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List of Hong Kong football champions

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List of Hong Kong football champions
Founded1908
CountryHong Kong
ConfederationAFC
Current championsLee Man
(1st title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsSouth China
(41 titles)
Current: 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League

The Hong Kong football champions are the winners of the Hong Kong Premier League and Hong Kong First Division League, which is the oldest top-flight league system in Asia.

South China is the most successful club in Hong Kong. The club has won 41 league titles until 2012–13 season.

A defunct club, Seiko, are the record holders of winning longest consecutive titles. Between 1978–79 and 1984–85 they had won 7 league titles.

List

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Hong Kong First Division League (1908–2014)

[edit]
Year Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer Goals
1908–09 Buffs (1) R.G.A. Royal Engineers (Unknown)
1909–10 R.G.A. (1) Buffs (Unknown) Taylor (Buffs) 20
1910–11 Buffs (2) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1911–12 King's Own Rifiles (1) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1912–13 R.G.A. (2) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1913–14 D.C.L.I. (1) Royal Engineers R.G.A. (Unknown)
1914–15 R.G.A. (3) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1915–16 R.G.A. (4) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1916–17 Royal Engineers (1) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1917–18 R.G.A. (5) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1918–19 Royal Navy (1) Hong Kong FC R.G.A. (Unknown)
1919–20 Hong Kong FC (1) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1920–21 Wiltshire Regiment (1) R.G.A. (Unknown) (Unknown)
1921–22 HMS Curiew (1) Hong Kong FC (Unknown) (Unknown)
1922–23 King's Own Rifiles (2) HMS Ambrose (Unknown) (Unknown)
1923–24 South China (1) East Surrey Regiment HMS Titania (Unknown)
1924–25 East Surrey Regiment (1) South China Hong Kong FC (Unknown)
1925–26 Kowloon FC (1) East Surrey Regiment Hong Kong FC (Unknown)
1926–27 Recreio (1) C.A.A. Police (Unknown)
1927–28 C.A.A. (1) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1928–29 C.A.A. (2) Somerset Regiment (Unknown) (Unknown)
1929–30 C.A.A. (3) Royal Navy Somerset Regiment (Unknown)
1930–31 South China (2) Kowloon FC Argylis (Unknown)
1931–32 South Welsh Borderers (1) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1932–33 South China (3) South Welsh Borderers Royal Artillery (Unknown)
1933–34 South Welsh Borderers (2) St. Joseph's Lincoleshire Regiment (Unknown)
1934–35 South China (4) Police Recreio (Unknown)
1935–36 South China (5) C.A.A. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Unknown)
1936–37 Ulster Guards (1) South China South China B (Unknown)
1937–38 South China B (6) Middlesex Regiment South China (Unknown)
1938–39 South China (7) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1939–40 South China (8) Eastern South China B (Unknown)
1940–41 South China A (9) (Unknown) (Unknown) (Unknown)
1941–42 Season unfinished due to World War II
1942–43 Postponed due to World War II
1943–44
1944–45
1945–46 Royal Air Force (1) 44 Commando Eastern Taiwan Lai Shiu Wing (Eastern) 13
1946–47 Sing Tao (1) South China 42 Commando Taiwan Lai Shiu Wing (Sing Tao) 34
1947–48 Kitchee (1) Sing Tao K.M.B. Kwok Ying Kee (Kitchee) 38
1948–49 South China A (10) K.M.B. C.A.A. Tang Yee Kit (K.M.B.) 26
1949–50 Kitchee (2) K.M.B. St. Joseph's Yiu Cheuk Yin (Kitchee) 25
1950–51 South China (11) K.M.B. Army Force Au Chi Yin (Police) 20
1951–52 South China (12) Army Force Sing Tao 陳家壽 (South China) 25
1952–53 South China (13) Kitchee Eastern Lee Yuk Tak (South China) 36
1953–54 K.M.B. (1) South China Kitchee Tang Yee Kit (K.M.B.) 26
1954–55 South China (14) Kitchee K.M.B. Lee Yuk Tak (South China) 32
1955–56 Eastern (1) South China K.M.B. Ho Cheung Yau (South China) 38
1956–57 South China (15) Kitchee K.M.B. Lee Yuk Tak (South China) 33
1957–58 South China (16) K.M.B. Kitchee Ho Cheung Yau (South China) 40
1958–59 South China (17) K.M.B. Tung Wah Hong Kong 麥永雄 (Police) 27
1959–60 South China (18) Happy Valley Tung Wah Hong Kong Lau Chi Lam (Kitchee) 25
1960–61 South China (19) Happy Valley Tung Wah Hong Kong 郭滿華 (Happy Valley) 27
1961–62 South China (20) Happy Valley Sing Tao Hong Kong Lau Chi Lam (Happy Valley) 32
1962–63 Yuen Long (1) Tung Wah Kitchee Hong Kong 郭滿華 (Happy Valley) 26
1963–64 Kitchee (3) Happy Valley South China Hong Kong Cheung Chi Doy (Kitchee) 42
1964–65 Happy Valley (1) South China Sing Tao Hong Kong 袁權滔 (Tung Wah)
郭滿華 (Happy Valley)
19
1965–66 South China (21) Happy Valley Sing Tao Hong Kong Hong Kong 郭滿華 (Happy Valley) 21
1966–67 K.M.B. (2) South China Sing Tao Hong Kong 袁權滔 (Tung Sing) 21
1967–68 South China (22) Sing Tao Eastern 郭滿華 (Eastern) 33
1968–69 South China (23) Sing Tao Jardines Hong Kong 陳朝基 (South China) 17
1969–70 Jardines (1) Sing Tao Yuen Long Taiwan Cheung Chi Doy (Jardines)
郭滿華 (Eastern)
18
1970–71 Rangers (1) Jardines Sing Tao Scotland Derek Currie (Rangers) 24
1971–72 South China (24) Caroline Hill Fire Services Hong Kong 袁權滔 (Eastern) 26
1972–73 Seiko (1) South China Tung Sing Hong Kong Wu Kwok Hung (Seiko)
Taiwan Cheung Chi Wai (Fire Services)
25
1973–74 South China (25) Seiko Caroline Hill Hong Kong Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley) 22
1974–75 Seiko (2) Happy Valley Rangers Etti (Seiko) 21
1975–76 South China (26) Seiko Rangers Hong Kong Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley) 16
1976–77 South China (27) Seiko Happy Valley Hong Kong Fung Chi Ming (South China) 15
1977–78 South China (28) Happy Valley Tung Sing Hong Kong Fung Chi Ming (South China) 19
1978–79 Seiko (3) Happy Valley Eastern Hong Kong Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley) 22
1979–80 Seiko (4) Happy Valley Bulova Hong Kong 張家平 (Tung Sing) 18
1980–81 Seiko (5) South China Happy Valley Hong Kong 張家平 (Tung Sing) 14
1981–82 Seiko (6) Happy Valley Bulova Netherlands Cees Storm (Seiko) 12
1982–83 Seiko (7) Bulova Eastern Scotland Derek Parlane (Bulova)
England Clive Haywood (Bulova)
史賓斯 (Rangers)
拉南 (Ryoden)
8
1983–84 Seiko (8) Bulova Happy Valley England Peter Bodak (Seiko) 10
1984–85 Seiko (9) South China Sea Bee South Africa John Paskin (South China) 10
1985–86 South China (29) Happy Valley Sea Bee 麥當奴 (Happy Valley)
波能泰 (Sea Bee)
11
1986–87 South China (30) Eastern Happy Valley Hong Kong Tim Bredbury (South China) 10
1987–88 South China (31) Happy Valley Sing Tao Hong Kong Chan Fat Chi (South China) 13
1988–89 Happy Valley (2) South China Lai Sun Double Flower Hong Kong Chan Fat Chi (South China) 18
1989–90 South China (32) Eastern Happy Valley England Dale Tempest (South China) 15
1990–91 South China (33) Happy Valley Lai Sun Hong Kong Tim Bredbury (Lai Sun)
England Dale Tempest (South China)
16
1991–92 South China (34) Eastern Happy Valley England Steve Neville (South China) 21
1992–93 Eastern (2) South China Instant-Dict England Dale Tempest (Eastern) 15
1993–94 Eastern (3) Instant-Dict South China England Dale Tempest (Eastern) 16
1994–95 Eastern (4) South China Golden England Dale Tempest (Eastern) 18
1995–96 Instant-Dict (1) South China Golden Australia Paul Foster (Instant-Dict) 19
1996–97 South China (35) Instant–Dict Golden Australia Paul Foster (Instant-Dict) 18
1997–98 Instant-Dict (2) South China Happy Valley Australia Paul Foster (Instant-Dict) 16
1998–99 Happy Valley (3) South China Yee Hope Brazil Tomy (Sai Kung Friends) 16
1999–2000 South China (36) Sun Hei Happy Valley Brazil Leandro (Sai Kung) 16
2000–01 Happy Valley (4) Instant-Dict South China Scotland Paul Ritchie (Happy Valley) 13
2001–02 Sun Hei (1) Happy Valley South China Nigeria Cornelius Udebuluzor (Rangers)
Saint Kitts and Nevis Keith Gumbs (Happy Valley)
12
2002–03 Happy Valley (5) Sun Hei Rangers Saint Kitts and Nevis Keith Gumbs (Happy Valley) 17
2003–04 Sun Hei (2) Kitchee Happy Valley Cameroon Julius Akosah (Sun Hei) 12
2004–05 Sun Hei (3) Happy Valley Kitchee Brazil Ernestina (Happy Valley) 14
2005–06 Happy Valley (6) Sun Hei Rangers Brazil Fábio Lopes Alcântara (Happy Valley)
Brazil Ernestina (Happy Valley)
10
2006–07 South China (37) Kitchee Sun Hei Brazil Tales Schutz (South China) 17
2007–08 South China (38) Citizen Tai Po Brazil Detinho (South China) 19
2008–09 South China (39) Kitchee Citizen Brazil Detinho (South China)
Brazil Giovane (Sun Hei)
18
2009–10 South China (40) Pegasus Kitchee Brazil Cahê (Sun Hei) 14
2010–11 Kitchee (4) South China Pegasus Spain Jordi Tarrés (Kitchee)
South Africa Makhosonke Bhengu (Rangers)
12
2011–12 Kitchee (5) Pegasus South China Brazil Sandro (Rangers) 12
2012–13 South China (41) Kitchee Tuen Mun Hong Kong Jaimes McKee (Pegasus) 16
2013–14 Kitchee (6) Pegasus South China Bosnia and Herzegovina Admir Raščić (Pegasus) 14

Hong Kong Premier League (2014–Present)

[edit]
Year Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer Goals
2014–15 Kitchee (7) Eastern Pegasus Brazil Giovane (Eastern) 17
2015–16 Eastern (5) Kitchee South China Montenegro Admir Adrović (Hong Kong Pegasus)
Brazil Giovane (Eastern)
10
2016–17 Kitchee (8) Eastern Southern Hong Kong Sandro (Kitchee) 21
2017–18 Kitchee (9) Tai Po Pegasus Brazil Lucas Silva (Kitchee) 15
2018–19 Tai Po (1) R&F Southern Spain Manolo Bleda (Eastern)
Brazil Lucas Silva (Kitchee)
12
2019–20 Kitchee (10) Eastern R&F Ivory Coast Serges Déblé (R&F)
Brazil Igor Sartori (R&F)
6
2020–21 Kitchee (11) Eastern Lee Man Montenegro Dejan Damjanović (Kitchee) 17
2021–22 Abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong
2022–23 Kitchee (12) Lee Man Rangers Brazil Everton Camargo (Lee Man)
Montenegro Dejan Damjanović (Kitchee)
Turkmenistan Ruslan Mingazov (Kitchee)
17
2023–24 Lee Man (1) Tai Po Eastern Estonia Henri Anier (Lee Man)
Spain Noah Baffoe (Eastern)
17

Performances

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There are 30 clubs who have won the Hong Kong title.

Bold indicates clubs currently playing in the top division. Italic indicates clubs which are defuncted.

Club

[edit]
Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons
South China

⭐⭐⭐⭐

41 17 1923–24, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13
Kitchee

12 8 1947–48, 1949–50, 1963–64, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
Seiko 9 3 1972–73, 1974–75, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85
Happy Valley 6 15 1964–65, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06
Eastern 5 8 1955–56, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2015–16
Royal Garrison Artillery 5 2 1909–10, 1912–13, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1917–18
Sun Hei 3 3 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05
Chinese A. A. 3 2 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30
Kowloon Motor Bus 2 5 1953–54, 1966–67
Double Flower (Instant-Dict) 2 3 1995–96, 1997–98
Buffs 2 1 1908–09, 1910–11
South Welsh Borderers 2 1 1931–32, 1933–34
King's Own Rifiles 2 1911–12, 1922–23
Sing Tao 1 4 1946–47
East Surrey Regiment 1 2 1924–25
Tai Po 1 2 2018–19
Royal Engineers 1 1 1916–17
Royal Navy 1 1 1918–19
HKFC 1 1 1919–20
Kowloon FC 1 1 1925–26
Jardines 1 1 1969–70
Lee Man 1 1 2023–24
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 1 1913–14
Wiltshire Regiment 1 1920–21
HMS Curiew 1 1921–22
Recreio 1 1926–27
Ulster Guards 1 1936–37
Royal Air Force 1 1945–46
Yuen Long 1 1962–63
Rangers 1 1970–71
Pegasus 3
Bulova 2
HMS Ambrose 1
Somerset Light Infantry Regiment 1
St. Joseph's 1
Police 1
Middlesex Regiment 1
44 Commando 1
Army Force 1
Tung Wah 1
Caroline Hill 1
Citizen 1
R&F 1

Current Club

[edit]
Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons
South China 41 17 1923–24, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13
Kitchee 12 8 1947–48, 1949–50, 1963–64, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
Happy Valley 6 15 1964–65, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06
Eastern 5 8 1955–56, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2015–16
Sun Hei 3 3 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05
Double Flower (Instant-Dict) 2 3 1995–96, 1997–98
Tai Po 1 2 2018–19
HKFC 1 1 1919–20
Lee Man 1 1 2023–24
Yuen Long 1 1962–63
Rangers 1 1970–71
Pegasus 3
Citizen 1

Total titles won by region

[edit]

Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories make up the three regions of Hong Kong. All three have had clubs based within become Hong Kong football champions, most recently, New Territories, when Lee Man won the title in 2023–24.a

Region Number of titles Clubs
Hong Kong Island
57
South China (41), Seiko (9), Happy Valley (6), HKFC (1)
Kowloon
20
Kitchee (12), Eastern (5), Double Flower (2), Rangers (1)
New Territories
6
Sun Hei (3), Tai Po (1), Lee Man (1), Yuen Long (1)

By District

[edit]

Hong Kong is divided into 18 districts. Eight out of the eighteen districts have had a club become Hong Kong football champions. The most recent district to have the distinction is Sai Kung, when Lee Man won the title in 2023–24.a

District Number of Titles Clubs
Wan Chai
51
South China (41), Seiko (9), HKFC (1)
Yau Tsim Mong
17
Kitchee (12), Eastern (5)
Eastern
8
Happy Valley (6), Double Flower (2)
Kwai Tsing
3
Sun Hei (3)
Yuen Long
1
Yuen Long (1)
Kwun Tong
1
Rangers (1)
Sai Kung
1
Lee Man (1)
Tai Po
1
Tai Po (1)

Multiple trophy wins

[edit]

See The Double and The Treble.

Notes

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^a Home grounds of many champions, especially ones who are defunct, may be unknown. This table should not be considered conclusive.

References

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Sources

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