The First Division League (FDL;[1] Arabic: دوري الدرجة الأولى), known as Yelo league for sponsorship reasons,[2] is the second tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia. The First Division League is ranked below the Saudi Professional League and above the Saudi Second Division in the Saudi Arabian football league system. All of the FDL clubs qualify for the King Cup, the annual Saudi Cup competition. Al-Qadsiah are the most recent champions, winning their fourth titles during the 2023–24 season.
Organising body | Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) |
---|---|
Founded | 1976 |
Country | Saudi Arabia |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 18 |
Level on pyramid | 2 |
Promotion to | Pro League |
Relegation to | Second Division |
Domestic cup(s) | King Cup |
Current champions | Al-Qadsiah (4th titles) (2023–24 season) |
Most championships | Hajer Al-Wehda Al-Qadsiah (4 titles each) |
Top goalscorer | Ousmane Barry (108 goals) |
TV partners | AlRiyadiyah |
Current: 2023–24 First Division |
The number of clubs in the league has changed throughout history, most recently in the 2018–19 season, when the number of clubs increased from 16 to 20. Since the 2019–20 season, three clubs from the First Division are directly promoted to the Pro League; on the other hand, four clubs are directly relegated to the Second Division.[3]
Hajer, Al-Wehda and Al-Qadsiah hold the record number of championships in the league with four. While Ohod holds the record for number of promotions from the First Division to the Pro League, nine.[4]
Promotion and relegation edit
The top three teams are promoted to the Professional League directly, while the bottom three teams are relegated to the Second Division.
List of teams (2022–23 season) edit
For details on the MS League 2022–23 season, see here.
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
League rules edit
Since the 2018–19 season the number of foreign players in the league was increased from 3 to 7.[19] Seven substitutes are permitted to be selected, from which three can be used in the duration of the game.
Club performances edit
Promotions by season edit
- Note
- 1First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82.
Performance by club edit
Club | Winners | Winning years |
---|---|---|
Hajer | 4
|
1988, 1998, 2011, 2014 |
Al-Wehda | 4
|
1983, 1996, 2003, 2018 |
Al-Qadsiah | 4
|
2002, 2009, 2015, 2024 |
Al-Nahda | 3
|
1977, 1991, 1993 |
Al-Tai | 3
|
1985, 1995, 2001 |
Ohod | 3
|
1981, 1984, 2004 |
Al-Riyadh | 2
|
1978, 1989 |
Al-Najma | 2
|
1990, 1994 |
Al-Ansar | 2
|
1986, 2000 |
Al-Raed | 2
|
1992, 2008 |
Al-Hazem | 2
|
2005, 2021 |
Al-Khaleej | 2
|
2006, 2022 |
Al-Shabab | 1
|
1979 |
Al-Jabalain | 1
|
1980 |
Al-Kawkab | 1
|
1987 |
Al-Taawoun | 1
|
1997 |
Sdoos | 1
|
1999 |
Al-Watani | 1
|
2007 |
Al-Faisaly | 1
|
2010 |
Al-Shoulla | 1
|
2012 |
Al-Orobah | 1
|
2013 |
Al-Ettifaq | 1
|
2016 |
Al-Fayha | 1
|
2017 |
Abha | 1
|
2019 |
Al-Batin | 1
|
2020 |
Al-Ahli | 1
|
2023 |
Top scorers edit
Nat. | Top Scorers | Club | Season | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ablaye Mbengue | Al-Arabi | 2022–2023 | 29 | |
Carolus Andria | Ohod Club | 2021–2022 | 25 | |
Ibrahim Diomandé | Ohod Club | 2020–2021 | 24 | |
Ousmane Barry | Al-Bukiryah FC | 2019–2020 | 27 | |
Carolus Andria | Al-Adalah | 2018–2019 | 22 | |
Mashari Al-Enezi | Al-Tai | 2017–2018 | 21 | |
Abdulfattah Adam | Al Jeel | 2016–2017 | 20 | |
Abdulfattah Adam | Al Jeel | 2015–2016 | 20 | |
Mousa Madkhali | Al-Wehda | 2014–2015 | 20 | |
Hamad Al-Juhaim | Al-Ta'ee | 2013–2014 | 20 | |
Mousa Madkhali | Hetten | 2012–2013 | 22 | |
Younes Alaiwi | Al-Batin | 2011–2012 | 21 | |
Hussain Al-Turki | Khaleej | 2010–2011 | 20 | |
Hussain Al-Turki | Khaleej | 2009–2010 | 16 | |
|
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi Mohammad Alhelo |
Al-Qadsiah Sdoos |
2008–2009 | 15[20] |
Khalid Al Rejaib | Hajer | 2007–2008 | 9 | |
Al Hasan Al-Yami | Najran | 2006–2007 | 20 | |
Mubarak Al Khaleefah | Khaleej | 2005–2006 | 18 | |
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2004–2005 | 19 | |
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2003–2004 | 15 | |
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2002–2003 | 16 | |
Mohammed Manga | Sdoos | 2001–2002 | 12[21] | |
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2000–2001 | 14 | |
Mohammed Harshan | Najran | 1999–2000 | 11 | |
Mubarak Al Khaleefah | Al-Rawdhah | 1998–1999 | 13[22] | |
1997–1998 | ||||
Mousa Sahab | Al-Taawoun | 1996–1997 | ||
Obeid Al-Dosari | Al-Wehda | 1995–1996 | ||
Yehey Jako | Al-Ta'ee | 1994–1995 | 11[23] | |
Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1993–1994 | 15 | |
Hamzah Idris | Ohod | 1992–93 | 10 | |
|
Sulaiman Al Hadaithi Mohamed Al Khalifa Nasser Al-Qahtani |
Al-Najma Hajer Al-Rawdhah |
1991–1992 | 11 |
Ahmed Al-Zaaq | Al-Taawoun | 1990–1991 | 11 | |
|
Khalid Al-Mansour Hamzah Idris |
Al-Arabi Ohod |
1989–1990 | 11 |
Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1988–1989 | 14 | |
|
Khalid Al-Mansour Fahd Al-Hamdan |
Al-Arabi Al-Riyadh |
1987–1988 | 11 |
Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1986–1987 | 16 | |
Abdullah Al Saab | Al-Fayha | 1985–1986 | 8[24] | |
Walid Sharqi | Al-Ansar | 1984–1985 | ||
Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed | Damac | 1983–1984 | 11 | |
Shaye Al-Nafisah | Al-Kawkab | 1982–1983 | 12 | |
1981–1982 1First Division and Premier League were merged |
||||
Abdullah Al-Mansour | Al-Taawoun | 1980–1981 | 9 | |
Daran Al Daran | Al-Jabalain | 1979–1980 | 16[25] | |
1978–1979 | ||||
1977–1978 | ||||
1976–1977 |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Official SAFF site in English(also known as Saudi League 1st Division)
- ^ Official SAFF site in English
- ^ تنفيذاً لقرار مجلس ادارة الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم بزيادة عدد الأندية في الموسم المقبل: (in Arabic). SAFF. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ^ "سجل الفائزين". Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- ^ "Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium".
- ^ "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
- ^ "Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium".
- ^ "ALMajma'a City Stadium".
- ^ "Alhazm Club Stadium".
- ^ "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "al shoulla stadium".
- ^ "ملعب نادي الخليج - AlKhaleej Club Stadium".
- ^ "Prince Fahad bin Salman Stadium".
- ^ "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
- ^ "أمير الحدود الشمالية يفتتح مدينة الأمير عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز بن مساعد الرياضية الأربعاء القادم".
- ^ "نادي هجر النموذجي".
- ^ "www.slstat.com/spl2015-2016en/stadium.php?id=24". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium".
- ^ "10 ملايين و7 أجانب في دوري الأمير محمد بن سلمان". 24 February 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ alriyadh 12 May 2009 issue 14932 (in Arabic)
- ^ Al Jazirah 30 Mar 2002 issue 10775 (in Arabic)
- ^ Al Jazirah 5 Mar 1999 issue 9654 (in Arabic)
- ^ Al Jazirah 2 Apr 1995 issue 8211 (in Arabic)
- ^ Al Jazirah 7 Mar 1986 issue 4908 (in Arabic)
- ^ Al Jazirah 7 April 1980 issue 2819 (in Arabic)