Negeri Sembilan FC

History

The club was established in 1923, according to an interview with Austin Senevirathe, who noted that a Malaya Cup match between Negeri Sembilan and Singapore took place that year. In 1948, led by Kwan Soon Teck, they won the first HMS Malaya Cup. Tan Sri Dato' Seri Utama Mohd Isa bin Dato' Haji Abdul Samad became president of the Negeri Sembilan Football Association (PBNS) in 1982, also serving as Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan. The team revived in 1991, the last year before the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium; on 18 August 1991, a 2–2 draw with Sarawak secured first place in Division 2.

Star players included the Bozik Brothers (Miroslav and Robert), Marian Vazquez, Richard Scully, Mansor Sulaiman, and Nazari Hussein. In 1996, the team, featuring Argentine imports Gus Cerro and Jose Iriarte, contended for the title but did not win.

On 31 May 2003, Negeri Sembilan defeated Perlis in the FA Cup final at Perak Stadium, with Everson Martinelli scoring the winner in the 95th minute. The club debuted in the AFC Cup in 2004, opening with a 6–0 win over Island FC on 10 February, but finished third in the group. Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was appointed PBNS president in March 2004.

Team image

Negeri Sembilan has used several names throughout its 100-year history. From 1923 to 2005, the Negeri Sembilan Football Association used Negeri Sembilan or Negri Sembilan as the team name. In 2005, the team was rebranded as Negeri Sembilan Naza (or NS Naza) after sponsorship from motor company Naza. Naza withdrew in 2009, and the name reverted to Negeri Sembilan for the 2009 season, used until 2014.

On 6 December 2014, the PBNS president announced a new branding as Negeri Sembilan Matrix (NS Matrix), with sponsorship from Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad, but the team was disbanded on 25 August 2015 for not meeting expectations. From 2016 to 2020, the team used Negeri Sembilan FA again. In 2020, the team privatised to become a football club, adopting the name Negeri Sembilan. The club previously used the PBNS crest; after privatisation, a new crest was adopted, chosen through a competition won by Azral Ramlay.

Stadium

Negeri Sembilan has used several football fields and stadiums as home grounds. It was upgraded with 500 seats in 1960 and expanded to 5,000 seats in 1973 for the Field Hockey World Cup. In 1982, Kuala Pilah Mini Stadium served as a temporary home while Padang Stesyen was upgraded.

The field was renamed Seremban Municipal Council Stadium in 1982 and used until 1992, when it was demolished in 1993 for a shopping centre. Since 1992, the team has played at Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium (STAR), named after the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. Its capacity was upgraded to 45,000 for the 2004 Sukma Games, and in 2025 seats were installed, reducing capacity to 25,550.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Warrix, a Thai sportswear manufacturer, signed a two-year deal worth RM 1.7 million in 2025 to become the official kit sponsor for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons, covering the senior, U-20, and U-18 teams. Key sponsors include Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad (main sponsor since 2012), MBI Negeri Sembilan (shirt sponsor from 2024), and Negeri Roadstone Sdn. Bhd. (shirt sponsor from 2024, previously sleeve/shoulder sponsor from 2019 to 2023). Sleeve sponsors are Gemencheh Granite Sdn.

Bhd. (left sleeve since 2021) and NS Corporation (right sleeve from 2026). Back sponsors are Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan Sdn. Bhd. (SAINS) (from 2026) and IRC Negeri Sembilan (first back sponsor, introduced in the 2024–25 season).