Safa SC

History

Early history (1933–1961)

Founded in 1933 at an amateur level in the Wata El-Museitbeh of Beirut, Safa Sporting Club was officially established in 1939 by seven people: Maher Wahab, Anis Naaim, Hasib Al-Jerdi, Amin Haidar, Chafik Nader, Toufik Al-Zouhairy and Adib Haidar.

On 23 December 1948, Safa obtained the official membership and license from the government as a private association. In the same year, the club was affiliated to the Lebanese Football Association and was ranked within the Second Division. In 1961, Safa was promoted to the First Division.

Recent history (2021–present)

On 4 May 2012, after defeating Nejmeh, Safa were crowned Lebanese Premier League champions for the first time in 2011–12. They were crowned league champions for the second consecutive time in 2012–13, after defeating Ahed 3–1 on 19 May 2013. Safa also won the 2012–13 Lebanese FA Cup, following a 2–1 win against Shabab Sahel in the final, achieving a domestic double for the first time.

After finishing the 2021–22 Lebanese Premier League in 11th place, Safa were due to be relegated to the Second Division for the first time. However, following Shabab Bourj's withdrawal from the league, they were relegated in place of Safa. Safa also narrowly avoided relegation the following season, finishing 10th above Salam Zgharta on account of their positive head-to-head record.

Kit manufacturers

The following is a list of kit manufacturers worn by Safa.

Stadium

Main article: Safa Stadium

The Safa Stadium opened in 1948, and has a capacity of 4,000 spectators. Located in the Wata El-Museitbeh district of Beirut, the stadium is five minutes from the Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport. While the stadium is of Safa's property, the club plays in various other stadiums around the country.

Club rivalries

Safa has important rivalries with Ansar and Nejmeh, both being based in Beirut. Safa also plays the Mountain derby with Akhaa Ahli, as Akhaa is based in Aley, a city in Mount Lebanon, and Safa's support comes from the Druze community in Lebanon, who mainly live in Chouf and Aley districts.

Players

Current squad

Players on loan

Notable players

Honours

Domestic

• Lebanese Premier League
  • Winners (3): 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16
• Lebanese FA Cup
  • Winners (3): 1964–65, 1986–87, 2012–13
  • Runners-up (8): 1970–71, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2016–17
• Lebanese Elite Cup (defunct)
  • Winners (2): 2009, 2012
  • Runners-up (3): 2011, 2014, 2015
• Lebanese Super Cup
  • Winners (1): 2013
  • Runners-up (3): 2011, 2012, 2016
• Lebanese Second Division
  • Winners (1): 1960–61 (Beirut)

Continental

• AFC Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2008

Other achievements

• Lebanese Challenge Cup (defunct)
  • Runners-up (1): 2022

Performance in AFC competitions

• AFC Cup: 5 appearances ::2008: Final ::2009: Round of 16 ::2012: Group stage ::2013: Group stage ::2014: Round of 16

• AFC Challenge League: 1 appearance ::2025–26: Group stage

• Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 2 appearances ::1992–93: Withdrew in first round ::2000–01: Withdrew in first round

Managerial history

• LBN Walid Zeineddine
• EGY Mahmoud Saad
• IRQ Akram Salman
• LBN Ghassan Abou Diab
• LBN Samir Saad
• LBN Emile Rustom
• ROM Valeriu Tița (2013–2014)
• LBN Emile Rustom (2015–2018)
• ROM Valeriu Tița (2018–2019)
• TUN Tarek Jarraya (2019)
• GER Robert Jaspert (2019–2020)
• LBN Emile Rustom (2020)
• LBN Mohammad Dakka (2020–2021)
• LBN Fadi Oumari (2021–22)
• LBN Malek Hassoun (2022)
• LBN Youssef Jawhari (2022–2023)
• LBN Moussa Hojeij (2023)
• NED Johnny Jansen (2023)
• NED Jan de Jonge (2023)
• LBN Bassem Marmar (2023–present)

References

References

1. Arab-Sport.net {{!}}. (13 October 2017). "بعزيمة النسور {{!}} الصفاء يعود من صيدا بثوب البطل".
2. "AFC Cup 2017: Match day one - Playoff and group stage preview {{!}} Goal.com".
3. Maugendre, Axel. (31 August 2018). "Ethnography of the Lebanese Football Clubs". Athens Journal of Sports.
4. Montague, James. (24 October 2007). "In Lebanon, even soccer is tainted by sectarian strife". The New York Times.
5. Alami, Mona. (1 September 2009). "Religious about football".
6. "فريق: الصفاء بيروت".
7. "منتديات كووورة".
8. (4 May 2012). "نادي "الصفاء" بطل لبنان في كرة القدم بعد فوزه على نادي "النجمة"".
9. "الصفاء بطلا لدوري لبنان للمرة الثانية".
10. (2019-07-10). "الصفاء يقهر شباب الساحل ويتوج بكأس لبنان ويحرز الثنائية للمرة الأولى في تاريخه".
11. (2022-05-17). "بالصور: الصفاء اللبناني يهبط لأول مرة في تاريخه".
12. "شطب كافة نتائج شباب البرج وإسقاطه إلى الدرجة الثانية".
13. (2023-03-22). "اتحاد كرة القدم اللبناني يصدر قرارات حاسمة".
14. "جولة دربي الجبل... وملامسة اللقب".
15. "Safa SC".
16. Diab, Rami Abou. (2020-11-09). "Safa SC appoint new coach".