The club was established in 1923, according to a passage in the football history books of Malaysia based on an interview with Austin Senevirathe, who was 93 years old when interviewed. He spoke about a match that happened between PBNS and Singapore for the Malaya Cup in that particular year. Negeri Sembilan is one of the oldest football clubs in Malaysia. Other older teams are Penang and Perak, which were each formed in 1921. In 2023, Negeri Sembilan celebrated the 100th anniversary of its establishment.[1]
The club was established in 1923, according to a passage in the football history books of Malaysia based on an interview with Austin Senevirathe, who was 93 years old when interviewed. He stated that the Malaya Cup match between Negeri Sembilan and Singapore took place in that particular year.[16]
In 1926 the Football Associations of Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Selangor, Malacca and the Singapore Amateur Football Association, came together to form the Malayan Football Association (MFA), to field a Malayan team against an Australia side that visited Singapore that year.[17]
In 1927 PBNS started organising league matches. Among the trophies that were up for grabs at that time were the Annex Shield, the British Resident's Cup, and the Hose Cup. The earliest football clubs that existed and competed in the league were Negri Sembilan Chinese "A," Negri Sembilan Club, Port Dickson Recreation Club, Sungei Ujong Club, Negri Sembilan Chinese "B," and St. Paul's Old Boys Association.[18]
40s (1940–1949)
In 1942–1947 all football competitions in Malaya were suspended due to World War II and the Japanese occupation of Malaya. This also caused the Negeri Sembilan team to stop participating in league and cup competitions until 1948, when the team was able to compete again.[19]
In 1953 Negeri Sembilan finished as runners-up in the Kings Gold Cup after being defeated by Kedah in the final with a 4–1 score.[22]
80s (1980–1989)
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. Also in 1982, the Perbandaran Seremban Field was upgraded, and throughout that period, the team used the Kuala Pilah Stadium (a contemporary stadium) as their home ground where they had previously used the Perbandaran Seremban Field. Later, the field was renamed the Perbandaran Seremban Stadium and began to be used until 1991.[23]
In 1989 Liga Malaysia changed its status from amateur to semi-pro. The Semi-Pro League was introduced and divided into two tiers: the Division 1 League for the first tier and the Division 2 League for the second tier. Negeri Sembilan was placed in Division 2 according to their current performance. The team is only in an average position in Division 2 despite having used the services of Singapore international player R. Suriamurthy and Thailand import player Likit Sanatong.[32]
90s (1990–1999)
1991 was the year of the revival of the Negeri Sembilan team, which in previous years had been an underdog. That was also the last year the Negeri Sembilan team used the Majlis Perbandaran Seremban Stadium before the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi was used as their home ground until now. On 18 August 1991, the team met Sarawak in the final match of the Division 2 League at the Majlis Perbandaran Seremban Stadium. Negeri Sembilan, who was in first place at the time, only needed a draw while Sarawak, who was in second place, needed a win to reach the top spot in the league table. The match of that day went to Negeri Sembilan with a result of 2–2, and they managed to collect one point. It was the last year that led to the success of winning the Semi-Pro League Division 2, then qualifying for Division 1 in 1992. Among the star players at that time were the import trio, the Bozik Brothers (Miroslav and Robert), and the powerful striker Marian Valach. Local players include Richard Scully, Mansor Sulaiman, and Nazari Hussein.[33]
In 1992 the construction of Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium was completed and inaugurated to be used as a multipurpose stadium. The stadium initially held a capacity of 20,000 people, and since then, the Negeri Sembilan team has officially made the stadium their home ground for the Liga Semi-Pro Divisyen 1 tournament in that year.[34]
On 12 April 1992 the Negeri Sembilan team won the 1992 Kings' Gold Cup after beating Terengganu FA, 2–1, at Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium, Paroi. The coaches and players shared a cash reward of RM20,000 from the Negeri Sembilan Malay Football Association. Negeri Sembilan's coach at that time was Haji Mohd Zaki Shaikh Ahmad. Earlier, the last time Negeri Sembilan FA participated in the final of the trophy was in 1953, when they lost 1–2 to Pulau Pinang.[35]
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. The game remained 1–1 until the 90th minute, and in extra time, victory was decided on a golden goal. In the 95th minute, the club managed to get the golden goal as a result of Everson Martinelli's goal, and the club was crowned FA Cup champion in 2003.[37]
In 2004 the capacity of Negeri Sembilan's Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium was upgraded to 45,000 people for the hosting of the 2004 Sukma Games. This benefitted Negeri Sembilan fans as the numbers of maximum spectators increased and was best used for the big match such as a derby or a final match.[38]
Negeri Sembilan made its first appearance in the AFC Cup competition in the 2004 season. The club made its debut in the first match against Island FC with a big 6–0 win on 10 February 2004. However, the club had to settle for being 3rd in the group after losing all the group stage matches against Geylang United, East Bengal, and Island FC. All teams played at home and away for a total of six games.[39]
In March 2004 Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was appointed as the president of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS). It's because he successfully held the position as the 10th Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan and replaced Isa Samad, who held that position the previous year. Mohamad Hasan was the first Menteri Besar who had ever been a local football player and then became the president of PBNS. He never represented the first team of Negeri Sembilan but played a lot with clubs in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.[40] He was banned from football for life after receiving a red card when NS Malays played against NS Indians in 1977. He was active in football in the 1970s.[41]
In the 2005–06 season, the team won the Malaysia Super League by finishing first out of eight clubs that competed. The newly promoted team from the Malaysian Premier League in the 2005 season managed to become the league champion in their first appearance since the Super League was introduced in 2004.[42]
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, starting from the group stage until the final. That final match was a fantastic night.[43]
The repeat final of 2009 between the club and Kelantan happened again on 30 October 2010. However, this time, the club lost 1–2 to Kelantan despite having taken an early lead through a penalty by Shahurain Abu Samah.[44]
2010s (2010–2019)
On 10 April 2010 Negeri Sembilan needed the luck of the penalty shootout to win the FA Cup championship again by beating Kedah 5–4 in the final of the 21st edition at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil. This continues to confirm them as the new powerhouse of national football after winning the Malaysia Cup last season. Both teams were tied at 1–1 after the end of the 90 minutes of the actual game, even after the referee, R. Krishnan, dragged it into extra time in front of about 70,000 spectators, the majority of whom were "Hijau Kuning" supporters.[45]
In 2011 the club again qualified for the Malaysia Cup Final for the third time in a row, this time with their new coach, Mohd Azraai Khor Abdullah. 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. Negeri Sembilan used the last 10 minutes of the game to make a comeback. S. Kunanlan equalised the score in the 81st minute before Hairuddin Omar, the veteran striker, hit the winning goal for Negeri Sembilan with a beautiful volley in the 85th minute.[46]
In the early part of the 2011 season one of the team's all-time best coaches, Wan Jamak Wan Hassan, resigned from the club. He sees no excuses for the team's disappointing run in the Malaysia Super League and Malaysia FA Cup competitions for that season.[47]
In 2012 Negeri Sembilan signed nine new faces, including two import players, to cover the "Hoben Jang Hoben" squad challenged in the Super League 2012 season. Two import players, a striker from Cameroon named Jean-Emmanuel Effa Owona and a defender from Brazil named Gonçalves Ferreira Marquen, were offered a one-year contract as the latest additions to the backup squad to help the Jangs form a strong team.
On 7 January 2021 Negeri Sembilan lifted the 2012 Malaysian season's opening Charity Shield when they beat Kelantan 2–1 in the match that was played at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Cameroonian striker Jean-Emmanuel Effa Owona emerged as the hero for Negeri with a brace of goals in the 31st and 63rd minutes to erase Kelantan's earlier goal off Norshahrul Idlan in the 22nd minute.[48]
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 the 2015 season. This has become the beginning of the process of privatising the Negeri Sembilan.[49]
In 2015, overall Negeri Sembilan did not play as expected. The club has invested heavily in the team, but they are only 6th in the league and knocked out early in the FA Cup. even more disappointing when they failed to qualify for the Malaysia Cup. On 26 August 2015, the Negeri Sembilan Football Association disbanded the Premier League team NS Matrix, shortly after the team failed to qualify for the Malaysia Cup 2015. Also eliminated is the head coach, K. Devan.[50]
On 25 December 2015 Negeri Sembilan successfully defeated Perlis in the Kings Gold Cup match with a 2–1 win at Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium. This success ended Negeri Sembilan's 23-year drought since 1992 and brought home the round trophy and RM40,000 in cash, while the runner-up received RM20,000 in cash.[51]
On 10 September 2018 Tunku Besar of Tampin, 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 after winning unopposed at the 86th PBNS Congress, held at Klana Resort.[56]
2020s (2020–present)
Until 2020, the team competes within the capacity of the Football Association (FA). However, the team has finally succeeded in being privatised in the football club privatisation campaign by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in September 2020 and has been performing as a "Football Club" (FC) since the 2021 season.[57]
In 2022, even as a team that has just been promoted to the Super League, the club has given good competition in the league by securing the 4th position out of 12 teams. The club is only three points behind Terengganu, who are in 2nd place. This season also saw the rise of some local players who got called up from the national squad: Khuzaimi Piee and Syihan Hazmi. The encouraging performance of several other players was also the cause of NSFC's revival at that time, such as Harold Goulon, Matheus Alves and Gustavo.[61][62][63]
In 2024, the Malaysia Super League started in May and this is the first season to have a two-year schedule, since 2007–08. This system has been changed from the old Malaysian league match schedule system, so it will coordinate the same scheduling with the AFC calendar.[64] Also, On January 12, Faliq Firdaus was appointed as the new chief executive officer of Negeri Sembilan FC. He became the youngest CEO in the Malaysia Super League competition for the 2024–25 season.[65][66][67]
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.[68]
On 13 June 2025, Negeri Sembilan FC 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.[69]
25 August 2025 – In a dramatic Malaysia Super League clash at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, Negeri Sembilan came from behind to defeat Selangor 2–1. Selangor went ahead through Richmond Ankrah in the 13th minute, but Negeri Sembilan fought back in the second half, with Mio Tsuneyasu equalising in the 83rd minute before netting the winner in the 90+3rd minute to complete the comeback. The match attracted 25,550 spectators, the last time Negeri Sembilan recorded more than 20,000 in attendance was on 11 May 2022, when 22,224 fans watched their clash against Johor Darul Ta’zim.[71]
Names
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.[72]
2016–2020: Negeri Sembilan
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.[73]
2020–present: Negeri Sembilan F.C.
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.[74]
Escutcheon: The escutcheon of the arms is depicted as an Old Frenchshield outlined in black. The shield itself is coloured in shades of the Minangkabau people's traditional colours, like the flag, but is illustrated in the form of three partitions separated by diagonal lines running from the upper left to the lower right and varies slightly by its symbolisation.
Rice Stalks: Nine yellow stalks of rice[75] attached to the motto in the form a white scroll with "P.B.N.S" which is an abbreviation for "Persatuan Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan" (English: Negeri Sembilan Football Association). The stalks signifies the nine states under the old Negeri Sembilan:[76]Jelai, Jelebu, Johol, Kelang (now part of Selangor), Naning (now part of Malacca), Rembau, Segamat-Pasir Besar, Sungei Ujong, and Ulu Pahang.
Crossed Keris Sheath: Two keris sheath crossed together to show the teamwork of the Negeri Sembilan players on the field.
NSFA Crest (2014–2021)
Dato' Seri UtamaHaji Mohamad bin Hasan changed the team's crest in 2014. The new crest is almost identical to the old crest, but only a few things have changed:
Crossed Keris: The old crest only featured two crossed keris sheaths, but it has been improved by adding two blades of keris to the crest. These two blades of keris and their sheaths are crossed to show the teamwork and fighting spirit of the Negeri Sembilan players on the field.
Red Ribbon:Dato' Seri UtamaHaji Mohamad bin Hasan has given the idea to place a red ribbon written "EST. 1923" which means established since 1923. This red ribbon has white stripes on the sides, and the ribbon is placed at the bottom of the crest.
NSFC crest (2021–present)
Negeri Sembilan previously used the crest of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS). After being privatised in 2020, the Negeri Sembilan FC team started using the new crest after PBNS organised a competition to create a logo for Negeri Sembilan FC. The competition was won by the logo designed by Azral Ramlay, which has been used by the team since 2020.[77]
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: [78]Jelai, Jelebu, Johol, Kelang (now part of Selangor), Naning (now part of Malacca), Rembau, Segamat-Pasir Besar, Sungei Ujong, and Ulu Pahang. This logo also maintains the use of rice stalks as in the logo of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS), which was established in 1923, but improvises by tying all the rice stalks into a symbol of unity.
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 who are together within the Negeri Sembilan Traditional Land 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 Frenchshield outlined in black. The three basic colours of Negeri Sembilan on the shield symbolise all the people, players, and supporters coming together to protect and defend their beloved team from being damaged by the enemy, along with the lyrics of the Negeri Sembilan song, "Musuhnya Habis Binasa" (English: "His enemies perished").
Colours and kits history
Colours
Red, yellow and black: Negeri Sembilan uses three colours from the state flag of Negeri Sembilan 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 team, these three colours have their own meaning: yellow represents the team, black symbolises the players, and red denotes the supporters. [79]
Kits history
Mostly, the team uses red as the dominant colour for the home kit with the addition of some yellow and black colors, while for the away kit, the dominant colour is yellow with the addition of some red and black colors. Sometimes the team reverses yellow as the home kit colour and red as the away kit colour; this depends on the agreement between the team and the kit manufacturer as well as the conditions of the competing league's management. As for the team's third kit, there are several dominant colour variations, such as white, blue, and black.
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[k] fans filled the Paroi Stadium.[80]
Chants and banners
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 team. There are also a number of chants and banners use by Negeri Sembilan fans, including "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," and many more. In addition, there are also some mainstream songs that are made by popular Malaysian singers, especially for the Negeri Sembilan team, including "Hobin Jang Hobin by Poe" and "Lagu Bola by WARIS".[81]
There is a very popular chant created by the supporters of Negeri Sembilan, 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 and still exist today. There are those who simply started as supporters at the stadium, and there are those who create fan pages on social media. This is the list of fan clubs for the Negeri Sembilan team.[82]
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)
Seremban Municipal Council Stadium (Padang Stesyen)
1982–1992
4
Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium
1992–present
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, in the early 1940. Seremban Municipal Council Field, or 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 the beginning, this field did not have seating facilities, and spectators only sat on the sides of the field. In 1960, after Independence Day, this field was upgraded by building 500 seats that can accommodate about 5,000 people.
In 1973, Padang Stesyen was upgraded to allow the field to be used for the Field Hockey World Cup in 1975, when Malaysia was chosen as the host country and Padang Stesyen became one of the competition venues. At this time the seats were increased to 5,000 uncovered seats, which made Padang Stesyen famous at the time due to the good pitch conditions for a world-class tournament.
1982: Kuala Pilah Stadium
Kuala Pilah Mini Stadium, or Kuala Pilah Stadium, was used as the temporary home ground of the Negeri Sembilan team 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 by the Negeri Sembilan government due to Seremban being upgraded as a city. This also 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.
The Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium (STAR) (Malay: Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman), also known by its informal name Stadium Paroi and nickname "The STAR of Paroi," is a multi-purpose stadium in Paroi, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Inaugurated in 1992, the stadium initially held a capacity of 20,000 people. Negeri Sembilan has been using the STAR as their home ground since 1992, and this stadium has been the place where various glorious histories of the Negeri Sembilan team were created. The stadium 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 people for the hosting of the 2004 Sukma Games.
Champions of 1991 Malaysia Semi-Pro Division 2 League
Negeri Sembilan won the 1991 Semi-Pro League Division 2 title after a tense title race with Sarawak, their closest rival for the top spot. On 18 August, both teams met in a decisive final match, with Negeri Sembilan needing only a draw and Sarawak requiring a win to leapfrog them. The match ended 2–2, enough to crown Negeri Sembilan as champions and earn promotion to Division 1. Key players included Miroslav Bozik, Robert Bozik, Marian Valach, Richard Scully, and Nazari Hussein.[33]
Negeri Sembilan’s first Malaysia Cup (then known as the Malaya Cup) triumph came in 1948, when they defeated Selangor 4–2 in the final held at the Selangor Club Padang. It was a historic victory as it marked the state’s first major success in Malayan football, led by a team of local talents in the post-war era.[20]
Negeri Sembilan claimed their third Malaysia Cup title in 2011, once again defeating Kelantan, this time 2–1 in the final. Under coach Azraai Khor, the team made a dramatic comeback after trailing 0–1, with goals from S. Kunalan and Hairuddin Omar securing the win. The 2011 victory confirmed Negeri Sembilan's resurgence as one of the country’s top teams in the modern era.[46]
Negeri Sembilan won their first Malaysia FA Cup title in 2003 after defeating Perlis 1–0 in the final. The closely contested match was decided by a goal from Khairul Anuar Baharom, giving Negeri Sembilan their maiden FA Cup triumph and a major boost in the early 2000s era.[37]
Champions of2010 Malaysia FA Cup vs Kelantan FA
The second FA Cup title came in 2010, when Negeri Sembilan edged Kelantan 5–4 in a dramatic penalty shootout after a goalless draw in the final. Goalkeeper Farizal Marlias was the hero of the night, making key saves in the shootout to secure the victory. The win added another major trophy to the team's growing list of honours during a successful period in the late 2000s.[45]
Malaysia Charity Cup
Champions of 2012 Malaysia Charity Cup vs Kelantan FA
This list features notable current and former players who have made significant contributions to the team, including key figures in its success, national team representatives, fan favourites, long-serving legends, and those who played a major role in the team’s revival.
Foreign players were officially allowed in Malaysian football starting in 1989 with the introduction of the Semi-Pro League, which marked the beginning of a regulated quota system. However, some teams had already fielded foreign players in the early to mid-1980s, though not under a formal structure governed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). Prior to 1989, these signings were often short-term or unofficial. The foreign player ban from 2009 to 2011 was lifted in 2012, and the quota has since gradually expanded.[98]
List of overseas players who currently and previously played for the club on a permanent transfer and on loan.
Sponsorship is vital to Negeri Sembilan FC’s growth and competitiveness, providing essential financial support for operations, player development, and marketing. The club has been backed by notable sponsors such as Telekom Malaysia, Matrix Concepts, Yakult Malaysia, and local entities like Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (SAINS). Kit sponsorships over the years have included international brands like Adidas and Lotto, as well as local labels such as Kaki Jersi and J King. Since its privatisation in 2020, the club has adopted a more strategic approach to commercial partnerships, introducing sleeve sponsors as early as 2019 and, for the first time, a back sponsor in the 2024–25 season.[105]
As the largest shareholder of Negeri Sembilan Sdn. Bhd., Negeri Sembilan FA became the most important affiliate of Negeri Sembilan FC. Being the association responsible for forming and strategizing the marketing, management, and development aspects of football in Negeri Sembilan.
The NSFC–UiTM collaboration involves sharing information, expertise, and solution methods in football for the purpose of facilitating work and research processes through collaborative negotiation and consultancy activities. 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. In addition, being able to share infrastructure between the NSFC and the UiTMNegeri Sembilan Branch.[109]
Kolej Yayasan Negeri Sembilan
Kolej Yayasan Negeri Sembilan (KYNS) and Negeri Sembilan Football Club (NSFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement that aims to promote football in Negeri Sembilan. KYNS and NSFC will work together in the development of local talent, in addition to providing training and education programmes to players.[110]
Negeri Sembilan Chempaka FC, also known as NS Chempaka, was a football club based in Negeri Sembilan. The club played in Liga 2 from 1998 until 2001, later being promoted to Liga 1 in 2002. NS Chempaka has been affiliated with Negeri Sembilan since its establishment, before the club was dissolved in 2002.
NS Betaria FC, also known as Betaria FC, was a Malaysianfootball club based in Tampin, Negeri Sembilan. The club was established in 2003, and the club used the Tampin Mini Stadium as their home stadium. Betaria FC has been affiliated with Negeri Sembilan since its establishment before being dissolved in 2014.
SAINS FC is a professional football club that plays in the M3 League, the second tier of the Malaysian League. Based in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, SAINS FC is a football club for the Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (SAINS)(Literally meaning Negeri Sembilan Water Company). They have been collaborating with Negeri Sembilan since its establishment in 2016. The collaboration has raised the SAINS FC brand and the development of footballers born in Negeri Sembilan. They also signed and loaned some NSFC players several times. In 2024, the club announced that they are withdrawing from the Malaysia M3 League for the 2024–25 season.[111]
Leagues
Name
Years
Suparimau League
2024–
Suparimau League
NSFC collaborated with Maxim Event to organise a grassroots football tournament, the Suparimau League, for the under-8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 age groups. This tournament involves the participation of teams from around Negeri Sembilan. It is run by Maxim Events, which is recognized by FAM as the official grassroots development league.[112]
Squad number history
As of 2025–26 season
This statistic shows which squad numbers have already been assigned in their history and to which players.
Jacque Faye (2024–2025), David Mawutor (2022), Alain Akono (2021), Danial Hadri (2019–2020), Ferris Danial (2018), Ahmad Hazeri Hamid (2017), K. Kavichelvan (2014–2015), Alafi Mahmud (2013), G. Mahathevan (2011–2012), K. Thanaraj (2009–2010), Zaquan Adha (2007–2008), Khaidir Mohd Dom (2005), Mohd Nor Sheikh Ismail (1999), Affendi Julaihi (1998), Aminuddin Hussein (1994)
↑ Second time being appointed as head coach, having last served from 1981 to 1982.
↑ Appointed as the head coach on July 1987, during the ongoing season. Also, third time being appointed as head coach, having last served from 1985 to 1986.
↑ Appointed as the head coach on September 1989, during the ongoing season.
↑ Appointed as the head coach on 21 March 2011, during the ongoing season.[86]
↑ Appointed as the caretaker on 14 May 2013, during the ongoing season.[88]
↑ Second time being appointed as head coach, having last served from 2003 to 2006.
↑ Appointed as the head coach on 28 February 2018, during the ongoing season. Also, second time being appointed as head coach, having last served from 2011 to 2012.[90]
↑ Appointed as the head coach on 11 May 2018, during the ongoing season.[92]
↑ Third time being appointed as head coach, having last served in 2015
↑ Appointed as the head coach on 15 August 2024, during the ongoing season.[94]
↑ "Matlumat Am Bendera Negeri" (in Malay). Matlumat Am > Bendera Negeri (Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus) (Official Portal of the Negeri Sembilan State Government). Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
↑ "Matlumat Am Bendera Negeri" (in Malay). Matlumat Am > Bendera Negeri (Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus) (Official Portal of the Negeri Sembilan State Government). Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
↑ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Rajanikandh Batumalai (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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