Merdeka Tournament

File:1958 Merdeka Cup Winner, Malaya.jpg

football team, five years before the merger to form Malaysia. Also in the picture is Tunku Abdul Rahman (centre), the first Prime Minister of Malaya, and at that time president of Football Association of Malaya & Asian Football Confederation.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/60th-anniversary-asias-history-makers-60th-anniversary-news/asian-icons-tunku-abdul-rahman-putra-al|title=ASIAN ICONS: TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN PUTRA AL HAJ|publisher=AFC at Wayback Machine|date=5 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923085438/https://www.the-afc.com/60th-anniversary-asias-history-makers-60th-anniversary-news/asian-icons-tunku-abdul-rahman-putra-al|accessdate=13 January 2018|archive-date=23 September 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://olympic.org.my/museum/hof/ind/tarn.htm|title= OCM Sports Museum & Hall of Fame: Tunku Abdul Rahman|publisher=OCM at Wayback Machine|date=12 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412094508/https://olympic.org.my/museum/hof/ind/tarn.htm|accessdate=15 January 2019|archive-date=12 April 2010}} ]]

The Merdeka Tournament is Asia`s oldest football tournament which invited football playing nations to compete since 1957.{{cite web|url=http://www.nst.com.my/sports/soccer/glory-beckons-malaysia-1.350803|title=Glory beckons Malaysia|author=Ajitpal Singh|publisher=New Straits Times|date=7 September 2013|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908002123/https://www.nst.com.my/sports/soccer/glory-beckons-malaysia-1.350803|archive-date=8 September 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.malaysia.or.kr/asapro/board/show.htm?bn=board07&categoryValue=0&jk=81&stSLT=count&thisPage=86&startTextId=850&buffer=3801&searchTemp=&srchValue=&fmlid=2990&pkid=2943|title="Hari Merdeka" Observed in Seoul|author=Ted Gim|work=The Seoul Times|publisher=malaysia.or.kr|date=2 September 2008|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220205107/http://www.malaysia.or.kr/asapro/board/show.htm?bn=board07&categoryValue=0&jk=81&stSLT=count&thisPage=86&startTextId=850&buffer=3801&searchTemp=&srchValue=&fmlid=2990&pkid=2943|archive-date=20 December 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=https://menafn.com/1105063006/Merdeka-Cup-To-Restart-Again-India-May-Feature-Feels-AIFF-Chief|title=Merdeka Cup To 'Restart' Again! India May Feature, Feels AIFF Chief|publisher=MENAFN|date=22 October 2022|access-date=22 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022123214/https://menafn.com/1105063006/Merdeka-Cup-To-Restart-Again-India-May-Feature-Feels-AIFF-Chief|archive-date=22 October 2022|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite book|title=Asiaweek|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WytBAQAAIAAJ|year=1990|publisher=Asiaweek Limited}} The tournament also was once called the ‘Mini Asia Cup’ around the 1960s to 1980s, which was founded by the former AFC President, Tunku Abdul Rahman.{{cite web|url=https://bebasnews.my/2021/04/22/piala-fam-pestabola-merdeka-bakal-kembali/|title=Piala FAM, Pestabola Merdeka bakal kembali|trans-title=FAM Cup, Pestabola Merdeka will return|language=Malay|publisher=Bebas News|accessdate=2 March 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228114206/https://bebasnews.my/2021/04/22/piala-fam-pestabola-merdeka-bakal-kembali/|archivedate=28 February 2022|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/10/13/india-eye-glory-in-mini-asia-cup/|title=India eye glory in 'mini Asia Cup'|publisher=The Shillong Times|accessdate=13 October 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120163459/https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/10/13/india-eye-glory-in-mini-asia-cup/|archivedate=20 November 2023|url-status=dead}} At that time, the FIFA president, Sir Stanley Rous, was just as surprised that newly independent Asian country could successfully organize a football tournament where all expenses of the visiting teams were fully borne by the host.{{cite web|url=https://legasilagenda.com/2023/08/15/pestabola-merdeka-warisan-tunku-abdul-rahman/|title=Pestabola Merdeka: The legacy of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj's Wisdom and Courage|publisher=Legasi Lagenda|accessdate=15 August 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124124009/https://legasilagenda.com/2023/08/15/pestabola-merdeka-warisan-tunku-abdul-rahman/|archivedate=24 November 2023|url-status=dead}} The Merdeka Tournament proved to be a huge success, inspiring similar tournaments like the Jakarta Anniversary Tournament in Indonesia, the King's Cup in Thailand and the President's Cup in South Korea.{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/01/450291/hope-floats-stalled-merdeka-tournament|title=Hope Floats For Stalled Merdeka Tournament|publisher=New Straits Times|accessdate=2 March 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302085624/https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2019/01/450291/hope-floats-stalled-merdeka-tournament|archivedate=2 March 2022|url-status=dead}} While the tournament had been held annually from 1957 to 1988, it has been held only ten times from 1989 to 2023. During the late 1950s to early 1980s, it was a prestigious tournament among Asian nations because the participants sent their full senior players.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/08/31/halcyon-days-of-malaysian-football/|title=Halcyon days of Malaysian football|author=Eric Samuel|work=The Star|date=31 August 2017|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-date=10 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610102356/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/08/31/halcyon-days-of-malaysian-football/ |url-status=live }} After the 1980s, interest in the cup waned from both football fans and football teams, because many Asian nations focused more on the qualification phases in the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.semuanyabola.com/pestabola-merdeka-akan-dianjurkan-mengikut-kalendar-fifa/|title=Pestabola Merdeka Akan Dianjurkan Mengikut Kalendar FIFA|trans-title=Pestabola Merdeka Will Be Organized According to the FIFA Calendar|author=Sulaiman Ismail|work=Semuanya Bola|language=ms|date=25 December 2018|access-date=25 December 2018|archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727121207/https://www.semuanyabola.com/pestabola-merdeka-akan-dianjurkan-mengikut-kalendar-fifa/|url-status=live }}

The first edition of the tournament was held in August and September 1957 with British Hong Kong emerging inaugural champions.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2014/05/13/sporting-landmarks-through-the-years/|title=Sporting landmarks through the years|author=T. Avineshwaran|work=The Star|date=13 May 2004|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164556/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2014/05/13/sporting-landmarks-through-the-years/|url-status=live}} However, from then on it was purely dominated by Malaysia, South Korea, Myanmar, Indonesia and a host of other countries, including South American and European clubs.{{cite web| url= https://legasilagenda.com/2021/08/31/merdeka-64/| title= Happy 64th Independence Day - Legasi Lagenda| date= 31 August 2021| access-date= 7 March 2023| archive-date= 7 March 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230307142408/https://legasilagenda.com/2021/08/31/merdeka-64/| url-status= live}} 31 August 2021

Malaysia/Malaya exclusively lifted the trophy ten times, emerged runners-up on eight occasions, and in addition shared the winner’s rostrum twice with South Korea (1960 and 1979), while South Korean sides have won it seven times.

Indonesia, Taiwan and Myanmar hold multi-winning accolades. The other champions were Morocco (1980), New Zealand (2000), Uzbekistan (2001), Czechoslovakia Olympic (1987) and Austria’s with their SK Admira Wacker (1991), German Hamburger SV (1988), Argentinian Buenos Aires XI (1983) and Brazilian Santa Catarina XI (1982).

Brazilian states' São Paulo XI, Minas Gerais XI, and America FC Rio de Janeiro finished runners-up, as have Japan and India.

The 2024 Merdeka Tournament would be held in September 2024. Three countries will be invited to the tournament, from Kim Pan-gon's decision. The tournament uses the same format as the 2023 edition, where higher-ranked teams received a bye in the semi-final, and only waiting in the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2024/06/1061292/fam-invite-three-countries-merdeka-tournament |title=FAM to invite three countries for Merdeka Tournament | New Straits Times}}

File:Pestabola Merdeka logo badge.jpg

Below are the list of Merdeka Football Tournament finals since 1957.{{cite web|url=https://www.international-football.net/competition-overview?compet-id=Merdeka%20Tournament|title=Merdeka Tournament|publisher=International football.net|date=25 October 2008|access-date=31 August 2012|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923153423/https://www.international-football.net/competition-overview?compet-id=Merdeka%20Tournament|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/merdeka.html|title=Merdeka Tournament (Malaysia)|author=Neil Morrison|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|date=10 September 2015|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-date=19 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719120322/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/merdeka.html|url-status=live}}

Below are the records of national teams (including youth teams) since 1957.

Below are the records of state or clubteams since 1957.

Here are some prominent footballers, who participated in this competition.

• {{flagicon|MYS}} Mokhtar Dahari
• {{flagicon|MYS}} Soh Chin Ann
• {{flagicon|MYS}} Abdul Ghani Minhat
• {{flagicon|MYS}} Chow Chee Keong
• {{flagicon|IND}} P. K. Banerjee
• {{flagicon|IND}} Chuni Goswami
• {{flagicon|IND}} Inder Singh
• {{flagicon|IND}} Sunil Chhetri
• {{flagicon|PAK}} Moosa Ghazi
• {{flagicon|PAK}} Muhammad Umer
• {{flagicon|PAK}} Qayyum Changezi
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Kim Jae-han
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Cha Bum-kun
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Park Sung-Hwa
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Lee Woon-jae
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Kunishige Kamamoto
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Yasuhiko Okudera
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Hiromi Hara
• {{flagicon|IDN}} Abdul Kadir
• {{flagicon|IDN}} Iswadi Idris
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Jakob Kjeldbjerg
• {{flagicon|DEN}} Jacob Laursen
• {{flagicon|MM}} Suk Bahadur
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Hussein Saeed
• {{flagicon|GHA}} Abedi Pele
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Ryan Nelsen
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Kevin Keegan

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{{Pestabola Merdeka}}

{{Football in Malaysia}}

{{Friendly association football tournaments in Asia}}

Category:International association football competitions hosted by Malaysia

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1957

Category:1957 establishments in Malaya

Category:International men's association football invitational tournaments