Persebaya Surabaya is regarded as one of the most iconic and successful teams in the country, winning numerous Indonesian League titles and tournaments.

Previously, in 1910, stood Soerabaiasche Voetbal Bond (SVB), but, this club was established to be a representation of the Dutch community living in Surabaya.

Together with VIJ Jakarta (now Persija), BIVB Bandung (now Persib), MIVB Magelang (now PPSM), MVB Madiun (now PSM Madiun), VVB Surakarta (now Persis Surakarta), and PSIM, SIVB initiated the formation of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) on 19 April 1930, in Yogyakarta.

Persibaya's sister club, SVB, went on to compete in a competition held by the Nederlandsch Indische Voetbal Bond (NIVB)/Dutch East Indies Football Association.

PSSI is not necessarily the only football federation in the country at the time, after Sukarno plotted Indonesian independence.

They held the Indonesia State Football Association / Voetbal Union Verenigde Staten van Indonesie competition (ISNIS / VUVSI).

SVB was one of the strong teams in the ISNIS competition, winning the championship eleven times, only behind VBO Jakarta, which won 13 titles.

This time Bajul Ijo was able to win the competition with Persija, Persis, Persib, PSMS, Persema, and Persipro.

In the 1978 edition of the Perserikatan, the format of the competition changed into a tournament with the champion being determined through the final match.

Great achievements were kept awake when PSSI merged Perserikatan and Galatama clubs into a professional league named Liga Indonesia in 1994.

Even Persebaya managed to make history as the first team to win the Liga Indonesia Premier Division twice when in 2004 Green Force won the title again.

Although predicated as a classic team laden with titles, Green Force also briefly felt the bitterness of being relegated in 2002.

This resulted in the Persebaya Surabaya version of Wisnu Wardhana having to change its name to Bonek FC.

In the 2017 season, Persebaya Surabaya again competed in Liga 2, and became the champion of the second division by defeating PSMS Medan in the final which was held at Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium.

They managed to reach the final stage and lost in the Super East Java Derby against Arema, aggregately 2–4.

In the end of October 2019, Persebaya appointed their legend Aji Santoso as new coach, replacing Wolfgang Pikal.

In the 2002 Liga Indonesia Premier Division, Persebaya took action against PKT Bontang, causing them a point deduction.

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