Bali United F.C.


Bali United Football Club is a professional association football club based in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, that competes in the Liga 1, the top tier of Indonesian football. The club was founded in 2015, following Putra Samarinda's relocation to Gianyar from Samarinda, when it adopted its present name, badge, and colours.
Based at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, the club competed as Bali United from the start of the 2015 season. After four seasons in Liga 1, they won their first top-level football championship in 2019. They are one of only seven clubs to have won the Liga 1 since its inception in 2008. The club's previous highest ever finish was second place in the top flight, in 2017.
Bali United was the first professional football club in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, also second in Asia after Guangzhou Evergrande, to go public after being floated on the Indonesia Stock Exchange on 17 June 2019. PT Bali Bintang Sejahtera Tbk released as much as 2 billion shares of the total issued and paid up capital after the initial public offering. Shares were set to go on sale for between IDR 120 and IDR 180 each, and actually became IDR 175 by the launch of the IPO on 10 June.

History

The club was founded in the end of 2014 season when Harbiansyah Hanafiah, the main commissioner of Putra Samarinda decided to relocate the club to Gianyar, Bali. Gianyar was chosen because there were no representative of Bali province in the highest football tier in Indonesia. After cooperated with Corsa, they announced changes to its name, badge and colours—the team was renamed Bali United Football Club.
The first breakthrough of the club was to appoint Indra Sjafri as manager. In the hands of the former Indonesia national under-19 football team head coach, Bali United was transformed into a club that relied more on young players. He brought several U-19 national team players who had been trained by him to be given the opportunity to play in the top flight competition in Indonesia. The first season for the club as Bali United was 2015, in Indonesia Super League. The team's first game was on 4 April 2015, a 1–2 away lose against Perseru, with Lerby Eliandry scored with their first competitive goal. But they were unable to finished their debut season as the league was discontinued by PSSI due to a ban by Imam Nahrawi, Indonesia Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs. They finally able to finished their first full-season in an unofficial league that replaced the temporarily-suspended Indonesia Super League, Indonesia Soccer Championship A where they finished in 12th.
In the first Liga 1 season after being suspended for two years, Bali United struggles in their first two matches which led to the sacking of head coach Hans-Peter Schaller. Widodo Cahyono Putro, who was appointed as his successor, managed to make Bali United compete for the title and become the most productive team in the league. However, the controversy over the extra points for Bhayangkara destroyed their hopes of becoming champions because they lost head-to-head in the 2017 season ranking.
In the 2018 season, Bali United competed in AFC competition for the first time in their history. The club made their debut in the AFC Champions League on 16 January 2018 with a 3–1 win over Tampines Rovers in the preliminary stage round 1, but failed to reach the group stage after losing 1–2 to Chiangrai United in the preliminary stage round 2. They also debuted in the AFC Cup where they were eliminated in the group stage after only finished in 4th. Their poor performance continued in the league. A controversy occurred when coach Widodo resigned the day before the match against Persija, made supporters protest to management by lighting flares throughout the match. They finished the season in 11th.
Widodo was replaced by Persija head coach Stefano Cugurra. In his first season at Bali United, he took the club to its first Liga 1 title.

Colours and badge

Bali United have always played in red shirts for home, white for away, and black for third since 2015. The colours are based on the Hinduism sacred color, Tridatu, which then led to the nickname Serdadu Tridatu.
On 15 February 2015, Bali United launched for the first time in Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium with the announced of new jerseys, players, and badge. The badge shows the word Bali United on top, with the abbreviation of the club's name and the black-and-white background that is identical to the poleng cloth in Bali symbolizes Rwa Bhineda.

Kit manufacturers and sponsors

Since the club's foundation, Bali United's kit is manufactured by their own and not collaborating with an apparel. The reason is that by collaborating with an apparel, the price of the team jersey will soar and it is feared that it could disrupt merchandise sales. Their kit is always filled with many sponsors which make their kit always dubbed as a racing jersey. Achilles, Indofood, and YCAB Foundation are the sponsors which always appear in the jersey to this day. Indomie was once the sole sponsor of Bali United in the Asian competition in 2018.
PeriodKit manufacturersShirt sponsorsRefs
2015Made by clubAchilles, Indofood, Corsa, IM3, NOMAD, YCAB Foundation
2016Made by clubTotal Detergent, Achilles, Jagadiri, Indofood, Corsa, Datsun, YCAB Foundation, DMID, Bareksa
2017Made by clubMobil, Gojek, Torabika, Indofood, Bank Ina, Anker Sport, YCAB Foundation, Indomie, Achilles, DMID, Bareksa, ACA Asuransi, Corsa
2018Made by clubMobil, Gojek, Envi, Torabika, Indofood, Smartfren, Bank Ina, Achilles, KukuBima Ener-G!, YCAB Foundation, Cellular World, Indomie, Elevenia, Lion Parcel, ACA Asuransi, Corsa
2019Made by clubMobil, Gojek, Envi, Torabika, Indofood, Smartfren, Bank Ina, Achilles, KukuBima Ener-G!, YCAB Foundation, Ottopay, Elevenia, Indomie, Buana Capital, ACA Asuransi, Kresna Securities, PEDE Ponsel Duit
2020Made by clubOVO, Envi, Indofood, Smartfren, Wuling Motors, Bank Ina, KukuBima Ener-G!, Alderon, Coco Mart, Bengkel BOS, CBN Fiber, Indomie, Achilles, Ms Glow for Men, Buana Capital, YCAB Foundation, TOA

Stadiums

Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, is on a 20-year lease from government of Gianyar Regency. It has been Bali United's home since the club was formed. Before moving to the stadium, Bali United spent in excess of IDR 5 billion to renovate it to met the standard of Indonesia Super League. They added new lighting system, upgrading the dressing rooms, repainting some parts of the stadium, repairing the toilets as well as upgrading other facilities. The inaugural match for Bali United at their new stadium was a 0–1 defeat over Persib in a friendly match on 3 March 2015. As the time goes, Bali United keep upgrading the stadium like the construction of store, cafe, and playland around the stadium. Also they did some renovations for Asian competition in 2018 to met the standard of the AFC.

Supporters and media

Bali United's supporter is called Semeton Dewata, that comes from the word Semeton meaning brother and Dewata meaning Bali's nickname, Island of Gods. There is also Lady Dewata that specifically named for female supporters. Semeton Dewata usually fill the east stand of Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium. There are more big supporter groups, Northsideboys 12 that fill the north stand and Basudewa Curva Sud that fill the south stand.
Bali United had three mascot representing north, east, and south tribune of Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium. Jalbo, stands for Jalak Boys, takes shape of Jalak Bali is the mascot from Northsideboys 12. East tribune is represented by Cebol that takes shape of Celuluk, mythological creatures in Bali and it's a mascot from Semeton Dewata. Basudewa Curva Sud introduced a mascot to represent south tribune called Wabol. Stands for Waraha Bola, Wabol takes shape of Varaha, a Dashavatara of the Hindu god Vishnu.
The song Rasa Bangga, or Pride in English, composed and recorded by Bali band The Resistance, is the club's anthem and has been sung by the all the fans, players, and staffs of Bali United after home or away game since the 2017 season.
Bali United has an online streaming based TV channel that aired in YouTube called Bali Utd TV. Bali Utd TV inaugurated on 19 October 2016. It features an updated news, player and staff interviews, match highlights, and other themed program.
On 20 May 2017, Bali United officially launch the team's mobile apps to become closer to the fans. Bali United CEO Yabes Tanuri said the launch of Bali United application is based on the awareness of the importance of technology for marketing development and interaction of a club with its supporters. By using the mobile apps, the supporters can easily access all the team's activities.
Bali United also owned their own radio station, Bali United FM. With a tagline your sportainment station, they broadcast Bali United games and also latest information about Bali United that aired on 106,9 FM in Bali. Bali United FM is operating in the third floor of Bali United's office.

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Other players under contract

Women's team

Bali United also operate a women's football team. They have been affiliated to the men's team since 2019 and were one of the 10 inaugural teams of the Liga 1 Putri.

Youth teams

Club officials

Corporate hierarchy

Coaching and medical staff

Head coach history

Below is a list of Bali United head coaches from 2014 until the present day.
PeriodNameNotesRef
2014–2017 Indra Sjafri
2017 Hans-Peter Schaller
2017 Eko PurjiantoCaretaker
2017–2018 Widodo C. Putro
2018 Eko PurjiantoCaretaker
2019– Stefano Cugurra

Honours

Domestic

League

Season by season record

Notes:

ChampionsRunners-up3rd placePromoted ↑Relegated ↓

Continental record

Notes: Bali United score are listed first.

AFC club ranking

RankTeamPoints
83 Sukhothai15.25
84 Western Sydney Wanderers14.83
85 Bali United14.14
86 Al Kuwait13.99
87 Adelaide United13.83

Other departments

eSports

In February 2019, Bali United opened an eSports department named Island of Gods , becoming the first professional football club in Indonesia to do so. They have five divisions so far, such as: , PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, FIFA, and Pro Evolution Soccer. In Free Fire Asia Invitational 2019 tournament, they managed to become champions after getting the highest points with 2,345 points.