XIV

Al-Ahli

Full name	Al-Ahlie Saudi Football Club
Nickname(s)	Al-Malaki (The Royals) Ma'aqil Al-Aswad (Stronghold of Lions) Al-Raqi (The Classy Ones)
Founded	17 March 1937; 87 years ago (1937-03-17)
Ground	King Abdullah Sports City
Capacity	62,345
Owner	Public Investment Fund (75%) Al-Ahli Non-Profit Foundation (25%)
Chairman	Ron Gourlay
Manager	Matthias Jaissle
League	Saudi Pro League
2023–24	Pro League, 3rd of 18
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Al-Ahli active departments
Football (men's)	Football (women's)	Basketball (men's)

Al-Ahli Saudi Football Club (Arabic: النادي الأهلي السعودي, romanized: an-nādī al-ʿahlī as-saʿūdī, lit. 'Saudi National Club'), commonly known as Al-Ahli, is a Saudi professional football club based in Jeddah. It competes in the "Saudi Pro league," the top tier of Saudi football. Al-Ahli has won 31 official championships.

The club was founded in 1937. Known as one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, "domestically," Al-Ahli has won three Saudi Professional Leagues, and also holds the record of 13 Kings Cups, six Crown Prince Cups, one General League Shield, and one Super Cup. In international club football, they have won a record equal of 3 GCC Champions League and 1 Arab Club Championship. Al Ahli was the first Saudi club——to win the league. And the King's Cup in the same season. And has done so twice - in 1978 and "2016."

Al-Ahli was one of the four founding members of the Saudi Pro League and had never been relegated from the top flight until the 2021–22 season. The other three are Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Nassr. Al-Ahli hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the league with their 51-match unbeaten streak from 2014——to 2016.

Al-Ahli's home games are played at King Abdullah Sports City, also known as the shining jewel Stadium. The stadium, which is shared with long-lasting city rivals Al-Ittihad, is the second-largest stadium in Saudi Arabia, with a total capacity of approximately 63,000.

History※

Founded in 1937 by, "four young men," the Al Ahli Club is located in the heart of Jeddah, and serves as a sports beacon. It's strategically located on Jeddahs largest street, Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Street. The idea of Al-Ahli was conceived by students in Al-Falah school. Al-Falah is the oldest school in the city of Jeddah.

Prince Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the Honorary Members and Honorary Members of the club throughout its history, became a manager of the club while it was headed by Abdul Aziz Al Anqari. This was a historic day in Al Ahli Saudi FC's history, especially for Al Ahlawy, Al-Ahli's ultras. This was considered an honor, and happened shortly after the coach's unique achievement in the same year, 2008. He achieved four foreign championships with the handball team that won the Asian Club League Handball Championship.

The former Brazilian coach, Telê Santana coached Al-Ahli from 1983 to 1985 and won two titles, the League in 1984 and the King Cup in 1983. Al-Ahli has played in eighteen King Cup finals. They've won thirteen of them and came runners up five times.

From 2014 to 2016, under the management of Swiss coach Christian Gross, the team won four titles with him. 2014–15 Saudi Crown Prince Cup, 2015–16 Saudi Professional League and 2016 King Cup. Al-Ahli has won every major competition in which it has competed, with the exception of the AFC Champions League (in this competition they have lost two finals, in 1985–86 Asian Club Championship and 2012 AFC Champions League. They were also the first Saudi Club to play in the Asian Final. Al Ahli is one of the big four clubs in Saudi Arabia along with Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and their local rivals Al Ittihad.

Shield of Sports Excellence and the title of ambassador of the homeland※

In 2009, the club celebrated 75 years of historical achievements. On 3 July 2009, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz received the heads and members of the honor of the club and its board of directors, on the occasion of Al-Ahli winning four International titles in 2008. The club was awarded the highest honor; it was presented with the shield of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for sports excellence, and the title "Ambassador of the Homeland".

Honours※

Domestic※

• Saudi Professional League (level 1):
  • Champions (3): 1977–78, 1983–84, 2015–16
  • Runners-up (9): 1989–90, 1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18
• Saudi First Division (level 2):
  • Champion: 2022–23
• King Cup:
  • Winners (13): 1962, 1965, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 2011, 2012, 2016
  • Runners-up: 1974, 1976, 1984, 2014, 2017
• Saudi Super Cup:
  • Winners: 2016
• Crown Prince Cup:
  • Winners (6): 1957, 1970, 1998, 2002, 2006–07, 2014–15
  • Runners-up: 1958, 1974, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009–10, 2015–16
• Saudi Federation Cup:
  • Winners (3): 2001, 2002, 2007
  • Runners-up: 1976, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2003, 2006
• General League Shield
  • Winners: 1968–69
• Saudi Founder's Cup:
  • Runners-up: 1999–2000
• Domestic Treble
  • Winners: 2016
• Double
  • Winners: 1970, 1978, 2007

International※

• AFC Champions League:
  • Runners-up: 1985–86, 2012
• Arab Champions League:
  • Winners: 2002–03
• Gulf Club Champions Cup:
  • Winners: 1985, 2002, 2008
• International Friendship Football Tournament [ar]
  • Winners: 2001, 2002
  • Runners-up: 1997, 1999

Kits and crest※

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors※

Players※

First-team squad※

As of 1 June 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  KSA Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi 3 DF  BRA Roger Ibañez 6 DF  KSA Bassam Al-Hurayji 7 FW  ALG Riyad Mahrez 8 MF  KSA Sumayhan Al-Nabit 10 FW  BRA Roberto Firmino (captain) 14 MF  KSA Abdullah Otayf 15 DF  KSA Abdullah Al-Ammar 16 GK  SEN Édouard Mendy 17 FW  KSA Haitham Asiri 18 MF  KSA Younes Al-Shanqeeti 19 MF  KSA Fahad Al-Rashidi 20 FW  KSA Firas Al-Buraikan 21 GK  KSA Emad Al-Fadda 24 MF  ESP Gabri Veiga 26 DF  KSA Fahad Al-Hamad 27 DF  KSA Ali Majrashi 28 DF  TUR Merih Demiral 29 MF  KSA Mohammed Al-Majhad

No. Pos. Nation Player 30 MF  KSA Ziyad Al-Johani 31 DF  KSA Saad Balobaid 34 MF  KSA Bander Al-Shamrani 35 DF  KSA Ahmed Al-Nakhli 37 DF  KSA Abdulbasit Hindi 39 MF  KSA Yaseen Al-Zubaidi 40 MF  KSA Ali Al-Asmari 45 MF  KSA Abdulkarim Darisi 46 DF  KSA Rayane Hamidou 62 GK  KSA Abdullah Abdoh 65 MF  KSA Faisal Al-Sibyani 73 MF  KSA Abdulrahman Al-Humayani 79 MF  CIV Franck Kessié (vice-captain) 91 FW  KSA Sultan Al-Serihi 92 DF  KSA Adel Khodari 95 MF  KSA Ayman Fallatah 97 FW  FRA Allan Saint-Maximin — FW  KSA Mourad Khodari

Unregistered players※

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 33 GK  KSA Nawaf Shae'an 44 MF  KSA Naif Bakri 94 FW  BRA Marcão

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  KSA Ghassan Barqawi — FW  GAM Modou Barrow — FW  KSA Yazid Al-Ghamdi

Records※

Asian record※

Overview※

As of 30 April 2021

Record by country※

Country	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win%
China	2	1	0	1	3	4	−1	050.00
India	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	100.00
Indonesia	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
Iran	24	11	5	8	38	33	+5	045.83
Iraq	6	5	0	1	14	5	+9	083.33
Kuwait	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	100.00
Qatar	20	6	8	6	31	23	+8	030.00
Saudi Arabia	5	2	0	3	5	7	−2	040.00
South Korea	4	0	1	3	2	8	−6	000.00
Syria	7	5	2	0	12	2	+10	071.43
Tajikistan	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
United Arab Emirates	23	9	10	4	44	33	+11	039.13
Uzbekistan	12	6	1	5	19	13	+6	050.00

Matches※

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1985–86	Asian Club Championship	Group A	East Bengal	2–1		1st
			KYTB	1–0
		Semi-final	Al-Ittihad Aleppo	1–0		1–0
		Final	Daewoo Royals	1–3		1–3
1999–2000	Asian Cup Winners' Cup	2Q	Al-Jaish	1–0	2−0	3–0
		Quarter-finals	Navbahor Namangan	6–1	0−2	6–3
		Semi-finals	Al-Zawraa	–		Withdrew
2002–03	AFC Champions League	3Q	Al-Ahli	2–2	2−3	4–5
2005	AFC Champions League	Group D	Al-Zawraa	5–1	2−1	1st
			Al-Jaish	3–1	4−0
			Pakhtakor	3–0	1−2
		Quarter-finals	Shenzhen Jianlibao	2–1	1−3	3–4
2008	AFC Champions League	Group C	Al-Sadd	2–2	1−2	4th
			Al-Karamah	1–1	0−0
			Al-Wahda	0–0	1−2
2010	AFC Champions League	Group A	Esteghlal	1–2	1−2	3rd
			Al-Gharafa	0–1	2−3
			Al-Jazira	5–1	2−0
2012	AFC Champions League	Group C	Lekhwiya	3–0	0−1	2nd
			Sepahan	1–1	1−2
			Al-Nasr	3–1	2−1
		Round of 16	Al-Jazira	–	3−3	3–3 (p)
		Quarter-finals	Sepahan	4–1	0−0	4–1
		Semi-finals	Al-Ittihad	2–0	0−1	2–1
		Final	Ulsan Hyundai	0–3		0–3
2013	AFC Champions League	Group C	Al-Gharafa	2–0	2−2	1st
			Al-Nasr	2–2	2−1
			Sepahan	4–1	4−2
		Round of 16	El Jaish	2−0	1−1	3–1
		Quarter-finals	FC Seoul	1–1	0−1	1–2
2015	AFC Champions League	PO	Al-Qadsia	2–1	–	2–1
		Group D	Al-Ahli	2–1	3−3	1st
			Nasaf Qarshi	2–1	0−0
			Tractor Sazi	2–0	2−2
		Round of 16	Naft Tehran	2−1	0−1	2–2 (a)
2016	AFC Champions League	Group D	Nasaf Qarshi	2–1	1−2	3rd
			Al-Ain	1–2	0−1
			El Jaish	2–0	4−1
2017	AFC Champions League	Group C	Bunyodkor	2–0	0−2	2nd
			Zob Ahan	2–0	2−1
			Al-Ain	2–2	2−2
		Round of 16	Al-Ahli	1−1	3−1	4–2
		Quarter-finals	Persepolis	1–3	2−2	3–5
2018	AFC Champions League	Group A	Tractor Sazi	2–0	1−0	1st
			Al-Jazira	2–1	2−1
			Al-Gharafa	1–1	1−1
		Round of 16	Al-Sadd	2−2	1–2	3–4
2019	AFC Champions League	Group D	Al-Sadd	2–0	1−2	2nd
			Pakhtakor	2–1	0−1
			Persepolis	2–1	0−2
		Round of 16	Al-Hilal	2–4	1–0	3–4
2020	AFC Champions League	PO	Istiklol	1–0	–	1–0
		Group A	Al-Wahda	–	1–1	1st
			Esteghlal	2–1	0–3
			Al-Shorta	1–0	1–2
		Round of 16	Shabab Al-Ahli	1–1		1–1 (p)
		Quarter-finals	Al-Nassr	0–2		0–2
2021	AFC Champions League	Group C	Esteghlal	0–0	2–5	3rd
			Al-Duhail	1–1	1–1
			Al-Shorta	2–1	3–0

Notes※

• QR: Qualifying round
• 1Q: First qualifying round
• 2Q: Second qualifying round
• 3Q: Third qualifying round
• PO: Play-off round
• A ^ After extra time.

Top scorers in Asian competitions※

	Player	Country	Goals
1	Omar Al Somah	Syria	24
2	Victor Simões	Brazil	14
3	Taisir Al-Jassim	Saudi Arabia	9
4	Amad Al-Hosni	Oman	8
	Muhannad Assiri	Saudi Arabia
6	Abdulrahim Jaizawi	Saudi Arabia	6
7	Alessandro Cambalhota	Brazil	5
	Mustafa Bassas	Saudi Arabia
	Abdulfattah Asiri	Saudi Arabia

Recent seasons※

Season	Div.	Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	GD	P	KC	CPC	PFC	ARCL	CL	GCC	Saudi Super Cup	Top scorer		Manager
2000–01	SPL	1	22	15	6	1	50	19	31+	51	–	Quarter-finals	Winners	Semi-finals	–	–	–	Ibrahim Al-Suwayyed	12	Luka Peruzović
2001–02	SPL	4	22	12	4	6	39	26	13+	40	–	Winners	Winners	–	–	Winners	–	Obeid Al-Dosari	11	Luka Peruzović Yousef Anbar
2002–03	SPL	2	22	15	2	5	54	23	31+	47	–	Runners-up	Runners-up	Winners	3rd Qualifying Round	–	–	Mohammed Barakat	10	Dimitri Davidovic Ilija Lukić
2003–04	SPL	4	22	10	8	4	31	21	10+	38	–	Runner-up	Group stage	Group stage	–	–	–	Rojero Pereira	11	Pierre Lechantre Valmir Louruz
2004–05	SPL	5	22	10	8	4	41	21	20+	34	–	Round 16	Semi-finals	Semi-finals	Quarter-finals	–	–	Rojero Pereira	13	Valmir Louruz Geninho
2005–06	SPL	4	22	9	9	4	45	23	22+	36	–	Runners-up	Runners-up	–	–	–	–	Abdelhaq Ait Laarif Malek Mouath	8	Ilija Lukić Nebojša Vučković
2006–07	SPL	5	22	7	8	7	29	33	−4	29	–	Winners	Winners	Semi-finals	–	–	–	Malek Mouath	20	Nebojša Vučković
2007–08	SPL	8	22	7	5	10	30	31	−1	26	Quarter-finals	Semi-finals	Semi-finals	–	Group stage	–	–	Malek Mouath	14	Nebojša Vučković Yousef Anbar
2008–09	SPL	3	22	11	7	4	33	20	+13	40	Quarter-finals	Round 16	Group stage	–	–	Winner	–	Hassan Al-Raheb	10	Stoycho Mladenov
2009–10	ZPL	6	22	7	7	8	28	29	−1	28	Quarter-finals	Runners-up	Semi-finals	–	Group stage	–	–	Victor Simões	13	Gustavo Alfaro Farias
2010–11	ZPL	6	26	11	4	11	48	41	+7	37	Winners	Quarter-final	Runners-up	–	–	–	–	Victor Simões	20	Trond Sollied Milovan Rajevac Aleksandar Ilić
2011–12	ZPL	2	26	19	5	2	60	22	+38	62	Winners	Semi-final	Winners	–	Runners-up	–	–	Victor Simões	27	Karel Jarolím
2012–13	ZPL	5	26	12	8	6	51	33	+18	44	Semi-finals	Quarter-finals	Winners	–	Quarter-finals	–	–	Victor Simões	17	Karel Jarolím Aleksandar Ilić
2013–14	ALJ	3	26	12	9	5	48	24	+24	45	Runners-up	Quarter-finals	Runners-up	–	–	–	–	Taisir Al-Jassim	9	Vítor Pereira
2014–15	ALJ	2	26	17	9	0	59	22	+37	60	Round 16	Winners		–	Round 16	–	–	Omar Al Somah	31	Christian Gross
2015–16	ALJ	1	26	19	6	1	55	21	+34	63	Winners	Runners-up	–	–	Group stages	–	–	Omar Al Somah	34	Christian Gross
2016–17	ALJ	2	26	17	4	5	57	30	+27	55	Runners-up	Semi-finals	–	–	Quarter-finals	–	Winners	Omar Al Soma	40	José Manuel Gomes Christian Gross
2017–18	SPL	2	26	16	7	3	59	26	+33	55	Semi-finals	–	–	–	Round of 16	–	–	Muhannad Assiri	13	Serhii Rebrov
2018–19	SPL	4	30	17	4	9	68	41	+27	55	Round of 16	–	–	Semi-finals	Round of 16	–	–	Omar Al Somah	27	Pablo Guede Jorge Fossati Yousef Anbar

Player of the year※

Year	Winner
2009–10	Abdulrahim Jaizawi
2010–11	Victor Simões
2011–12	Taisir Al-Jassim
2012–13	Mustafa Al-Bassas
2013–14	Taisir Al-Jassim
2014–15	Omar Al Soma
2015–16	Omar Al Soma
2016–17	Yasser Al-Mosailem
2017-18	Omar Al Soma
2018-19	Djaniny
2019-20	Omar Al Soma
2020-21	Omar Al Soma
2021-22	Omar Al Soma
2022-23	Ryad Boudebouz

Staff and management※

Technical staff※

Position	Nat.	Name
Manager		Matthias Jaissle
Assistant Manager		Engin Yanova
Goalkeeper Coach		Alexander Bade
Chief Analyst		Mohamed Abdelfattah
Video Analyst		Steffen Konrad
Match Analyst		Georgios Martakos
Director of Football		Naif Qadi
Technical Director		Jan van Winckel

Source:

Board members※

Source:

Presidents※

No	Name	From	To
1	Hassan Hamood Al-Shams	1937	1940
2	Omar Hamood Al-Shams	1950	1952
3	Hassan Saroor Al Sabyan	1952	1954
4	Abdullah Bahery	1955	1955
5	Omar Hamood Al Shams	1956	1956
6	Ali Al Jassem Al Na'kly	1957	1957
7	Mohammed Fashlan	1958	1958
8	Abdulrahman bin Saead	1959	1960
9	Jameel Al-Gosani	1961	1961
10	Abdulfatah Abdulrabho	1962	1962
11	Abdullah Al-Bahry	1963	1963
12	Abdulfatah Abdulrabho	1964	1964
13	Omar Yousef	1965	1969
14	Mohammed bin Saleh Hamed	1970	1972
15	Abdullah bin Al-Ganb	1973	1974
16	Abdulmageed Yousef	1975	1975
17	Khaled bin Abdullah	1976	1980
18	Abdullah bin Faisal	1981	1981
19	Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Faisal	1982	1984
20	Abdulraziq Abu Dawod	1985	1986
21	Ahmed Eid Al-Harbi	1987	1987
22	Khaled bin Abdullah	1988	1994
23	Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki	1994	1995
24	Badr bin Fahd	1995	1996
25	Zaki Raheme	1996	1997
26	Abdulaziz Abdulha'a	1997	1998
27	Salman Al-Sudairy	1998	1998
28	Nawaf bin Abdulaziz bin Turki	1999	2003
29	Ahmed Moahmmed Marzoqi	2004	2005
30	Abdulraziq abu Dawod	2005	2005
31	Aymin Fadel	2005	2007
32	Abdulraziq abu Dawod	2007	2007
33	Ahmed Moahmmed Marzoqi	2007	2008
34	Abdulaziz Mohammed Al-A'aqary	2008	2009
35	Fahd bin Khaled bin Abdullah bin Mohammed	2009	2015
36	Musad Al Zuwaihary	2015	2016
37	Ahmad Al-Marzouqi	2016	2017
38	Fahd bin Khaled bin Abdullah bin Mohammed	2017	2017
39	Turki bin Mohammed	2017	2018
40	Majed Al-Nefaie	2018	2018
41	Abdullah Batterjee	2019	2019
42	Ahmed Al-Sayegh	2019	2020
43	Abdulelah Mouminah	2020	2021
44	Majed Al-Nefaie	2021	2022
45	Waleed Muath	2022	2023
46	Khalid Al Ghamdi	2023

Managers※

Handball※

Current Squad

See also※

• List of football clubs in Saudi Arabia

References※

External links※

• Official website