More than ever, eyes will be fixated towards the Saudi Pro League tonight as a fresh chapter of football starts to unfold with the kickoff of the new season. Seasoned veterans have emigrated en masse to the league this summer, giving the division some true star power. For both die-hard fans and the many newcomers to the league, the coming months promise exhilarating matches and thrilling football. Dive into our essential guide, and equip yourself with everything you need to know about the teams, players, and storylines that will shape the league this season.
Why did so many players flock to Saudi Arabia this summer?
In June 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) took control of four of the country’s most successful football teams (Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr) as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 programme. Saudi Vision 2030 aims to achieve increased economic, social, and cultural diversification and veer away from its primary export of oil. As a result, the petroleum, cash-strapped Saudi government have poured billions into expanding their economy and this has included the sports world, most notably boxing and football.
Subsequently, these four teams have essentially had carte blanche. They have been able to sign players that were previously unattainable. Yet, these types of players remain unobtainable to the other 14 teams in the league that don’t have government sponsorship.
Following in Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly, amongst others, have all made the move to Saudi Arabia and attracted far more fans for the Saudi Pro League.
As a result, eyes are drawn to tonight’s commencing fixture between Al-Ahli and Al-Hazm. It is undoubtedly going to be the most exciting season to date.
Which teams make up the Saudi Pro League?
Al-Ittihad: 📍Jeddah
Star Player: Karim Benzema – Striker
Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo
Position Last Season: 1st
Fun Fact: Al-Ittihad has the highest average attendance in the league, at well over 42,000 fans per match.
Al-Nassr:📍Riyadh
Star Player: Cristiano Ronaldo – Striker
Manager: Luis Castro
Position Last Season: 2nd
Fun Fact: ‘Nassr’ in Arabic means ‘victory’ which makes sense as Al-Nassr are one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia
Al-Hilal:📍Riyadh
Star Player: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Midfielder
Manager: Jorge Jesus
Position Last Season: 3rd
Fun Fact: Al-Hilal are the most decorated club in the whole of Asia, with 66 official trophies
Al-Shabab:📍Riyadh
Star Player: Ever Banega – Midfielder
Manager: Marcel Keizer
Position Last Season: 4th
Fun Fact: Al-Shabab was the first football club in Riyadh
Al-Taawoun:📍Buraidah
Star Player: Léandre Tawamba – Striker
Manager: Péricles Chamusca
Position Last Season: 5th
Fun Fact: Their nickname is Al Dhiaab (The Wolves)
Al Fateh:📍Al-Mubarraz
Star Player: Mourad Batna – Striker
Manager: Slaven Bilic
Position Last Season: 6th
Fun Fact: They have won the league once before, in 2012/13
Al-Ettifaq:📍Dammam
Star Player: Jordan Henderson – Midfielder
Manager: Steven Gerrard
Position Last Season: 7th
Fun Fact: Al-Ettifaq were the first Saudi team to win the Pro League without losing a single match
Damac:📍Khamis Mushait
Star Player: Adam Maher – Midfielder
Manager: Cosmin Contra
Position Last Season: 8th
Fun Fact: They are named after the nearby Jabal Damac mountain
Al-Ta’ee:📍Ha’il
Star Player: Collins Fai – Right-Back
Manager: Krešimir Režić
Position Last Season: 9th
Fun Fact: They play their home games at Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa’ed Stadium, sharing the stadium with city rivals Al-Jabalain, with whom they contest the Ha’il derby.
Al-Raed:📍Buraidah
Star Player: Júlio Tavares – Striker
Manager: Igor Jovićević
Position Last Season: 10th
Fun Fact: In 1986 it was the first team from the Qassim region to enter the Saudi Premier League
Al Feiha:📍Al Majma’ah
Star Player: Sultan Mandash – Winger
Manager: Vuk Rašović
Position Last Season: 11th
Fun Fact: Al Fayha is one of the oldest clubs in the country and the oldest club in Al Majma’ah.
Abha:📍Abha
Star Player: Grzegorz Krychowiak – Midfielder
Manager: Czesław Michniewicz
Position Last Season: 12th
Fun Fact: They share their stadium with rivals Damac
Al-Wehda:📍Mecca
Star Player: Óscar Duarte – Centre-Back
Manager: Giorgos Donis
Position Last Season: 13th
Fun Fact: Al-Wehda is the third oldest team in Saudi Arabia
Al-Khaleej:📍Sauhat
Star Player: Fábio Martins – Winger
Manager: Pedro Emanuel
Position Last Season: 14th
Fun Fact: The club is well known for their handball team which has played in many worldwide championships
Al-Ahli:📍Jeddah
Star Player: Riyad Mahrez – Winger
Manager: Matthias Jaissle
Position Last Season: 1st (Saudi FDL – Division Two)
Fun Fact: They have the second largest stadium in Saudi Arabia (63,000)
Al-Hazm:📍Ar Rass
Star Player: Tozé – Winger
Manager: Filipe Gouveia
Position Last Season: 2nd (Saudi FDL – Division Two)
Fun Fact: Their club name translates to ‘determination’ in English
Al-Akhdoud:📍Najran
Star Player: Alex Collado – Winger
Manager: Jorge Mendonça
Position Last Season: 3rd (Saudi FDL – Division Two)
Fun Fact: They won the Saudi Second Division in 2021
Al-Riyadh:📍Riyadh
Star Player: Martin Campaña – Goalkeeper
Manager: Yannick Ferrera
Position Last Season: 4th (Saudi FDL – Division Two)
Fun Fact: The club was founded in 1953
Records:
Most Successful Side: Al-Hilal (18 titles)
Current Champions: Al-Ittihad
Top Scorer 2022/23: Abderrazak Hamdallah – Al-Ittihad (21)
Top Assister 2022/23: Kaku – Al-Taawoun (15)
Key Dates:
5th October 2023: Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Ahli – The Jeddah Derby
30th November 2023: Al-Hilal vs. Al-Nassr – The Riyadh Derby
14th December 2023: Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Nassr – Karim Benzema vs. Cristiano Ronaldo. Two legends face off.
So now you have read the comprehensive guide of Saudi Pro League teams, who will you be rooting for in this upcoming campaign? Let us know at @365Scores on Twitter.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter
