Hong Kong Rangers FC

History

Formation to 2000

The club was founded in 1958 by a Scottish expatriate from Glasgow named Ian Petrie. He named his club after Rangers. It was the first Asian football club with a modern football club managing system. In the early days, the club could not compete with the bigger clubs financially so Petrie relied on young players and the team was known as a breeding ground for young players. Kwok Ka Ming was the best known players discovered by Petrie in the 1960s. In 1970, the club brought three Scottish professional players to Hong Kong. They were the first European professional players to play in the Hong Kong league, opening a new chapter in Hong Kong's football history. Great players such as Ian Taylor, Joe Brennan, Jimmy Liddell, and Derek Currie were a few to name. More were to follow in the 1980s such as Steve Paterson, Jimmy Bone and Tommy Nolan. Winner of the Ballon d’Or at 22, European champion and dubbed “El Beatle” - George Best came just a year before he finally retired from the game and played once for Hong Kong Rangers in 1982.

2000–2018

Since 12 October 2001, the club had been named after its sponsor, Buler, resulting in the name Buler Rangers up until summer 2006. On 15 September 2007, the club announced that it has secured a large sponsorship from Bulova, a watch brand which used to fund a famous Hong Kong football team decades ago, and used Bulova Rangers as the team name.

In 2011, the team changed their name as Kam Fung. They were the champions of the 2011–12 Hong Kong Second Division and were promoted to the Hong Kong First Division. The club has since renamed itself as Biu Chun Rangers due to being sponsorship by Biu Chun Watch Hands (except for the 2016–17 season when the club was renamed as Lee Man Rangers due to sponsorship reasons).

In the early part of the 2000s, Rangers' investment in youth player produced various Hong Kong internationals including Chan Wai Ho, Man Pei Tak, Lam Ka Wai and Lo Kwan Yee. However, this investment dried up in the later part of the 2010s resulting in lower budgets and declining performances of the club.

2018–present

Following a last place finish in the 2017–18 Hong Kong Premier League, Rangers were relegated back the First Division after a six-year stay in the top flight. Former Hong Kong international Wong Chin Hung was hired as the club's head coach.

Despite a third-place finish in the 2018–19 season, Rangers were promoted back into the Hong Kong Premier League on 15 July 2019 following Dreams FC's decision to self-relegate.

In 2019–20, Rangers were one of four teams that withdrew from the Premier League season due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong.

In the 2022–23 season, Rangers finished 3rd within the Hong Kong Premier League in which they secured one of the two qualification play-off spots where they will make their AFC Champions League debut.

In the 2023–24 season, Rangers became the champions of the Hong Kong Sapling Cup for the first time, which was also their first title in 29 years.

Name history

• 1958–1995: Rangers (香港流浪)
• 1995–1997: UHLSPORT Rangers (UHLSPORT流浪)
• 1997–1999: Rangers (香港流浪)
• 1999: Rangers (奇利寶流浪)
• 1999–2001: Rangers (香港流浪)
• 2001–2006: Buler Rangers (澎馬流浪)
• 2006–2007: Rangers (香港流浪)
• 2007–2008: Bulova Rangers (寶路華流浪)
• 2008–2009: Rangers (香港流浪)
• 2009–2010: Ongood (安華)
• 2010–2011: Biu Chun (標準錶針)
• 2011–2012: Kam Fung (金鋒科技)
• 2012–2016: Biu Chun Rangers (標準流浪)
• 2016–2017: Lee Man Rangers (理文流浪)
• 2017–: Biu Chun Rangers (標準流浪)

Team staff

Honours

League

• Hong Kong First Division
  • Champions (1): 1970–71
• Hong Kong Second Division
  • Champions (2): 1964–65, 2011–12
• Hong Kong Third 'A' Division
  • Champions (1): 1991–92

Cup competitions

• Hong Kong Senior Shield
  • Champions (4): 1965–66, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1994–95
  • Runners-up (2): 1975–76, 1981–82
• Hong Kong FA Cup
  • Champions (2): 1976–77, 1994–95
  • Runners-up (5): 1974–75, 1982–83, 2002–03, 2022–23, 2024–25
• Hong Kong Sapling Cup
  • Champions (1): 2023–24
• Hong Kong League Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2001–02
• Hong Kong Viceroy Cup
  • Champions (2): 1973–74, 1974–75

Season-to-season record

Note:

Retired numbers

Main article: Retired numbers in association football

Head coaches

• HKG Li Ping Hung (2001–2002)
• KOR Kim Pan-gon (2002–2004)
• HKG Anílton (2004)
• CHN Qiu Jing-wei (2004–2006)
• HKG Tim Bredbury (2006)
• MAS Lim Fung Kee (2006–2007)
• HKG Tim Bredbury (2007–2008)
• CRO Goran Paulić (2012)
• HKG Chan Hung Ping (2012–2013)
• BRA José Ricardo Rambo (2013–2014)
• HKG Cheung Po Chun (2014–2015)
• HKG Yan Lik Kin (2015)
• BRA José Ricardo Rambo (2015–2016)
• HKG Yan Lik Kin (2016)
• HKG Fung Hoi Man (2016–2017)
• HKG Lam Hing Lun (2017)
• SER Dejan Antonić (2017)
• HKG Gerard Ambassa Guy (2017–2018)
• HKG Fung Wing Sing, HKG Su Yang (2018)
• HKG Wong Chin Hung (2018–2019)
• HKG Chiu Chung Man, HKG Wong Chin Hung, HKG Lai Ka Fai (2019–2023)
• HKG Chiu Chung Man, HKG Wong Chin Hung, HKG Lai Ka Fai, HKG Poon Man Chun (2023)
• TPE Vom Ca-nhum (2023–2024)
• HKG Tim Bredbury (2024)
• HKG Wong Chin Hung (2024–2025)
• HKG Poon Man Tik (2025–)

References

References

1. (22 April 2018). "亞洲首支職業隊 本地波「兵工廠」造星無數".
2. "流浪主場不敵富力 提早兩輪篤定包尾 降班或獲挽留仍是未知數".
3. (15 July 2019). "足總通過夢想退賽申請 港甲季軍標準流浪獲邀升班".
4. (2023-08-15). "BC Rangers aiming to repair bruised pride in AFC Champions League debut".