Al-Ahli Saudi FC

History

Founded in 1937 by four young men, the Al-Ahli Club is located on Jeddah's 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. 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.

Golden era in the 1960s and 1970s

Al-Ahli won 7 Saudi League titles, five of them being consecutive league titles without a single defeat, 4 King Cup and one Crown Prince Cup, establishing itself as the strongest club across Saudi Arabia. These titles were later officially recognized, contributing to Al-Ahli's current record of nine league titles.

The team was led by players such as Abdulrazzaq Abu Dawood, Amin Dabo, and Ahmed Eid.

In 1978, Al-Ahli won its first unified Saudi Premier League title.

Diego Maradona's appearance with Al-Ahli

In 1987, during Al-Ahli 50th anniversary, Diego Maradona made an appearance for Al-Ahli. The Argentine footballer wore an Al-Ahli jersey and participated in the celebratory match held in Jeddah.

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

In 2009, the club celebrated its 75th anniversary. 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".

2015–16 season: Historic treble

In the 2015–16 season, the club secured a historic treble by winning the Saudi Professional League, the King Cup, and the Saudi Super Cup under the management of Swiss coach Christian Gross. Al-Ahli earned the league title two rounds before the end, after a 3–1 victory against rivals Al-Hilal at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. Syrian striker Omar Al Somah scored two goals.

Al-Ahli captured the King Cup, defeating Al-Nassr 2–1 in the final, with Al Somah once again scoring. Later that year, Al-Ahli completed the treble by winning the Saudi Super Cup, held in London at Craven Cottage (the home stadium of Fulham FC), after defeating Al-Hilal on penalties following a 1–1 draw.

Al-Ahli vs FC Barcelona friendly match (2016)

On 13 December 2016, Al-Ahli played a friendly match against FC Barcelona at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium in Doha, Qatar. The match was part of the "Champions Match" organized by Qatar Airways, which was the official sponsor of both clubs at the time

Barcelona won the match 5–3, with goals scored by Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suárez, Paco Alcácer, and Rafinha. Al-Ahli responded with three goals of their own.

2025 AFC Champions League

On 3 May 2025, Al-Ahli were crowned champions of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite after defeating Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in the final with a score of 2–0. The match was held at King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah. Galeno scored the first goal at 35th minute with an out of the box shot to the top right corner, and Franck Kessie scored the second with a header at 42nd minute, the two goals were assisted by Roberto Firmino This marked Al-Ahli's first title in the AFC Champions League.

Al-Ahli's relationship with Brazilian football

Matches with Brazil national team

In 1989, Al-Ahli hosted the Brazil national team in a friendly match at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. Brazil won the match 3–1, with goals scored by Bebeto (two goals) and Washington, while Al-Ahli's only goal was scored by Al-Mualla.

The Brazilian national team also conducted official training sessions at Al-Ahli's facilities during their stay for the inaugural King Fahd Cup, which later evolved into the FIFA Confederations Cup.

In addition to the 1989 encounter, Al-Ahli faced Brazilian opposition again during the 1998 International Friendship Tournament (King Fahd Tournament), further strengthening the club's historical ties with Brazilian football.

Brazilian managers at Al-Ahli

Throughout its history, Al-Ahli has been managed by several prominent Brazilian coaches:

• Telê Santana: Managed Al-Ahli from 1983 to 1985, leading the team to win the Saudi Professional League title in 1984 and the King Cup in 1983.
• Luiz Felipe Scolari: Coached Al-Ahli during the 1991–1992 season.
• Didi: Managed Al-Ahli in the late 1970s.

Brazilian players at Al-Ahli

Al-Ahli has also been home to several notable Brazilian players, including:

• Victor Simões is a Brazilian former striker who played for Al-Ahli Saudi FC from 2010 to 2013. At the 2012 AFC Champions League, he scored the 2nd goal at the 84th minute in the semi-finals 2nd leg derby against the hometown rivals Al-Ittihad.
• Roberto Firmino: Joined Al-Ahli in July 2023 after leaving Liverpool.
• Roger Ibañez: Joined Al-Ahli in 2023 after leaving Roma.

Honours

Domestic

• Saudi Pro League (tier 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 League (tier 2):
  • Champion: 2022–23
• King's 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 (2): 2016, 2025
• Crown Prince's 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

International

• AFC Champions League Elite:
  • Winners: 2024–25
  • Runners-up: 1985–86, 2012
• Arab Champions League:
  • Winners: 2002–03
• Gulf Club Champions Cup:
  • Winners: 1985, 2002, 2008

• ---

  • Winners: 2001, 2002
  • Runners-up: 1997, 1999

Kits and crest

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Players

Current squad

U21 squad

Out on loan

Records

Asian record

Overview

Record by country

Matches

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

Recent seasons

:{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !Season!!Div.!!Pos.!!Pl.!!W!!D!!L!!GS!!GA!!GD!!P!!KC!!CPC!!PFC!!ARCL!!CL!!GCC!!Saudi Super Cup!!colspan=2|Top scorer!!Manager |- |2000–01 | – | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | – | – | – | KSA Ibrahim Al-Suwayyed | 12

| | – | Round 16 | – | – | SYR Omar Al Somah | 31

Player of the year

Staff and management

Technical staff

Source:

Board members

Source:

Presidents

Managers

• Tunisia Mohammed Amin Hilmi (1937–39), (1950–51)
• Saudi Arabia Abdullah Abdul Majid (1961–65), (1969–71), (1976–77)
• Saudi Arabia Ahmed Saleh Al Yafei (1961–65), (1976–77)
• England Mr. Michael (1967)
• England Oscar Hold (1967–70)
• Sudan Hassan Sadaqa (1970–xx)
• Egypt Taha Ismail (1972–76)
• Brazil Didi (1978–81)
• Brazil Jorge Vieira (1980–81)
• Brazil Carlos the Jackal (1981–82)
• Brazil Telê Santana (1983–85)
• Egypt Mahmoud El-Gohary (1985, 1986–88)
• Tunisia Ahmed Bouajila (1985–1986)
• Germany Eckhard Krautzun (1988–89)
• Brazil Sebastião Lazaroni (1989–90)
• Brazil Zanata (1990, 1997)
• Brazil Xanana (1990–91), (1998–99), (2000–01)
• Brazil Luiz Felipe Scolari (1992–93)
• Tunisia Nabil Maaloul (1994)
• Germany Peter Shtoob (1994)
• Saudi Arabia Ahmed Al-Saghir (1994–95)
• Brazil Márcio Máximo (1995)
• Brazil Luís Antônio Zaluar (1995–96)
• Brazil Vantuir (1996–97)
• Brazil Cabralzinho (3 Oct 1998 – 3 Dec 1998)
• KSA Amin Dabo (3 Dec 1998 – 21 Nov 1999)
• BRA Zanata (21 Nov 1999 – 31 May 2000)
• ARG Miguel Ángel López (22 Jun 2000 – 11 Oct 2000)
• CRO Luka Peruzović (12 Oct 2000 – 11 Apr 2002)
• KSA Yousef Anbar (caretaker) (11 Apr 2002 – 31 May 2002, 19 Nov 2005 – 22 Dec 2005, 2 Oct 2007 – 22 Oct 2007, 6 Apr 2008 – 22 May 2008, 4 Sep 2022 – 25 Sep 2022)
• BEL Dimitri Davidovic (21 Jun 2002 – 4 Jan 2003)
• SRB Ilija Lukić (4 Jan 2003 – 1 Jun 2003, 30 Jul 2005 – 19 Nov 2005)
• FRA Pierre Lechantre (15 Jul 2003 – 30 Sep 2003)
• BRA Valmir Louruz (6 Oct 2003 – 20 Dec 2004)
• BRA Geninho (25 Dec 2004 – 17 Jul 2005)
• SRB Nebojsa Vučković (22 Dec 2005 – 22 May 2007, 22 Oct 2007 – 6 Apr 2008)
• GER Theo Bücker (30 May 2007 – 2 Oct 2007)
• BUL Stoycho Mladenov (7 July 2008 – 8 May 2009)
• ARG Gustavo Alfaro (1 June 2009 – 25 Nov 2009)
• FRA Alan Guido (caretaker) (25 Nov 2009 – 25 Dec 2009)
• BRA Sérgio Farias (25 Dec 2009 – 1 Jul 2010)
• NOR Trond Sollied (1 Jul 2010 – 28 Aug 2010)
• TUN Khaled Badra (caretaker) (28 Aug 2010 – Sept 10, 2010)
• SRB Milovan Rajevac (Sept 10, 2010 – 20 Feb 2011)
• SRB Aleksandar Ilić (24 Feb 2011 – 30 Jun 2011, 28 Feb 2013 – 31 May 2013)
• CZE Karel Jarolím (5 Aug 2011 – 28 Feb 2013)
• POR Vítor Pereira (9 Jun 2013 – 5 May 2014)
• SUI Christian Gross (16 Jun 2014 – 30 May 2016)
• POR José Manuel Gomes (31 May 2016 – 30 Sep 2016)
• SUI Christian Gross (3 Oct 2016 – 31 May 2017)
• UKR Serhiy Rebrov (21 Jun 2017 – 17 May 2018)
• TUN Fathi Al-Jabal (19 Apr 2018 – 15 May 2018)
• ARG Pablo Guede (15 May 2018 – 5 Feb 2019)
• URU Jorge Fossati (8 Feb 2019 – 17 Apr 2019)
• KSA Yousef Anbar (17 Apr 2019 – 21 May 2019)
• CRO Branko Ivanković (18 Jun 2019 – 16 Sep 2019)
• KSA Saleh Al-Mohammadi (caretaker) (16 Sep 2019 – 16 Oct 2019)
• SUI Christian Gross (16 Oct 2019 – 17 Feb 2020)
• KSA Mazen Bahkali (caretaker) (17 Feb 2020 – 28 Feb 2020)
• SRB Vladan Milojević (28 Feb 2020 – 24 Mar 2021)
• FRA Faiçal Gormi (caretaker) (24 Mar 2021 – 31 Mar 2021)
• ROM Laurențiu Reghecampf (31 Mar 2021 – 31 May 2021)
• ALB Besnik Hasi (6 Jun 2021 – 4 Mar 2022)
• URU Robert Siboldi (5 Mar 2022 – 4 Sep 2022)
• RSA Pitso Mosimane (25 Sep 2022 – 15 June 2023)
• GER Matthias Jaissle (28 Jul 2023 – present)

References

References

1. (5 June 2023). "Saudi Arabia's PIF takes over Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli".
2. https://en.alahlifc.sa/
3. @ALAHLI FC. (2022-11-18). "سجل بطولات الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الاهلي #الاهلي".
4. (22 April 2025). "ما ترتيب الأهلي السعودي وعدد ألقابه بعد مشروع توثيق الكرة السعودية؟ - 365Scores".
5. (2022-06-28). "Al-Ahli relegated for the first time in history".
6. (22 September 2024). "Memories of Maradona: Unforgettable day in 1987 when football's greatest star played for Al-Ahli".
7. "QATAR AIRWAYS NAMED OFFICIAL CLUB SPONSOR OF AL-AHLI FOOTBALL CLUB | Qatar Airways".
8. Doha, By Sports Reporter. (20 October 2016). "Barca to travel to Doha in December for Al-Ahli Saudi friendly".
9. "Al-Ahli v FC Barcelona: Goals galore in Qatar (3-5)".
10. Church, Michael. (4 May 2025). "Jaissle hails Al-Ahli fans as Asian title completes 'crazy journey'". Reuters.
11. "Al-Ahli Saudi FC vs. Brazil".
12. (25 November 2020). "When Diego Maradona played in Saudi Arabia - Arab world mourns passing of a legend".
13. (14 December 2010). "قناعات".
14. Al-Ahli Saudi FC Official Account. (November 18, 2022). "Official Documentation of Al-Ahli's Championships.".
15. "List of Cup Winners -". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
16. (2022-11-18). "The tweet of the official Al-Ahli club account via Twitter, in which the number of Saudi professional league and the date of each season was mentioned.".
17. "List of Cup Winners - International Friendship Tournament.".
18. "الفريق الأول". Al Ahli Saudi FC.
19. "الصربي فلادان ميلويفيتش مدرباً للفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
20. "مجلس إدارة النادي #الأهلي الذي تمت تزكيته من الجمعية العمومية.".