The 2017 S.League (also known as the Great Eastern Hyundai S.League for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd season of the S.League, the top-flight Singaporean professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1996. The season began on 26 February 2017, and concluded on 18 November 2017. Albirex Niigata (S) were the defending champions.

It was the final season with the "S.League" name as it was officially renamed to Singapore Premier League from the 2018 season onwards.

Teams

A total of 9 teams competed in the league. Albirex Niigata (S) and DPMM FC were invited foreign clubs from Japan and Brunei respectively.

Stadiums and locations

Location of 2017 S.League teams
Location of 2017 S.League teams
Locations of the 2016 S.League teams from Singapore
Locations of the 2016 S.League teams from Singapore
TeamStadiumCapacity
Japan Albirex Niigata (S)Jurong East Stadium2,700
Balestier KhalsaToa Payoh Stadium3,800
Brunei DPMM FCHassanal Bolkiah National Stadium28,000
Geylang InternationalBedok Stadium Jalan Besar Stadium (May–September 2017)3,800 6,000
Home UnitedBishan Stadium3,500
Hougang UnitedHougang Stadium3,400
Tampines RoversJurong West Stadium (March 2014–June 2017) Our Tampines Hub3,200 6,000
Warriors FCChoa Chu Kang Stadium4,000
Singapore Young LionsJalan Besar Stadium6,000

Personnel and sponsors

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

TeamHead coachCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Japan Albirex Niigata (S)Japan Kazuaki YoshinagaJapan Kento NagasakiHummelCanon
Balestier KhalsaCroatia Marko KraljevićZaiful NizamUmbroCivic
Brunei DPMM FCScotland Steve KeanBrunei Rosmin KamisLotto–
Geylang InternationalMohd Noor AliIsa HalimFBTEpson
Home UnitedAidil SharinHassan SunnyPumaLionco Investments
Hougang UnitedPhilippe AwNurhilmi JasniVondaGreen Rubber
Tampines RoversGermany Jürgen RaabMadhu MohanaJakoNogle
Warriors FCRazif OnnBaihakki KhaizanJomaHong Seh Motors
Singapore Young LionsVincent SubramaniamShahrin SaberinNikeShopee

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing Head CoachManner of DepartureDate of VacancyPosition in tableIncoming Head CoachDate of appointment
Warriors FCRazif OnnRedesignatedNAPre-SeasonRazif Onn23 October 2016
Hougang UnitedK.BalagumaranEnd of Contract30 October 2016Philippe Aw1 January 2017
Japan Albirex Niigata (S)Japan Naoki NaruoEnd of Contract3 November 2016Japan Kazuaki Yoshinaga2 December 2016
Singapore Young LionsFrance Patrick HesseResigned9 November 2016V. Selvaraj9 November 2016
Tampines RoversAkbar NawasMutual Agreement27 January 2017Germany Jürgen Raab31 January 2017
Singapore Young LionsV. SelvarajResigned17 May 20179thFrance Richard Tardy (interim coach)17 May 2017
Geylang InternationalHasrin JailaniResigned20 June 20175thMohd Noor Ali20 June 2017
Singapore Young LionsFrance Richard TardyEnd of Interim5 July 20179thVincent Subramaniam5 July 2017

Foreigners

For the 2017 season, Local teams (Exclusive of the Young Lions, which is a development team) and Brunei DPMM are able to register up to a total of 3 foreign players in the main squad, and an additional player under the age of 21 for the Prime League. For match-day squads in the S-League, any three foreigners can be registered.

The mid season transfer window will be opened from 22 May 2017 and closed on 18 June 2017.

Players name in bold indicates the player was registered during the mid-season transfer window.

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Prime LeagueFormer Players
Balestier KhalsaMyanmar Kyaw Zayar WinMyanmar Nanda Lin Kyaw ChitMyanmar Aung Kyaw Naing--
Brunei DPMM FCBrazil Rafael RamazottiChile Daúd GazaleChile Vincent Salas-France François Marque *^2 Republic of Ireland Billy Mehmet Serbia Željko Savić
Geylang InternationalJapan Yuki IchikawaCosta Rica Víctor Coto OrtegaArgentina Ricardo SendraMyanmar Min Thi Ha-
Home UnitedSouth Korea Song Ui-youngFrance Sirina CamaraCroatia Stipe PlazibatCroatia Marijan Šuto-
Hougang UnitedJapan Fumiya KogureJapan Atsushi ShirotaSpain Pablo RodriguezItaly Antonie Viterale–
Tampines RoversJapan Ryutaro MegumiSouth Korea Son Yong ChanCroatia Ivan DzoniUnited States Raspreet Sandhu*^3 United States Diego Silvas*^4England Louis Clark *^5
Warriors FCJapan Kento FukudaCanada Jordan WebbRomania Andrei CiolacuUnited States Clay SilvasRepublic of the Congo NetherlandsJoël Tshibamba
  • ^1 For the 2017 season, it was decided that DPMM FC can sign an additional foreigner under the age of 21 which was not allowed in the past. However, the same rules for match day squad will still apply.
  • ^2 DPMM FC announced that François Marque was dropped from the S. League squad. Although no reasons were given, it is presumed that he had suffered a long term injury in his 1st match for the team.
  • ^3 Raspreet Sandhu is registered to play for AFC Cup competition only.
  • ^4 Diego Silvas is registered for the S. League, taking up the Prime League slot.
  • ^5 Foreign players who left their clubs or were de-registered from playing squad due to medical issues or other matters.
  • Albirex Niigata (S) is an all-Japanese team and do not hire any foreigners.

Kits

Japan Albirex Niigata (S)Balestier KhalsaBrunei DPMM FCGeylang International
HomeAwayHomeAwayHomeAwayHomeAway
Kit Sponsor: Denmark HummelKit Sponsor: England UmbroKit Sponsor: Italy LottoKit Sponsor: Thailand FBT
Main Sponsor: Japan CanonMain Sponsor: Singapore CivicMain Sponsor: NoneMain Sponsor: Japan Epson
Home UnitedHougang UnitedTampines RoversWarriors FC
HomeAwayHomeAwayHomeAwayHomeAway
Kit Sponsor: Germany PumaKit Sponsor: Singapore VondaKit Sponsor: Germany JakoKit Sponsor: Spain Joma
Main Sponsor: Singapore Linco InvestmentsMain Sponsor: Malaysia Green RubberMain Sponsor: Taiwan NogleMain Sponsor: Singapore Hong Seh Motors
Singapore Young Lions
HomeAway
Kit Sponsor: United States Nike
Main Sponsor: Singapore Shopee

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Japan Albirex Niigata (S) (C)2420227016+5462
2Tampines Rovers2417344820+2854Qualification to AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1 or AFC Cup Group Stage
3Home United2415545826+3250Qualification to AFC Cup Group Stage
4Geylang International24113103237−536
5Warriors FC249783336−334
6Hougang United2493122431−730
7Balestier Khalsa2454151733−1619
8Brunei DPMM FC2452173061−3117
9Singapore Young Lions2413201062−526

Positions by stage

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324
Japan Albirex Niigata (S)321121111111111111111111
Balestier Khalsa687866777777777777777777
Brunei DPMM FC577788888888888888888888
Geylang International866675556655566555444444
Home United112213423223332233333333
Hougang United233457665566655666666666
Tampines Rovers654544332332223322222222
Warriors FC345332244444444444555555
Singapore Young Lions999999999999999999999999

Results

Home \ AwayALBBALDPMYLIGEYHOMHOUTAMWAR
Albirex Niigata (S)—2–14–08–05–00–21–04–05–1
Balestier Khalsa0–3—2–11–01–11–20–00–12–2
DPMM FC0–11–4—7–10–11–32–00–13–5
Young Lions0–50–0N/a—0–21–20–10–40–0
Geylang International2–72–02–02–1—1–31–12–30–2
Home United2–21–09–36–13–0—2–30–21–1
Hougang United2–10–11–22–00–10–2—0–30–1
Tampines Rovers1–43–12–03–01–10–02–1—1–1
Warriors FC1–21–01–04–30–12–10–20–1—

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 18 November 2017.

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Japan Tsubasa SanoJapan Albirex Niigata (S)26
2Croatia Stipe PlazibatHome United25
3Brazil Rafael RamazottiBrunei DPMM FC14
4Japan Ryota NakaiJapan Albirex Niigata (S)11
Japan Kento NagasakiJapan Albirex Niigata (S)11
Shahril IshakWarriors FC11
Faris RamliHome United11
7Shawal AnuarGeylang International9
9Khairul NizamHome United7
9Canada Jordan WebbWarriors FC7
9Japan Fumiya KogureHougang United7
9Japan Ryutaro MegumiTampines Rovers7

Clean sheets

As of 18 November 2017.

RankPlayerClubClean Sheet
1Japan Yosuke NozawaJapan Albirex Niigata (S)12
2Syazwan BuhariGeylang International9
3Izwan MahbudTampines Rovers7

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateReference
Croatia Stipe Plazibat4Home UnitedSingapore Young Lions6–127 February 2017
Faris Ramli4Brunei DPMM FC9–325 May 2017
Japan Tsubasa Sano5Japan Albirex Niigata (S)Singapore Young Lions8–026 May 2017
Brazil Rafael RamazottiBrunei DPMM FC7–17 October 2017
Brunei Adi Said7–17 October 2017
Japan Tsubasa Sano4Japan Albirex Niigata (S)Warriors FC5–13 November 2017
Japan Tsubasa SanoGeylang International7–117 November 2017

Note 4 Player scored 4 goals 5 Player scored 5 goals

Own goals

PlayerForAgainstScoreDate
Fadli KamisBalestier KhalsaGeylang International0–24 March 2017
Brunei Hazwan HamzahBrunei DPMM FCTampines Rovers0–53 November 2017

Penalty missed

PlayerForAgainstDate
Croatia Ivan DžoniTampines RoversJapan Albirex Niigata (S)26 February 2017
Balestier Khalsa11 March 2017
Faris RamliHome UnitedSingapore Young Lions27 February 2017
21 May 2017
Myanmar Aung Kyaw NaingBalestier Khalsa2 April 2017
Raihan Rahman20 September 2017
Costa Rica Víctor Coto OrtegaGeylang InternationalHougang United20 May 2017
Taufik SuparnoSingapore Young LionsJapan Albirex Niigata (S)26 May 2017
Romania Andrei CiolacuWarriors FCBrunei DPMM FC2 July 2017
Chile Daúd GazaleBrunei DPMM FCGeylang International24 July 2017
Iqbal HussainHougang UnitedSingapore Young Lions24 October 2017

Discipline – club

As of after 23/9/2017

RankClubTotal
1Japan Albirex Niigata (S)93
2Balestier Khalsa456
3Brunei DPMM FC364
4Singapore Young Lions270
5Geylang International293
6Home United351
7Hougang United364
8Tampines Rovers386
9Warriors FC522

Discipline – player

RankPlayerClubTotal
1Chile Vincent ReyesDPMM FC42
2Hafiz OsmanWarriors FC32
3Baihakki KhaizanWarriors FC90
4Ismadi MukhtarTampines FC22
5Nazrul NazariHougang United51
6Ahmad SyahirBalestier Khalsa80

1) Madhu Mohana was handed a suspended $1,000 fine for his comments on social media directed at referee Sukhbir Singh after they lost to Albirex in the Charity Shield.

2) Raihan Rahman was charged for allegedly using a racial slur on Warriors forward Jordan Webb during an S.League match between Balestier and Warriors on 28/2/2017. He was acquitted of that charge after a Football Association of Singapore Disciplinary Committee (DC) hearing.

S.League Awards night winners

AwardsWinnersClub
Player of the YearJapan Kento NagasakiJapan Albirex Niigata (S)
Young Player of the YearHazzuwan HalimBalestier Khalsa
Coach of the YearJapan Kazuaki YoshinagaJapan Albirex Niigata (S)
Top Scorer AwardJapan Tsubasa SanoJapan Albirex Niigata (S)
Goal of the YearHuzaifah AzizBalestier Khalsa (vs. Albirex)
Fair Play AwardJapan Albirex Niigata (S)
Referee of the YearSukhbir Singh
[[FFT Team of the Year]]
GoalkeeperJapan Yosuke Nozawa (Albirex Niigata (S))
DefenceSingapore Irfan Fandi (Home United)Japan Yasutaka Yanagi (Albirex Niigata (S))Japan Naofumi Tanaka (Albirex Niigata (S))
MidfieldJapan Ryutaro Megumi (Tampines Rovers)Japan Shuto Inaba (Albirex Niigata (S))Singapore Shahril Ishak (Warriors FC)Japan Kento Nagasaki (Albirex Niigata (S))
AttackSingapore Faris Ramli (Home United)Croatia Stipe Plazibat (Home United)Japan Tsubasa Sano (Albirex Niigata (S))

Attendances

#Football clubAverage attendance
1Albirex Niigata Singapore3,355
2Home United1,774
3Warriors FC1,684
4Tampines Rovers1,647
5Young Lions FC1,432
6Geylang International1,397
7Hougang United1,079
8DPMM FC1,068
9Balestier Khalsa984

External links