Saudi Premier League - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Saudi Professional League, officially known as , is the main football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

competition in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...

. The first competition was held in the year of 1976–77. Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club , also known simply as Al-Hilal, is a Saudi Arabian sports club based in the country's capital of Riyadh and best known for its professional football team, known as Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club...

is the current title-holder (2010), and holds the best record in the competition, winning it 13 times.

The league also known for sponsorship reasons as Zain Saudi League, named after the sponsor Zain

Zain

-People:*as a given name in general , orwith a first name of Zain*Zain Abbas , a Pakistan-born cricketer*Zain Amat , a Singaporean trapshooter*Zain Awan , an India-born Arab TV journalist...

telecom.

History

Up until the late seventies, football in Saudi Arabia was organised on a regional basis, with the only nationwide tournament being the King's Cup. In 1976, it was deemed that local football, and transportation links, have improved sufficiently to organise a national league. Hence the Saudi League was launched with 8 clubs participating.

In 1981 it was decided to increase the number of clubs and add a second division. The league competition for the 1981–82, known as the ranking league, featured 18 clubs with the top eight qualifying for the first division and the bottom ten to the new second division. The number of first division clubs was later increased to 12 in the 1984–85 season.

In 1990 it was decided to revamp local competitions and to introduce professional football. A new league championship was formed called "The Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques League Cup", which was a two stage championship. The first stage was a regular double round-robin

Round-robin

The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...

league competition with the top 4 qualifying to the final knockout stage, called the golden square. Clubs were allowed to sign players on a professional basis making the league semi professional.

In 2007 It was decided to split the two stages, with the league reverting to a standard double round-robin

Round-robin

competition, and a new domestic competition cup competition formed called "The Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques Champions Cup". This cup will feature the top six finishers in the league plus the winners of the Crown Prince Cup and the Prince Faisal Cup. This format will take effect from the 2007–08 season onwards.

Qualification and prize money

The top four teams in the league qualify to the AFC

Asian Football Confederation

The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...

Asian Champions League group stage. The top six qualify to Champions Cup.

Prize money:

First place: 2.5 million Saudi Riyal
Saudi riyal
The Riyal is the currency of Saudi Arabia. It is abbreviated as ر.س or SR . It is subdivided into 100 Halalas . The Saudi Ghirsh is 5 Halalas.-History:...

s
Second place: 1.5 million Saudi Riyals
Third place: 1 million Saudi Riyals

List of teams (2011–12 season)

{|
|valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! width="200" | Club
! Position in 2010/2011

|- align=center
| Al-Ahli, Jeddah
| 6th

|- align=center
| Al-Ittihad, Jeddah
| 2nd
|-
|- align=center
| Al-Shabab, Riyadh
| 4th
|-
|- align=center
| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

, Riyadh
| 1st
|-
|- align=center
| Al-Nasr

Al-Nasr

Al Nassr FC is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955 the club plays its home games at King Fahd Stadium and Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. Its home colours are yellow and blue.-History:...

, Riyadh
| 5th
|-
|- align=center
| Al-Ettifaq

Al-Ittifaq

Ettifaq FC or Al-Ettifaq Club is a Saudi Arabian professional football club based in Dammam. 'Ittifaq' is Arabic for cooperation. Al Ettifaq was established after the merging of three clubs in the City of Dammam at the year 1944. Al Ettifaq is the first Saudi team to win an international title -...

, Dammam
| 3rd
|-

|- align=center
| Al-Faisaly, Harmah
| 7th
|-

|- align=center
| Al Fateh

Al Fateh (Sports Club)

Al Fateh is a Saudi Arabian professional football club based in Al-Hasa.The nickname, "Al-Namothaji" which means "the model", came from the fact that it's the almost all of the club's sports are playing in the national top flights.-Honours :...

, Al-Hasa
| 9th
|-

|- align=center
| Al-Raed

Al-Raed

Al-Ra'ed is a Saudi sports club and the first of its kind in the Qassim region. One of the most important founders is Abdulaziz Al-Obodi. Al-Raed Plays in the professional Saudi league and had been to the league 11 times...

, Buraydah
| 10th
|-

|- align=center
| Al-Ansar

Al-Ansar (Saudi Arabia)

Al-Ansar is a Saudi Arabian multi-sports club based in Medina. Its football team has the Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium as their home stadium. It is currently playing in the Saudi Premier League.In the season 2011-2012 the club change clubs colors and logo.-Current squad:- Current...

, Al-Madinah
| 2nd in the Saudi First Division

Saudi First Division

The Saudi First Division is the second level football competition in Saudi Arabia. Al-Faisaly won the last first division championship in the 2009/2010 season.-Promotion and relegation:...

|-

|- align=center
| Al Taawon

Al Taawon

Al-Taawon is a Saudi Arabian football team in Buraidah city playing at The Saudi Professional League.The club is a well known in Saudi Arabia and has great wide supporters and fans. The primary sport at the club is football but also shows interests in social and cultures activities.-Current...

Saudi First Division

The Saudi First Division is the second level football competition in Saudi Arabia. Al-Faisaly won the last first division championship in the 2009/2010 season.-Promotion and relegation:...

|-

|- align=center
| Najran SC

Najran SC

Najran Sport Club is a Saudi Arabian football team based in Najran, they are currently playing in the Saudi Premier League.Najran SC achieved promotion to the Saudi Premier League by finishing 2nd in the Saudi First Division during the 2006/07 season....

, Najran
| 11th
|-
|-
|}

List of champions

{|
|valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! Champion
|-
| 1 || 1976–77 || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 2 || 1977–78 || Al-Ahli
|-
| 3 || 1978–79 || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 4 || 1979–80 || Al-Nasr

Al-Nasr

|-
| 5 || 1980–81 || Al-Nasr

Al-Nasr

|-
| 6 || 1981–82 || Al-Ittihad
|-
| 7 || 1982–83 || Al-Ettifaq

Al-Ittifaq

|-
| 8 || 1983–84 || Al-Ahli
|-
| 9 || 1984–85 || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 10 || 1985–86 || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 11 || 1986–87 || Al-Ettifaq

Al-Ittifaq

|-
| 12 || 1987–88 || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 13 || 1988–89 || Al-Nasr

Al-Nasr

|-
| 14 || 1989–90 || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 15 || 1990–91 || Al-Shabab
|-
| 16 || 1991–92 || Al-Shabab
|-
| 17 || 1992–93 || Al-Shabab
|-
|}
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! Champion
|-
| 18 || 1993–94 || Al-Nasr

Al-Nasr

|-
| 19 || 1994–95 ||Al-Nasr

Al-Nasr

|-
| 20 || 1995–96 ||Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 21 || 1996–97 || Al-Ittihad
|-
| 22 || 1997–98 || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 23 || 1998–99 || Al-Ittihad
|-
| 24 || 1999–2000 || Al-Ittihad
|-
| 25 || 2000–01 || Al-Ittihad
|-
| 26 || 2001–02 || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 27 || 2002–03 || Al-Ittihad
|-
| 28 || 2003–04 || Al-Shabab
|-
| 29 || 2004–05 ||Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 30 || 2005–06

Saudi Premier League 2005–06

-Stadia and locations:Final Table: 1.Al-Shabab 22 13 6 3 47-22 45 [Riyadh] 2.Al-Hilal 22 13 5 4 41-21 44 [Riyadh] 3.Al-Ittihad 22 11 9 2 47-28 42 [Jeddah] 4.Al-Ahly 22 9 9 4 45-23 36 [Jeddah]...

|| Al-Shabab
|-
| 31 || 2006–07

Saudi Premier League 2006-07

The Saudi Professional league is the highest form of football in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Al-Hilal are the defending champions and also hold the most titles, with 10.-Qualification and Prize Money:...

|| Al-Ittihad
|-
| 32 || 2007–08

Saudi Professional League 2007-08

The 2007-08 season of the Saudi Professional League was the 32nd season of top-tier football in Saudi Arabia.-Teams and venues:-League standings:1 - Al-Hilal finished top due to their superior head to head record against Al-Ittihad....

|| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
| 33 || 2008–09

Saudi Professional League 2008-09

The Saudi Professional League is the top level league in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Al-Hilal are the defending champions and also hold the most number of titles, with 11.- Qualification and Prize money :...

|| Al-Ittihad
|-
| 34 || 2009–10

2009–10 Saudi Professional League

-Members clubs:- Managerial changes :-Final league table:|rowspan=4|2011 AFC Champions League 1and 2010 King Cup of Champions |rowspan=4|2010 King Cup of Champions...

|| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
|}
|valign="top"|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! Champion
|-
| 35 || 2010–11

2010–11 Saudi Professional League

|| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|-
|}
|}

Most successful clubs

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Club
! Winners
! Winning Years
|-
| 1 ||Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|| 13 || 1977, 1979, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011
|-
| 2 || Al-Ittihad || 8 || 1982, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009
|-
| 3 || Al-Nasr

Al-Nasr

|| 5 || 1980, 1981, 1989, 1994, 1995
|-
| || Al-Shabab || 5 || 1991, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2006
|-
| 5 || Al-Ahli || 2 || 1978 , 1984
|-
| || Al-Ettifaq || 2 || 1983, 1987
|-
|}

Total titles won by town or city

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Town or city
! Number of titles
! Clubs
|-
| Riyadh

Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...

| 23
| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

(13), Al-Nasr

Al-Nasr

(5), Al-Shabab (5)
|-
| Jeddah

Jeddah

Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...

| 10
| Al-Ittihad (8), Al-Ahli (2)
|-
| Dammam

Dammam

Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich region in the world. The judicial and administrative bodies of the province and several government departments are located in the city. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi...

| 2
| Al-Ettifaq (2)
|-
|}

Topscorers

{| bgcolor="#f7f8ff" align="center" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 95%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
| width="100" | Year
| width="20" |
| width="200" | Best scorers
| width="220" | Team
| width="100" | Goals
|- align=center
|1976–77
|

|| Nasser Eid || Al-Qadisiya || 12
|- align=center
|1977–78
|

|| Mattamd Khojali || Al-Ahli || 14
|- align=center
|1978–79
|

|| Majed Abdullah || Al-Nassr || 13
|- align=center
|1979–80
|

|| Majed Abdullah || Al-Nassr || 17
|- align=center
|1980–81
|

|| Majed Abdullah || Al-Nassr || 21
|- align=center
|1981–82
|

|| Khalid Al-Ma'ajil || Al-Shabab || 22
|- align=center
|1982–83
|

|| Majed Abdullah || Al-Nassr || 14
|- align=center
|1983–84
|

|| Hussam Abu Dawood || Al-Ahli || 14
|- align=center
|1984–85
|

|| Hathal Dosari || Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|| 15
|- align=center
|1985–86
|

|| Majed Abdullah || Al-Nassr || 15
|- align=center
|1986–87
|

|| Mohammad Suwaidi || Al-Ittihad || 17
|- align=center
|1987–88
|

|| Khalid Al-Ma'ajil || Al-Shabab || 12
|- align=center
|1988–89
|

|| Majed Abdullah || Al-Nassr || 19
|- align=center
|1989–90
|

|| Sami Al-Jaber

Sami Al-Jaber

Sami Abdullah Al-Jaber is a retired football striker from Saudi Arabia well known as playing the majority of his career with Al-Hilal. He is his country's second highest international goalscorer and has appeared in four different World Cup Finals, and scored three goals in 1994 and 1998, and...

|| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|| 16
|- align=center
| 1990–91
|

|| Fahad Al-Mehallel

Fahad Al-Mehallel

Fahad Al-Mehallel is a retired Saudi Arabian football striker.He played at a club level for Al-Shabab and Al-Nasr. For the national team, he participated at the World Cups in 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. He also played at the 1989 FIFA World Youth...

|| Al-Shabab || 20
|- align=center
|1991–92
|

|| Saeed Al-Owairan || Al-Shabab || 16
|- align=center
|1992–93
|

|| Sami Al-Jaber

Sami Al-Jaber

|| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|| 18
|- align=center
|1993–94
|

|| Moussa Ndao

Moussa Ndao

Moussa Ndao is a former Senegalese Footballer who was born on July 15, 1968. He played the position of attacking midfielder. He made his career in the Moroccan league, in Wydad Casablanca during 1991 to 1992 and in Saudi Premier League during 1992 to 1994 with Al-Hilal and 1999 to 2000 with...

|| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|| 15
|- align=center
|1994–95
|

|| Fahd Al-Hamdan || Al-Riyadh

Al-Riyadh

Al-Riyadh is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh that is currently playing in the Second Division .Although it can be known by their football team, Al-Riyadh also have squads playing at other sports....

|| 15
|- align=center
|1995–96
|

|| Ohene Kennedy

Ohene Kennedy

Ohene Kennedy is a retired Ghanaian football striker.He was part of the Ghanaian 2000 African Nations Cup team, who exited in the quarter-finals after losing to South Africa. He was also a member of the Ghanaian squad at the 1996 Summer Olympics.Kennedy's golden days was with Al-Nasr team in Saudi...

|| Al-Nassr || 14
|- align=center
|1996–97
|

|| Ahmed Bahja || Al-Ittihad || 21
|- align=center
| 1997–98
|

|| Sulaiman Al-Hadaithy || Al-Najma

Al-Najma (Saudi Arabian Sport Club)

Al-Najma is a Saudi Arabian football team based in Unaizah that is currently playing in the Saudi Second Division League. Founded in 1960, the team plays in white and black color and green colours....

|| 15
|- align=center
|1998–99
|

|| Obeid Al-Dosari || Al-Wahda || 20
|- align=center
|1999–2000
|

|| Hamzah Idris

Hamzah Idris

Hamzah Idris Falatah is a Saudi Arabian footballer. He used to play as a striker for Ohud from 1992 to 1995 and then for Al Ittihad until he retired in 2007....

|| Al-Ittihad || 33
|- align=center
|2000–01
|

|| Paulo Da Silva || Al-Ettifaq || 13
|- align=center
|2001–02
|

|| Dane Valle || Al-Riyadh

Al-Riyadh

|| 10
|- align=center
|2002–03
|

|| Carlos Tenorio

Carlos Tenorio

Carlos Vicente Tenorio Medina is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays for Emirati club Al-Nasr. Tenorio is an experienced striker known for his heading ability.-Club career:He began his career with LDU Quito. In Tenorio's early years...

|| Al-Nassr || 15
|- align=center
|2003–04
|

|| Godwin Attram

Godwin Attram

Godwin Attram is a Ghanaian football player for the Egyptian club, Smouha.-External links:***...

|| Al-Shabab || 15
|- align=center
|2004–05
|

|| Sergio Ricardo

Sergio Ricardo

Sergio Ricardo Messios Nerves is a former BrazilianFootballer. Sergio transferred to Turkish club Fenerbahçe in 1998-99 season start and then loaned to Sakaryaspor in January transfer window. 1999-00 season start he loaned again to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. He won the Arab Cup Winners' Cup with...

|| Al-Ittihad || 15
|- align=center
|2005–06
Saudi Premier League 2005–06
-Stadia and locations:Final Table: 1.Al-Shabab 22 13 6 3 47-22 45 [Riyadh] 2.Al-Hilal 22 13 5 4 41-21 44 [Riyadh] 3.Al-Ittihad 22 11 9 2 47-28 42 [Jeddah] 4.Al-Ahly 22 9 9 4 45-23 36 [Jeddah]...

|

|| Essa Al-Mehyani

Essa Al-Mehyani

Essa Mohhmad Humod Al Mehyani Al Hothaili is a Saudi Arabian football player. He currently plays for Al-Hilal as a striker.- Club career statistics :-External Links:*...

|| Al-Wahda || 16
|- align=center
|2006–07
Saudi Premier League 2006-07
The Saudi Professional league is the highest form of football in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Al-Hilal are the defending champions and also hold the most titles, with 10.-Qualification and Prize Money:...

|

|| Godwin Attram

Godwin Attram

Godwin Attram is a Ghanaian football player for the Egyptian club, Smouha.-External links:***...

|| Al-Shabab || 13
|- align=center
|2007–08
Saudi Professional League 2007-08
The 2007-08 season of the Saudi Professional League was the 32nd season of top-tier football in Saudi Arabia.-Teams and venues:-League standings:1 - Al-Hilal finished top due to their superior head to head record against Al-Ittihad....

|

|| Nasser Al-Shamrani

Nasser Al-Shamrani

Nasser Al-Shamrani is a Saudi Arabian football player for the Al-Shabab football club based in Riyadh. Nasser, a forward, moved to Al-Shabab during the beginning of the 2007-2008 season from Al-Wehda. He signed a contract with Al-Shabab for 13 million riyals for 5 seasons...

|| Al-Shabab || 18
|- align=center
|2008–09
Saudi Professional League 2008-09
The Saudi Professional League is the top level league in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Al-Hilal are the defending champions and also hold the most number of titles, with 11.- Qualification and Prize money :...

|

|| Nasser Al-Shamrani

Nasser Al-Shamrani

Hicham Aboucherouane || Al-Shabab
Al-Ittihad || 12
|- align=center
|2009–10
|

|| Mohammad Al-Shalhoub

Mohammad Al-Shalhoub

Mohammad Bander Al-Shalhoub is a Saudi Arabian football player who currently plays as a Left-winger for Al Hilal.He has been a member of the Saudi Arabian national team since 2000 when he was just nineteen years of age, and was recently called up to the squad to participate in the 2006 FIFA World...

|| Al-Hilal

Al-Hilal

|| 12
|- align=center
|2010–11
2010–11 Saudi Professional League
-Members clubs:-Pre-season:-During the season:-Final League table:|rowspan=1|2012 AFC Champions League group stage|rowspan=1|2012 AFC Champions League group stage|rowspan=1|2012 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off...

|

|| Nasser Al-Shamrani

Nasser Al-Shamrani

|| Al-Shabab || 17
|}

External links

Saudi Arabia Football Federation at FIFA.com Arabic - English Site
Saudi Arabia Professional League on Super.com Arabic Site
Saudi Professional League Commission Arabic Site
Saudi League Statistics Arabic - English Site

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