# 2023 Kelantan F.C. season

The 2023 season is the 78th season in the existence of Kelantan Football Club. It will be the club's first campaign back in the Malaysia Super League since 2018 following their promotion from the previous season. In addition to the league, they will also compete in the Malaysia FA Cup and the Malaysia Cup.
On 13 January 2023, Choi Moon-sik has been appointed as club's new head coach.

## Management team

| Position | Name |
| Manager | Qusmaini Noor Rusli |
| Head coach | Frank Bernhardt |
| Assistant head coach | Rezal Zambery Yahya |
| Assistant coach | Azli Mahmood |
| Goalkeeper coach | Abdul Rahman Baba |
| Fitness coach | |
| Physiotherapist | Abdul Salam Mohamad Noh |
| Team analyst | Pol Corpas |
| Kitman | Shahrul Ridzuan Shamsudin |

## Players
### First-team squad

    As of 31 January 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | MAS | Farhan Abu Bakar |
| 3 | DF | MAS | Khairul Helmi Johari |
| 4 | DF | MAS | Ghaffar Rahman |
| 5 | DF | MAS | Yusri Yuhasmadi |
| 6 | MF | ESP | Mario Arqués (captain) |
| 7 | DF | MAS | Arip Amiruddin |
| 9 | FW | GAM | Nuha Marong |
| 10 | DF | ESP | Cifu |
| 11 | MF | KOR | Kang Yi-chan |
| 13 | GK | MAS | Nik Amin |
| 14 | DF | KOR | Kim Min-gyu |
| 16 | MF | MAS | Faiz Mazlan (on loan from Penang) |
| 17 | MF | MAS | Fazrul Amir |
| 18 | DF | MAS | Afiq Azuan |
| 19 | FW | MAS | Nurshamil Abd Ghani |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | FW | MAS | Danial Ashraf |
| 22 | FW | MAS | Shafiq Shaharudin |
| 23 | DF | PHI | Carli de Murga |
| 24 | FW | NGA | Ismahil Akinade |
| 27 | GK | MAS | Rozaimi Rahamat |
| 32 | DF | PHI | Christian Rontini (vice-captain) |
| 33 | FW | MAS | Hafizan Ghazali |
| 37 | DF | MAS | Gerald Gadit (on loan from Sabah) |
| 61 | FW | MAS | Ammar Nuqman |
| 66 | MF | MAS | Ikhwan Yazek |
| 72 | MF | MAS | Syaqimi Rozi |
| 77 | MF | ARG | Leonardo Rolón |
| 80 | MF | MAS | Khairil Anuar |
| 88 | MF | MAS | Muhaimin Izuddin |
| 91 | MF | MAS | Afzal Akbar |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | MAS | Mior Dani (at Kedah Darul Aman until 17 September 2023) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | IDN | Natanael Siringoringo (at Dewa United until 31 March 2023) |

## Transfers
### First leg

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | MAS | Farhan Roslan (loan return from Sabah) |
| — | MF | MAS | Mior Dani (loan return from Sri Pahang) |
| — | FW | IDN | Natanael Siringoringo (loan return from Dewa United) |
| — | GK | MAS | Rozaimi Rahamat (from Johor Darul Ta'zim II) |
| — | DF | MAS | Gerald Gadit (on loan from Sabah) |
| — | DF | KOR | Kim Min-kyu (from Pohang Steelers) |
| — | FW | MAS | Shafiq Shaharudin (from Kuala Lumpur Rovers) |
| — | MF | MAS | Faiz Mazlan (on loan from Penang) |
| — | MF | KOR | Kang Eui-chan (from Gangwon) |
| — | FW | GAM | Nuha Marong (from Rajasthan United) |
| — | MF | PHI | Andreas Esswein (from United City) |
| — | MF | ESP | Mario Arqués (from Song Lam Nghe An) |
| — | GK | MAS | Farhan Abu Bakar (from Kuala Lumpur Rovers) |
| — | MF | MAS | Khairil Anuar (from Sarawak United) |
| — | FW | MAS | Leslee Jesunathan (from Petaling Jaya City) |
| — | FW | MAS | Afzal Akbar (from UiTM) |
| — | DF | MAS | Afiq Azuan (from Harini) |
| — | DF | PHI | Christian Rontini (from Penang) |
| — | DF | ESP | Cifu (from Ibiza) |
| — | FW | NGA | Ismahil Akinade (from Sheikh Russel) |
| — | DF | PHI | Carli de Murga (from Johor Darul Ta'zim) |
| — | MF | ARG | Leonardo Rolón (from Mitre) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | MAS | Latiff Suhaimi (loan return to Penang) |
| — | MF | MAS | Mior Dani (loan to Kedah Darul Aman) |
| — | FW | JPN | Kenta Hara |
| — | FW | BRA | Nixon Guylherme |
| — | MF | BRA | Felipe Hereda (to Democrata) |
| — | DF | MAS | Zubir Azmi |
| — | DF | MAS | Adam Nadzmi |
| — | MF | MAS | Adam Malique (to Sri Pahang) |
| — | GK | MAS | Asfa Abidin |
| — | GK | MAS | Amin Faisal |
| — | MF | MAS | Jasmir Mehat |
| — | FW | MAS | Farhan Roslan (to Sabah) |
| — | MF | MAS | Syed Sobri |
| — | MF | MAS | Dzulfahmi Hadi (to PDRM) |
| — | FW | MAS | Alifh Aiman (to PDRM) |
| — | GK | MAS | Solehin Mamat |
| — | MF | MAS | Shyamierul Razmee (to PDRM) |
| — | MF | MAS | Azrie Basalie |
| — | MF | MAS | Shahrul Igwan |
| — | DF | MAS | Danial Hadri |
| — | DF | MAS | Osman Yusoff |
| — | MF | MAS | Shafiq Al-Hafiz (to Penang) |
| — | MF | MAS | Mathias Mansor (to Sarawak United) |

## Competitions
### Pre-season and friendlies

Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### Malaysia Super League
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 10 | Penang | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 29 | 50 | −21 | 24 | |
| 11 | Perak | 26 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 25 | 55 | −30 | 22 | |
| 12 | Kelantan United | 26 | 4 | 5 | 17 | 29 | 65 | −36 | 17 | |
| 13 | Kuching City | 26 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 51 | −27 | 12 | |
| 14 | Kelantan | 26 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 29 | 121 | −92 | 8 | Ejected from Malaysian Super League |
* ↑ MFL officially snubs Kelantan club licensing approval.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 9 April 2023. Source: Malaysia Super League

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | A |
| Result | L | L | W | L | D | L | L | L | |
| Position | 10 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | |

#### Matches
### Malaysia FA Cup
## Squad statistics
### Appearances and goals

* Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Malaysia Cup | Malaysia Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 13 | GK | MAS | Nik Mohd Amin | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | GK | MAS | Rozaimi Rahamat | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 4 | DF | MAS | Ghaffar Rahman | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | MAS | Yusri Yuhasmadi | 7 | 0 | 4+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | DF | MAS | Arip Amiruddin | 6 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | DF | ESP | Cifu | 8 | 2 | 6+2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | KOR | Kim Min-gyu | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | MAS | Afiq Azuan | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | PHI | Carli de Murga | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | PHI | Christian Rontini | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | MAS | Gerald Gadit | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | ESP | Mario Arqués | 8 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | KOR | Kang Eui-chan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | MAS | Faiz Mazlan | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | MAS | Fazrul Amir | 7 | 2 | 6+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | MAS | Danial Ashraf | 3 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | MAS | Hafizan Ghazali | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 66 | MF | MAS | Ikhwan Yazek | 5 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | MF | ARG | Leonardo Rolón | 4 | 1 | 1+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 80 | MF | MAS | Khairil Anuar | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 88 | MF | MAS | Muhaimin Izuddin | 7 | 0 | 1+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 91 | MF | MAS | Afzal Akbar | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | GAM | Nuha Marong | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | MAS | Nurshamil Abd Ghani | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | MAS | Shafiq Shaharudin | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | NGA | Ismahil Akinade | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||||
| 29 | MF | MAS | Mior Dani | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Left the club during the Season ||||||||||||
Last updated: 9 April 2023 Source: Competitions, Soccerway.com

## Under-23s
### Current squad

The Under-23s squad consists of players who participate in MFL Cup.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | MAS | Johan Shahzidane Tendot |
| 2 | DF | MAS | Muhammad Faris Mazelih |
| 3 | DF | MAS | Rakesh Munusamy |
| 4 | FW | MAS | Reegan Abraham Saravanan |
| 5 | DF | MAS | Hafiq Almuhafiz Jasman |
| 6 | MF | MAS | Krishna Thasan |
| 7 | MF | MAS | Saranraj Kala Arasu |
| 8 | MF | MAS | Mohamad Khala'if |
| 9 | MF | MAS | Muhamad Raimi Musthpar |
| 10 | FW | MAS | Muhamad Harith Akif |
| 11 | MF | MAS | Haziman Che Ngah |
| 12 | FW | MAS | Hariharan Kartheyges |
| 13 | DF | MAS | Muhammad Amirul Hakim |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | DF | MAS | Mohamad Khairul Amin |
| 15 | MF | MAS | Amir Akmal |
| 16 | MF | MAS | Ahmad Firdaus Roslan |
| 17 | MF | MAS | Wan Muhamad Zulfadhli Ahza |
| 18 | DF | MAS | Muhammad Izzat Emeer |
| 19 | FW | MAS | Muhammad Mirza Malik |
| 20 | MF | MAS | Wan Muhammad Irfan |
| 21 | MF | MAS | Muhammad Afif Jazimin (captain) |
| 23 | MF | MAS | Muhammad Rizaqmi |
| 24 | DF | MAS | Muhammad Firdaus Hasnoddin |
| 25 | GK | MAS | Muhammad Irfan Haikal |
| 31 | MF | MAS | Khairil Anuar |

### Appearances and goals

    As of 3 April 2023
| No. | Player | Position | Appearances | Goals |
| Kelantan Under-23s |||||
| 1 | Johan Shahzidane Tendot | GK | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Muhammad Faris Mazelih | DF | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Rakesh Munusamy | DF | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Reegan Abraham | MF | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | Krishna Thasan | MF | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | Saranraj Kala Arasu | MF | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | Mohamad Khala'if | MF | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Muhamad Raimi Musthpar | MF | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Muhamad Harith Akif | FW | 4 | 3 |
| 11 | Haziman Che Ngah | MF | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | Muhammad Amirul Hakim Lailee | DF | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | Mohamad Khairul Amin | DF | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | Amir Akmal | MF | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | Ahmad Firdaus Roslan | MF | 3 | 0 |
| 18 | Muhammad Izzat Emeer | DF | 4 | 0 |
| 19 | Muhammad Mirza Malik | FW | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | Irfan Nizar | MF | 3 | 0 |
| 21 | Muhammad Afif Jazimin | MF | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | Muhammad Rizaqmi | MF | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | Muhammad Firdaus Hasnoddin | DF | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | Muhammad Irfan Haikal | GK | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | Khairil Anuar | MF | 2 | 0 |
| 32 | Hafizan Ghazali | MF | 2 | 0 |
| 33 | Nuha Marong | FW | 1 | 0 |
| 34 | Gerald Gadit | MF | 1 | 0 |
| 35 | Shafiq Shaharudin | FW | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | Kang Eui-chan | MF | 1 | 0 |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 0 |
| Total goals | Total goals | Total goals | Total goals | 3 |