List_of_Hong_Kong_football_champions
List of Hong Kong football champions
Football 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.
Quick Facts Founded, Country ...
| Founded | 1908 |
|---|---|
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Current champions | Lee Man (1st title) (2023–24) |
| Most championships | South China (41 titles) |
| Current: 2023–24 Hong Kong Premier League | |
Close
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.
Hong Kong First Division League (1908–2014)
More information Year, Champions (number of titles) ...
| 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 |  Lai Shiu Wing (Eastern) |
13 |
| 1946–47 | Sing Tao (1) | South China | 42 Commando | 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 |  麥永雄 (Police) |
27 |
| 1959–60 | South China (18) | Happy Valley | Tung Wah | Lau Chi Lam (Kitchee) |
25 |
| 1960–61 | South China (19) | Happy Valley | Tung Wah | 郭滿華 (Happy Valley) |
27 |
| 1961–62 | South China (20) | Happy Valley | Sing Tao | Lau Chi Lam (Happy Valley) |
32 |
| 1962–63 | Yuen Long (1) | Tung Wah | Kitchee | 郭滿華 (Happy Valley) |
26 |
| 1963–64 | Kitchee (3) | Happy Valley | South China | Cheung Chi Doy (Kitchee) |
42 |
| 1964–65 | Happy Valley (1) | South China | Sing Tao | 袁權滔 (Tung Wah) 郭滿華 (Happy Valley) |
19 |
| 1965–66 | South China (21) | Happy Valley | Sing Tao | 郭滿華 (Happy Valley) |
21 |
| 1966–67 | K.M.B. (2) | South China | Sing Tao | 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 | 陳朝基 (South China) |
17 |
| 1969–70 | Jardines (1) | Sing Tao | Yuen Long | Cheung Chi Doy (Jardines) 郭滿華 (Eastern) |
18 |
| 1970–71 | Rangers (1) | Jardines | Sing Tao |  Derek Currie (Rangers) |
24 |
| 1971–72 | South China (24) | Caroline Hill | Fire Services | 袁權滔 (Eastern) |
26 |
| 1972–73 | Seiko (1) | South China | Tung Sing | Wu Kwok Hung (Seiko) Cheung Chi Wai (Fire Services) |
25 |
| 1973–74 | South China (25) | Seiko | Caroline Hill | Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley) |
22 |
| 1974–75 | Seiko (2) | Happy Valley | Rangers | Etti (Seiko) | 21 |
| 1975–76 | South China (26) | Seiko | Rangers | Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley) |
16 |
| 1976–77 | South China (27) | Seiko | Happy Valley | Fung Chi Ming (South China) |
15 |
| 1977–78 | South China (28) | Happy Valley | Tung Sing | Fung Chi Ming (South China) |
19 |
| 1978–79 | Seiko (3) | Happy Valley | Eastern | Chung Chor Hung (Happy Valley) |
22 |
| 1979–80 | Seiko (4) | Happy Valley | Bulova | 張家平 (Tung Sing) |
18 |
| 1980–81 | Seiko (5) | South China | Happy Valley | 張家平 (Tung Sing) |
14 |
| 1981–82 | Seiko (6) | Happy Valley | Bulova |  Cees Storm (Seiko) |
12 |
| 1982–83 | Seiko (7) | Bulova | Eastern | Derek Parlane (Bulova) Clive Haywood (Bulova)史賓斯 (Rangers) 拉南 (Ryoden) |
8 |
| 1983–84 | Seiko (8) | Bulova | Happy Valley | Peter Bodak (Seiko) |
10 |
| 1984–85 | Seiko (9) | South China | Sea Bee |  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 | Tim Bredbury (South China) |
10 |
| 1987–88 | South China (31) | Happy Valley | Sing Tao | Chan Fat Chi (South China) |
13 |
| 1988–89 | Happy Valley (2) | South China | Lai Sun Double Flower | Chan Fat Chi (South China) |
18 |
| 1989–90 | South China (32) | Eastern | Happy Valley | Dale Tempest (South China) |
15 |
| 1990–91 | South China (33) | Happy Valley | Lai Sun | Tim Bredbury (Lai Sun) Dale Tempest (South China) |
16 |
| 1991–92 | South China (34) | Eastern | Happy Valley | Steve Neville (South China) |
21 |
| 1992–93 | Eastern (2) | South China | Instant-Dict | Dale Tempest (Eastern) |
15 |
| 1993–94 | Eastern (3) | Instant-Dict | South China | Dale Tempest (Eastern) |
16 |
| 1994–95 | Eastern (4) | South China | Golden | Dale Tempest (Eastern) |
18 |
| 1995–96 | Instant-Dict (1) | South China | Golden |  Paul Foster (Instant-Dict) |
19 |
| 1996–97 | South China (35) | Instant–Dict | Golden | Paul Foster (Instant-Dict) |
18 |
| 1997–98 | Instant-Dict (2) | South China | Happy Valley | Paul Foster (Instant-Dict) |
16 |
| 1998–99 | Happy Valley (3) | South China | Yee Hope |  Tomy (Sai Kung Friends) |
16 |
| 1999–2000 | South China (36) | Sun Hei | Happy Valley | Leandro (Sai Kung) |
16 |
| 2000–01 | Happy Valley (4) | Instant-Dict | South China | Paul Ritchie (Happy Valley) |
13 |
| 2001–02 | Sun Hei (1) | Happy Valley | South China |  Cornelius Udebuluzor (Buler Rangers) Keith Gumbs (Happy Valley) |
12 |
| 2002–03 | Happy Valley (5) | Sun Hei | Buler Rangers | Keith Gumbs (Happy Valley) |
17 |
| 2003–04 | Sun Hei (2) | Kitchee | Happy Valley |  Julius Akosah (Sun Hei) |
12 |
| 2004–05 | Sun Hei (3) | Happy Valley | Kitchee | Ernestina (Happy Valley) |
14 |
| 2005–06 | Happy Valley (6) | Sun Hei | Buler Rangers | Fábio Lopes Alcântara (Happy Valley) Ernestina (Happy Valley) |
10 |
| 2006–07 | South China (37) | Kitchee | Sun Hei | Tales Schutz (South China) |
17 |
| 2007–08 | South China (38) | Citizen | Tai Po | Detinho (South China) |
19 |
| 2008–09 | South China (39) | Kitchee | Citizen | Detinho (South China) Giovane (Sun Hei) |
18 |
| 2009–10 | South China (40) | Pegasus | Kitchee | Cahê (Sun Hei) |
14 |
| 2010–11 | Kitchee (4) | South China | Pegasus |  Jordi Tarrés (Kitchee) Makhosonke Bhengu (Fourway Rangers) |
12 |
| 2011–12 | Kitchee (5) | Pegasus | South China | Sandro (Rangers) |
12 |
| 2012–13 | South China (41) | Kitchee | Tuen Mun |  Jaimes McKee (Pegasus) |
16 |
| 2013–14 | Kitchee (6) | Pegasus | South China |  Admir Raščić (Pegasus) |
14 |
Close
Hong Kong Premier League (2014–Present)
More information Year, Champions (number of titles) ...
| Year | Champions (number of titles) |
Runners-up | Third place | Leading goalscorer | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Kitchee (7) | Eastern | Pegasus | Giovane (Eastern) |
17 |
| 2015–16 | Eastern (5) | Kitchee | South China |  Admir Adrović (Hong Kong Pegasus) Giovane (Eastern) |
10 |
| 2016–17 | Kitchee (8) | Eastern | Southern | Sandro (Kitchee) |
21 |
| 2017–18 | Kitchee (9) | Tai Po | Pegasus | Lucas Silva (Kitchee) |
15 |
| 2018–19 | Tai Po (1) | R&F | Southern | Lucas Silva (Kitchee) Manolo Bleda (Eastern) |
12 |
| 2019–20 | Kitchee (10) | Eastern | R&F |  Serges Déblé (R&F) Igor Sartori (R&F) |
6 |
| 2020–21 | Kitchee (11) | Eastern | Lee Man | Dejan Damjanović (Kitchee) |
17 |
| 2021–22 | Abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong | ||||
| 2022–23 | Kitchee (12) | Lee Man | Rangers | Dejan Damjanović (Kitchee)  Ruslan Mingazov (Kitchee) Everton Camargo (Lee Man) |
17 |
| 2023–24 | Lee Man (1) | Tai Po | Eastern | Noah Baffoe (Eastern)  Henri Anier (Lee Man) |
17 |
Close
There are 30 clubs who have won the Hong Kong title.
Club
More information Club, Winners ...
Close
Current Club
More information Club, Winners ...
| 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 | – |
Close
Bold indicates clubs currently playing in the top division.
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
More information Region, Number of titles ...
| 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) |
Close
By District
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
More information District, Number of Titles ...
| 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) |
| Central and Western | – |
– |
| Islands | – |
– |
| Kowloon City | – |
– |
| North | – |
– |
| Sha Tin | – |
– |
| Sham Shui Po | – |
– |
| Southern | – |
– |
| Tsuen Wan | – |
– |
| Tuen Mun | – |
– |
| Wong Tai Sin | – |
– |
Close
See The Double and The Treble.
^a Home grounds of many champions, especially ones who are defunct, may be unknown. This table should not be considered conclusive.