Berliner Tageszeitung - Malaysia's JDT claims unbeaten run world record

Goals from Marcos Guilherme, Oscar Arribas and Shahab Zahedi sealed the victory, allowing the 12-time defending champions to surpass the previous streak of 108 consecutive wins, set by Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas between 1989 and 1994.

JDT claimed the record under the guidance of Spanish coach Xisco Munoz, formerly of Watford and Sheffield Wednesday, in front of a packed home crowd at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium at the 2026/27 Super League season opener to kickstart their title defence.

JDT needed only 11 minutes to take the lead through Brazilian winger Guilherme, who played a neat one-two with the club's all-time leading goalscorer Bergson da Silva before finding the bottom corner.

The reigning league champions continued to dominate proceedings and doubled their lead 10-minutes after the break through Spanish midfielder Arribas, before Iranian striker Shahab Zahedi confirmed the comfortable win in the 86th minute.

Based in Johor at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, JDT have become Malaysia's most successful club in over a decade under the stewardship of its owner and the state's Crown Prince, Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim.

The Malaysian royal, popularly known as "TMJ", made sweeping changes, including building a 40,000 seat stadium and recently unveiled blueprints for a sprawling 39-acre training complex inspired by Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

He also put together a star-studded team with the country's best players, while also securing international names such as Argentina's Pablo Aimar and Luciano Figuera.

Most recently, JDT appointed former Liverpool and Spanish star Luis Garcia as their chief executive officer.

Besides domestic dominance, JDT became the only Southeast Asian club to win the now-rebranded AFC Cup on the continental stage back in 2015.

W. Winogradow--BTZ