Persatuan Sepak Bola Indonesia Kota Tangerang, or Persikota Tangerang, is an Indonesian professional football club based in Tangerang, founded in 1994. The team currently plays in the third division of Indonesian football, Liga Nusantara. Their home ground is Benteng Reborn Stadium.
Persikota Tangerang was established on 11 October 1994 through the PSSI congress which was held at the end of December 1995, Persikota Tangerang was legalized as a member of PSSI and allowed to participate in the Liga Indonesia competition in the 1995âÂÂ1996 season. After founding of the club, Persikota Tangerang won the Liga Indonesia Second Division in the 1995âÂÂ1996 season after won 2âÂÂ0 over Persipal Palu and won 1âÂÂ0 against Persewangi Banyuwangi. Entering Liga Indonesia First Division in the 1996âÂÂ97 season, in order to prepare an adequate team in Division I, Persikota which previously had recruited a number of national players from Pelita Jaya and Persija Jakarta, has recruited several national and foreign players, Francis Yonga from Cameroon and Ali Shaha from Tanzania.
As a result, Persikota won the group and qualified for the top 10 round. In the top 10, Persikota joined in group A and had to meet PSIM Yogyakarta, PSS Sleman, PSSB Bireuen, and Persiter Ternate which took place at the Mandala Krida Stadium, Yogyakarta. After recording pretty good results, 5-2 win against PSSB Bireuen, 3âÂÂ0 against PSS Sleman, a 0âÂÂ0 draw against PSIM Yogyakarta and a 4âÂÂ3 defeat against Persiter Ternate, Persikota entered the next round. In the semifinals, Persikota faced the winner of group B, Perseden Denpasar. T managed to win through Nova Zaenal's goal in the 69th minute and went to the final round. Persikota had to again face PSIM who beat Persikabo Bogor 2âÂÂ1 in the semifinals. Persikota was able to beat PSIM with a score of 3âÂÂ1. And they qualified for the Liga Indonesia Premier Division in 1997âÂÂ1998 season, earning the nickname Bayi Ajaib (In English: The Magical Baby). The highest achievement ever achieved by Persikota Tangerang was reaching the semifinals of the 1999-2000 Liga Indonesia Premier Division. This team is supported by a supporter groups called Benteng Mania.
Throughout the Liga Indonesia period in the 2000s, Persikota Tangerang was not relegated until 2013 due to the club's financial difficulties. Persikota competed in Liga 3 Banten zone from 2017. In June 2021, the club was bought by Indonesian presenter and actor Gading Marten. On 1 December 2021, 2021 Liga 3 Banten zone has been held and Persikota has become the champion to represent the province at the national level.
On 30 January 2022, the club was bought by Indonesian actress, host, and singer Prilly Latuconsina.
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Latuconsina family has returned to Persikota's management after relinquishing ownership in mid-2022. This time, Raja Latuconsina was officially appointed as president director, along with several other names added to the management and coaching staff.
Persikota Tangerang has a large fanbase called Benteng Mania. Benteng Mania was founded in 1994 and its headquarters is at the Benteng Stadium, home to Persikota Tangerang. Benteng Mania now has 10,000 members in Tangerang.
Benteng Mania has its branches all around Indonesia. Among them are: Transit, Ciledug, V-room, Hard Kids, Sepatan, Benteng Makassar, Cipondoh, Benda, Kota, Kota Bumi, C-mone, Karawaci, Benua Indah complex (ROBIN), BInong, and Tanah Tinggi.
Benteng Mania also sang its own official songs during matches.
Persikota has a rivalry with a team from the same region in Greater Tangerang, namely Persita Tangerang. Unlike the Old Indonesia derby between Persija Jakarta and Persib Bandung, the Tangerang derby can actually be said to be young. The beginning of the rivalry between the two Tangerang clubs was due to the expansion of the Tangerang area (which at that time was still a district). When it was still called Tangerang Regency, the only football club that existed was Persita Tangerang which had been established since 1953.
Matches between these two clubs often present a high level of rivalry, not only from the club side but also from its supporters, a number of riots between supporters often break out when these two teams compete. This led the Tangerang Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to issue a fatwa forbidden to hold a football match in this area in 2012. This is of course the implication of a number of victims who have fallen due to the riots of supporters throughout the history of the Tangerang derby.
This is the list of several domestic and foreign former notable or famous players of Persikota Tangerang from time to time.
Kareo Bird is official fauna identity of Tangerang City.