Before the professional league was held in 1994–1995, PSIS joined Perserikatan, an amateur football competition organized by the PSSI.

Their greatest success was in the 1986–87 season, when PSIS won the title after defeating Persebaya Surabaya in the final 1–0 by Syaiful Amri's goal.

The players like Muhammad Ridwan, Khusnul Yaqien, Modestus Setiawan, Idrus Gunawan, Maman Abdurrahman, Abdoulaye Djibril Diallo and Emanuel de Porras became superstars and wanted by bigger teams.

In 2007 season, PSIS successfully recruited Julio Lopez from Chile, projected as a replacement for Emanuel de Porras who controversially left the team after a defeat in the 2006 Liga Indonesia grand final.

In the 2008 season, PSIS and PKT Bontang joined the Indonesia Super League, replacing Persmin Minahasa and Persiter Ternate.

In the 2011–2012 season, PSIS Semarang choose 2011–12 Indonesian Premier Division under the authority of PT Liga Prima Indonesia Sportindo (LPIS), finishing 5th.

Ronald Fagundez and Addison Alves injuries contributed to defeated by the champion Persebaya, PSBS Biak Numfor, and PS Bangka.

PSIS reinforced with two foreign players Julio Alcorsé and Ronald Fagundez, starting 2014 Liga Indonesia Premier Division at the top the standings in Group 4 with only 1 defeat.

PSS Sleman and PSIS Semarang were involved in match fixing, where both clubs wanted to be defeated in order not to meet Borneo Samarinda.

Coach Eko Riyadi, players Saptono, Fadli Manan and Catur Adi Nugraha received lifetime bans and financial fines.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.