Persib Bandung

Founding years (1933–1940)

The roots of Persib can be traced back to Bandoeng Inlandsche Voetbal Bond (BIVB) (Dutch for 'Bandung Domestic Football Federation'), formed on 5 January 1919 in accordance to the findings of a thorough research conducted by historians which were announced in 2023. BIVB was a fusion of local clubs in Bandung such as KBS, BB (Bintang Bandoeng), STER (Steeds trappen en rennen), Diana (Doe is alles niet achteruit), Zwaluw, BIVC, BVC, KVC, VVC, Visser, NVC, Brom and Pasar Ketjil to form BIVB. On October 22, 1928, the club changed its name to Bandoeng Indonesische Voetball Bond (BIVB) following the Decision of the Congress of Indonesian Youth and later became one of the founding clubs of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) in 1930.

On 13 May 1932, BIVB merged with the National Voetbal Bond (NVB) and was renamed Persatoean Sepakraga Kebangsaan Bandoeng (PSKB), but the merger was short-lived and ended due to internal conflict. On 4 September 1932, former BIVB officials held another meeting and renamed it Persatoean Sepakraga Indonesia Bandoeng (PSIB). On 17 December 1933, a second merger initiative was carried out between PSIB and NVB, which led to the formation of Persib on 18 March 1934.

Persib won the 1937 Dutch Indies football tournament and reached the finals in the 1933, 1934 and 1936 editions before Indonesia's 1945 independence.

Perserikatan era (1940–1994)

After Indonesia's independence, Persib was reformed in Bandung in 1948, during the Indonesian National Revolution. In the 1950s, Persib players Aang Witarsa and Anas appeared for the Indonesia national football team.

In the Perserikatan era, when Indonesian football clubs were amateur outfits funded by local governments, Persib won their second national title in 1961 and competed in that year's Aga Khan Gold Cup. The club's next significant achievement was as runner-up in the 1966 season. Persib's success declined in the 1970s culminating with their relegation to the First Division in the 1978–79 season. In response, the club hired Polish coach Marek Janota to lead the youth squad and Risnandar Soendoro to manage the senior team. Under their guidance, Persib earned a promotion to the Premier Division, with players including Robby Darwis, Adéng Hudaya, Adjat Sudrajat and Suryamin. The team finished as runners-up in the 1982–83 and 1984–85 seasons.

The club won the league in 1986 by beating Perseman Manokwari by a goal from Djadjang Nurdjaman at the Senayan Stadium. They became champions again in 1990, beating Persebaya Surabaya 2–0. Among the players of this golden era were Samai Setiadi, Adé Mulyono, Asép Sumantri and Djadjang Nurdjaman who would become the only person to win a national title for Persib as a player and coach.

Persib became champions in the final season of the Perserikatan era before it was merged with the fledgling, semi-professional Galatama league to become the Liga Indonesia Premier Division and so earned the right to keep the President Cup in perpetuity.

Early professional league era and resurgence (1994–2014)

Persib entered the professional era of Indonesian football by becoming the champions of the inaugural 1994–95 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, defeating Petrokimia Putra 1–0 in the final. This achievement qualified Persib for the 1995 Asian Club Championship, where they reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated. Coach Indra Thohir was named AFC Coach of the Year.

The following years were marked by mixed results. The club struggled to match its early success and went through multiple coaching changes. In 2003, Persib finished in the bottom two of the Premier Division and only avoided relegation due to a restructuring of the league system, followed by frequent managerial changes and inconsistent results. By the late 2000s, performances improved, with Persib finishing 3rd in the 2008–09 Indonesia Super League under Jaya Hartono.

In 2009, the club's management structure changed significantly with the establishment of PT Persib Bandung Bermartabat, separating the team from municipal government funding in response to national regulations on state budgets for football clubs.

Between 2012 and 2014, constant changes were made to the team. In 2012, Persib hired former player Djadjang Nurdjaman as head coach, and under his leadership the club steadily regained competitiveness. In 2013, Persib also changed its home base from Siliwangi Stadium to Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, due to stadium standard requirements. In 2014, Persib obtained a professional club license from the government of Indonesia. The changes came to fruition, culminated in Persib winning the 2014 Indonesia Super League, their first national title in nearly two decades, by defeating Persipura Jayapura in the final. Striker Ferdinand Sinaga was named the Best Player of the season.

As 2014 champions, Persib qualified for the 2015 AFC Champions League play-offs under interim coach Emral Abus, who replaced Djadjang Nurdjaman on the bench due to licensing requirements. After being eliminated by Hà Nội T&T, the club entered the 2015 AFC Cup, reaching the Round of 16, before losing to Kitchee SC. With the 2015 Indonesia Super League cancelled due to conflict between the government and the PSSI, Persib instead competed in the inaugural President's Cup, which they won.

Consistency and recent success (2016–2022)

In 2016, Persib competed in the Indonesia Soccer Championship A, finishing fifth. The following year saw a significant dip, with the club ending the 2017 Liga 1 season in 13th place despite high-profile signings including Michael Essien and Carlton Cole.