Kelantan Red Warrior F.C.

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This article is about Kelantan Red Warrior Football Club. For Kelantan The Real Warriors, see Kelantan The Real Warriors F.C. For Kelantan, see Kelantan F.C.
Kelantan Red Warrior
Full nameKelantan Red Warrior Football Club
Nickname(s)The Red Warrior
Short nameKRW
Founded21 December 2024; 8 months ago (21 December 2024)
StadiumSultan Muhammad IV Stadium
Capacity22,000
PresidentZaki Harun
CEOWan Mohd Fajarul Ekram
Head coachIrfan Bakti Abu Salim
LeagueMalaysia A1 Semi-Pro League
2025–26TBD
Websitekelantanredwarrior.com

Kelantan Red Warrior Football Club is a Malaysian professional football club based in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. They play in the second division of the Malaysian football league system, the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League.[1]

History

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Formation and early years

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The club was founded on 21 December 2024 by the chairman of the Gerakan Selamatkan Kelantan FC (GSK) Nik Hafiz Naim Nik Hassan in a joint venture with the Football Association of Kelantan. On 16 January 2025, Irfan Bakti Abu Salim has been appointed as the club's head coach.[2] On 5 June, the club has been accepted to join the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League.[3][4][5][6][7]

FIFA investigation, new ownership

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In July 2025, FIFA issued a notice to KRW, requesting clarification on whether it is the “sporting successor” of Kelantan F.C., due to outstanding wages and debts from the old club.[8] KRW denied any legal or structural ties with Kelantan and stated it was an entirely new club.[9] In August 2025, Nik Hafiz stepped down as KRW president and relinquished all interests to facilitate the league registration.[10][11][12] Dato’ Zaki Harun, the former Kelantan chief police officer, was ppointed as the new president of KRW.[13][14]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

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Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2025– Warrix[15] Nasken Coffee

Stadium and location

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Coordinates Location Stadium Capacity Year
6°7′26″N 102°14′36″E / 6.12389°N 102.24333°E / 6.12389; 102.24333 Kota Bharu Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium 22,000 2025–present
Atmosphere during match at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium

Players

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First-team squad

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As of 22 August 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Malaysia MAS Amin Faisal
3 DF Malaysia MAS Muhammad Faudzi
4 MF Malaysia MAS Arham Khussyairi (vice-captain)
6 MF Malaysia MAS Fariz Zaidi
7 FW Pakistan PAK Otis Khan
8 MF Malaysia MAS Azraf Azam
9 FW Malaysia MAS Norshahrul Idlan (captain)
11 FW Malaysia MAS Fazli Ghazali
18 MF Malaysia MAS Faiz Nasir
19 DF Malaysia MAS Syafiq Izzudin
22 GK Malaysia MAS Shafiq Afifi
24 MF Cameroon CMR Emmanuel Mbarga
27 DF Malaysia MAS Aikal Daniel
No. Pos. Nation Player
31 MF Malaysia MAS Zuasyraf Zulkiefle
32 FW Malaysia MAS Nik Azli
33 GK Malaysia MAS Harif Hazli
41 MF Malaysia MAS Niam' Mulhassan
44 DF Malaysia MAS Iskandar Shah
47 FW Malaysia MAS Adib Aiman
49 FW Malaysia MAS Rizuan Muda
66 DF Malaysia MAS Fahrin Azizuddin
77 DF Malaysia MAS Aiman Joanny
88 MF Malaysia MAS Muhaimin Izuddin
94 FW Malaysia MAS Mazwan Che Mat
— MF Australia AUS Kayden Soper

Club staff

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As of 23 August 2025

Technical staff

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Position Name
Head coach Malaysia Irfan Bakti Abu Salim[16]
Assistant coach Malaysia Kamarudin Anuar
Assistant coach Malaysia Mohd Sideek Samsudin
Goalkeeper coach Malaysia Ismail Chawalit
Fitness coach Malaysia Ghazali Husin
Physiotherapist Malaysia Wan Muhammad Farid
Kitman Malaysia Muhammad Ridhuwan Mansor

Management

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Position Name
President Malaysia Muhammad Zaki bin Haji Harun
Chief executive officer Malaysia Wan Mohd Fajarul Ekram
Chief operating officer Malaysia Nik Khuzaimi Nudin

Coaches

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As of match played 22 August 2025
List of Kelantan Red Warrior Coaches
Name Nationality From To M W D L GF GA Win % Ref
Irfan Bakti Abu Salim Malaysia 16 January 2025 Present 1 0 1 0 1 1 000.00

References

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  1. ^ "RM2 juta hidupkan KRW, sah mohon bertanding Liga A1". Harian Metro. 21 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Irfan Bakti kemudi KRW". Berita Harian. 16 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Kelantan Red Warrior sah 'kembali' Sabtu ini". Berita Harian. 15 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Kelantan Red Warriors mahu ganti TRW". Utusan Malaysia. 21 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Kelantan Red Warriors ganti The Red Warriors". Sinar Harian. 21 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Kelantan Red Warriors sedia ganti TRW". Berita RTM. 21 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Kelantan Red Warriors mahu ganti TRW". Kosmo!. 21 December 2024.
  8. ^ https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2025/07/27/confusion-over-kelantan-teams-rebranding-draws-fifa039s-attention[bare URL]
  9. ^ https://www.kosmo.com.my/2025/07/28/krw-tak-salin-kulit-nafi-dakwaan-fifa/[bare URL]
  10. ^ https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2025/08/04/hafiz-steps-down-as-president-to-keep-warriors-ina1-semi-pro-league[bare URL]
  11. ^ "Liga A1: Nasken Coffee ambil alih KRW FC, usaha selamat daripada sekatan". malaysiagazette.com. 4 August 2025.
  12. ^ "KRW FC kini milik Nasken Coffee". sinarharian.com. 2 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Dato' Zaki Harun Appointed as New President of Kelantan RW". snesports. August 18, 2025.
  14. ^ "Ex-Kelantan Police Chief Appointed KRW FC President". bernama. August 18, 2025.
  15. ^ "New Era Begins: Warrix to Power Kelantan Red Warriors FC Until 2027". Universal Sports. 7 May 2025.
  16. ^ "Irfan Bakti dilantik ketua jurulatih Kelantan Red Warrior". Astro Awani. 17 January 2025.
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