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. 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.

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. 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, Dayson Balzani, Shaun Bartlett, Steve Komphela, Siyabonga Nomvete, Doctor Khumalo, and Siphiwe Tshabalala.

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. In January 2026, Kaizer Chiefs celebrated their 56th anniversary.

History

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. Club manager Bobby Motaung, son of Kaizer Chiefs founder Kaizer Motaung, has been a key figure in the administration, recruitment and strategic direction of the club since the 1990s.Bobby Motaung's foundation to launch community upliftment, SABC Sport, 7 July 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2025Biography of Bobby Motaung, Their Magazine, retrieved 12 July 2025

Kaizer Chiefs are known as "Amakhosi" by its fans, a Zulu word meaning "kings" or "chiefs". Their headquarters is Kaizer Chiefs Village six kilometres south of Johannesburg.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Kaizer Chiefs' forays into Africa were temporarily scuttled by a Confederation of African Football (CAF) ban. 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.

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.

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.

Under coach Ernst Middendorp in the 2019/20 season, Kaizer Chiefs topped the table from the seventh matchday of the season until losing the title on the final day, which saw the club finishing two points behind winners Mamelodi Sundowns.

On 26 June 2021, the team secured their first CAF Champions League final appearance after defeating Wydad AC by a 1–0 aggregate.

On 9 July 2021, Kaizer Chiefs confirmed through Twitter that they signed six players for next season after their transfer ban ended. On 17 July 2021, they lost 3–0 against Al Ahly in the Champions League Final.

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.

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.

The Soweto Derby

The Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is a rivalry dating back to 1970, and in contrast to most other games in the South African Premiership, always attracts a large fanbase.

Honours +Kaizer Chiefs' honours Type Competition Titles Seasons Domestic League/Premiership 12 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1992, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2012–13, 2014–15 Nedbank Cup 14 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1992, 2000, 2006, 2013, 2025 Carling Knockout Cup 13 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010 MTN 8 15 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2014 Continental CAF Champions League Runners-up 2021 CAF Super Cup Runners-up 2002 African Cup Winners' Cup 12001

+Kaizer Chiefs' unofficial honours Type Competition Titles Seasons Unofficial domestic Castle Challenge Cup 2 1990, 1991 Carling Black Label Cup 4 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021 CUFA Cup 1 2024 Home of Legends Cup 1 2024 Ohlsson's Challenge Cup 2 1987, 1989 Panasonic Cup 1 1986 Sales House Champ of Champs 7 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984 Shell Helix Ultra Cup 1 2019 Stylo Cup 1 1970 Telkom Charity Cup11 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2010 UCT Super Team Competition 1 1972 Vodacom Challenge5 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009 PSL Reserve League Champions (1): 2025

Awards CAF Awards African Club of the Year 2001

Performance in CAF Competitions

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 YearCAF champions LeagueRound of 161993Round of 162005Round of 162014Round of 322016Runner-up2020-21CAF Super Cup Runner-up2002African Cup Winners' CupWithdrew 1997Champions 2001Disqualified2002CAF CupRound of 162000CAF Confederation CupPlay-off Round2014Play-off Round2018Group stage2025–26 Kaizer Chiefs' appearances in African competitions

CAF Champions league = 5 appearance(s) CAF Confederations Cup = 3 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. RankClub2019–202020–212021–222022–232023–24Total28 Abu Salim0000228 Stade Malien0000230 Kaizer Chiefs05000

Crest and colours

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors +PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsorRef1990-93KappaIWISA1993-94United Bank1994-96IWISA1996-97Reebok1997-99TOTAL1999-01Vodacom2001-23Nike2023–presentKappa

Club records Most appearances – Doctor Khumalo 497 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), Mamelodi Sundowns (League – 02/05/2024)

PSL-era seasonposRecordP W D L GF GA GD PTS win%1996–972nd34181245623336652.9 %1997–982nd34171255235176350 %1998–992nd 34 23 6 5 73 34 39 7567.6 %1999–20003rd34161264022186047 %2000–012nd34161264125166047 %2001–029th3412139383354935.29 %2002–036th3014884226165046.7 %2003–04Winners¹3018933911286360 %2004–05Winners²30171125526296256.6 %2005–063rd30121443926135040 %2006–079th30119104232104236.7 %2007–086th30101373220124333.3 %2008–093rd3015510373255050 %2009–103rd3014973925145146.7 %2010–113rd3017854523225956.7 %2011–125th3014883523125046.7 %2012–13Winners³30151234821275750 %2013–142nd3019654317266363.3 %2014–15Winners⁴3021634114276970 %2015–165th30111363928115036.6 %2016–174th30131163928115043.3 %2017–183rd3012126272254840 %2018–199th309129332943930 %2019–202nd 301767482721 5756.6 %2020-218th30812103437 -3 3626.6 %2021-225th30138934268 4743.3 %2022-235th30135123233 -1 4443.3 %2023-2410th3099122530 -5362024-259th2888122732 -5322025-263rd3015963319 1454

Personnel Club officials Position Staff Executive Chairman Kaizer Motaung Marketing and Commercial Director Jessica Motaung Football Manager Bobby Motaung Sporting Director Kaizer Motaung Jr.

Players

Notable former players For all Kaizer Chiefs players with a Wikipedia article see

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)