| Season | 2012–13 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Al Sadd 13th title |
| Relegated | Al-Sailiya |
| AFC Champions League | Al Sadd Lekhwiya El Jaish |
| Top goalscorer | Sebastián Soria (19 goals) |
2013–14 → | |
The2012–13 Qatari League, also known asQatari Stars League was the 40th edition of top level football championship inQatar. The season started on 15 September 2012 and took a monthlong break from 21 December to 21 January 2013 due to the21st Arabian Gulf Cup.Lekhwiya were the defending champions.Al Sadd won the league for the 13th time in their history, making them the most successful team in the Qatar Stars League.
Al Ahli were relegated to the second level league after finishing bottom in thelast season campaign.
Al-Sailiya were promoted as the 2nd level champions and are back after one season away from the top flight.
1 Al-Sailiya do not have a stadium of their own so they share with Al-Rayyan.[1]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Arabi | Adidas | QPM | ||
| Al-Gharafa | Erreà | Vodafone | ||
| Al Kharaitiyat | BURRDA | Al-Khuratiyat Co. | ||
| Al-Khor | Adidas | Qatar Airways | ||
| Al-Rayyan | Adidas | Rayyan Co. | ||
| Al Sadd | BURRDA | Vodafone | ||
| Al-Sailiya | Nike | Qatar Islamic Bank | ||
| Al-Wakrah | Nike | Opel | ||
| El Jaish | Nike | Masrat Rayan | ||
| Lekhwiya | BURRDA | Masrat Rayan | ||
| Qatar SC | Adidas | QatarEnergy | ||
| Umm Salal | Nike | Global Sports |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Jaish | Contract expired[2] | 9 May 2012 | 9 May 2012 | ||
| Al Sadd | Contract expired | 19 May 2012 | 1 June 2012 | ||
| Al-Khor | Signed byQatar U-23[5] | 21 May 2012 | 21 June 2012 | ||
| Al-Wakrah | Resigned[7] | 23 May 2012 | 23 May 2012 | ||
| Umm Salal | Contract expired | 20 June 2012 | 27 June 2012 | ||
| Qatar SC | Contract expired | 8 July 2012 | 9 July 2012 | ||
| Al Kharaitiyat | Contract expired | 20 July 2012 | 23 July 2012 | ||
| Al-Arabi | Sacked[11] | 30 September 2012 | 11 October 2012 | ||
| Lekhwiya | Resigned | 8 October 2012 | 8 October 2012 | ||
| Al-Sailiya | Sacked | 8 October 2012 | 8 October 2012 | ||
| Al-Gharafa | Sacked | 27 November 2012 | 27 November 2012 | ||
| Al-Arabi | Sacked[16] | 6 December 2012 | 6 December 2012 | ||
| Al-Gharafa | Temp mandate over | 20 December 2012 | 20 December 2012 | ||
| Al-Sailiya | Resigned[18] | 31 January 2013 | 31 January 2013 | ||
| Al-Gharafa | Resigned[19] | 21 February 2013 | 21 February 2013 |
At the end of the season it was announced that the 2013–14 season would feature 14 teams. The decision to increase the numbers of teams meansAl-Sailiya – who finished bottom of the league – would avoid relegation. Meanwhile,Muaither – who lost toAl-Arabi in the play-offs – would join as the 14th team.
The Second Division and the reserve league would also merge to create a stronger second tier.[20]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Sadd(C) | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 47 | 23 | +24 | 51 | 2014 AFC Champions League Group stage |
| 2 | Lekhwiya | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 42 | 22 | +20 | 46 | 2014 AFC Champions League Qualifying play-off |
| 3 | El Jaish | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 25 | 23 | +2 | 40 | |
| 4 | Al-Rayyan | 22 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 49 | 37 | +12 | 37 | 2014 AFC Champions League Group stage |
| 5 | Umm Salal | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 31 | |
| 6 | Al-Gharafa | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 28 | −2 | 30 | |
| 7 | Al-Khor | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 26 | 24 | +2 | 29 | |
| 8 | Qatar SC | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 34 | −3 | 26 | |
| 9 | Al-Wakrah | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 27 | 31 | −4 | 26 | |
| 10 | Al Kharaitiyat | 22 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 21 | 27 | −6 | 20 | |
| 11 | Al-Arabi | 22 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 25 | 40 | −15 | 17 | Promotion/relegation playoff |
| 12 | Al-Sailiya(R) | 22 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 29 | 52 | −23 | 13 | Relegation |
| Home \ Away | ARA | GHA | KHA | KHO | RAY | SAD | SAI | WAK | JAI | LEK | QSC | UMM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Arabi | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | ||
| Al-Gharafa | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | ||
| Al Kharaitiyat | 4–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | ||
| Al-Khor | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | |||
| Al-Rayyan | 0–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | ||
| Al Sadd | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | |||
| Al-Sailiya | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–7 | 1–4 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | ||
| Al-Wakrah | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 2–0 | ||
| El Jaish | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | ||
| Lekhwiya | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | ||
| Qatar SC | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | |
| Umm Salal | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–5 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |