Étoile de Giadinh, also known as Ngôi Sao Gia Định (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

: Giadinh Star) was a football club based in

Saigon Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) ('','' TP.HCM; ), commonly known as Saigon (; ), is the most populous city in Vietnam with a population of around 14 million in 2025. The city's geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is Saigo ...

French Indochina French Indochina (previously spelled as French Indo-China), officially known as the Indochinese Union and after 1941 as the Indochinese Federation, was a group of French dependent territories in Southeast Asia from 1887 to 1954. It was initial ...

. It played in , the first division of French Indochina. Founded in 1907, it was known for being one of the first ever football clubs formed by

Vietnamese people The Vietnamese people (, ) or the Kinh people (), also known as the Viet people or the Viets, are a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to modern-day northern Vietnam and Dongxing, Guangxi, southern China who speak Vietnamese language, Viet ...

History

In 1907, Ba Vẽ founded Gia Định Sports Club, with Nguyễn Phú Khai being the chairman. This was the first Vietnamese football team founded. At that time, there were players such as Paul Thi, Huyện Thơm, Louis Gồng, Lucien Hộ, Pierre Đại (as goalkeeper). In 1917, at the first Championnat Cochinchine, Gia Định advanced to the final, meeting Cercle Sportif Saigonnais at Ông Thượng Stadium. Gia Định then won 1-0 and took the championship. In 1922, following a discussion with Nguyễn Đình Trị, the founder of Etoile Bleu, the two clubs merged to each other and formed Etoile de Giadinh (Ngôi sao Gia Định). The club played its home matches on Fourrières Stadium, located right next to Lê Văn Duyệt's Tomb. In 1925, after the conflict in the rivalry match against Cercel Sportif Saigonnais, Giadinh then decided to withdraw from the French Sports General Department, established the Annam Football General Department and organized a football tournament with Vietnamese teams. From 1925 to 1945, Étoile de Giadinh has won 8 cups, include 4 in 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936. In 1954, after France withdrew from Vietnam in 1954, the club disbanded.

Rivalry

The club's rival is Cercle Sportif Saigonnais, which is the first ever sport club in Vietnam that was formed by French. In the 1925 season, while the final match between Giadinh Star and their rival Sportif Saigonnais was taking place, a scuffle broke out between Saigonnas goalkeeper Garrence and Giadinh player Thi. The entire Saigonnas team then chased after Thi, and the Giadinh team rushed in to defend him. Giadinh fans also started booing and protesting against Saigonnais. The referee then sent both Thi and Garrence off the field. Thi was permanently suspended from football.

Honours

Domestic

League * Championnat de Cochinchine: ** Champion: 1917, 1923, 1928–1929 *Nam Kỳ Championship: **Champion: 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936

Record

* Highest attendance: 5.000 attendance (Étoile de GiaDinh ?-? British Ship S/S Oanfa club, on 22 May 1927)

References