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Hong Kong Premier League

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 12 min

Hong Kong Premier League
Founded2014; 10 years ago (2014)
CountryHong Kong
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams9
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toHong Kong First Division
Domestic cup(s)Hong Kong FA Cup
Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield
Hong Kong Sapling Cup
Hong Kong Premier League Committee Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League Two
Current championsLee Man (1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsKitchee (6 titles)
TV partnerson.cc
RTHK
Websitehkfa.com
Current: 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League

The Hong Kong Premier League (Chinese: 香港超級聯賽) is a Hong Kong professional football league organised by the Football Association of Hong Kong, China. It is currently sponsored by BOC Life and officially known as BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League (Chinese: 中銀人壽香港超級聯賽). The inaugural season began in September 2014. It is the top-division football league in Hong Kong.

History

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On 7 February 2013, the Hong Kong Football Association stated that the new Premier League would get under way in Autumn 2014, where it was suggested that the 2013–14 season would be a transition year.[1] As a result, the 2013–14 Hong Kong First Division League was the last season of the First Division to be the top tier of football in the Hong Kong league system.

The clubs already in the top division initially reacted negatively to the perceived increased running costs of competing in a professional league, particularly one where some felt that there was little difference to the old First Division.[2] Five clubs – Citizen, Southern, Sun Hei, Happy Valley and Tuen Mun all eventually decided against joining the new league, which led to fears that the HKFA's plan to start the league with a minimum of 8 teams would not be possible.[3] In the end, however, through public funding and government support, two teams from the Hong Kong Second Division were able to meet the new league licence requirements and were promoted, making a total of 9 teams for the first season.[4]

With the recent completion of 'Project Phoenix' which started in 2011, the league has seen some improvements with further amendments planned for the future. This includes a new five-year funding agreement, a new licensing scheme for league member clubs, prize money for all participating teams and new measures put in place against corruption and match-fixing.[5]

Kitchee were crowned as champions of the inaugural season, after amassing a total of 36 points in the league with only 2 losses. Tai Po finished bottom of the league with only 7 points.

The following season, Eastern won the league with a game to spare, winning their first top flight championship in 20 years. They also created history, as they were the first team in the world to win a top flight men's title whilst being managed by a female coach. Wong Tai Sin were relegated after finishing last in the league.

In the 2016–17 season, Kitchee reclaimed the title on the final day of the season in a showdown with rivals Eastern, a game which they won 4–1. Eastern later won the End-of-Season playoffs and will therefore also compete along with Kitchee in the 2018 AFC Champions League. HKFC finished bottom of the table, and were thus automatically relegated to the First Division.

Kitchee successfully defended their title in the 2017–18 season, becoming the first club to repeat as champions the following year.

In the 2018–19 season, Tai Po won the league, becoming the first district team to win a top flight title since Yuen Long in 1962–63.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021–22 season was curtailed and ultimately cancelled, with the championship withheld: this was the first time a top flight league season had been cancelled since the Second World War.

Since 2022–23 season, the Premier League Committee was established. The committee focuses on promoting the Hong Kong Premier League in the market and seeking commercial sponsorships, and achieving box office revenue sharing.[6]

In the 2023–24 season, the video assistant referee (VAR) review system was introduced.[7] Lee Man won the league with a game to spare, winning their first ever top flight championship.

Format

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The first season kicked off in September 2014, with 9 teams competing for the championship. It was initially suggested that a relegation system would not apply for the first few seasons, and that teams would continue to be promoted to the top-tier league until there were 12 member clubs.[8] In the end, however, the HKFA decided that one club would be relegated and one club would be promoted from the 2014–15 Hong Kong First Division League.[9]

By 2016–17, the league had expanded to 11 teams. The HKFA promoted Tai Po and HKFC who had finished at the top of the 2015–16 Hong Kong First Division into the league while adding expansion teams Hong Kong Sapling and R&F. Wong Tai Sin were relegated from the previous season and Metro Gallery chose to self relegate due to financial difficulties.

For the 2017–18 season, the league moved down to ten teams after Hong Kong's most successful and longest running top flight club South China chose to relegate themselves to the First Division in a shock move after the departure of their chairman, and them failing to find suitable financial means to keep the club in the Premier League. HKFC were also relegated after finishing bottom of the table.

The current champions of the league and the champions of the Hong Kong FA Cup qualify for the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two. Previously the FA Cup winners and the teams finishing in 2nd, 3rd and 4th competed in an end of season playoff for the final spot in the AFC Champions League, but this format was abolished after the 2016–17 season.

Reserve League

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Each Hong Kong Premier League team form their own reserve team which competes in the Hong Kong Reserve Division League (Chinese: 香港預備組聯賽).

Prize money

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The Hong Kong Premier League trophy.

The structure of the prize money is as below.[10]

Final placing Prize money (HK$)
Champion 720,000
Second 324,000
Third 216,000
Fourth 162,000
Fifth 126,000
Sixth 90,000
Seventh 72,000
Eighth 54,000
Ninth 36,000

Clubs

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As of the 2024–25 season, a total of 9 teams currently participate in the Hong Kong Premier League.

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League clubs


2024–25 Club 2023–24 Position Founded Home Stadium First season Total seasons First season of current spell No. of season of current spell No. of titles
Most recent titles
Eastern 3rd 1932 Mong Kok Stadium 2014–15 11 2014–15 11 1 2015–16
HKFC 7th 1886 HKFC Stadium 2016–17 5 2021–22 4 0 –
Kitchee 4th 1931 Mong Kok Stadium 2014–15 11 2014–15 11 6 2022–23
Kowloon City 1st in First Division 2002 Sham Shui Po Sports Ground 2024–25 1 2024–25 1 0 –
Lee Man 1st 2017 Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground 2017–18 8 2017–18 8 1 2023–24
North District 8th 2002 North District Sports Ground 2023–24 2 2023–24 2 0 –
Rangers 6th 1958 Tsing Yi Sports Ground 2014–15 10 2019–20 6 0 –
Southern 5th 2002 Aberdeen Sports Ground 2015–16 10 2015–16 10 0 –
Tai Po 2nd 2002 Tai Po Sports Ground 2014–15 8 2022–23 3 1 2018–19
  • Yellow denotes a newly promoted club entering the league this year.
Defunct / Relegated teams
Team Founded First season Last season Total seasons 2024–25 season status
Wong Tai Sin 1979 2014–15 2015–16 2 First Division
YFCMD / Dreams Metro Gallery 2008 2014–15 2015–16 2 First Division
South China 1910 2014–15 2016–17 3 First Division
Biu Chun Glory Sky / Dreams FC 2011 2016–17 2018–19 3 Defunct
Hoi King 2015 2018–19 2018–19 1 First Division
R&F 2016 2016–17 2019–20 4 Defunct
Yuen Long 1958 2014–15 2019–20 6 First Division
Happy Valley 1950 2019–20 2020–21 2 Defunct
Pegasus 2008 2014–15 2020–21 7 Third Division
Resources Capital 1982 2020–21 2023–24 4 First Division
HK U23 2021 2021–22 2023–24 3 Defunct
Sham Shui Po 2002 2022–23 2023–24 2 First Division

Timeline

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Current members Former members

Stadia and locations

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Primary venues used in the Hong Kong Premier League:

Eastern
Kitchee 		HKFC Kowloon City Lee Man
Mong Kok Stadium HKFC Stadium Sham Shui Po Sports Ground Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground
Capacity: 6,664 Capacity: 2,750 Capacity: 2,194 Capacity: 3,500
North District Rangers Southern Tai Po
North District Sports Ground Tsing Yi Sports Ground Aberdeen Sports Ground Tai Po Sports Ground
Capacity: 2,500 Capacity: 1,500 Capacity: 9,000 Capacity: 3,200

List of seasons

[edit]
See also: List of Hong Kong football champions
No. Season Champion No. of teams No. of rounds
1 2014–15 Kitchee 9 18
2 2015–16 Eastern 9 18
3 2016–17 Kitchee 11 20
4 2017–18 Kitchee 10 18
5 2018–19 Tai Po 10 18
6 2019–20 Kitchee 10 18
7 2020–21 Kitchee 8 17
8 2021–22 Abandoned due to
COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong		 8 17
9 2022–23 Kitchee 10 20
10 2023–24 Lee Man 11 22
11 2024–25 9 27

Wins by club

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Club Wins Years
Kitchee 6 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
Eastern 1 2015–16
Tai Po 1 2018–19
Lee Man 1 2023–24

Players record

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Most appearances

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As of the end of the 2023–24 season
Rank Player Apps
1 Hong Kong Yapp Hung Fai 153
2 Hong Kong Fernando 136
Hong Kong Lo Kwan Yee
4 Hong Kong Leung Chun Pong 134
5 Hong Kong Leung Kwun Chung 131
6 Hong Kong Lee Ka Yiu 130
7 Hong Kong Cheng Siu Kwan 127
Hong Kong Roberto Júnior
Hong Kong Wong Chun Ho
10 Hong Kong Wong Wai 123
Hong Kong Everton Camargo

Bolded players still playing in Hong Kong Premier League.

Top scorers

[edit]
As of the end of the 2023–24 season
Rank Player Goals Apps Ratio
1 Hong Kong Sandro 62 96 0.66
Hong Kong Giovane 62 103 0.6
Hong Kong Everton Camargo 62 122 0.51
4 Hong Kong Stefan Pereira 58 110 0.53
5 Brazil Lucas Silva 56 82 0.68
6 Hong Kong Manolo Bleda 48 74 0.65
7 Hong Kong Wellingsson 38 111 0.34
8 Montenegro Dejan Damjanović 36 31 1.16
Australia Travis Major 36 57 0.63
Hong Kong Fernando 36 136 0.26

Bold denotes players still playing in the Hong Kong Premier League.

Media coverage

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Live matches and highlights shows are provided through ontv and RTHK TV in Cantonese.

With regards to English coverage, the official HKFA website, and to a lesser extent the South China Morning Post, provide match reports, player interviews, club information and league data. The Hong Kong Football Podcast also covers the HKPL on a fortnightly basis.[11]

Other tournaments

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Domestic tournaments

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Continental tournaments

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References

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  1. ^ "Hong Kong soccer body seeks HK$20m in sponsorship for new Premier League". South China Morning Post. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  2. ^ Chan, Kin-Wa (9 July 2014). "New Hong Kong Premier League no different to First Division: Peter Leung". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  3. ^ Chan, Kin-Wa (26 May 2014). "Premier League's viability in doubt as HKFA deadline looms". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Cash-Strapped District Clubs Thrown 'Lifeline' To Take Part In Hong Kong Premier League". Sports Business Daily. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Project Phoenix comes to an end". marksutcliffe.blogspot.com. 8 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  6. ^ 高詩琦 (20 August 2022). "港超聯賽會試辦三年推票房共享 伍健：傑志球迷可為東方南區打氣". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Hong Kong Football Association to invest HK$10 million in VAR system". South China Morning Post. 22 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  8. ^ 改革港足長遠擬增博彩 鳳凰計劃拍板 Archived 2 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine in Chinese, from Apple Daily
  9. ^ (in Chinese)"港超聯搵埋贊助玩大佢". Oriental Daily. 22 August 2014. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  10. ^ "【港超聯】球會建議成立新港超賽會：開源節流望長遠自負盈虧". Yahoo Sports (in Chinese). 29 June 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  11. ^ "The Hong Kong Football Podcast". Soundcloud. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
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Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Premier_League
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