Persatuan Sepakbola Indonesia Surakarta (), commonly known as Persis Solo, is an Indonesian football club based in the Central Java city of Surakarta. Founded on 8 November 1923 as Vorstenlandschen Voetbal Bond (English: Royal Football Union; abbreviated as VVB), it was officially renamed to its current brand in 1935. They will compete in the Championship next season, following relegation from the 2025–26 Super League.
Persis returned to top-flight football after a decade in 2022 following its success in winning the 2021 Liga 2 title. The club plays its Super League home games at Manahan Stadium, which has a capacity of 20,000 spectators. The 2021 revival of the club was driven by its new, politically connected owners – Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko Widodo who acts as the club's chairman, and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir.
History Persis Solo was established on 8 November 1923, Sastrosaksono from the M.A.R.S club and Raden Ngabehi Reksohadiprojo and Sutarman from the Romeo club initiated the formation of the Vorstenlandsche Voetbal Bond (VVB) as the forerunner of a football club that is the pride of the people of Solo. It is based on the belief of the three figures that the game of football can be played by anyone without any certain limitations.
On 28 October 1928, VVB reacted to the moment of the Youth Pledge of 1928, since 12 May 1933 then VVB changed its name to Persatuan Sepakraga Indonesia Soerakarta (Persis). This name change is a form of appreciation for the values of struggle and unity contained in the contents of the youth oath. Informally, the name Persis began to be used by the club.
On 19 April 1930, they participated in the founding of the Indonesian football federation called PSSI (In Indonesian: Persatuan Sepakbola Seluruh Indonesia) with six clubs, Bandoengsche Inlandsche Voetbal Bond (Persib Bandung), Indonesische Voetbal Bond Magelang (PPSM Magelang), Madioensche Voetbal Bond (PSM Madiun), Persatuan Sepakraga Mataram (PSIM Yogyakarta), Soerabajasche Indonesische Voetbal Bond (Persebaya Surabaya), and Voetbalbond Indonesische Jacarta (Persija Jakarta). The establishment of PSSI came from the spirit of the Indonesian people's struggle against Dutch imperialism at that time, and on 12 May 1933, Persis began to be inaugurated by the club through internal deliberation and began to be used officially.
Persis Solo began to be known by the people of Solo. Then, they began to be based at the Manahan Stadium and Sriwedari Stadium which were used as the team's training center, they also won several PSSI Perserikatan competitions seven times, namely in 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, and 1943. Not only did they excel in the 1990s. Persis Solo started appearing in national football in 2006.
The momentum for Persis Solo's revival was only felt that year. The local government took them seriously and succeeded in being promoted to the highest caste at the time, Liga Indonesia Premier Division. Persis Solo was able to produce talented young players at that time, two of whom were goalkeeper Wahyu Tri Nugroho and defender Wahyu Wijiastanto. Both managed to enter the Indonesia national team.
Persis Solo became its own strength in 2007–08 Liga Djarum. They brought in big-name players, Greg Nwokolo, Harry Saputra, Rudi Widodo, Alvin Kie, and Frank Seator. Unfortunately, being in the highest caste only lasted a short time. In the following season, PSSI compiled the highest level competition under the name Indonesia Super League in 2008. Persis Solo was only able to finish in 10th place in the western group and failed to survive at the main level.
Grounds
Stadium
Persis Solo plays their home matches at Manahan Stadium. Manahan Stadium's design adheres to the international standards for stadium design, which is completed with 20,000 individual seats. The grass used is Grass Dactylon Cynodon, which is of FIFA standard class. The stadium is equipped with: a football pitch, international-standard athletics, a dressing room, a heating room, a health room, a secretariat, a journalist and a press conference room, and some offices.
Sponsorship The complete sponsors are as follow.
Main sponsors (2025–2026) Call of Duty Mobile Aladin Bank
Supporters and rivalries
Supporters Persis Solo's supporters are called Pasoepati. Founded in 2000 with red color as their identity. Pasoepati is one of the biggest football club supporters in Central Java.
Surakartans are the most loyal supporters of Persis, since the first time they were formed, they are supporting Persis and only Persis. They're known for their British casual culture.
Ultras 1923 are Persis Solo's supporters who are renowned for their fanatical support, with black color just like the Italian ultras.
Rivalries Persis Solo and PSIM Yogyakarta has a classic tendencious match called the Mataram Derby.
Another rivalry called Central Java Derby, against PSIS Semarang. It's renowned for being the healthiest rivalry in Indonesian football.
Personnel
Technical staff Position Name Head coach Ricky Nelson Assistant coach Milos Durovic Tithan Suryata Goalkeeper coach Eddy Harto Assistant goalkeeper coach Rizki Arya Adinata Fitness coach Khairulanwar Md Isa Analyst Taufik Novianto Team Doctor dr. Iwan Utomo Physiotherapist Rudi Suseno Physiotherapist Deka Bagus Kurniagung Masseur Fernando Nugroho
Head coach history Years Name Notes 1994 Hong Widodo 2000–2001 Hartono Ruslan 2003 John Lesnussa 2006 Hanafi 2007–2008 Suharno 2009–2010 Abdul Hafid Djamado 2010 Isman Jasulmei 2011 Branko Babić 2011–2012 Didik Listyantoro 2012–2013 Junaedi 2013–2015 Widyantoro 2015-2016 Aris Budi Sulistyo 2016–2017 Widyantoro 2017–2018 Freddy Muli 2018 Jafri Sastra 2018–2019 Agus Yuwono 2019 Choirul Huda 2019–2020 Salahudin 2021–2022 Eko Purdjianto 2022 Jacksen F. Tiago 2022 Rasiman 2022–2023 Leonardo Medina 2024 Milomir Šešlija 2024–2025 Ong Kim Swee 2025 Peter de Roo 2025– Milomir Šešlija
Players
Current squad
Out on loan
Retired numbers 12 – The 12th man 17 – Ferry Anto (posthumous) 33 – Diego Mendieta (posthumous)
Season-by-season records Season(s)League/DivisionTms.Pos.Piala IndonesiaLeague CupAFC/AFF competition(s)1994–95First Division164––––1995–96First Division244th, Second round––––1996–97First Division193rd, Group 2––––1997–98First Divisionseason abandoned––––1998–99First Division145th, Group 3––––1999–2000Second Division––––2001Second Division––––2002Second Division2nd, Third round––––2003Second Division283rd, Second round––––2004Second Division414th, Group F––––2005Second Division243rd, Group 3––––2006First Division362––––2007–08Premier Division3611th, East division––––2008–09Premier Division2911th, Group 2––––2009–10Premier Division3311th, Group 2––––2010–11Premier Division3913th, Group 2––––2011–12Premier Division (LPIS)288th, Group 2––––Premier Division (LI)227th, Group 1––––2013Premier Division (LI)393rd, Group 5––––2014Premier Division604th, Third round––––2015Premier Division55did not finish––––2016Indonesia Soccer Championship B535th, Group 3––––2017Liga 2614th, Third round––––2018Liga 2245th, West region1st round–––2019Liga 2245th, East region–––2020Liga 224did not finish––––2021–22Liga 2241––––2022–23Liga 11810––––2023–24Liga 1187––––2024–25Liga 11814––––2025–26Super League1816th––––2026–27Championship20TBD–TBD––
Honours Domestic1st tierTitlesRunners-upSeasons wonSeasons runners-upPerserikatan711935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 194319372nd tierTitlesRunners-upSeasons wonSeasons runners-upLiga 2102021–22First Division012006Perserikatan Second Division101994
References
External links
PasoepatiNet SambernyawaCom