Al-Riyadh SC (Arabic: نادي الرياض السعودي, romanizednādī 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
Full nameAl-Riyadh Saudi Club[1]
Founded1953; 71 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 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

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Early history

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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

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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

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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

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Domestic

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Continental

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Current squad

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As of 21 August 2023:

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   SCO Vincent Angelini
2 DF   KSA Yazeed Al-Bakr
3 DF   KSA Abdulrahman Al-Hajeri
5 DF   FRA Yoann Barbet
7 MF   KSA Mohammed Al-Aqel
8 DF   KSA Abdulelah Al-Khaibari
10 MF   KSA Nawaf Al-Abed
11 MF   IRQ Ibrahim Bayesh
13 FW   BFA Mohamed Konaté
14 DF   KSA Ziyad Al-Sahafi
15 FW   KSA Nasser Al-Bishi
16 MF   KSA Akram Yousif U19
17 MF   COM Faïz Selemani
18 MF   KSA Mohamed Al Aqeel
20 MF   POR Tozé
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF   BRA Lucas Kal
24 FW   KSA Rayan Al-Bloushi
25 DF   KSA Suwailem Al-Menhali
27 DF   KSA Hussain Al-Nowaiqi
28 MF   KSA Bader Al-Mutairi
29 DF   KSA Ahmed Assiri
35 MF   KSA Turki Al-Mergaa U19
40 GK   KSA Abdulrahman Al-Shammari
43 MF   GHA Bernard Mensah
50 MF   KSA Nawaf Hawsawi
66 MF   KSA Majed Al-Qahtani U19
82 GK   CAN Milan Borjan
87 DF   KSA Marzouq Tambakti
88 MF   KSA Yahya Al-Shehri

Other players under contract

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
26 MF   KSA Ali Al-Zaqaan
45 GK   KSA Fahad Hashim
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   CHI Enzo Roco

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   KSA Abdulaziz Al-Awairdhi (on loan to Al Qadsiah)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   KSA Mohammed Suhluli (on loan to Al-Jabalain)

Management staff

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Position Name
Manager   Sabri Lamouchi
Assistant Manager   José Rodrigues
  Michael Hefele
Goalkeeper Coach   Abdulrahman Hadl Al Shammari
Rehab Coach   Nawaf Al-Qahtani
Fitness Coach   Fahad Al-Zaqaan
Youth Coach   Saad Al-Jaithen
Development Coach   Bader Al-Koroni
Head of Medical   Ibrahim Al-Khaibari
Doctor   Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi
Sporting Director   Saleh Al-Kubaishan

Managerial history

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International competitions

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Overview

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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

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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

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Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1995 Arab Cup Winners' Cup Group B   Al-Ahly 2–2 2nd
  Club Africain 0–1
  Al-Nasr 2–0
  Al-Ittihad Aleppo 2–0
SF   ES Sahel 0–2 0–2
Asian Cup Winners' Cup 2R   Homenmen 3–0 2−0 5–0
QF   Kazma 2–1 0−1 2–2[A]
SF   Al-Talaba Withdrew
1996 Arab Super Cup Final   ES Tunis 1–1 2nd
  Al-Hilal 0–0
Arab Cup Winners' Cup Group A   Al-Muharraq 2–0 1st
  Al-Wehdat 1–0
  Olympique Médéa 1–1
SF   Al-Faisaly 0–1 0–1
1999 Arab Cup Winners' Cup QR   Al-Merrikh 2–1 2nd
  Al-Masry 1–2
  Al-Ittihad Ibb 5–3
Group B   Al-Jaish 1–2 3rd
  Al-Gharafa 1–3
  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

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    References

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    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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      NODES
    INTERN 2
    Note 5