This article is about the Saudi football club. For the Egyptian football club, seeAl Ahly FC. For other uses, seeAl-Ahly (disambiguation).
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Al-Ahli Saudi Football Club (Arabic:النادي الأهلي السعودي,romanized: an-nādī al-ʿahlī as-saʿūdī,lit. 'Saudi National Club'), commonly known asAl-Ahli, is a Saudi professionalfootball club based inJeddah. It competes in the Saudi Pro League, the top tier ofSaudi football. Al-Ahli has won 52[2][3][4][5] official championships, the third most of any club in Saudi Arabia.
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 areAl-Hilal,Al-Ittihad, andAl-Nassr.[7] 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 atKing Abdullah Sports City, also known as the shining jewel Stadium. The stadium, which is shared with long-lasting cityrivals Al-Ittihad, is the second-largest stadium in Saudi Arabia, with a total capacity of approximately63,000.
Al-Ahli achieved the first shield for the Saudi League in 1968
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 in1984 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.
Al-Ahli won 7 Saudi League titles, five of them being consecutive leagues titles without a single defeat, 4King Cup and OneCrown Prince Cup establishing itself as the strongest club across Saudi Arabia. These titles were later officially recognized,[4] contributing to Al-Ahli's current record of nine league titles.
In 1987, during Al-Ahli 50th anniversary,Diego Maradona made an appearance for Al-Ahli.[8] 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 KingAbdullah 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".
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 coachChristian Gross. Al-Ahli earned the league title two rounds before the end, after a 3–1 victory against rivalsAl-Hilal at theKing Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. Syrian strikerOmar Al Somah scored two goals.
Al-Ahli captured theKing Cup, defeatingAl-Nassr 2–1 in the final, with Al Somah once again scoring. Later that year, Al-Ahli completed the treble by winning theSaudi Super Cup, held in London atCraven Cottage (the home stadium of Fulham FC), after defeating Al-Hilal on penalties following a 1–1 draw.
On 3 May 2025, Al-Ahli were crowned champions of the2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite after defeating Japanese sideKawasaki Frontale in thefinal with a score of 2–0. The match was held atKing Abdullah Sport City inJeddah.Galeno scored the first goal at 35th minute with an out of the box shot to the top right corner, andFranck Kessie scored the second with a header at 42nd minute, the two goals were assisted byRoberto Firmino This marked Al-Ahli's first title in the AFC Champions League.[12]
In 1989, Al-Ahli hosted theBrazil national team in a friendly match at thePrince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah. Brazil won the match 3–1, with goals scored byBebeto (two goals) and Washington, while Al-Ahli's only goal was scored by Al-Mualla.[13]
The Brazilian national team also conducted official training sessions at Al-Ahli's facilities during their stay for the inauguralKing Fahd Cup, which later evolved into theFIFA Confederations Cup.[14]
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.[15]
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 the2012 AFC Champions League he scored the 2nd goal at the 84th minute in the semi finals 2nd leg derby against the home town rivalsAl-Ittihad.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.