# 2021 Kuala Lumpur City F.C. season

The 2021 season was Kuala Lumpur City's 43rd season in competitive season and the 1st season in the Malaysia Super League since being promoted from 2020 Malaysia Premier League. This is club's first season after rebranded as Kuala Lumpur City Football Club.

## Management team

| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Bojan Hodak |
| Assistant head coach | Nenad Bacina |
| Technical director | Nidzam Adzha |
| Assistant coaches | Rosle Md Derus |
| Assistant coaches | Mohamad Ramli |
| Goalkeeper coach | Guilherme Almeida |
| Fitness coach | Afeeq Aqmal |
| Physiotherapist | Khidir Abdelakrim Elfdl Ali |

## Squad information

    As of match played 12 September 2021
Appearances in all competitions. Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||
| 1 | Kevin Ray Mendoza | GK | (1994-09-29) 29 September 1994 (age 30) | Vendsyssel FF | 2021 | 22 | 0 |
| 22 | Khatul Anuar | GK | (1997-04-02) 2 April 1997 (age 27) | Youth team | 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 26 | Azim Al-Amin | GK | | Youth team | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders |||||||||
| 2 | Wan Amirzafran | CB | (1994-12-20) 20 December 1994 (age 30) | Terengganu | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Daniel Ting | LB | (1994-12-01) 1 December 1994 (age 30) | Unattached | 2021 | 22 | 1 |
| 4 | Kamal Azizi | RB | (1993-08-28) 28 August 1993 (age 31) | Terengganu | 2021 | 12 | 0 |
| 9 | Giancarlo Gallifuoco | CB | (1994-01-12) 12 January 1994 (age 31) | Melbourne Victory | 2021 | 21 | 1 |
| 17 | Irfan Zakaria | CB / DM | (1995-06-04) 4 June 1995 (age 29) | Kedah Darul Aman | 2021 | 112 | 2 |
| 24 | Nik Shahrul | CB / RB | (1990-12-30) 30 December 1990 (age 34) | PKNS | 2020 | 26 | 0 |
| 25 | Anwar Ibrahim | RB | (1999-06-10) 10 June 1999 (age 25) | Selangor II | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| Midfielders |||||||||
| 6 | Ryan Lambert | RM / CM | (1998-09-21) 21 September 1998 (age 26) | Den Bosch | 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| 12 | Shukor Adan | DM / CB | (1979-09-24) 24 September 1979 (age 45) | Melaka United | 2021 | 15 | 1 |
| 14 | Akram Mahinan | DM | (1993-01-19) 19 January 1993 (age 32) | PKNS | 2020 | 30 | 0 |
| 21 | Kenny Pallraj | DM | (1993-04-21) 21 April 1993 (age 31) | Perak | 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| 28 | Paulo Josué (captain) | CM / AM | (1989-03-13) 13 March 1989 (age 35) | Votuporanguense | 2017 | 107 | 37 |
| Forwards |||||||||
| 7 | Romel Morales | AM / CF | (1997-08-23) 23 August 1997 (age 27) | Melaka United | 2021 | 22 | 5 |
| 8 | Zhafri Yahya | LW | (1994-09-25) 25 September 1994 (age 30) | Selangor | 2017 | 103 | 7 |
| 10 | Safee Sali (3rd-captain) | CF | (1984-01-29) 29 January 1984 (age 41) | Petaling Jaya City | 2021 | 42 | 21 |
| 13 | Kyrian Nwabueze | CF | (1994-12-11) 11 December 1994 (age 30) | Laçi | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Izreen Izwandy | LW / RW | (2000-07-16) 16 July 2000 (age 24) | Youth system | 2020 | 16 | 2 |
| 19 | Partiban Janasekaran | RW | (1992-11-28) 28 November 1992 (age 32) | Perak | 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 20 | Alif Safwan | CF | (2000-02-12) 12 February 2000 (age 25) | PKNP | 2020 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | Indra Putra Mahayuddin (vice-captain) | LW / RW | (1981-09-02) 2 September 1981 (age 43) | Kelantan | 2018 | 84 | 18 |
| 29 | Arif Shaqirin | AM | (2000-03-13) 13 March 2000 (age 24) | Youth system | 2021 | 5 | 0 |
| Also under contract |||||||||
| 77 | Julian Bechler | GK | (2001-08-31) 31 August 2001 (age 23) | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Players away on loan |||||||||
| 5 | Fauzan Fauzi | RB | (1995-01-07) 7 January 1995 (age 30) | PDRM | 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| 15 | Azhar Apandi | CB | (1999-05-16) 16 May 1999 (age 25) | Youth system | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Zamir Selamat | GK | (1989-06-09) 9 June 1989 (age 35) | Penang | 2020 | 11 | 0 |
| 19 | Sean Giannelli | AM / CF | (1996-10-31) 31 October 1996 (age 28) | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 21 | Azim Rahim | CF | (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 28) | Felda United | 2020 | 13 | 2 |
| Left during the season |||||||||
| 11 | Dominique Da Sylva | CF | (1989-08-16) 16 August 1989 (age 35) | Terengganu | 2021 | 6 | 3 |

## Transfers
### 1st leg

In:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | PHI | Kevin Ray Mendoza (from Vendsyssel FF) |
| 2 | DF | MAS | Wan Amirzafran (from Terengganu) |
| 3 | DF | MAS | Daniel Ting |
| 4 | DF | MAS | Kamal Azizi (from Terengganu) |
| 5 | DF | MAS | Fauzan Fauzi (from Police) |
| 7 | MF | COL | Romel Morales (from Melaka United) |
| 9 | DF | AUS | Giancarlo Gallifuoco (from Melbourne Victory) |
| 10 | FW | MAS | Safee Sali (from Petaling Jaya City) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 11 | FW | MTN | Dominique Da Sylva (from Terengganu) |
| 17 | DF | MAS | Irfan Zakaria (from Kedah Darul Aman) |
| 25 | DF | MAS | Anwar Ibrahim (from Selangor) |
| 27 | MF | MAS | Hadin Azman (from Kedah Darul Aman) |
| – | GK | GER | Julian Bechler (from Johor Darul Ta'zim III) |
Out:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | MAS | Ernest Wong (to Manukau United) |
| 3 | DF | MAS | S. Subramaniam (to Petaling Jaya City) |
| 4 | DF | MAS | Syazwan Tajudin (to Kedah Darul Aman) |
| 7 | DF | KGZ | Azamat Baimatov (to Alga Bishkek) |
| 9 | FW | TOG | Francis Koné |
| 11 | FW | MAS | Dzulfahmi Abdul Hadi (to Kelantan) |
| 13 | DF | MAS | Raimi Md. Nor |
| 17 | DF | MAS | Fandi Othman (to Kedah Darul Aman) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 20 | MF | MAS | Ezrie Shafizie |
| 25 | DF | MAS | Qayyum Marjoni (to Kelantan United) |
| 26 | FW | MAS | Shafiq Shaharudin |
| 27 | FW | MAS | Hafiz Johar |
| 29 | MF | MAS | Alif Samsudin |
| 32 | MF | ARG | Nicolás Dul |
| 39 | FW | MAS | Nabil Latpi (to Police) |

### 2nd leg

In:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| – | MF | MAS | Partiban Janasekaran (from Perak) |
| – | MF | MAS | Ryan Lambert (from Den Bosch) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| – | MF | MAS | Kenny Pallraj (from Perak) |
| – | FW | USA | Kyrian Nwabueze (from Laçi) |
Out
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 5 | DF | MAS | Fauzan Fauzi (loan to Penang) |
| 11 | FW | MTN | Dominique Da Sylva |
| 15 | DF | MAS | Azhar Apandi (loan to Perak) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | GK | MAS | Zamir Selamat (loan to UiTM) |
| 19 | FW | MAS | Sean Giannelli (loan to UiTM) |
| 21 | FW | MAS | Azim Rahim (loan to Penang) |

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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 4 | Terengganu | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 33 | 20 | +13 | 38 | |
| 5 | Selangor | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 45 | 30 | +15 | 36 | |
| 6 | Kuala Lumpur City | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 33 | Qualification for AFC Cup group stage |
| 7 | Petaling Jaya City | 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 28 | −12 | 24 | |
| 8 | Melaka United | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 25 | 31 | −6 | 21 | |
* ↑ KL City qualified to 2022 AFC Cup as winner of 2021 Malaysia Cup
* ↑ Melaka have been docked three points based on the following of the decision from FAM (Football Association of Malaysia).'"`UNIQ--ref-00000025-QINU`"'

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | L | W | D | W | L | D | D | W | L | L | D | W | D | D | D | D | D | W | W | W | W | L |
| Position | 10 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |

#### Matches

Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### Malaysia Cup
#### Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 15 September 2021.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KUL | SUD | PAH | PEN |
| 1 | Kuala Lumpur City | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 14 | Quarter-finals | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Sarawak United | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 10 | Quarter-finals | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | 1–2 |
| 3 | Sri Pahang | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 6 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 |
| 4 | Penang | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 15 | −11 | 4 | | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–5 | — |

#### Knockout stage
##### Final
## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

Players with no appearances not included in the list.
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | League | Malaysia Cup | Malaysia Cup | Total | Total |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | | Kevin Ray Mendoza | 22 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | | Wan Amirzafran | 0(2) | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | | Daniel Ting | 22 | 1 | 10(1) | 1 | 33 | 2 |
| 4 | DF | | Kamal Azizi | 12 | 0 | 10(1) | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | | Ryan Lambert | 5(2) | 0 | 9(2) | 1 | 18 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | | Romel Morales | 22 | 5 | 10(1) | 10 | 33 | 15 |
| 8 | MF | | Zhafri Yahya | 20(1) | 2 | 9(2) | 3 | 32 | 5 |
| 9 | DF | | Giancarlo Gallifuoco | 20(1) | 1 | 9(1) | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | | Safee Sali | 2(9) | 1 | 2(1) | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | | Shukor Adan | 0(7) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 13 | FW | | Kyrian Nwabueze | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | | Akram Mahinan | 18(2) | 0 | 10(1) | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | | Izreen Izwandy | 3(9) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| 17 | DF | | Irfan Zakaria | 20(1) | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | | Partiban Janasekaran | 6(3) | 0 | 10 | 2 | 19 | 2 |
| 21 | MF | | Kenny Pallraj | 6(1) | 0 | 10(1) | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | | Indra Putra Mahayuddin | 5(15) | 0 | 1(6) | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | | Nik Shahrul | 13(4) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | | Anwar Ibrahim | 0(1) | 0 | 1(3) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | | Hadin Azman | 14(3) | 1 | 1(6) | 1 | 24 | 2 |
| 28 | MF | | Paulo Josué | 18(2) | 10 | 8(3) | 1 | 31 | 11 |
| 29 | MF | | Arif Shaqirin | 1(4) | 0 | 1(9) | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | | Fakrul Aiman | 6(7) | 0 | 2(3) | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Players have left the club ||||||||||
| 5 | DF | | Fauzan Fauzi | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | | Dominique Da Sylva | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| 15 | DF | | Azhar Apandi | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | | Sean Giannelli | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | | Azim Rahim | 0(5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Last updated: 30 November 2021. Source: Soccerway.com

### Goalscorers

| Rank | No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | Malaysia Cup | Total |
| 1 | 7 | MF | | Romel Morales | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| 2 | 28 | MF | | Paulo Josué | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| 3 | 8 | MF | | Zhafri Yahya | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 11 | FW | | Dominique Da Sylva | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | 3 | DF | | Daniel Ting | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | 19 | MF | | Partiban Janasekaran | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | 27 | MF | | Hadin Azman | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | 6 | DF | | Ryan Lambert | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | 9 | DF | | Giancarlo Gallifuoco | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 10 | FW | | Safee Sali | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 12 | DF | | Shukor Adan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 16 | MF | | Izreen Izwandy | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 27 | 19 | 46 |
Last updated: 30 November 2021. Source: Soccerway.com

### Clean sheets

| Rank | No. | Pos | Nat | Name | League | Malaysia Cup | Total |
| 1 | 1 | GK | | Kevin Ray Mendoza | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 7 | 6 | 13 |
Last updated: 30 November 2021. Source: Soccerway.com