Young Lions FC

History

By entering the Young Lions into the S.League, the FAS hopes to expose young players to top-level competition, thus helping to prepare them for international tournaments such as the Southeast Asian Games. While the bulk of the Young Lions squad is made up of members of Singapore's national under-23 team, the club also takes in promising young foreign players (e.g. Luka Savić). However, foreign players are normally only recruited into the Young Lions squad if they could potentially change their nationality to Singaporean and be eligible to play international football for Singapore at some point in the future.

Malaysian domestic competition

In 2011, the Football Association of Singapore and the Football Association of Malaysia reached an agreement that would see greater cooperation between the two nations. One of the intended avenues would see Young Lions play in the Malaysian Super League and Malaysia Cup from 2012. The squad will be permitted up to five local players over the age of 14–16 players, as well as a number of overseas players in accordance with the quota set out by the rules of the Malaysian competitions. Ultimately, a new team was created, the LionsXII, while the Young Lions remained in the S.League.

National Football Academy

Most of the Young Lions players come from the NFA (National Football Academy) and new players (from the NFA) will be promoted to the Young Lions squad every season.

The National Football Academy enters both the Singapore NFA U-17 and Singapore NFA U-18 teams into the Prime League to allow their players to gain more exposure and match experience by playing against older and more established players.

Foreign players

In 2023, Young Lions signed the Japanese duo Jun Kobayashi and Kan Kobayashi from Albirex Niigata (S) becoming the first foreign players since French Benjamin Bertrand from Tours in 2016. In preparation for the 2024–25 Singapore Premier League season, Young Lions signed additional two Japanese players, Kaisei Ogawa and Itsuki Enomoto, and the Australian Rashid Hayek from Western United, making it the first time the club has five foreigners in the squad. On 28 March 2025, Young Lions recorded their highest ever win during the 2024–25 Singapore Cup fixtures against Albirex Niigata (S) where Kaisei Ogawa became the second players in the club history to score four goals in one match since Zikos Chua against Tanjong Pagar United on 7 August 2022. After a reshuffle in the Football Association of Singapore seeing Forrest Li as the FAS new president in 2025, Young Lions sees a major overhaul in the club 2025–26 season where they signed a new partnership with Denmark manufacturing company Select ending a deal with Nike after 17 years. The club also sees themselves getting a main sponsor on the front of their jersey with Chinese state-owned automobile company, Dongfeng. Young Lions also went on to signed a few youngsters from Brazil with the likes of Abner Vinicius, Joilson, Lucas Agueiro and Sérgio Mendonça while they loan a few under-21 foreign players from Lion City Sailors with the likes of Enrico Walmrath, Harry Spence and Benjamin Žerak.

Stadium

Main article: Jalan Besar Stadium

Young Lions had played at the Jalan Besar Stadium since their inception of participating in the S.League. The stadium can holds up a seating capacity of 8,000. In 2012, As part of the LionsXII's sponsorship by Kingsmen, a local fan club, the King George's Stand was built using a removable stand, increasing the stadium's capacity to 10,000.

On 30 October 2012, an LED scoreboard was implemented at the Gallery stand to provide better quality video to the spectators, allowing replay video highlights of the action on the field during matchdays. Two new screens were also placed at the two ends of the Grandstand, North and South, to enable better match experience for the Gallery fans.

Kit suppliers and naming history

Young Lions kit was manufactured by local brand Tiger who than collaborate with Italian sportswear Diadora. The club was than sponsor by Japanese brand Maxell. In 2008, Young Lions alongside the Singapore national team kit was than manufactured by Nike. From 2011, Young Lions was sponsored by Courts where the club began to change it name to Courts Young Lions until 2015 where they was than sponsored by Garena thus changing the name to Garena Young Lions until 2017.

In August 2025, Young Lions signed a deal with Danish sportswear Select ending a 17 years contract with Nike. The club also partners with Chinese state-owned automobile company, Dongfeng as the club main sponsor.

Players

First-team squad

(on loan from Hougang United) (on loan from Lion City Sailors) (on loan from Tampines Rovers) (captain) (on loan from Hougang United) (on loan from Lion City Sailors) (on loan from Hougang United) (on loan from Lion City Sailors) (on loan from Hougang United) (on loan from Albirex Niigata (S)) (on loan from Lion City Sailors)

'B' squad

The Young Lions B squad that is representing the team in the Singapore Premier League 2

(captain)(on loan from Lion City Sailors) (on loan from Lion City Sailors) (on loan from Lion City Sailors) (on loan from Lion City Sailors) (on loan from Lion City Sailors)

Management and staff

Source:

Performance in domestic competitions

• 2003 saw the introduction of penalty shoot-outs if a match ended in a draw in regular time. Winners of penalty shoot-outs gained two points instead of one.

Notable foreign players

• AUS Craig Foster (1991)
• NGA Kazeem Babatunde (2003–2004)
• SER Vladan Seric (2004)
• NGA Greg Nwokolo (2005)
• CMR Moudourou Moise (2006–2008)
• ENG Daniel Hammond (2008)
• NGA Obadin Aikhena (2008–2009)
• CHN Yang Mu (2009)
• SER Luka Savić (2010)
• FRA Sirina Camara (2012)
• FRA Jonathan Toto (2012–2013)
• CAN Sherif El-Masri (2012–2015)
• DEN Benjamin Lee (2013)
• CAN Jordan Webb (2014–2016)
• FRA Benjamin Bertrand (2016)
• GER Armin Maier (2017)
• JPN Jun Kobayashi (2023–2025)
• JPN Kan Kobayashi (2023–2025)
• JPN Itsuki Enomoto (2024)
• JPN Kaisei Ogawa (2024–2025)

Coaching history

Records and statistics

As of 8 June 2025

Most appearances

Top scorers

Team records

; Biggest wins:

• 7–1 vs Sinchi on 23 September 2004
• 7–1 vs Albirex Niigata (S) on 28 March 2025 ;Heaviest Defeats:
• 1–10 vs Lion City Sailors (13 August 2022) ; Youngest goal scorer:
• Khairin Nadim, 16 years 6 months and 9 days (On 17 November 2020 vs Tampines Rovers) ; Oldest goal scorer:
• Khairul Amri, 31 years 6 months and 11 days (On 1 April 2023 vs Geylang International) ; Youngest debutant:
• Raoul Suhaimi, 15 years 7 months 27 days (15 May 2021 vs Albirex Niigata (S))

Notable Hat-tricks

Club captains

Personal awards

Domestic

• League Young Player of the Year
  • SIN Hariss Harun (2010)

Others

• People's Choice Award
  • Singapore Agu Casmir (2004)
  • Singapore Khairul Amri (2006)
  • Singapore Safuwan Baharudin (2011)

References

References

1. "Jalan Besar Stadium".
2. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120110131100/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Sports/Story/A1Story20110712-288801.html Singapore Lions to participate in 2012 Malaysia Cup] – Asia One, 12/07/11
3. (11 July 2012). "Prime League Table". S.League Official Website.
4. (2011-01-27). "Soccer-Singapore's Young Lions get name change, S$1 million". Reuters.
5. "Young Lions snare S$4m sponsorship deal - biggest in S.League history".
6. (28 January 2023). "SPL 2023 Transfer Centre Club Guide: Young Lions". Singapore Premier League.
7. "Club Profile – Garena Young Lions".