List of Hong Kong football champions

Last updated

List of Hong Kong football champions
Founded1908
CountryHong Kong
Confederation AFC
Current champions Tai Po
(2nd title)
(2024–25)
Most championships South China
(41 titles)
Current: 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League

The Hong Kong football champions are the winners of the Hong Kong Premier League and Hong Kong First Division League, which is the oldest top-flight league system in Asia.

Contents

South China is the most successful club in Hong Kong. The club has won 41 league titles until 2012–13 season.

A defunct club, Seiko, are the record holders of winning longest consecutive titles. Between 1978–79 and 1984–85 they had won 7 league titles.

List

Hong Kong First Division League era (1908–2014)

EditionSeasonChampions
(number of titles)
Runners-upThird placeLeading goalscorerGoals
1 1908–09 Buffs (1) R.G.A. Royal Engineers (Unknown)
2 1909–10 R.G.A. (1) Buffs (Unknown) Taylor (Buffs)20
3 1910–11 Buffs (2)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
4 1911–12 King's Own Rifiles (1)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
5 1912–13 R.G.A. (2)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
6 1913–14 D.C.L.I. (1) Royal Engineers R.G.A. (Unknown)
7 1914–15 R.G.A. (3)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
8 1915–16 R.G.A. (4)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
9 1916–17 Royal Engineers (1)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
10 1917–18 R.G.A. (5)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
11 1918–19 Royal Navy (1) Hong Kong FC R.G.A. (Unknown)
12 1919–20 Hong Kong FC (1)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
13 1920–21 Wiltshire Regiment (1) R.G.A. (Unknown)(Unknown)
14 1921–22 HMS Curiew (1) Hong Kong FC (Unknown)(Unknown)
15 1922–23 King's Own Rifiles (2) HMS Ambrose (Unknown)(Unknown)
16 1923–24 South China (1) East Surrey Regiment HMS Titania (Unknown)
17 1924–25 East Surrey Regiment (1) South China Hong Kong FC (Unknown)
18 1925–26 Kowloon FC (1) East Surrey Regiment Hong Kong FC (Unknown)
19 1926–27 Recreio (1) C.A.A. Police (Unknown)
20 1927–28 C.A.A. (1)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
21 1928–29 C.A.A. (2) Somerset Regiment (Unknown)(Unknown)
22 1929–30 C.A.A. (3) Royal Navy Somerset Regiment (Unknown)
23 1930–31 South China (2) Kowloon FC Argylis (Unknown)
24 1931–32 South Welsh Borderers (1)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
25 1932–33 South China (3) South Welsh Borderers Royal Artillery (Unknown)
26 1933–34 South Welsh Borderers (2) St. Joseph's Lincoleshire Regiment (Unknown)
27 1934–35 South China (4) Police Recreio (Unknown)
28 1935–36 South China (5) C.A.A. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Unknown)
29 1936–37 Ulster Guards (1) South China South China B (Unknown)
30 1937–38 South China B (6) Middlesex Regiment South China (Unknown)
31 1938–39 South China (7)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
32 1939–40 South China (8) Eastern South China B (Unknown)
33 1940–41 South China A (9)(Unknown)(Unknown)(Unknown)
34 1941–42 Season unfinished due to World War II
1942–43Postponed due to World War II
1943–44
1944–45
35 1945–46 Royal Air Force (1) 44 Commando Eastern Flag of the Republic of China.svg Lai Shiu Wing (Eastern)13
36 1946–47 Sing Tao (1) South China 42 Commando Flag of the Republic of China.svg Lai Shiu Wing (Sing Tao)34
37 1947–48 Kitchee (1) Sing Tao K.M.B. Kwok Ying Kee (Kitchee)38
38 1948–49 South China A (10) K.M.B. C.A.A. Tang Yee Kit (K.M.B.)26
39 1949–50 Kitchee (2) K.M.B. St. Joseph's Yiu Cheuk Yin (Kitchee)25
40 1950–51 South China (11) K.M.B. Army Force Au Chi Yin (Police)20
41 1951–52 South China (12) Army Force Sing Tao 陳家壽 (South China)25
42 1952–53 South China (13) Kitchee Eastern Lee Yuk Tak (South China)36
43 1953–54 K.M.B. (1) South China Kitchee Tang Yee Kit (K.M.B.)26
44 1954–55 South China (14) Kitchee K.M.B. Lee Yuk Tak (South China)32
45 1955–56 Eastern (1) South China K.M.B. Ho Cheung Yau (South China)38
46 1956–57 South China (15) Kitchee K.M.B. Lee Yuk Tak (South China)33
47 1957–58 South China (16) K.M.B. Kitchee Ho Cheung Yau (South China)40
48 1958–59 South China (17) K.M.B. Tung Wah Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 麥永雄 (Police)27
49 1959–60 South China (18) Happy Valley Tung Wah Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Lau Chi Lam (Kitchee)25
50 1960–61 South China (19) Happy Valley Tung Wah Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 郭滿華 (Happy Valley)27
51 1961–62 South China (20) Happy Valley Sing Tao Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Lau Chi Lam (Happy Valley)32
52 1962–63 Yuen Long (1) Tung Wah Kitchee Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 郭滿華 (Happy Valley)26
53 1963–64 Kitchee (3) Happy Valley South China Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Cheung Chi Doy (Kitchee)42
54 1964–65 Happy Valley (1) South China Sing Tao Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 袁權滔 (Tung Wah)
郭滿華 (Happy Valley)
19
55 1965–66 South China (21) Happy Valley Sing Tao Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 郭滿華 (Happy Valley)21
56 1966–67 K.M.B. (2) South China Sing Tao Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 袁權滔 (Tung Sing)21
57 1967–68 South China (22) Sing Tao Eastern 郭滿華 (Eastern)33
58 1968–69 South China (23) Sing Tao Jardines Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 陳朝基 (South China)17
59 1969–70 Jardines (1) Sing Tao Yuen Long Flag of the Republic of China.svg Cheung Chi Doy (Jardines)
郭滿華 (Eastern)
18
60 1970–71 Rangers (1) Jardines Sing Tao Flag of Scotland.svg Derek Currie (Rangers)24
61 1971–72 South China (24) Caroline Hill Fire Services Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 袁權滔 (Eastern)26
62 1972–73 Seiko (1) South China Tung Sing Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Wu Kwok Hung (Seiko)
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Cheung Chi Wai (Fire Services)
25
63 1973–74 South China (25) Seiko Caroline Hill Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley)22
64 1974–75 Seiko (2) Happy Valley Rangers Etti (Seiko)21
65 1975–76 South China (26) Seiko Rangers Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley)16
66 1976–77 South China (27) Seiko Happy Valley Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Fung Chi Ming (South China)15
67 1977–78 South China (28) Happy Valley Tung Sing Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Fung Chi Ming (South China)19
68 1978–79 Seiko (3) Happy Valley Eastern Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley)22
69 1979–80 Seiko (4) Happy Valley Bulova Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 張家平 (Tung Sing)18
70 1980–81 Seiko (5) South China Happy Valley Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg 張家平 (Tung Sing)14
71 1981–82 Seiko (6) Happy Valley Bulova Flag of the Netherlands.svg Cees Storm (Seiko)12
72 1982–83 Seiko (7) Bulova Eastern Flag of Scotland.svg Derek Parlane (Bulova)
Flag of England.svg Clive Haywood (Bulova)
史賓斯 (Rangers)
拉南 (Ryoden)
8
73 1983–84 Seiko (8) Bulova Happy Valley Flag of England.svg Peter Bodak (Seiko)10
74 1984–85 Seiko (9) South China Sea Bee Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg John Paskin (South China)10
75 1985–86 South China (29) Happy Valley Sea Bee 麥當奴 (Happy Valley)
波能泰 (Sea Bee)
11
76 1986–87 South China (30) Eastern Happy Valley Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Tim Bredbury (South China)10
77 1987–88 South China (31) Happy Valley Sing Tao Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Chan Fat Chi (South China)13
78 1988–89 Happy Valley (2) South China Lai Sun Double Flower Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Chan Fat Chi (South China)18
79 1989–90 South China (32) Eastern Happy Valley Flag of England.svg Dale Tempest (South China)15
80 1990–91 South China (33) Happy Valley Lai Sun Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Tim Bredbury (Lai Sun)
Flag of England.svg Dale Tempest (South China)
16
81 1991–92 South China (34) Eastern Happy Valley Flag of England.svg Steve Neville (South China)21
82 1992–93 Eastern (2) South China Instant-Dict Flag of England.svg Dale Tempest (Eastern)15
83 1993–94 Eastern (3) Instant-Dict South China Flag of England.svg Dale Tempest (Eastern)16
84 1994–95 Eastern (4) South China Golden Flag of England.svg Dale Tempest (Eastern)18
85 1995–96 Instant-Dict (1) South China Golden Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Foster (Instant-Dict)19
86 1996–97 South China (35) Instant–Dict Golden Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Foster (Instant-Dict)18
87 1997–98 Instant-Dict (2) South China Happy Valley Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Foster (Instant-Dict)16
88 1998–99 Happy Valley (3) South China Yee Hope Flag of Brazil.svg Tomy (Sai Kung Friends)16
89 1999–2000 South China (36) Sun Hei Happy Valley Flag of Brazil.svg Leandro (Sai Kung)16
90 2000–01 Happy Valley (4) Instant-Dict South China Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Ritchie (Happy Valley)13
91 2001–02 Sun Hei (1) Happy Valley South China Flag of Nigeria.svg Cornelius Udebuluzor (Rangers)
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg Keith Gumbs (Happy Valley)
12
92 2002–03 Happy Valley (5) Sun Hei Rangers Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg Keith Gumbs (Happy Valley)17
93 2003–04 Sun Hei (2) Kitchee Happy Valley Flag of Cameroon.svg Julius Akosah (Sun Hei)12
94 2004–05 Sun Hei (3) Happy Valley Kitchee Flag of Brazil.svg Ernestina (Happy Valley)14
95 2005–06 Happy Valley (6) Sun Hei Rangers Flag of Brazil.svg Fábio Lopes Alcântara (Happy Valley)
Flag of Brazil.svg Ernestina (Happy Valley)
10
96 2006–07 South China (37) Kitchee Sun Hei Flag of Brazil.svg Tales Schutz (South China)17
97 2007–08 South China (38) Citizen Tai Po Flag of Brazil.svg Detinho (South China)19
98 2008–09 South China (39) Kitchee Citizen Flag of Brazil.svg Detinho (South China)
Flag of Brazil.svg Giovane (Sun Hei)
18
99 2009–10 South China (40) Pegasus Kitchee Flag of Brazil.svg Cahê (Sun Hei)14
100 2010–11 Kitchee (4) South China Pegasus Flag of Spain.svg Jordi Tarrés (Kitchee)
Flag of South Africa.svg Makhosonke Bhengu (Rangers)
12
101 2011–12 Kitchee (5) Pegasus South China Flag of Brazil.svg Sandro (Rangers)12
102 2012–13 South China (41) Kitchee Tuen Mun Flag of Hong Kong.svg Jaimes McKee (Pegasus)16
103 2013–14 Kitchee (6) Pegasus South China Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Admir Raščić (Pegasus)14

Hong Kong Premier League era (2014–Present)

YearChampions
(number of titles)
Runners-upThird placeLeading goalscorerGoals
1 2014–15 Kitchee (7) Eastern Pegasus Flag of Brazil.svg Giovane (Eastern)17
2 2015–16 Eastern (5) Kitchee South China Flag of Montenegro.svg Admir Adrović (Hong Kong Pegasus)
Flag of Brazil.svg Giovane (Eastern)
10
3 2016–17 Kitchee (8) Eastern Southern Flag of Hong Kong.svg Sandro (Kitchee)21
4 2017–18 Kitchee (9) Tai Po Pegasus Flag of Brazil.svg Lucas Silva (Kitchee)15
5 2018–19 Tai Po (1) R&F Southern Flag of Spain.svg Manolo Bleda (Eastern)
Flag of Brazil.svg Lucas Silva (Kitchee)
12
6 2019–20 Kitchee (10) Eastern R&F Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Serges Déblé (R&F)
Flag of Brazil.svg Igor Sartori (R&F)
6
7 2020–21 Kitchee (11) Eastern Lee Man Flag of Montenegro.svg Dejan Damjanović (Kitchee)17
8 2021–22 Abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
9 2022–23 Kitchee (12) Lee Man Rangers Flag of Brazil.svg Everton Camargo (Lee Man)
Flag of Montenegro.svg Dejan Damjanović (Kitchee)
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ruslan Mingazov (Kitchee)
17
10 2023–24 Lee Man (1) Tai Po Eastern Flag of Estonia.svg Henri Anier (Lee Man)
Flag of Spain.svg Noah Baffoe (Eastern)
17
11 2024–25 Tai Po (2) Lee Man Eastern Flag of Spain.svg Noah Baffoe (Eastern)21

Performances

There are 30 clubs who have won the Hong Kong title.

Bold indicates clubs currently playing in the top division. Italic indicates clubs which are defunct.

Club

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasons
South China

⭐⭐⭐⭐

4117 1923–24, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13
Kitchee

128 1947–48, 1949–50, 1963–64, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
Seiko 93 1972–73, 1974–75, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85
Happy Valley 615 1964–65, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06
Eastern 58 1955–56, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2015–16
Royal Garrison Artillery 52 1909–10, 1912–13, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1917–18
Sun Hei 33 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05
Chinese A. A. 32 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30
Kowloon Motor Bus 25 1953–54, 1966–67
Double Flower (Instant-Dict)23 1995–96, 1997–98
Tai Po 22 2018–19, 2024–25
Buffs 21 1908–09, 1910–11
South Welsh Borderers 21 1931–32, 1933–34
King's Own Rifiles 2 1911–12, 1922–23
Sing Tao 14 1946–47
East Surrey Regiment 12 1924–25
Royal Engineers 11 1916–17
Royal Navy 11 1918–19
HKFC 11 1919–20
Kowloon FC 11 1925–26
Jardines 11 1969–70
Lee Man 11 2023–24
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 1 1913–14
Wiltshire Regiment 1 1920–21
HMS Curiew 1 1921–22
Recreio 1 1926–27
Ulster Guards 1 1936–37
Royal Air Force 1 1945–46
Yuen Long 1 1962–63
Rangers 1 1970–71
Pegasus 3
Bulova 2
HMS Ambrose 1
Somerset Light Infantry Regiment 1
St. Joseph's 1
Police 1
Middlesex Regiment 1
44 Commando 1
Army Force 1
Tung Wah 1
Caroline Hill 1
Citizen 1
R&F 1

Current Club

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasons
South China 4117 1923–24, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13
Kitchee 128 1947–48, 1949–50, 1963–64, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
Happy Valley 615 1964–65, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06
Eastern 58 1955–56, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2015–16
Sun Hei 33 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05
Double Flower (Instant-Dict)23 1995–96, 1997–98
Tai Po 22 2018–19, 2024–25
HKFC 11 1919–20
Lee Man 11 2023–24
Yuen Long 1 1962–63
Rangers 1 1970–71
Pegasus 3
Citizen 1

Total titles won by region

Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories make up the three regions of Hong Kong. All three have had clubs based within become Hong Kong football champions, most recently, New Territories, when Tai Po won the title in 2024–25. a

RegionNumber of titlesClubs
Hong Kong Island
57
South China (41), Seiko (9), Happy Valley (6), HKFC (1)
Kowloon
20
Kitchee (12), Eastern (5), Double Flower (2), Rangers (1)
New Territories
7
Sun Hei (3), Tai Po (2), Lee Man (1), Yuen Long (1)

By District

Hong Kong is divided into 18 districts. Eight out of the eighteen districts have had a club become Hong Kong football champions. The most recent district to have the distinction is Tai Po, when Tai Po won the title in 2024–25. a

DistrictNumber of TitlesClubs
Wan Chai
51
South China (41), Seiko (9), HKFC (1)
Yau Tsim Mong
17
Kitchee (12), Eastern (5)
Eastern
8
Happy Valley (6), Double Flower (2)
Kwai Tsing
3
Sun Hei (3)
Tai Po
2
Tai Po (2)
Yuen Long
1
Yuen Long (1)
Kwun Tong
1
Rangers (1)
Sai Kung
1
Lee Man (1)

Multiple trophy wins

See The Double and The Treble .

Notes

    ^a Home grounds of many champions, especially ones who are defunct, may be unknown. This table should not be considered conclusive.

    References

      Sources