Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
general

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

2020–21 Saudi Pro League


Season
17 October 2020 – 30 May 2021
Al-Hilal (17th title)
Al-QadsiahAl-WehdaAl-Ain
Al-HilalAl-FaisalyAl-ShababAl-Taawoun
240
746 (3.11 per match)
Bafétimbi Gomis(24 goals)
Cássio (11 clean sheets)
Al-Nassr 7–0 Al-Batin(20 March 2021)
Al-Ain 0–5 Al-Hilal(9 February 2021)
Al-Ain 3–4 Al-Ahli(7 November 2020)Damac 4–3 Al-Ahli(5 December 2020)Al-Fateh 2–5 Al-Hilal(28 February 2020)Al-Nassr 7–0 Al-Batin(20 March 2021)Abha 3–4 Damac(21 March 2021)Al-Taawoun 3–4 Al-Fateh(25 April 2021)Al-Ettifaq 4–3 Al-Shabab(14 May 2021)Al-Ain 3–4 Al-Batin(30 May 2021)
Al-Hilal(5 matches)
Al-Ittihad(11 matches)
Al-AhliAl-Raed(9 matches)
Al-AhliAl-Wehda(7 matches)
← 2019–20 2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 30 May 2021.

The 2020–21 Saudi Pro League was the 46th edition of the top-tier Saudi football league, established in 1974, and the 13th edition since it was rebranded as the Saudi Pro League in 2008, the season began on 17 October 2020 as a consequence of the postponement of the previous season's conclusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fixtures for the 2020–21 season were announced on 29 September 2020.

Al-Hilal are the defending champions after winning the Pro League for the 16th time last season. Al-Ain, Al-Batin, and Al-Qadsiah join as the three promoted clubs from the 2019–20 MS League. They replace Al-Adalah, Al-Fayha, and Al-Hazem who were relegated to the 2020–21 MS League.

On 29 March, the Ministry of Sports announced that fans will be allowed to return to stadiums for the final three rounds of matches with a maximum of 40% capacity.

On 23 May, Al-Hilal secured their seventeenth league title with one match to spare following a 1–0 away win against Al-Taawoun. It was also the club's second consecutive title and fourth in the last five seasons. Al-Ain were the first team to be relegated following a 2–0 defeat away to Al-Nassr on 14 May. In the final matchday, both Al-Qadsiah and Al-Wehda were relegated following a draw with Abha and a loss against Al-Shabab respectively.

Sixteen teams will compete in the league – the top thirteen teams from the previous season and the three teams promoted from the MS League.

Teams who were promoted to the Pro League

The first club to be promoted was Al-Batin, who were promoted following Al-Bukayriyah's 1–1 draw with Al-Ain on 1 September 2020. Al-Batin will play in the top flight of Saudi football after a season's absence. Al-Batin were crowned champions following their 1–1 draw with Al-Bukayriyah on the final matchday.

The second club to be promoted was Al-Ain, who were promoted on 10 September 2020 following their 2–0 win at home against Ohod. Al-Ain will play in the top flight of Saudi football for the first time in history. Al-Ain became the first team from the Al Bahah Region to play in the Pro League.

The third and final club to be promoted was Al-Qadsiah, following their 3–1 home win against an already promoted Al-Batin side on 10 September 2020. Al-Qadsiah will play in the top flight of Saudi football after a season's absence.

Teams who were relegated to the MS League

The first club to be relegated was Al-Adalah, who were relegated after only a year in the top flight following a 1–1 home draw with Al-Raed.

On 4 September 2020, Al-Hazem became the second club to be relegated following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Shabab. Al-Hazem were relegated after two years in the top flight.

On 9 September 2020, Al-Fayha became the third and final club to be relegated following a 1–0 defeat away to Al-Taawoun in the final matchday. Al-Fayha were relegated after three years in the Pro League. This was Al-Fayha's first relegation from the top flight of Saudi football.

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
AbhaAbhaPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium20,000
Al-AhliJeddahKing Abdullah Sports City62,345
Al-AinAl BahahKing Saud Sport City Stadium (Al Bahah)10,000
Al-BatinHafar al-BatinAl-Batin Club Stadium6,000
Al-EttifaqDammamPrince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium35,000
Al-FaisalyHarmahAl Majma'ah Sports City [1]7,000
Al-FatehAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium26,000
Al-HilalRiyadhKing Fahd International Stadium [2]62,685
Al-IttihadJeddahKing Abdullah Sports City62,345
Al-NassrRiyadhKing Saud University Stadium25,000
Al-QadsiahKhobarPrince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium15,000
Al-RaedBuraidahKing Abdullah Sport City Stadium25,000
Al-ShababRiyadhKing Fahd International Stadium [3]62,685
Al-TaawounBuraidahKing Abdullah Sport City Stadium25,000
Al-WehdaMeccaKing Abdul Aziz Stadium38,000
DamacKhamis MushaitPrince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium [4]20,000

1: .mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}^ Al-Faisaly play their home games in Al Majma'ah.

2: ^ Al-Hilal and Al-Shabab also use Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium (22,500 seats) as a home stadium.

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
AbhaAbderrazek ChebbiKarim AouadhiOffsideYelo, Vveyon, Mezaj Maghribi1, Saudi German Hospital1, ARASCO2
Al-AhliLaurențiu ReghecampfYasser Al-MosailemXtepSaudia, MG Cars, Almsakin Palace, Boga Super Foods2, Saudi German Hospital2
Al-AinPablo MachínSaeed Al-QarniPumaGento, Ugine1
Al-BatinAleksandar VeselinovićMazyad FreehSkillanoTraof, AlNadeg1, Yelo1, ARASCO2, Maroom Medical Center2
Al-EttifaqKhaled Al-AtwiRaïs M'BolhiJakoAl Mattar, Mystery, Kammelna1, Innosoft2, Thouq2, Saudi German Hospital3
Al-FaisalyPéricles ChamuscaIgor RossiadidasALDREES, Gree Electric, Yelo1, Roco2, ARASCO2
Al-FatehYannick FerreraMohammed Al-FuhaidOffsideKia Motors, Fuschia, Al Kifah Holding1, Almoosa Hospital1, ARASCO2, B-Care2
Al-HilalJosé MoraisSalman Al-FarajMoujEMAAR, Jahez, Tawuniya1, Sayyar2, Shawarmer2
Al-IttihadFábio CarilleKarim El AhmadiTamimB-IT Fitness1, Fakeeh2, Yelo2
Al-NassrMano MenezesYahya Al-ShehriVictoryEtihad Airways, Almsakin Palace, Nejree1, Richy2, Naqi Water2
Al-QadsiahYousef Al MannaiNaif HazaziPumaMG Cars, Almana Group of Hospital, Ghodran Group1
Al-RaedBesnik HasiHussain Al-ShowaishChallengeYelo, Address Cafe1, ARASCO2, B-Care2
Al-ShababCarlos InarejosÉver BanegaXtepArkitainer, Aqdar, Bussma, Half Million, The Chefz, Nice One, Saudi German Hospital, Marvel Home1, Sanabel Alsalam1, Tact1, F6or Faris2, QAID2, 3days3, Azom3, HealthZone3, The Real Burger3, Shawarma Classic3, Veloce3
Al-TaawounNestor El MaestroIbrahim Al-ZubaidiErreàFuchs, Nice One, Al Odhaib1, ARASCO2
Al-WehdaGeorgios DonisWaleed BakshweenTamimLebs.com, Al Ghazal, QAID2
DamacKrešimir RežićFarouk ChafaïSkillanoAbu Zaid, Bin Thaliba1, Saudi German Hospital1, Bnoon2, Fazzah2, Superano3
  • 1 On the back of the strip.
  • 2 On the right sleeve of the strip.
  • 3 On the shorts.
TeamOutgoing managerManner ofdepartureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate ofappointment
Al-WehdaEssa Al-Mehyani (caretaker)End of caretaker spell9 September 2020Pre-seasonIvo Vieira10 September 2020
Al-TaawounAbdullah Asiri (caretaker)16 September 2020Patrice Carteron16 September 2020
Al-AinAl Habib Ben RamadanEnd of contract20 September 2020Bruno Baltazar2 October 2020
Bruno BaltazarResigned12 October 2020Michael Skibbe12 October 2020
Al-NassrRui VitóriaMutual consent27 December 202015thAlen Horvat27 December 2020
DamacNoureddine Zekri4 January 202116thKrešimir Režić12 January 2021
Al-ShababPedro CaixinhaSacked5 January 20213rdCarlos Inarejos5 January 2021
Al-AinMichael Skibbe28 January 202116thPablo Machín31 January 2021
Al-WehdaIvo Vieira2 February 202110thMahmoud Al-Hadid2 February 2021
Al-HilalRăzvan LucescuMutual consent15 February 20213rdRogério Micale15 February 2021
Al-TaawounPatrice Carteron11 March 20214thNestor El Maestro13 March 2021
Al-BatinJosé GarridoSacked20 March 202113thAleksandar Veselinović24 March 2021
Al-WehdaMahmoud Al-Hadid21 March 202114thGeorgios Donis23 March 2021
Al-AhliVladan MilojevićMutual consent24 March 20217thLaurențiu Reghecampf31 March 2021
Al-NassrAlen HorvatSacked9 April 20215thMano Menezes9 April 2021
Al-HilalRogério Micale2 May 20211stJosé Morais2 May 2021

The policy of foreign players remained unchanged. Clubs can register a total of seven foreign players over the course of the season.

Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6Player 7Former Players
AbhaMehdi TahratBenjamin TatarAmine AtouchiAbdelali MhamdiCarlos StrandbergKarim AouadhiSaad BguirCraig Goodwin
Al-AhliElvis SarićLucas LimaDriss FettouhiAlexandru MitritaM'Baye NiangLjubomir FejsaOmar Al SomahMarko Marin Samuel Owusu
Al-AinBastosGettersonFilip BradarićNaeemAmadou MoutariBadou NdiayeJuanpiSaphir Taïder Mohammed Nahiri Peter Nworah Haythem Jouini
Al-BatinFábio AbreuRenato ChavesYoussef El JebliMohamed RayhiXandro SchenkMartín CampañaKhaleem Hyland
Al-EttifaqRaïs M'BolhiElierce SouzaKarol MetsWalid AzaroSouleymane DoukaraFilip KissNaïm Sliti
Al-FaisalyGuilhermeIgor RossiRaphael SilvaJulio TavaresRomain AmalfitanoAlexander MerkelHicham Faik
Al-FatehSofiane BendebkaHillal SoudaniMourad BatnaMarwane SaâdaneMitchell te VredeChristian CuevaMaksym KovalGustav Wikheim Saša Jovanović
Al-HilalLuciano ViettoGustavo CuéllarBafétimbi GomisSebastian GiovincoJang Hyun-sooAndré CarrilloOmar Kharbin
Al-IttihadBruno HenriqueMarcelo GroheRomarinhoGarry RodriguesAhmed HegaziKarim El AhmadiAleksandar PrijovićBruno Uvini
Al-NassrPity MartínezBrad JonesMaiconPetrosKim Jin-suNordin AmrabatAbderrazak HamdallahAhmed Musa
Al-QadsiahRhys WilliamsEdson da CruzDanilo AsprillaCarolus AndriaLeke JamesStanley OhawuchiUroš VitasMihai Bordeianu
Al-RaedAzzedine DoukhaRonnie FernándezArnaud DjoumMarko MarinKarim El BerkaouiMohamed FouzairNemanja MiletićJalal Daoudi Nemanja Nikolić Jehad Al-Hussain
Al-ShababÉver BanegaCristian GuancaSebáIgor LichnovskyOdion IghaloFábio MartinsAlfred N'DiayeGiedrius Arlauskis Makhete Diop
Al-TaawounCássioIago SantosSandro ManoelCédric AmissiLéandre TawambaKakuAbdoulaye SanéMitchell Duke
Al-WehdaDimitri PetratosAnselmoLuis GustavoPedro HenriqueYoussouf NiakatéHernâniAlberto Botía
DamacFarouk ChafaïMoustapha ZeghbaSergio VittorEmilio ZelayaDomagoj AntolićAmahl PellegrinoConstantin BudescuIbrahim Chenihi Cristian Lema Bilel Saidani

The following table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve the chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward. If a club from the Saudi Professional League wins the King Cup, they will qualify for the AFC Champions League, unless they have already qualified for it through their league position. In this case, an additional AFC Champions League group stage berth will be given to the 3rd placed team, and the AFC Champions League play-off round spot will be given to 4th.

2022 AFC Champions League group stage
2022 AFC Champions League play-off round
Relegation to 2021–22 MS League

As of 30 May 2021

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Bafétimbi GomisAl-Hilal24
2Emilio ZelayaDamac19
3Cristian GuancaAl-Shabab17
Fabio AbreuAl-Batin
5Carlos StrandbergAbha16
RomarinhoAl-Ittihad
7Karim El BerkaouiAl-Raed15
Júlio TavaresAl-Faisaly
9Mitchell te VredeAl-Fateh13
Léandre TawambaAl-Taawoun
PlayerForAgainstResultDate.mw-parser-output .tooltip-dotted{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}Ref.
Omar Al SomahAl-AhliAl-Ain4–3 (A)7 November 2020
Dimitri PetratosAl-WehdaAl-Batin3–2 (H)29 November 2020
Carlos StrandbergAbhaAl-Ain4–2 (A)1 January 2021
Léandre TawambaAl-TaawounDamac3–1 (H)25 January 2021
Karim El Berkaoui4Al-RaedDamac4–2 (H)31 January 2021
Bafétimbi Gomis4Al-HilalAl-Ain5–0 (A)9 February 2021
Youssouf NiakatéAl-WehdaAl-Faisaly4–2 (A)12 February 2021
Mitchell te VredeAl-FatehAl-Ain3–2 (H)13 February 2021
Abdullah Al-MogrenAl-RaedAl-Ain4–0 (H)28 February 2021
Aleksandar PrijovićAl-IttihadAl-Qadsiah4–1 (A)28 February 2021
RomarinhoAl-IttihadAl-Wehda4–2 (H)5 March 2021
Bafétimbi GomisAl-HilalAl-Wehda4–2 (A)11 March 2021
Farouk ChafaïDamacAbha4–3 (A)21 March 2021
Danilo AsprillaAl-QadsiahAl-Ettifaq3–1 (A)10 April 2021

Notes

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

4 Player scored 4 goals

RankPlayerClubCleansheets
1CássioAl-Taawoun11
2Azzedine DoukhaAl-Raed7
Abdullah Al-MayoufAl-Hilal
4Marcelo GroheAl-Ittihad6
5Brad JonesAl-Nassr5
Amin BukhariAl-Ain
Zaid Al-BawardiAl-Shabab
8Mustafa MalayekahAl-Faisaly4
Abdelali MhamdiAbha
Mohammed Al-RubeaiAl-Ahli
Maksym KovalAl-Fateh
Moustapha ZeghbaDamac
  • Most yellow cards: 12

    • Anselmo (Al-Wehda)
  • Most red cards: 2

    • Mohamed Fouzair (Al-Raed)
  • Most yellow cards: 78

    • Al-Taawoun
  • Most red cards: 7

    • Al-Qadsiah
MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthGoalkeeper of the MonthRising Star of the MonthReference
OctoberYannick FerreraAl-FatehÉver BanegaAl-ShababAbdullah Al-MayoufAl-HilalSaud AbdulhamidAl-Ittihad
NovemberRăzvan LucescuAl-HilalOmar Al SomahAl-AhliAmin BukhariAl-AinAbdulelah Al-AmriAl-Nassr
DecemberKhaled Al-AtwiAl-EttifaqNaïm SlitiAl-EttifaqMarcelo GroheAl-IttihadSaud AbdulhamidAl-Ittihad
JanuaryAlen HorvatAl-NassrLéandre TawambaAl-TaawounCássioAl-TaawounAbdullah Al-HamdanAl-Shabab
FebruaryCarlos InarejosAl-ShababÉver BanegaAl-ShababCássioAl-TaawounAbdulrahman GhareebAl-Ahli
MarchRogério MicaleAl-HilalFarouk ChafaïDamacRaïs M'BolhiAl-EttifaqAbdulelah Al-AmriAl-Nassr
April & MayFábio CarilleAl-IttihadOdion IghaloAl-ShababMarcelo GroheAl-IttihadSami Al-NajeiAl-Nassr
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 2020–21 Saudi Pro League — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report