Al-Riyadh SC

This article is about the football club in Saudi Arabia. For the football club in Iraq, see Al-Riyadh SC (Iraq).
For other uses, see Riyadh (disambiguation).

Al-Riyadh
Full nameAl-Riyadh Saudi Club[1]
Founded1953; 72 years ago (1953) (as Ahli Al-Riyadh)
GroundPrince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium
Capacity15,000[2]
ManagerSabri Lamouchi
LeagueSaudi Pro League
2023–24Pro League, 14th of 18
Websiteriyadhclub.sa
Current season
Al-Riyadh active departments

Football
(men's)
Football
(women's)

Al-Riyadh SC (Arabic: نادي الرياض السعودي, romanized: nādī nādī al-Riyāḍ as-saʿūdī, lit. 'Saudi Riyadh Club') is a professional football club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It currently plays in the Saudi Pro League (the first tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia). It was established in 1953 as Ahli Al-Riyadh, then changed its name to Al-Yamamah and finally to Al-Riyadh. Best known for its football team, Al-Riyadh also have squads in other sports.

Al-Riyadh have won one major title: the Crown Prince Cup in 1994.[3] The team also finished as runners-up in the Saudi Premier League in 1994;[4] they have never won the top league.

Al-Riyadh was promoted to the Saudi Pro League in 2023.[3]

History

Early history

The club was founded in 1953 under the name "Ahli Al-Riyadh", before changing to "Al-Yamama" and then to "Al-Riyadh."[5] It is currently based in west Riyadh.[6] They reached the final of the Kings Cup in 1962 and 1978, but triumphed on neither occasion.[7]

Golden era

Al-Riyadh was promoted to the Saudi Premier League at the end of the 1988/89 season after winning the Saudi First Division League.[8]

In the early 1990s, under the leadership of the Brazilian coach Zumario and players such as Khalid Al-Qarouni, Talal Al-Jabreen, Yasser Al-Taafi and Fahd Al-Hamdan, Al-Riyadh won the Crown Prince Cup in 1994.[4] They were unable to retain the Cup in 1995, losing in the final to Al-Hilal.[9] However, they did win the 1995 Federation Cup[7] and reached the semi-final of the 1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.[10] In 1998, Al-Riyadh once again reached the finals of the Crown Prince Cup, and lost to Al-Ahli.[11]

Al-Riyadh were relegated at the end of the 2004/5 season.[12]

Return to the top flight

Al-Riyadh finished fourth in the Saudi First Division League in the 2022/23 season.[13] Normally, a fourth-place finish would not be good enough for promotion, but the Saudi Premier League was expanding from 16 teams to 18, offering an additional promotion spot.[3]

Honours

Domestic

Continental

Current squad

As of 31 January 2025

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

Other players under contract

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

Out on loan

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

Management staff

Position Name
Manager France Sabri Lamouchi
Assistant manager France José Rodrigues
Germany Michael Hefele
Saudi Arabia Amr Ibrahim Al-Shamouti
Goalkeeper coach Saudi Arabia Saleh Mohammed Bakr Hawsawi
Rehab coach Saudi Arabia Nawaf Al-Qahtani
Fitness coach Saudi Arabia Fahad Al-Zaqaan
Strength and conditioning coach India Prandeep Bordoloi
Youth coach Saudi Arabia Saad Al-Jaithen
Development coach Saudi Arabia Bader Al-Koroni
Head of medical Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Al-Khaibari
Doctor Saudi Arabia Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi
Sporting director Saudi Arabia Saleh Al-Kubaishan

Managerial history

  • Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Koroni (11 January 2010 – 12 April 2010)
  • Saudi Arabia Fahd Al-Hamdan (caretaker) (12 April 2010 – 1 May 2010)
  • Romania Marian Bondrea (1 July 2010 – 19 February 2011)
  • Tunisia Mohamed Aldo (19 February 2011 – 30 May 2011)
  • Tunisia Djamel Belkacem (26 July 2011 – 30 May 2012)
  • Egypt Ayman El Yamani (3 July 2012 – 12 December 2012)
  • Tunisia Habib Ben Romdhane (12 December 2012 – 1 May 2014)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina Amir Alagić (17 June 2014 – 15 September 2014)
  • Tunisia Lotfi Kadri (16 September 2014 – 15 December 2014)
  • Tunisia Zouhair Louati (15 December 2014 – 28 July 2015)
  • Brazil Leandro Simpson (7 August 2015 – 18 December 2015)
  • Tunisia Abderrazek Chebbi (18 December 2015 – 30 April 2016)
  • Saudi Arabia Sultan Khamees (23 June 2016 – 18 November 2016)
  • Saudi Arabia Hani Anwar (18 November 2016 – 30 May 2017)
  • Tunisia Adel Latrach (13 July 2017 – 26 November 2017)
  • Saudi Arabia Yousef Khamees (26 November 2017 – 14 February 2018)
  • Saudi Arabia Bandar Al-Jaithen (14 February 2018 – 1 April 2018)
  • Egypt Amro Anwar (15 August 2018 – 2 December 2018)
  • Saudi Arabia Bandar Al-Jaithen (2 December 2018 – 27 January 2019)
  • Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Koroni (27 January 2019 – 15 October 2019)
  • Saudi Arabia Saad Al-Subaie (15 October 2019 – 25 January 2020)
  • Tunisia Yousri bin Kahla (25 January 2020 – 7 February 2021)
  • Tunisia Anis Chaieb (10 February 2021 – 1 June 2021)
  • Tunisia Moncef Mcharek (24 June 2021 – 1 May 2022)
  • Serbia Dejan Arsov (3 May 2022 – 8 September 2022)
  • Croatia Teo Pirija (caretaker) (8 September 2022 – 18 September 2022)
  • Croatia Damir Burić (18 September 2022 – 1 June 2023)
  • Belgium Yannick Ferrera (6 June 2023 – 20 September 2023)
  • Saudi Arabia Bandar Al-Kubaishan (caretaker) (20 September 2023 – 8 October 2023)
  • Brazil Odair Hellmann (8 October 2023 – 1 June 2024)
  • France Sabri Lamouchi (12 July 2024 – )

International competitions

Overview

As of 1 July 2023
Competition Pld W D L GF GA
Arab Cup Winners' Cup 15 7 2 6 21 18
Arab Super Cup 2 0 2 0 1 1
Asian Cup Winners' Cup 4 3 0 1 7 2
TOTAL 21 10 4 7 29 21

Record by country

Country Pld W D L GF GA GD Win%
 Algeria 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 050.00
 Bahrain 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00
 Egypt 2 0 1 1 3 4 −1 000.00
 Jordan 2 1 0 1 1 1 +0 050.00
 Kuwait 2 1 0 1 2 2 +0 050.00
 Lebanon 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 100.00
 Qatar 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 000.00
 Saudi Arabia 1 0 1 0 0 0 +0 000.00
 Sudan 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 100.00
 Syria 2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 050.00
 Tunisia 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 000.00
 United Arab Emirates 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00
 Yemen 1 1 0 0 5 3 +2 100.00
TOTAL 21 10 4 7 29 21 +8 047.62

Matches

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1995 Arab Cup Winners' Cup Group B Egypt Al-Ahly 2–2 2nd
Tunisia Club Africain 0–1
United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr 2–0
Syria Al-Ittihad Aleppo 2–0
SF Tunisia ES Sahel 0–2 0–2
Asian Cup Winners' Cup 2R Lebanon Homenmen 3–0 2−0 5–0
QF Kuwait Kazma 2–1 0−1 2–2[A]
SF Iraq Al-Talaba – Withdrew
1996 Arab Super Cup Final Tunisia ES Tunis 1–1 2nd
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0–0
Arab Cup Winners' Cup Group A Bahrain Al-Muharraq 2–0 1st
Jordan Al-Wehdat 1–0
Algeria Olympique Médéa 1–1
SF Jordan Al-Faisaly 0–1 0–1
1999 Arab Cup Winners' Cup QR Sudan Al-Merrikh 2–1 2nd
Egypt Al-Masry 1–2
Yemen Al-Ittihad Ibb 5–3
Group B Syria Al-Jaish 1–2 3rd
Qatar Al-Gharafa 1–3
Algeria MC Oran 1–0

Key: QR – Qualifying round; 1R/2R – First/Second round; R16 – Round of 16; QF – Quarter-final; SF – Semi-final;

Notes
  • ^
    Al-Riyadh advanced after Kazma withdrew.

    • See also

    References

    1. ^ "Al Riyadh Saudi Club". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
    2. ^ "Goalzz.com: live sports scores and news". www.goalzz.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
    3. ^ a b c Hankinson, Andrew (18 August 2023). "Behind the scenes of the Saudi Pro League: What really awaits stars like Neymar". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    4. ^ a b Novello, Alberto. "Saudi Arabia 1993/94". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    5. ^ "مكافأة فوزنا على النصر بخمسة.. طاسة لبن من "أم حسين"!!". Al-Riyadh. 11 July 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    6. ^ "مكافأة فوزنا على النصر بخمسة.. طاسة لبن من "أم حسين"!!". alriyadh.com. 2 June 2006. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
    7. ^ a b "Saudi Arabia - List of Cup Winners". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    8. ^ "Saudi Arabia 1988/89". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    9. ^ Bobrowsky, Josef (4 May 2001). "Saudi Arabia 1994/95". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    10. ^ "Asian Club Competitions 1995/96". RSSSF. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    11. ^ Qayed, Mohammad (12 December 2002). "Saudi Arabia 1997/98". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    12. ^ Qayed, Mohammed (6 December 2006). "Saudi Arabia 2004/05". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    13. ^ Stokkermans, Karel. "Saudi Arabia 2022/23". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
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