Kaizer Chiefs F.C.
South African professional association football club based in Naturena From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) is a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premiership. The team is nicknamed AmaKhosi, which means "Kings" or "Chiefs" in Zulu, and the Phefeni Glamour Boys. Chiefs have won numerous league titles and cup trophies. The most recent domestic trophy was the 2014–15 Premiership. They hold the most trophies amongst all clubs in South Africa and are the most successful team in South African football history since the start of the top flight in 1970.
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| Full name | Kaizer Chiefs Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) |
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| Short name | Chiefs | ||
| Founded | 7 January 1970 | ||
| Stadium | FNB Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 94,797 | ||
| Owner | Kaizer Motaung | ||
| Chairman | Kaizer Motaung | ||
| Manager | Nasreddine Nabi | ||
| League | Premiership | ||
| 2023–24 | 10th | ||
| Website | www | ||
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The team has a strong local rivalry, the Soweto derby, with Orlando Pirates, a fellow Soweto team that Chiefs founder Kaizer Motaung played for in his early playing career.[1] Famous players who donned the black-and-gold jersey in the past include former national team captains Neil Tovey and Lucas Radebe as well as Patrick Ntsoelengoe, Gary Bailey, John "Shoes" Moshoeu, Shaun Bartlett, Steve Komphela, Siyabonga Nomvete, and Doctor Khumalo.
It is the most supported team in South Africa. Kaizer Chiefs had a support base of over 16 million at the turn of the century. They drew an average home attendance of 16,144 in the 2019–20 season, the highest in the league. The team plays many of its home matches at the 94,797-capacity FNB Stadium.[2]In January 2025 , Kaizer Chiefs celebrated their 55th anniversary.[3]
History
Summarize
Perspective
Kaizer Chiefs FC was founded in January 1970 shortly after the return of Kaizer "Chincha Guluva" Motaung from the United States where he played as a striker for the Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He combined his own first name with the Atlanta Chiefs to create the name of Kaizer Chiefs. Several other people have played key roles in the formation and growth of Kaizer Chiefs, including the late Gilbert Sekgabi, Clarence Mlokoti, China Ngema, Ewert "The Lip" Nene, and Rabelani Jan Mofokeng, he trailed and quit because of work.[4]
Kaizer Chiefs are known as "Amakhosi" by its fans, a Zulu word meaning "kings" or "chiefs". Their headquarters is Kaizer Chiefs Village, in Naturena, six kilometres south of Johannesburg.[4]
The 2001–02 season was one of the Club's most successful in their history as well as their most tragic. They won four major trophies in four months; the Vodacom Challenge, the BP Top Eight, the Coca-Cola Cup, and the African Cup Winners' Cup.[5] At the time the team was said to have been a team that was on "Operation vat alles" by its then public relations officer Putco Mafani, "vat alles" being an Afrikaans statement meaning "take everything" in English. However, the highs of cup wins was contrasted by the lows of the Ellis Park Stadium disaster on 11 April 2001, in which 43 fans were crushed to death during the Soweto Derby between Chiefs and their arch-rivals Orlando Pirates.[6]
By winning the African Cup Winners' Cup, Chiefs played the 2001 CAF Champions League winners Al Ahly of Egypt in the 2002 CAF Super Cup. In April 2002, Kaizer Chiefs' achievements during 2001 were recognized as they were chosen as the "CAF Club of the Year" by the Confederation of African Football.[4]
In the 2003–04 season Chiefs were given the Fair Play Award at the Peace Cup in South Korea. Chiefs ended the season as league champions, winning the Premiership for the first time in their history.[7]
During the championship race of the 2004–05 soccer season, Chiefs overtook the season-long leaders (Orlando Pirates) in the last game of the season to defend its PSL championship. Under the leadership of Romanian coach Ted Dumitru, Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma had a record-breaking season scoring 39 goals in all competitions.[8]
Kaizer Chiefs' forays into Africa were temporarily scuttled by a Confederation of African Football (CAF) ban.[9] However, it still made its presence felt through the annual Vodacom Challenge that pit Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates with an invited European club. Chiefs have won the Vodacom Challenge Cup 5 times since its inception. They beat a young Manchester United side 4–3 on penalties in the 2006 Challenge to win the trophy.[10]
In March 2007, coach Ernst Middendorp and the club parted company. The club instantly appointed their rival Orlando Pirates' former coach Kosta Papić for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.[11]
Muhsin Ertuğral returned for the 2007–08 season to begin his second stint with Chiefs, having already coached The Glamour Boys from 1999 until 2003.[12]
Under coach Ernst Middendorp in the 2019/20 season, Kaizer Chiefs topped the table from the seventh matchday of the season until infamously losing the title on the final day, which saw the club finishing two points behind winners Mamelodi Sundowns.[13]
On 26 June 2021, the team secured their first CAF Champions League final appearance after defeating Wydad AC by a 1–0 aggregate.[14]
On 9 July 2021, Kaizer Chiefs confirmed through Twitter that they signed six players for next season after their transfer ban ended.[15] On 17 July 2021, they lost 3–0 against Al Ahly in the Champions League Final.[16]
In the 2023/24 season, Kaizer chiefs finished in 10th position under the interim coach Cavin Johnson, making this their lowest finish in the PSL era.
Stadium
Amakhosi Stadium
The Amakhosi have used no less than nine stadiums in Johannesburg as their home ground, and often rotated between several stadiums during the season. In August 2006, the club decided to develop their own stadium, the Amakhosi Stadium. However, this project has stalled.[17]
FNB Stadium/Soccer City
FNB Stadium is a stadium located in Johannesburg, with a capacity of 94,736 seats. It is located next to the South African Football Association headquarters (SAFA House), where both the FIFA offices and the Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is housed.[18]
The Soweto Derby
The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is a fiercely-contested rivalry dating back to 1970, and in contrast to most other games in the South African Premiership, always attracts a large fanbase.
Honours
Summarize
Perspective
Domestic
Top-flight league titles: 12[19]
Premiership (from 1996–97 to date)
- Champions (4): 2003–04, 2004–05, 2012–13, 2014–15
- Runners-up (5): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2013–14, 2019–20
National Soccer League (1985 to 1995)
National Professional Soccer League (1971 to 1984)
Cups: 41
Nedbank Cup (National Cup)
- Champions (13) - record: 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1992, 2000, 2006, 2012–13
Telkom Knockout (League Cup)
- Champions (13) - record: 1983,1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010
MTN 8 (Top 8 Tournament)
International
- Runners-up: 2020–21
- Winners: 2001
- Runners-up: 2002
Individual Awards
- African Club of the Year 2001
unofficial domestic cups
- Winners (11) - record: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2010
Sales House Champ of Champs
- Winners:1974,1976,1977,1980,1981,1982,1984
Panasonic Cup
- Winners: 1986
Ohlsson's Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1987, 1989
Castle Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1990, 1991
Stylo Cup
- Winners: 1970
UCT Super Team Competition
- Winners: 1972
Shell Helix Ultra Cup
- Winners: 2019
CUFA Cup
- Winners: 2024
Home of Legends Cup
- Winners: 2024
Performance in CAF Competitions
Summarize
Perspective
Kaizer Chiefs qualified to play for the 1997 CAF Champions League but withdrew from the competition. The team made their first CAF Cup appearance in the year 2000 and only made it to the round of 16. They had the same result in the 2005 CAF Champions League and 2014 CAF Champions League. In the 2018 edition of the CAF Confederations Cup, Kaizer Chiefs reached the playoff round of 30 in which they were eliminated. Kaizer Chiefs are the runner-ups of the 2020-21 CAF Champions League and the 2002 CAF Super Cup after being crowned the Champions of the 2001 African Cup Winners' Cup.
Chiefs were banned by the African Football (CAF) from competing in African club competitions until 2009 after their abrupt withdrawal from the 2005 CAF Confederation Cup. This was the second time in four years that Chiefs had been penalized by CAF for refusal to participate in a competition.
| Competition | Result | Year |
|---|---|---|
| CAF champions League | Round of 16 | 1993 |
| Round of 16 | 2005 | |
| Round of 16 | 2014 | |
| Round of 32 | 2016 | |
| Runner-up | 2020-21 | |
| CAF Super Cup | Runner-up | 2002 |
| African Cup Winners' Cup | Withdrew | 1997 |
| Champions | 2001 | |
| Disqualified | 2002 | |
| CAF Cup | Round of 16 | 2000 |
| CAF Confederations Cup | Play-off Round | 2014 |
| Play-off round | 2018 |
Kaizer Chiefs' appearances in African competitions
- CAF Champions league = 5 appearance(s)
- CAF Confederations Cup = 2 appearance(s)
- CAF Super Cup = 1appearance(s)
- African Cup Winners' Cup = 3 appearance(s)
- CAF Cup = 1 appearance(s)
Club Ranking
Kaizer Chiefs are ranked 30th on the CAF 5-year ranking for the 2024-25 CAF club Season.
| Rank | Club | 2019–20
(× 1) |
2020–21
(× 2) |
2021–22
(× 3) |
2022–23
(× 4) |
2023–24
(× 5) |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 |  Abu Salim |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 28 |  Stade Malien |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 30 |  Kaizer Chiefs |
0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Crest and colours
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Club records
- Most appearances –
Doctor Khumalo 497 - Most goals – Marks Maponyane 85
- Most capped player – Siphiwe Tshabalala 91
- Most appearances in a season – Neil Tovey 52 (1992)
- Most goals in a season (all competitions) –
Collins Mbesuma – 35 2004/05 - Record win – 9-1 vs Manning Rangers (Coca-Cola Challenge – 23 March 1996)
- Record loss – 1-5 vs AmaZulu (League – 08/06/86), Orlando Pirates (League – 03/11/90), 1-5 Mamelodi Sundowns (League – 02/05/2024)[21]
PSL-era
| season | pos | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | win% | ||
| 1996–97 | 2nd | 34 | 18 | 12 | 4 | 56 | 23 | 33 | 66 | 52.9 % |
| 1997–98 | 2nd | 34 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 52 | 35 | 17 | 63 | 50 % |
| 1998–99 | 2nd | 34 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 73 | 34 | 39 | 75 | 67.6 % |
| 1999–2000 | 3rd | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 40 | 22 | 18 | 60 | 47 % |
| 2000–01 | 2nd | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 60 | 47 % |
| 2001–02 | 9th | 34 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 38 | 33 | 5 | 49 | 35.29 % |
| 2002–03 | 6th | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 42 | 26 | 16 | 50 | 46.7 % |
| 2003–04 | Winners¹ | 30 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 39 | 11 | 28 | 63 | 60 % |
| 2004–05 | Winners² | 30 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 55 | 26 | 29 | 62 | 56.6 % |
| 2005–06 | 3rd | 30 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 39 | 26 | 13 | 50 | 40 % |
| 2006–07 | 9th | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 42 | 32 | 10 | 42 | 36.7 % |
| 2007–08 | 6th | 30 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 32 | 20 | 12 | 43 | 33.3 % |
| 2008–09 | 3rd | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 37 | 32 | 5 | 50 | 50 % |
| 2009–10 | 3rd | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 39 | 25 | 14 | 51 | 46.7 % |
| 2010–11 | 3rd | 30 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 45 | 23 | 22 | 59 | 56.7 % |
| 2011–12 | 5th | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 35 | 23 | 12 | 50 | 46.7 % |
| 2012–13 | Winners³ | 30 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 48 | 21 | 27 | 57 | 50 % |
| 2013–14 | 2nd | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 43 | 17 | 26 | 63 | 63.3 % |
| 2014–15 | Winners⁴ | 30 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 41 | 14 | 27 | 69 | 70 % |
| 2015–16 | 5th | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 39 | 28 | 11 | 50 | 36.6 % |
| 2016–17 | 4th | 30 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 39 | 28 | 11 | 50 | 43.3 % |
| 2017–18 | 3rd | 30 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 48 | 40 % |
| 2018–19 | 9th | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 33 | 29 | 4 | 39 | 30 % |
| 2019–20 | 2nd | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 48 | 27 | 21 | 57 | 56.6 % |
| 2020-21 | 8th | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 34 | 37 | -3 | 36 | 26.6 % |
| 2021-22 | 5th | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 34 | 26 | 8 | 47 | 43.3 % |
| 2022-23 | 5th | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 32 | 33 | -1 | 44 | 43.3 % |
| 2023-24 | 10th | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 30 | -5 | 36 | 30% |
Personnel
Club officials
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Executive Chairman | Kaizer Motaung |
| Marketing and Commercial Director | Jessica Motaung |
| Football Manager | Bobby Motaung |
| Corporate Communications Manager | Vina Maphosa |
Senior team staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Sporting Director | Kaizer Motaung Jnr |
| Head Coach |   Nasreddine Nabi |
| Assistant Coach |  Khalil Ben Youssef |
| Second Assistant Coach |  Cedric Kaze |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Ilyes Mzoughi |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | Safi Majdi |
| Team (Administrative) Manager | Gerald Sibeko |
Players
- As of 20 September 2024[22]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
For all Kaizer Chiefs players with a Wikipedia article see Category:Kaizer Chiefs F.C. players
Coaches
- Thomas Johnson (1971)
- Thomas Johnson and Kaizer Motaung (1972)
- Kaizer Motaung (1973–74)
- Eliakim Khumalo (1974)
Eddie Lewis (1974–76)- Eliakim Khumalo (1976)
- Thomas Johnson (1976)
- Eliakim Khumalo (1976)
- Eddie Lewis (1976)
- Kaizer Motaung (1977–78)
Mario Tuani (1979–80)- Eddie Lewis (1980)
- Chris Ngcobo (1981)
- Eliakim Khumalo (1981)
- Joseph Setlhodi (1982)
- Eddie Lewis (1983)
- Eliakim Khumalo and Jackie Masike (1983)
Orlando Casares (1983)
Joe Frickleton (1984–85)- Shaka Ngcobo (1985)
- Eddie Lewis (1985)
Ted Dumitru (1985–88)
Jack Chamangwana (1988)- Jeff Butler (1988–89)
- Jack Chamangwana (1989)
Augusto Palacios (1990)- Jeff Butler (1991)
- Nelson "Teenage" Dladla (1991)
- Wiseman Mbale (1992)
- Jeff Butler (1992)
Sergio dos Santos (1993)- N. "Teenage" Dladla and Ryder Mofokeng (1993)
- Geoff Hudson (1993)
Philippe Troussier (1994)- Trott Moloto (1994)
- Augusto Palacios (1995)
- Jeff Butler (1995–96)
Walter da Silva (1996)- Wellington Manyathi (1997)
- Paul Dolezar (1 July 1997 – 30 June 1999)
- Jacob Sephoa (1999)
Muhsin Ertugral (14 July 1999–02)- Doctor "16V" Khumalo and Ace Khuse (2002–03)
- Ted Dumitru (12 June 2003 – 30 June 2005)
Ernst Middendorp (1 July 2005 – 5 March 2007)
Kosta Papić (7 March 2007 – 4 June 2007)- Muhsin Ertugral (1 July 2007 – 8 May 2009)
- Vladimir Vermezović (18 May 2009 – 12 April 2012)[23]
- Ace Khuse (interim) (12 April 2012 – 30 June 2012)
- Stuart Baxter (1 July 2012 – June 2015)
- Steve Komphela (17 June 2015 – 21 April 2018)
Giovanni Solinas (12 July 2018 -7 December 2018)- Ernst Middendorp (7 December 2018 – 9 September 2020)
- Gavin Hunt (17 September 2020 – 28 May 2021)
- Stuart Baxter (7 June 2021 – 21 April 2022)
- Arthur Zwane (26 May 2022 – 28 June 2023)
- Molefi Ntseki (28 June 2023 – October 2023)[24]
- Cavin Johnson (October 2023 – June 2024)[25]
Nasreddine Nabi (7 July 2024– current)
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs, the British indie rock/britpop band, was named after the club because Lucas Radebe, a former player of Kaizer Chiefs, captained Leeds United, the team that the band members all supported.[26]
Rugby
In 2012, Kaizer Chiefs registered a rugby sevens team to participate in the inaugural 7s Premier League.[27]
Notes
References
External links
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