Founding & early history

The club was founded on June 18, 1927 under the name Soerabhaiasche Indonesische Voetbal Bond (SIVB). The founders, Paijo and M. Pamoedji, established the club with the intent of housing Indonesian players. Previously, in 1910, stood Soerabaiasche Voetbal Bond (SVB), but, this club was established to be a representation of the Dutch community living in Surabaya. This club also had close ties with the Dutch East Indies government.

Both of them clearly have different policies. SIVB, which consists of Indonesians, was actively involved in the Indonesian independence movement.

Together with VIJ Jakarta (now Persija), BIVB Bandung (now Persib), MIVB Magelang (now PPSM), MVB Madiun (now PSM Madiun), VVB Surakarta (now Persis Surakarta), and PSIM, SIVB initiated the formation of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) on April 19, 1930 in Yogyakarta.

PSSI then held Perserikatan, a memberial national football competition, but, the competition was halted in 1943 after the Japanese occupied Indonesia and limited the movement of sports activities and organizations. In 1943, SIVB also changed its name to Persibaya.

Persibaya's sister club, SVB, went on to compete in a competition held by the Nederlandsch Indische Voetbal Bond (NIVB)/Dutch East Indies Football Association. NIVB (later renamed the Netherlands Indische Voetball Unie) did this because the colonial government thought NIVB was no longer able to match the PSSI.

Post-independence era & administration

After Indonesia's independence, the map of football also changed. PSSI is not necessarily the only football federation in the country at the time, after Sukarno plotted Indonesian independence.

During the United Republic of Indonesia (RIS) period, NIVU was still operating. They held the Indonesia State Football Association / Voetbal Union Verenigde Staten van Indonesie competition (ISNIS / VUVSI). The participants were clubs that existed during the Dutch East Indies administration, including VBO Jakarta (VIJ Jakarta / now Persija), VBBO Bandung (now Persib), VSO Semarang (now PSIS) and SVB (Persibaya).

SVB won the competition two times in a row in 1949 and 1950. SVB was one of the strong teams in the ISNIS competition, winning the championship eleven times, only behind VBO Jakarta (now Persija), who won 13 titles.

PSSI then was revitalized after the RIS period ended, which ended on August 17, 1950. Through the PSSI congress on September 2–4, 1950 in Semarang, the federation stated that it would hold the PSSI National Championship.

After the congress PSSI became the sole football federation in Indonesia. This forced the NIVU member clubs to join PSSI. The pattern of the NIVU club is a member of a club affiliated with PSSI. For example, VBO joined as a member of the Persija internal club, then VBBO, UNI Bandung, and Sidolig joined Persib, and this happened at other clubs.

There are special cases for Surabaya. SVB did not directly become an internal member of Persibaya, but merged into it and embraced that the birth date of Persibaya was June 18, 1927, which was the date of the establishment of SIVB. Later, in 1959, Persibaya changed their name to Persebaya.

Four titles In Perserikatan

Post-smelting, Persebaya appeared in the PSSI National Championship which later became known as the Perserikatan. The immediate impact was felt. Persebaya managed to become the champion in the first edition in 1951 after being able to overcome the resistance of PSM, Persija, and PSIM.

The following year they managed to retain the title. This time Bajul Ijo was able to win the competition with Persija, Persis, Persib, PSMS, Persema, and Persipro.

In the 1978 edition of the Perserikatan, the format of the competition changed into a tournament with the champion being determined through the final match. Persebaya was able to bend Persija with a 4-3 score through goals scored by Hadi Ismanto (two goals), Rudy W. Keltjes, and Joko Malis at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Persebaya again managed to win the final against Persija in the 1988 season, with a final score of 3-2. The match lasted until the extra time round.

In total, Persebaya won the Perserikatan title four times, in 1951, 1952, 1978, and 1988.

Liga Indonesia era

Great achievements were kept awake when PSSI merged Perserikatan and Galatama clubs into a professional league named Liga Indonesia in 1994. Persebaya won the Liga Indonesia Premier Division title in 1996–97. Even Persebaya managed to make history as the first team to win the Liga Indonesia Premier Division twice when in 2004 Green Force won the title again. Although predicated as a classic team laden with titles, Green Force also briefly felt the bitterness of being relegated in 2002. Bitter pills are immediately redeemed with the titles of First Division and Premier Division titles in the next two seasons.

The four Perserikatan titles and two Liga Indonesia titles made Persebaya collect a total of six National titles at the top-tier division of the Indonesian football league system. That number only lost to Persija with a total of eleven championship titles, Persis and Persib with seven titles.

Dualism era

The 2009/2010 season was the beginning of Persebaya Surabaya's dualism. Persebaya Surabaya (PT Persebaya Indonesia) experienced degradation to the First Division due to being forced to rematch 3 times against Persik Kediri with different places namely in Kediri, Yogyakarta and Palembang. In the third rematch Persebaya refused to do the rematch, the management did not accept and did not want to join the Premier Division and then follow the illegal league "Indonesia Premier League" from the previous name Persebaya Surabaya (PT Surabaya Indonesia) was changed to Persebaya 1927 (PT Persebaya Indonesia).

Utilizing the Persebaya slot in the Premier Division the following season, Wisnu Wardhana took over Persikubar (Kutai Barat) and registered it as Persebaya to enter the Premier Division Competition. Although bearing the official name of Persebaya, the team formed by Wisnu Wardhana did not have a place in the hearts of Bonek (Persebaya supporters), they were more loyal to support the "original" Persebaya who were forced to change their name to Persebaya 1927 due to dualism of competition, and IPL was not recognized as a competition PSSI official.

Persikubar Kutai Barat was taken by Wisnu Wardhana and changed its name to Persebaya Surabaya (now Bhayangkara FC) to be able to join the Liga Indonesia, then successfully promoted to return to the Indonesian Super League in the 2014 season. Then in the 2015 season unfortunately the league was terminated after it was not recognized by the Government and then later Indonesia was banned by FIFA.

In the 2015 season, Persebaya 1927 (PT Persebaya Indonesia) won a patent claim for the Persebaya name and logo, so that automatically the legality of Persebaya Surabaya was under PT. Persebaya Indonesia. This resulted in the Persebaya Surabaya version of Wisnu Wardhana having to change its name to Bonek FC. A year later, Bonek FC again changed its name to Surabaya United at the urging of Bonek who did not want his name to be used for a club that did not represent them (Bonek remained loyal to Persebaya 1927).

In the 2016 season Surabaya United merged with PS Polri and then again changed its name to Bhayangkara Surabaya United and continued until following the Indonesia Soccer Championship competition, in the second half of the competition right in May 2016 the National Police officially bought 100% Bhayangkara Surabaya United shares and deleted the name behind the club so that it is now named Bhayangkara FC, in the same month the results of the Exco meeting held in Solo, Persebaya 1927 was ratified as a member of PSSI and will be ratified at the KLB in Makassar and will again compete in the 2017 Major Division. However, at the PSSI congress which conducted in Jakarta on November 10, 2016 canceled the ratification agenda. The elected PSSI chairman, Edy Rahmayadi, promised to resolve the Persebaya problem at the next congress in Bandung.

Post-dualism/Liga 1 era

In the 2017 season, Persebaya Surabaya again competed in Liga 2, and success became the champion of the second division by defeating PSMS Medan with extra time in the final which was held at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium,^[2] then promoted to the highest tier, Liga 1. Club's player, Irfan Jaya, became the best player of the season.

In the 2018 season, Persebaya managed to finish at 5th in the final standings of Liga 1. This ranking is quite surprising to the public because they reached it as a promotion team, Persebaya were not expected to penetrate the top 5, as promotion teams were deemed less likely to compete, with some getting relegated back to Liga 2.

In 2019, Persebaya competed in the pre-season tournament President's Cup. They managed to reach the final stage and lost in the Super East Java Derby against Arema aggregately 2–4.^[3] Club's forward player, Manuchekhr Dzhalilov became one of three top scorers with 5 goals.

In the end of October 2019, Persebaya appointed their legend as head coach, Aji Santoso, replaced Wolfgang Pikal in the middle of the season.^[4] Under his management, he led the club to finish at 5th in 2021–22 season.^[5]

Matches

Persebaya had experienced controversial events several times throughout its history. When winning the 1988 Competition, Persebaya played an infamous match dubbed "elephant football" for losing on purpose to Persipura Jayapura 0–12 to eliminate their rival PSIS Semarang which, in the previous year, had shattered Persebaya's dream in the final. These tactics brought results and Persebaya won the Perserikatan in 1988 by beating Persija Jakarta 3–2.

In the 2002 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, Persebaya took action against PKT Bontang, causing them a point deduction. The incident became one of the factors which caused Persebaya's relegation to the First Division. In 2005 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, Persebaya shocked the public when they walked out in the last eight before the third match. The incident caused Persebaya's suspension from football for 2 years. After an appeal, the sentence was reduced to 16 months. However, the PSSI later ruled to only relegate Persebaya to the First Division.

Supporters

The supporters of Persebaya are known as Bonek, this name is an acronym from Bondho (resource) and Nekat (reckless). Bonek is one of the biggest supporters in Indonesia.^[8][9]

The song "Song for Pride", is an anthem song Persebaya Surabaya, this song was composed by Mahardika Nurdian Syahputra.^[10]

Friendship

Bonek has a good relationship with Bobotoh, Supporters of Persib Bandung.^[11] Their friendship began with their fans who often made headlines as supporters of the rioters.

Rivalries

The main rivalry with Arema FC is known as the Super East Java derby this match was born from the hostility of the fans and showed the best in East Java, the supporters should not be brought together by the Indonesian Police because of the possibility of clashes between groups.^[12][13]

The match with PSIS Semarang was born from the controversy of Sepakbola Gajah since Perserikatan.^[14] Until now the two clubs always compete with high tension when they meet.^[15]

Persebaya also has another rival with Persija Jakarta, PSM Makassar, Persib Bandung in the Perserikatan era.^[16][17]

Current squad

As of 3 March 2023^[19]

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

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  IDN Lalu Muhammad Rizki 2 DF  IDN Arief Catur 3 DF  IDN Reva Adi Utama (captain) 5 DF  SRB Dušan Stevanović 6 MF  IDN Muhammad Iqbal 8 MF  IDN Andre Oktaviansyah 9 FW  BRA Paulo Henrique 11 FW  IDN Chandra Waskito 15 GK  IDN Miftakhul Yunan 17 DF  IDN Roy Ivansyah 20 FW  IDN Wildan Ramdhani 21 GK  IDN Ernando Ari 23 DF  IDN Kadek Raditya 25 DF  IDN Mikael Tata

No. Pos. Nation Player 26 DF  BRA Yan Victor 27 MF  IDN Oktafianus Fernando 28 DF  IDN Alfan Suaib 30 MF  BRA Róbson Duarte 32 DF  IDN Riswan Lauhin 36 MF  IDN Ripal Wahyudi 52 GK  IDN Andhika Ramadhani 64 GK  IDN Aditya Arya Nugraha 68 MF  IDN Toni Firmansyah 73 DF  IDN Rifqi Arya Wardana 77 MF  IDN Kasim Botan 96 MF  IDN Muhammad Hidayat 99 FW  BRA Bruno

Close

Out on loan

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

More information No., Pos. ...

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  IDN Gede Dida (at Persikab Bandung) — DF  IDN George Brown (at Persipal Palu) — DF  IDN Nuri Fasya (at Persik Kediri) — DF  IDN Salman Alfarid (at Gresik United) — MF  IDN Brylian Aldama (at PSCS Cilacap) — MF  IDN Saiful (at Perserang Serang) — MF  IDN Brayen Pondaag (at Persipal Palu) — MF  IDN Bramdani (at Kalteng Putra)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  IDN Julian Mancini (at PSCS Cilacap) — MF  IDN Fernando Pamungkas (at Persikab Bandung) — MF  IDN Denny Agus (at Deltras) — MF  IDN Risky Dwiyan (at Persiba Balikpapan) — MF  POR Zé Valente (at Persik Kediri) — FW  IDN Widi Syarief (at Persekat Tegal) — FW  IDN Ferdinand Sinaga (at Persiraja Banda Aceh)

Close

Past seasons

Key

• Tms. = Number of teams
• Pos. = Position in league

Performance in AFC competitions

• Asian Club Championship/AFC Champions League
  • 1997–98 – First round
  • 2005 – Group stage
• Asian Cup Winners' Cup
  • 1999–2000 – Second round