rivalries with former Perserikatan teams such as PSM Makassar, Persebaya Surabaya and PSMS Medan due to long history of meetings. However, its top rival are Persib Bandung from the West Java city of Bandung, 180 km away. 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.

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.

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.

Honours

Persija Jakarta

Persija supporters celebrating club's 2018 Liga 1 win

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 2001 Liga Indonesia Premier Division.

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

• Perserikatan/Liga Indonesia Premier Division/Indonesia Soccer Championship A/Super League • Runners-up (6): (/wiki/Perserikatan), (/wiki/Perserikatan), 1975–78, 1987–88, (/wiki/2005LigaIndonesiaPremierDivision), 2022–23

• Piala Presiden Soeharto/Piala Indonesia • Runners-up (5): 1972, 1974, 1976, (/wiki/2005CopaIndonesia), (/wiki/2018-19PialaIndonesia)

• AFC Champions League Elite • First round (1): 2001-02 • AFC Champions League Two • ASEAN Zonal semi-finals (1): (/wiki/2018AFCCup)

• South Vietnam Independence Cup • Winners (1): (/wiki/QuocKhanhCup) • Brunei Invitational Cup • Winners (1): (/wiki/QuocKhanhCup), (/wiki/QuocKhanhCup) • Boost Sports Super Fix Cup • Winners (1): 2018

Season-by-season Records

Persija Jakarta

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	TBD	–	–	–	–

Continental Record

Persija Jakarta

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Competition</th><th>Round</th><th>Club</th><th>Home</th><th>Away</th><th>Aggregate</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2001–02</td><td>Asian Club Championship</td><td>First round</td><td>Kashima Antlers</td><td>1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>AFC Cup</td><td>Group H</td><td>Johor Darul Ta'zim</td><td>4–0</td><td>0–3</td><td>1st</td></tr><tr><td>Tampines Rovers</td><td>4–1</td><td>4–2</td></tr><tr><td>Sông Lam Nghệ An</td><td>1–0</td><td>0–0</td></tr><tr><td>Zonal semi-finals</td><td>Home United</td><td>1–3</td><td>2–3</td><td>3–6</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>AFC Champions League</td><td>Preliminary round 1</td><td>Home United</td><td>1–3</td></tr><tr><td>Preliminary round 2</td><td>Newcastle Jets</td><td>3–1 (a.e.t.)</td></tr><tr><td>AFC Cup</td><td>Group G</td><td>Becamex Bình Dương</td><td>0–0</td><td>1–3</td><td>3rd</td></tr><tr><td>Shan United</td><td>6–1</td><td>3–1</td></tr><tr><td>Ceres Negros</td><td>2–3</td><td>0–1</td></tr></tbody></table>

AFC Ranking

Persija Jakarta

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

Persija Jakarta

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.

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–	Maurício Souza

Notable players

Persija Jakarta

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