Al-Fotuwa SC

Al-Fotuwa SC

Full name	Al-Fotuwa Sports Club
Nickname(s)	The Blue Knight (Arabic: الفارس الأزرق) Azzurri Deir ez-Zor
Founded	1930; 95 years ago (1930) as Ghazi Club
Ground	Deir ez-Zor Municipal Stadium
Capacity	13,000
Chairman	Madloul Al-Aziz
Manager	Ammar Shamali
League	Syrian Premier League
2023–24	1st (Champions)
Home colours Away colours

Al-Fotuwa Sports Club (Arabic: نادي الفتوة الرياضي) is a Syrian professional football club based in the city of Deir ez-Zor that competes in the Syrian Premier League, the top flight of Syrian football. Nicknamed "the Blue Knight" (Arabic: الفارس الأزرق) or Azzurri Deir ez-Zor, Al-Fotuwa have won three Premier League titles and four Cup titles. It was founded in 1930 in Deir ez-Zor.^{[citation needed]}

Al-Fotuwa was founded in 1930 as Ghazi Club and in 1950 was renamed as Al-Fotuwa Sports Club.^[1] Al-Fotuwa Club dominated the 1980s at the level of the Syrian Premier League and is a record holder by reaching the final match of the Syrian Cup nine times in a row, winning four of them. They achieved a double, by winning the league and cup titles, twice in 1990 and 1991. In addition, the club won the title of the Syrian-Lebanese Super Cup, which was held only once.

In the 2022–23 season, they won their third title after 32 years and also qualified to their debut 2023–24 AFC Cup.^[2] On 2 October 2023, Al-Fotuwa recorded their first ever win in the AFC Cup in a 1–0 win against Lebanon side, Al Ahed.^[3] In the 2023–24 season, Al-Fotuwa achieved their third domestic double in history.^[4]

Deir ez-Zor Municipal Stadium is located in Arifi area of Deir ez-Zor, Syria.^[5] The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate 13,000 spectators.

Since its foundation, the traditional colour of Fotuwa's home kit is yellow with various designs over the years.^{[citation needed]}

This club is supported by fans from Deir ez-Zor Governorate, and it is considered one of the four largest fans in Syria.^[6] The main rival of the club is Al-Jihad SC from Al-Qamishli.^[7]

• Syrian Premier League: 4
  • Champion: 1990, 1991, 2022–23, 2023–24
• Syrian Cup: 5
  • Champion: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2024
• Syrian-Lebanese Super Cup: 1
  • Champion: 1991

• Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance

1988–89: Group stage

• AFC Cup: 1 appearance

2023–24: Group stage

• AFC Challenge League: 1 appearance

2024–25: Group stage

As of 1 November 2024

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1988–89	Asian Club Championship	Qualifying Group	Al-Rasheed	0–3		3rd place
			Al-Sadd	1–4
			Al-Ansar	1–0
2023–24	AFC Cup	Group stage	Jabal Al-Mukaber	–[a]	0–1[a]	3rd place
			Al Ahed	1–0	1–2
			Al-Nahda	0–1	1–2
2024–25	AFC Challenge League	Group stage	Al-Seeb	0–5		3rd place
			Hilal Al-Quds	0–0
			Al-Ahli Club	1–1

• Arab Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance

1989: Group Stage

Accurate as of 12 June 2022

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1989	Arab Cup Winners' Cup	Group	Al-Ittihad Jeddah	0–5		4th place
			Stade Tunisien	0–4
			Al-Rasheed	0–7

As 11 June 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

• Anouar Abdul Kader (2008–2013)
• Osama Al Ghabad (2013–2015)^[8]
• Anouar Abdul Kader (2015–2017)
• Mohamed Aqil (2021–2023)
• Ammar Shamali (2023)
• Ayman Hakeem (2023–2024)
• Ammar Shamali (2024–present)

• Syrian league – Etisalat news^{[permanent dead link‍]}