Madura United
Madura United v
Wikipedia - Madura United F.C.
Madura United Football Club is an Indonesian professional football club. The club is based in Pamekasan, Madura, East Java. They currently play in the Super League.
The current form of the club was established on 10 January 2016; the team's lineage began as Pelita Jaya in 1986, under which it won three Galatama titles in 1988-89, 1990, and 1993-94 before changing names, homebases, and ownership several times.
History
The club was formed as Pelita Jaya Football Club in 1986, based in Jakarta. During that time, the team won three Galatama titles (1988-89, 1990, and 1993-94). Starting from 2000, the team moved home grounds several times, first to Solo in 2000, Cilegon in 2002, Purwakarta in 2006, Bandung in 2008, and Karawang in 2009, before moving back to Bandung in 2012 after Bakrie Group sold off the club in favor of purchasing Arema F.C., which also cancelled a plan to merge the two clubs. Throughout those years, the team retained the "Pelita" name until it was rebranded as Persipasi Bandung Raya (PBR, which also the abbreviation for the final iteration of the club under the "Pelita" name, Pelita Bandung Raya) for the ultimately abandoned 2015 Indonesia Super League; despite the name, Persipasi's home base was actually in Bekasi.
On 10 January 2016, an agreement was reached with the previous owner of Persipasi Bandung Raya, Ari Dewanto Sutedi, and Husodo Angkosubroto, witnessed by the founder of Pelita Jaya, Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie, that the ownership of Persipasi Bandung Raya (PBR) was to be taken over and moved to Madura. The club was rebranded as Madura United. After the purchase, Madura United replaced PBR to compete in the 2016 Indonesia Soccer Championship A.
In 2024, fresh off their 2023–24 Liga 1 runner-up finish, Madura United participated in the inaugural 2024–25 AFC Challenge League tournament being placed in Group E alongside Cambodian club Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng and Mongolian club SP Falcons where the club played both of their match in Ulaanbaatar. On 27 October 2024, Madura United faced SP Falcons in a goalless contest at the MFF Football Centre with both team sharing the points. In the next match, Madura United defeated Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng 2–1 and advanced to the quarter-finals as the group leaders, facing off against Taiwanese club Tainan City where Madura United was caught with a goalless draw in the first leg at the Kaohsiung Nanzih Football Stadium. In the second leg, Madura United went on to win the match 3–0 thus qualifying to the semi-finals.
Madura United is recognized for its distinctive red and white colors, symbolizing the spirit and pride of the Madura region. The club has made significant strides in domestic competitions, consistently aiming for top positions in the league and showcasing a blend of local talent and experienced players. Their playing style is characterized by a dynamic and attacking approach, making them an exciting team to watch.
Off the pitch, Madura United is committed to community engagement and development, fostering local talent and promoting the sport throughout the region. With a vision to become one of the leading clubs in Indonesia, Madura United continues to build its legacy, striving for success both on and off the field.