Country | Malaysia |
---|---|
Confederation | AFC |
Founded | 14 February 2004 |
Number of teams | 12 (from 2013) |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Liga Premier |
Domestic cup(s) |
Piala FA Piala Malaysia Piala Sumbangsih |
International cup(s) |
AFC Champions League AFC Cup |
Current champions |
Johor Darul Ta'zim (3rd title) (2016) |
Most championships | Johor Darul Ta'zim (3 titles) |
TV partners | Media Prima |
Website | Official Website |
2017 Liga Super |
The Malaysia Super League (officially the Liga Super Malaysia) is a top-tier professional association football league in Malaysian football league system. Administrated by Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP), Liga Super (LS) is contested by 12 clubs and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Liga Premier (LP).
The inaugural season started in 14 February 2004. Seasons run from February to October. Seasons start in early February and last until late October, with a Ramadan break for a month. Teams play 22 matches each (playing each team in the league twice, home and away), totalling 132 matches in the season. Most games are played on Saturdays, with a few games played during weekdays.
The competition was formed in 2004 following the decision by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to privatise the league. As a result, Malaysia Super League Sendirian Berhad (or MSL Proprietary Limited) was created to oversee the marketing aspects of the league, but it was not fully privatised until 2015, when FMLLP was created in the course of privatisation of the Malaysian football league system. The partnership saw all 24 teams of Liga Super and Liga Premier including FAM as the Managing Partner and MP & Silva as a special partner (FAM's global media and commercial advisor) to become stakeholders in the company. FMLLP owns, operates and runs five entities in Malaysian football under its jurisdiction, which include Liga Super, the Liga Premier, the Piala FA, the Piala Malaysia and the Piala Sumbangsih. It aims to transform and move Malaysian football forward.
The league still retain its name for 2016 season as Liga Super Malaysia without title sponsorship.
While 30 clubs have competed since the inception of the Liga Super in 2004, only eight have won the title: Johor Darul Ta'zim (3), Kedah, Selangor, Kelantan (2), Pahang, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, and LionsXII (1). The current champions are Johor Darul Ta'zim, which won the title in 2016 season.