Negeri Sembilan FC

Negeri Sembilan Football Club (Malay: Kelab Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan), commonly referred to as Negeri Sembilan or simply NSFC, is a Malaysian professional football club based in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. The club competes in the top division of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League.

Founded in 1923 as Negeri Sembilan Football Association (Malay: Persatuan Bolasepak Negeri Sembilan), it has been chaired by Dato' Seri Utama Haji Aminuddin Harun after replacing Tunku Syed Razman ibni al-Marhum Tunku Syed 'Idrus al-Qadri on 12 June 2025. The club represented the state of Negeri Sembilan, and won their first major honour in the 1948 Malaysia Cup.

Since its establishment in 1923, Negeri Sembilan has won several domestic cups, such as the Malaysia Cup in 1948, 2009, and 2011, as well as the Malaysia FA Cup in 2003 and 2010. In addition, the club won the Malaysia Super League in 2005–06 and managed to qualify for the AFC Cup, a continental-level competition, in 2004 and 2007. The club also gave rise to many Malaysian football stars who brought success to both club and country, such as Kwan Soon Teck, Mok Wai Hong, B. Rajinikandh, N. Thanabalan, B. Sathianathan, Ching Hong Aik, Shukor Adan, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, Aidil Zafuan, Zaquan Adha, Farizal Marlias, S. Kunanlan, Shahurain Abu Samah, Syihan Hazmi and many more. Head coach, K. Devan became the pinnacle of the club guiding Negeri Sembilan to win the 2005–06 Malaysia Super League, 2003 Malaysia FA Cup and also the 2021 Malaysia Premier League.

The club has won 1 Malaysia Super League title, 2 Malaysia Premier League titles, 3 Malaysia Cup, 2 Malaysia FA Cup and 1 Malaysia Charity Shield.

History

Early era

The club was established in 1923, according to an interview with Austin Senevirathe. He stated that the Malaya Cup match between Negeri Sembilan and Singapore took place in that particular year. In 1948, they won the first HMS Malaya Cup, led by Kwan Soon Teck.

Isa Samad era (1982–2004)

In 1982, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Utama Mohd Isa bin Dato' Haji Abdul Samad was appointed president of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS) as well as the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan. 1991 was the year of the revival of the Negeri Sembilan team. That was also the last year before the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium. On 18 August 1991, the team met Sarawak in the final match of the Division 2 League. Negeri Sembilan, who was in first place at the time, only needed a draw while Sarawak needed a win to get the top spot. The match went to Negeri Sembilan favour with a result of 2–2. Among the star players were the Bozik Brothers (Miroslav and Robert), and Marian Vazquez. Local players included Richard Scully, Mansor Sulaiman, and Nazari Hussein. In the 1996 season, Negeri Sembilan became one of the contenders for the title. The team starring two import players from Argentina, Gus Cerro and Jose Iriarte, and locals Othman Katmon, Faizal Zainal, Khairil Zainal, Rosli Omar, B. Rajinikandh, A. Ganeson, V. Arumugham, Idris Kadir, Azmi Mohamed, and Ching Hong Aik, surprised many despite not winning eventually.

On 31 May 2003, Negeri Sembilan met Perlis in the FA Cup final. Played at Perak Stadium, the club was surprised by the opponent's early goal in the 11th minute. The club managed to close the gap in the 56th minute thanks to a goal by Effendi Malek. In the 95th minute, Everson Martinelli scored for the trophy.

Negeri Sembilan made its first appearance in the AFC Cup competition in the 2004 season. The club opened it against Island FC with a 6–0 win on 10 February. However, the club had to settle for being 3rd after losing all the remaining group stage matches, including Geylang United and East Bengal.

Mohamad Hasan era (2004–2018)

In March 2004, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was appointed as the president of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS). He held the position as the 10th Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

In the 2005–06 season, the team won the Malaysia Super League. The newly promoted team from the Malaysian Premier League in the 2005 season managed to become the league champion in their first appearance. On 7 November 2009, the team ended their 61-year drought in the Malaysia Cup after posting a convincing 3–1 victory over Kelantan in the final at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil. The team also won all the matches in the Malaysia Cup tournament.

The repeated final happened again on 30 October 2010. However, this time the club lost 1–2 to Kelantan despite having taken an early lead through Shahurain Abu Samah. On April 10, 2010, Negeri Sembilan needed the luck of the penalty shootout to win the FA Cup championship again by beating Kedah 5–4.

In 2011, the club again qualified for the Cup final for the third consecutive time. They won the trophy after defeating Terengganu FA with an epic comeback. The first goal was scored by Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin for Terengganu in the 59th minute. S. Kunanlan equalised the score in the 81st minute before Hairuddin Omar hit the winning goal in the 85th minute.

Throughout the years 2003–2011, there was a "golden generation" for Negeri Sembilan, with the emergence of players like Ching Hong Aik, Shukor Adan, Norhafiz Zamani, Khairul Anuar Baharom, Bekamenga Bekamengo, Sani Anuar, Rezal Zambery, Zaquan Adha, Aidil Zafuan, Farizal Marlias, S. Kunanlan, and Shahurain. On 6 December 2014, the president of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association announced that the Negeri Sembilan team would be known as the Negeri Sembilan Matrix from 2015.

Razman al-Qadri era (2018–2025)

On September 10, 2018 Tunku Syed Razman Tunku Syed Idrus Al-Qadri was elected as the new president of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS) for the period of 2018–2021. On 20 October 2020, the club officially made its privatisation as Negeri Sembilan Football Club. The club has been registered under a private limited company named Negeri Sembilan Football Club Sdn. Bhd. (Negeri Sembilan Football Club Pvt. Ltd.). The club became a subsidiary of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS).

In 2024, Faliq Firdaus was appointed as the new chief executive officer of Negeri Sembilan, becoming the youngest CEO in the Malaysia Super League history.

Aminuddin Harun era (2025– present )

On 12 June 2025, Negeri Sembilan appointed YAB Dato’ Seri Utama Hj Aminuddin bin Harun, the First Minister of Negeri Sembilan, as the club’s new chairman. The announcement was made by YTM Tunku Syed Razman, the Tunku Besar of Tampin and President of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS). The appointment reflects a strategic effort to strengthen football governance in the state, with PBNS focusing on grassroots development while Negeri Sembilan operates as a competitive professional entity. Dato’ Seri Aminuddin expressed his commitment to revitalising Negeri Sembilan and uniting the community through football.

On 13 June 2025, Negeri Sembilan appointed Mohd Nidzam Jamil as the head coach of their Malaysia Super League team for the 2025–26 season. The appointment was officially announced by the club's chairman, YAB Dato’ Seri Aminuddin bin Harun, as part of NSFC's long-term strategic plan to build a more competitive and sustainable team.

Team image

Names

Negeri Sembilan has used several names throughout its 100-year history.

• 1923–2005: Negeri Sembilan

In tournaments the Negeri Sembilan Football Association only used Negeri Sembilan or Negri Sembilan as the team name. Negeri Sembilan is the name of one of the states in Malaysia, and the Negeri Sembilan Football Association is the governing body of football, founded to represent the state. The team used it from 1923 through 2004 before it was rebranded in 2005.

• 2005–2008: Negeri Sembilan Naza

Negeri Sembilan was rebranded in 2005. The team, sponsored by a motor company from Malaysia named Naza, started in 2005. This has caused Negeri Sembilan to be given a new name: Negeri Sembilan Naza, or simply NS Naza, to represent the name of the sponsoring company.

• 2009–2014: Negeri Sembilan

In 2009, Naza withdrew from sponsoring the Negeri Sembilan football team. The team later cancelled the name Negeri Sembilan Naza and changed it back to Negeri Sembilan for the 2009 league season. They have used it until season 2014.

• 2015: Negeri Sembilan Matrix

On 6 December 2014 the president of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS) announced the team's new branding by changing it to Negeri Sembilan Matrix, or simply NS Matrix. With a larger amount of sponsorship from Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad and a bigger investment for the team, they had a greater vision and mission to carry out. Unfortunately, on 25 August 2015, NS Matrix was disbanded for not meeting the expectations set by PBNS.

• 2016–2020: Negeri Sembilan FA

Due to the disbandment of NS Matrix in the previous year, the team used the Negeri Sembilan name again starting in 2016. The team used it for 5 years until 2020, when they started using the new name because they had registered as a private football club.

• 2020–present: Negeri Sembilan

To achieve the targeted standards and the campaign implemented by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), the Negeri Sembilan team has privatised their team to become a football club. Previously operating as a football association, the team has started a new chapter with the privatisation of their football team.

Crest and colours

Crest

Negeri Sembilan previously used the crest of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS). After being privatised in 2020, Negeri Sembilan FC started using the new crest. The competition was won by Azral Ramlay.

Rice Stalks: The main crest displays nine white rice stalks tied with red rope into one in the middle, symbolising the nine states in the old Negeri Sembilan: Jelai, Jelebu, Johol, Kelang (now part of Selangor), Naning (now part of Malacca), Rembau, Segamat-Pasir Besar, Sungei Ujong, and Ulu Pahang. Moreover, it is designed to resemble the crest on the state's coat of arms, which is the Changgai Puteri fronted by a sword and scabbard.

Circle: The basic shape, which is a golden yellow circle in the royal color, symbolises the strong unity between the team, players, supporters, and the people of Negeri Sembilan under the auspices of D.Y.M.M. Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus.

Escutcheon: The escutcheon of the arms is depicted as an old French shield outlined in black. The three basic colours of Negeri Sembilan symbolise all the people, players, and supporters coming together to protect their team, along with the lyrics of the Negeri Sembilan song, "Musuhnya Habis Binasa" (English: "His enemies perished").

Colours

Yellow, black and red: Negeri Sembilan uses three colours from the state flag as its official colours. The colours have been used on the crest and team kits since its establishment. Based on the flag, the yellow represents the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, the black symbolises the four undangs (traditional chiefs), and the red denotes the citizens of the state. However, in the context of the football, these three colours have their own meaning: yellow represents the team, black symbolises the players, and red denotes the supporters.

Kits: Red as the dominant colour is used for the home kit, while for the away kit the dominant colour is yellow, with the addition of some red and black. As for the third kit, there are several dominant colour variations, such as white, blue, and black.

Supporters

Negeri Sembilan has a big fanbase in every corner of Negeri Sembilan. It is no exception that there are fans from abroad who support and follow the progress of the Negeri Sembilan team. Negeri Sembilan fans have gone through a period of highs and lows with the team when they were often relegated and promoted. The loyalty of the fans was tested when the team was relegated to the 2nd-tier league and had a disappointing season, but that paid off when the team made it to the top flight and managed to win several trophies. In 2011, Negeri Sembilan once set a record for the average number of supporters attending, which was around 20,000 and above, from the start of the Malaysia Cup campaign until the final round against Terengganu. In the semi-final against T-Team, more than 40,000 fans filled the Paroi Stadium.

Chants

Like other teams, Negeri Sembilan has several chants that are chanted by fans. The most popular chant is "Hobin jang hobin" (English:"Strike lad strike"), which is a trademark of Negeri Sembilan. Others include "Ini Paroi jangan main" (English: "This is Paroi don't underestimate"), "Akan berkati sekalian yang setia" (English: "Will bless all the devotees"), "Musuhnya habis binasa," (English:"His enemies perished"), "Buffalo souljah". In addition, there are some mainstream songs that are made by popular Malaysian singers, including "Hobin Jang Hobin" and "Lagu Bola".

There is a very popular chant created by the Ultras Nogori. The chant is called "Sehati Sejiwa" and has been used by most ultras in Malaysia until it was brought to the international level to be used by Ultras Malaya. The lyrics of the chant are as follows:

"Kami turun ke stadium sehati sejiwa Kami turun ke stadium sehati sejiwa Ne..ge..ri Ne..ge..ri Sehati sejiwa"

Fan clubs

There are several fan clubs that have been established since the early 2000s.

• Ultras Nogori 9 (UN9)
• UltraJang
• Kelab e-Penyokong Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan (N9FUTBOL.COM)
• [PSNS] Penyokong Setia Negeri Sembilan
• Soker K-N9
• State of Nine FC
• The Jangs
• Otai N9 Bola Fans
• Nogori Supporters
• Negeri Sembilan Selatan
• PD Pirates
• Info Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan(Kelab Penyokong)
• Soghomban Corefront - SCF
• Seberang Grandstand - atas
• STATE of NINE - SYS
• Negeri Nine
• Naning Media
• Black Blood Boys
• Moncheh Black Armour
• Team N9FC
• Nismilan - 1923
• Supporter Negeri Sembilan FC
• Media Kito Syapalikh TV
• Penyokong Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan (Bahagian Sikamat)

Rivalry

In the southern part of the country, there is a three-way rivalry between Negeri Sembilan, Melaka (currently Melaka FC), and Johor Darul Ta'zim; they fight to be the best club representing the Southern Region of Malaysia.

Naning Derby (Melaka)

The Naning Derby refers to the football rivalry between Negeri Sembilan FC and Melaka FC, two neighbouring teams from the historical Naning region along the Negeri Sembilan–Melaka border. Named after the former district of Naning, which once had political ties to Negeri Sembilan before becoming part of Malacca, the derby carries a sense of regional pride and local identity. Although not as high-profile as some rivalries, matches between Negeri Sembilan and Melaka are often intense and emotionally charged due to proximity, fan interactions, and state pride.

Meetings between the two clubs—especially when both compete in the same division—often draw strong local interest, with fixtures at STAR and Hang Jebat Stadium attracting passionate home crowds. The Naning Derby is a symbol of southern central rivalry, and despite fluctuations in form and league status over the years, the fixture continues to hold significance among fans of both sides. The rivalry is set to reignite in the 2025–26 Malaysia Super League season, as both teams return to the top flight.

Southern Derby (JDT)

The Southern Derby is a football rivalry between Negeri Sembilan FC and Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT), representing two neighboring southern states of Peninsular Malaysia. Though the rivalry dates back to earlier decades, it gained renewed intensity after JDT's transformation into a football powerhouse in 2013. Negeri Sembilan, known for their proud football tradition, often play the role of spirited challengers in these matchups. Despite JDT’s dominance in recent years, matches between the two sides remain fiercely contested due to geographical proximity, historical encounters, and the pride of representing southern Malaysia.

The Southern Derby is noted for its passionate fanbases, with stadiums in both Paroi and Iskandar Puteri regularly drawing large crowds for matches between the teams. Beyond the results, the derby represents regional identity and football heritage, with supporters engaging in coordinated displays, chants, and social media interactions. While JDT has held the upper hand in recent encounters, Negeri Sembilan’s efforts to challenge the dominant side contribute to the rivalry’s drama and unpredictability.

Stadium

Negeri Sembilan has used several football fields and stadiums as their home ground.

• 1940s–1982: Seremban Municipal Council Field

Around the 1940s, Negeri Sembilan started playing at Seremban Municipal Council Field (Malay: Padang Majlis Perbandaran Seremban) since it was built by the British Resident of Negeri Sembilan, John Vincent Cowgill. Seremban Municipal Council Field, better known as Padang Stesyen (English: Station Field) because it was located next to the Seremban railway station, has a sweet history for Negeri Sembilan since it was the first venue where the HMS Malaya Cup was lifted by the team. In 1960 it was upgraded by building 500 seats. In 1973, Padang Stesyen was upgraded to be used for the Field Hockey World Cup. The seats were increased to 5,000.

• 1982: Kuala Pilah Stadium

Kuala Pilah Mini Stadium, or Kuala Pilah Stadium, was used as the temporary home ground of Negeri Sembilan in 1982. The stadium located in Kuala Pilah was used because Padang Stesyen was being upgraded at that time.

• 1982–1992: Seremban Municipal Council Stadium

In 1982, Padang Stesyen was upgraded as Seremban was being granted city status. This caused the name of the field to be changed to Seremban Municipal Council Stadium (Malay: Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Seremban). The Negeri Sembilan team reused this field as their home ground until 1992, when that was the last year the team used the stadium, and it became the starting point for the revival of the Negeri Sembilan team. This iconic stadium was later demolished to make way for the development of Seremban and construction of a shopping centre in 1993.

• 1992: Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium

The Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium (STAR) (Malay: Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman) is named in honour of Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, the eighth Yamtuan Besar of Seri Menanti, the second Yamtuan Besar of modern-day Negeri Sembilan, and the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. In 2004, the capacity of the stadium had been upgraded to 45,000 for the hosting of the 2004 Sukma Games. In 2025, seats were installed in the stands, and the stadium’s capacity was reduced to 25,550 to ensure greater comfort for the fans attending the matches.

Club licensing regulations

Negeri Sembilan FC was granted the National License for the 2025–26 season by the First Instance Body (FIB) of the Malaysian Football League (MFL), as part of the FAM Club Licensing process. The license approval confirms that the club has met the minimum criteria required under the national licensing regulations, including areas such as sporting standards, infrastructure, administrative and personnel qualifications, legal compliance, and financial stability. Possession of the National License permits the club to participate in the 2025–26 Malaysia Super League, the top tier of professional football in Malaysia, as well as all other competitions and cup tournaments organised by the Malaysian Football League.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

List of Negeri Sembilan sponsors history.

Sponsors

List of Negeri Sembilan sponsors for 2025–26 seasons.

Kit sponsor

Warrix is a Thai sportswear manufacturer established in 2013, best known for supplying kits to the Thailand national football team since 2017 and several prominent Southeast Asian clubs. The brand emphasizes performance innovation with advanced fabrics and has grown into a leading name in the regional football scene. In 2025, Warrix signed a two-year deal worth RM 1.7 million to become the official kit sponsor of Negeri Sembilan FC, covering the senior team as well as the U‑20 and U‑18 squads for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons.

Main sponsor

Negeri Sembilan is backed by key sponsors including Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad, a prominent Malaysian property developer; MBI Negeri Sembilan, the state’s municipal investment body; and Negeri Roadstone Sdn. Bhd., a supplier, infrastructure and construction company. Matrix Concepts has been the club’s main sponsor since 2012, while MBI Negeri Sembilan joined in 2024. Negeri Roadstone, initially a sleeve/shoulder sponsor in 2019 until 2023, became a main sponsor in 2024.

Sleeve sponsor

Seremban Engineering Berhad, a local engineering and fabrication firm, and Gemencheh Granite Sdn. Bhd., a quarry and construction materials provider, continue as sleeve sponsors of Negeri Sembilan FC. Gemencheh Granite, which has supported the club since 2021, retains its place on the left sleeve, while Seremban Engineering, joining in 2024, remains on the right.

Back sponsor

NSFC Sport Physio Centre and IRC Negeri Sembilan, a regional rehabilitation and wellness provider, continue as back sponsors of Negeri Sembilan. Introduced during the 2024–25 season, back sponsorship marked a new addition to the club’s kit branding, with both organisations becoming the first to appear in that position.

Official sponsors & partners information

Players

First-team squad

As of 22 January 2026

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

Out on loan

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

Management and technical staff

Management

As of 12 June 2025

Source:

Technical staff

As of 10 June 2025

Source:

Development squads

U20 squad

Currently plays in the President Cup tournament for 2025–26.

As of 15 May 2025

U20 coaching staff

As of 12 May 2025

Source:

U18 squad

Currently plays in the Youth Cup tournament for 2025–26.

As of 15 May 2025

U18 coaching staff

As of 15 May 2025

Source:

Honours

Source:

Managerial history

List of Negeri Sembilan former coaches/managers.

Season by season records

Season-by-season records

1st or Champions 2nd or Runner-up 3rd place Promotion Relegation

Coach records

Player records

Head-to-head records

As of 9 June 2025

Negeri Sembilan's head-to-head records against other clubs since Malaysia Super League and Malaysia Premier League introduced in 2004.

Continental

Continental record

• AFC Cup 2004: Group stage 2007: Group stage 2010: Withdrew

Continental matches

Individual player awards

Golden Boot Award

Other player awards

Club's top goalscorers

Foreign players

For the 2025–26 Malaysia Super League season, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) introduced a revised foreign player quota. Each team is allowed to register up to 15 foreign players, but only six can be used in a matchday squad. This includes four world (open) category players, one from an AFC (Asia) member country, and one from an ASEAN (Southeast Asia) country, with an additional three foreign player allowed on the bench.

List of foreign player

List of NSFC foreign player for 2025–26 season;

Country by the number of players

This list shows the top contributing countries by the number of foreign players who have played for the club.

Affiliations

• UiTM

The NSFC–UiTM collaboration involves sharing information, expertise, and solution methods in football for the purpose of facilitating work and research processes. This collaboration also emphasises the importance of learning in the field of sports science to improve the quality of training, nutrition, and treatment of Negeri Sembilan players.

• Kolej Yayasan Negeri Sembilan

Kolej Yayasan Negeri Sembilan (KYNS) and Negeri Sembilan Football Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding that aims to promote the development of local talent, in addition to providing training and education programmes to players.

• Suparimau League

NSFC collaborated with Maxim Events to organise a grassroots football tournament, the Suparimau League, for the under-8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 age groups. It is run by Maxim Events, which is recognized by FAM as the official grassroots development league.

Former players

Notable players

International capped players

See also

• Negeri Sembilan Football Association
• History of Negeri Sembilan FC
• List of Negeri Sembilan FC records and statistics
• 2024–25 Negeri Sembilan FC season
• 2025–26 Negeri Sembilan FC season

Notes

External links