Ahead of the 2024-2025 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, we look at each of the nine clubs participating in the 29th season of the domestic top flight. Today we focus on reigning Singapore Cup champions Lion City Sailors!
Seasons: 5
Nickname: The Sailors
Stadium: Bishan Stadium
Highest finish: 1st (2021)
2023 finish: 2nd
Chairman: Forrest Li
Head Coach: Aleksandar Ranković
Captain: Hariss Harun
Foreigners: Bart Ramselaar (Netherlands), Maxime Lestienne (Belgium), Rui Pires (Portugal), Toni Datković (Croatia), Bailey Wright* (Australia)
Key signing: Bart Ramselaar
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Having missed out on the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title for a second straight year, the Sailors will have their sights set on reclaiming the crown they last won in 2021.
They have outlined their ambitions by retaining the services of reigning Player of the Year Maxime Lestienne and added former FC Utrecht and Netherlands playmaker Bart Ramselaar, while Croatian defender Toni Datković has been brought in to reinforce their backline.
Singapore international Song Ui-young has returned for a second spell with the club and will form the core of the team alongside captain Hariss Harun and fellow Lions Lionel Tan and Shawal Anuar.
Aleksandar Ranković also has promising youngsters waiting in the wings, including the talented Nathan Mao as well as Spanish left-back Sergio Carmona and Australian forward Obren Kljajić.
This will help them cope with the rigours of a packed 2024/25 campaign. On top of their domestic commitments, the 2023 Singapore Cup winners will represent the Republic in the newly formed Asian Football Confederation Champions League 2 and the SHOPEE Cup.
The Sailors open their season against Albirex in the 2024 Community Shield on May 4, which will be followed by their SPL opener against Hougang United.
Squad (as at time of publication)
Goalkeepers: Zharfan Rohaizad, Izwan Mahbud, Adib Nur Hakim
Defenders: Bailey Wright, Toni Datković, Lionel Tan, Hafiz Nor, Hariss Harun, Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Christopher van Huizen, Bill Mamadou, Sergio Carmona
Midfielders: Maxime Lestienne, Adam Swandi, M. Anumanthan, Hami Syahin, Song Ui-young, Rui Pires, Bart Ramselaar, Haiqal Pashia,
Forwards: Shawal Anuar, Abdul Rasaq, Obren Kljajić
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