Hougang United Football Club is a professional football club based in Hougang, Singapore. The club competes in the Singapore Premier League, the top tier of Singaporean football.
Founded in 1998 as Marine Castle United, the club changed its name to Hougang United in 2011. Nicknamed the Cheetahs, Hougang United has played its home games at Hougang Stadium since its formation. Throughout the club history, they have won 1 Singapore Cup in the 2022 season.
Contents
History
Beginning and breakthrough (1988–2001)
The club was founded as Marine Castle United Football Club in 1988 as a National Football League team which was formed by Newcastle United fans in the Marine Parade area. The club was nicknamed the Dolphins.
In 1998, Marine Castle United managed to enter the S.League signing both foreigners players, Scott O'Donell and Bernard Aryee in their debut season in the professional league. However, the club struggled in its early foray, finishing in the bottom two for the next four seasons. The club's chairman during the time was Dilwant Singh.
As Sengkang Marine (2002–2004)
Marine Castle United then changed its name to Sengkang Marine Football Club in 2002. Sengkang Marine went on to finish in 8th position consecutively, its highest-ever finish. Financial difficulties forced Sengkang Marine out of the S.League in 2004.
Different identity as Paya Lebar-Punggol (2005)
In the 2005 season, Paya Lebar-Punggol was formed to replace Sinchi FC in the league. The club then went on to sign Kenan Ragipović, Moudourou Moise, Protais Bessala and Bae Jin-soo as the club foreign players for the season. However, the club finished the season at the bottom of the league with four points.
Sengkang-Punggol (2006–2011)
In January 2006, Sengkang Marine merged with Paya Lebar-Punggol to form Sengkang Punggol Football Club, with the club logo featuring a dolphin and main colour being sea blue. In September, Singapore-based Orientus Asia Hotels and Resorts became the main sponsor of the club with deal worth $250,000. The club continued to play in the league but never went higher than 10th place.
As Hougang United (2011–present)
On 1 January 2011, the chairman of Sengkang Punggol Football Club, Bill Ng, announced name change to Hougang United Football Club. In November 2014, it was announced that Hougang United and Woodlands Wellington will merge for the 2015 season.
Hougang United made their AFC Cup debut in the 2020 AFC Cup but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament got cancelled. They only played against Laos side, Lao Toyota, winning 1–3 at the New Laos National Stadium. The Cheetahs also qualified for the 2022 AFC Cup group stage where they played at a centralised venue, Thống Nhất Stadium. They started by winning 4–3 against Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown and 3–1 against Laos side Young Elephants, before suffering a heavy defeat to Vietnamese Viettel 5–2.
On 19 November 2022, under the lead of caretaker manager Firdaus Kassim, Hougang United defeated defending champions Tampines Rovers 3–2 in the 2022 Singapore Cup final, in which Kristijan Krajček scored a hat-trick to secure The Cheetahs their first-ever silverware. The club finished 5th in the Singapore Premier League. In the 2022 AFC Cup, Hougang United was than placed in Group I alongside Cambodian club Phnom Penh Crown, Laotion club Young Elephants and Vietnamnese club Viettel. Hougang United recorded victories over Phnom Penh Crown and Young Elephants, winning 4–3 and 3–1 respectively. However, the club suffered a 2–5 defeat to Viettel which resulted in their elimination from the group stage.
Hougang United started off their 2023–24 AFC Cup campaign with a trip to Kota Kinabalu, facing Sabah on 21 September. They suffered a 3–1 away lost. However, in the next match against Haiphong at the Jalan Besar Stadium, Hougang United bounced back from 1–0 down as Đorđe Maksimović scored a brace for a 2–1 victory. Hougang United went on to have a great run in the 2023 Singapore Cup where they reached the final.
While preparing for the 2026–27 season under new head coach, Akbar Nawas, HHougang United entered the transfer market to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season. Hougang United managed to sign several foreign, including Lucas Cardoso, Miloš Drinčić, Connor Flynn-Gillespie, Ayman Kassimi, Sam Billington, Takahiro Koga, Koki Kawachi and Arya Igami Tarhani. The club also made headlines with the signing of former Liverpool academy player Oakley Cannonier, as well as Mahamé Siby. Alongside their foreign signings, Hougang United strengthen their squad with several established local players, including Zulqarnaen Suzliman, Amir Syafiz and Jordan Emaviwe. In their opening league match of the season on 12 September 2026, Hougang United held reigning league champions Lion City Sailors to a 2–2 draw, securing a point in their opening fixture.
Team image
Supporters
The club has a supporters' club known as the Hougang HOOLS (Hougang Only One Love), which was established in 2010. The hashtag #1H1H (Satu Hati Satu Hougang) featured on the 2023 jersey.
Scholarship
The Hougang United Scholarship was launched in May 2015. The scholarship aims to support and facilitate the academic development of young non-professional footballing talents.
Name history
Marine Castle United (1998–2001)
Sengkang Marine (2002–2003)
Paya Lebar-Punggol (2005)
Sengkang-Punggol (2006–2011)
Hougang United (2011–present)
Stadium
The Cheetah's home ground is Hougang Stadium. The stadium has a capacity of 3,800 people. They were the tenants from 1998 until 2023, before moving out to the Jalan Besar Stadium due to renovation. It has also used Bishan Stadium as their temporary home stadium or whenever the club is playing in the AFC competition.
Affiliated clubs
Nongbua Pitchaya (2025–present)
Players
First-team squad
As of 13 September 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Reserve League (SPL2) squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
On loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Honours
Cup
Singapore Cup
Champions (1): 2022
Runners up (1): 2023
Singapore Community Shield
Runners up (2): 2020, 2023
Plate Runners up (1): 2012
Singapore League Cup
Runners up (1): 2012
Award winners
Domestic
League Player of the Year
Stipe Plazibat (2020)
League Coach of the Year
Clement Teo (2021)
Goal of the Year
Huzaifah Aziz against Lion City Sailors (12 April 2026)
League Team of the Year
Nazrul Nazari (2019)
Faris Ramli (2019)
Kaishu Yamazaki (2021)
Tomoyuki Doi (2021)
Records and statistics
As of 13 September 2026.
Notable players
Scott O'Donell
Grant Holt
Michael Currie
Jason White
Jordan Webb
Mamadou Diallo
Tomoyuki Doi
Pedro Bortoluzo
André Moritz
Kristijan Krajček
Managerial history
The following table provides a summary of the coach appointed by the club.
Season by season record
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.
Sengkang Marine sat out the 2004 S.League season. They merged with Paya Lebar Punggol to form Sengkang Marine on their return to the S.League in 2006.
Hougang United deducted 5-point for a pre-match brawl with Etoile during the 2011 season.