Saudi First Division League

The First Division League (FDL[1] for short), also called the 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-Ahli are the most recent champions, winning their first title during the 2022–23 season.

First Division League
Organising bodySaudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF)
Founded1976 (1976)
CountrySaudi Arabia
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toPro League
Relegation toSecond Division
Domestic cup(s)King Cup
Current championsAl-Ahli (1st title)
(2022–23 season)
Most championshipsHajer
Al-Wehda
(4 titles each)
TV partnersAlRiyadiyah
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 and Al-Wehda 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

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)

For details on the MS League 2022–23 season, see here.

Locations of teams in the 2022–23 First Division League
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Al-Adalah Al-Hasa (Al-Hulaylah) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Fateh Club Stadium		 26,000[5]
7,000
Al-Bukayriyah Al Bukayriyah Al-Bukayriyah Club Stadium 3,000[6]
Al-Diriyah Diriyah Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium (Riyadh) 15,000[7]
Al-Fayha Al Majma'ah Al Majma'ah Sports City 7,000[8]
Al-Hazem Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium 8,000[9]
Al-Jabalain Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000[10]
Al-Jeel Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Al-Fateh Club Stadium		 26,000
7,000
Al-Kawkab Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200[11]
Al-Khaleej Saihat Al-Khaleej Club Stadium 10,000[12]
Al-Nahda Dammam Prince Fahd bin Salman Stadium 15,000[13]
Al-Nojoom Al-Hasa (Al-Shuqaiq) Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium 26,000
Al-Sahel Anak Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar) 15,000[14]
Al-Shoulla Al-Kharj Al-Shoulla Club Stadium 5,200
Al-Tai Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000
Al-Thoqbah Khobar Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium 15,000
Arar Arar Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musa'ed Sport City Stadium 5,650[15]
Hajer Al-Hasa (Hofuf) Hajer Club Stadium
Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium		 12,000[16]
26,000
Jeddah Jeddah Reserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City 1,000[17]
Najran Najran Najran Sport City Stadium 18,000
Ohod Medina Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 24,000[18]

League rules

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

Promotions by season
Al-Najma vs Al-Riyadh in 2010–11 Saudi First Division
Season Winners Runners-up
1976–77 Al-Nahda Al-Ettifaq
1977–78 Al-Riyadh Al-Tai
1978–79 Al-Shabab Ohod
1979–80 Al-Jabalain Al-Riyadh
1980–81 Ohod Al-Rawdhah
1981–82 Not held1
1982–83 Al-Wehda Al-Riyadh
1983–84 Ohod Al-Jabalain
1984–85 Al-Tai Al-Kawkab
1985–86 Al-Ansar Al-Raed
1986–87 Al-Kawkab Ohod
1987–88 Hajer Al-Rawdhah
1988–89 Al-Riyadh Al-Raed
1989–90 Al-Najma Al-Arabi
1990–91 Al-Nahda Ohod
Season Winners Runners-up
1991–92 Al-Raed Al-Najma
1992–93 Al-Nahda Ohod
1993–94 Al-Najma Al-Rawdhah
1994–95 Al-Tai Al-Taawoun
1995–96 Al-Wehda Al-Ansar
1996–97 Al-Taawoun Al-Shoulla
1997–98 Hajer Al-Ansar
1998–99 Sdoos Al-Raed
1999–2000 Al-Ansar Al-Qadsiah
2000–01 Al-Tai Al-Shoulla
2001–02 Al-Qadsiah Al-Raed
2002–03 Al-Wehda Al-Khaleej
2003–04 Ohod Al-Ansar
2004–05 Al-Hazem Abha
2005–06 Al-Khaleej Al-Faisaly
Season Winners Runners-up
2006–07 Al-Watani Najran
2007–08 Al-Raed Abha
2008–09 Al-Qadsiah Al Fateh
2009–10 Al-Faisaly Al-Taawoun
2010–11 Hajer Al-Ansar
2011–12 Al-Shoulla Al-Wehda
2012–13 Al-Orobah Al-Nahda
2013–14 Hajer Al-Khaleej
2014–15 Al-Qadsiah Al-Wehda
2015–16 Al-Ettifaq Al-Batin
2016–17 Al-Fayha Ohod
2017–18 Al-Wehda Al-Hazem
2018–19 Abha Damac
2019–20 Al-Batin Al-Qadsiah
2020–21 Al-Hazem Al-Fayha
Season Winners Runners-up
2021–22 Al-Khaleej Al-Adalah
2022–23 Al-Ahli Al-Hazem
Note
1First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82.

Performance by club
Club Winners Winning years
Hajer
4
 1988, 1998, 2011, 2014
Al-Wehda
4
 1983, 1996, 2003, 2018
Al-Nahda
3
 1977, 1991, 1993
Al-Tai
3
 1985, 1995, 2001
Ohod
3
 1981, 1984, 2004
Al-Qadsiah
3
 2002, 2009, 2015
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
Nat. Top Scorers Club Season Goals
Senegal Ablaye Mbengue Al-Arabi 2022–2023 29
Madagascar Carolus Andria Ohod Club 2021–2022 25
Ivory Coast Ibrahim Diomandé Ohod Club 2020–2021 24
Guinea Ousmane Barry Al-Bukiryah FC 2019–2020 27
Madagascar Carolus Andria Al-Adalah 2018–2019 22
Saudi Arabia Mashari Al-Enezi Al-Tai 2017–2018 21
Saudi Arabia Abdulfattah Adam Al Jeel 2016–2017 20
Saudi Arabia Abdulfattah Adam Al Jeel 2015–2016 20
Saudi Arabia Mousa Madkhali Al-Wehda 2014–2015 20
Saudi Arabia Hamad Al-Juhaim Al-Ta'ee 2013–2014 20
Saudi Arabia Mousa Madkhali Hetten 2012–2013 22
Saudi Arabia Younes Alaiwi Al-Batin 2011–2012 21
Saudi Arabia Hussain Al-Turki Khaleej 2010–2011 20
Saudi Arabia Hussain Al-Turki Khaleej 2009–2010 16
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia		 Mohammad Al-Sahlawi
Mohammad Alhelo		 Al-Qadsiah
Sdoos		 2008–2009 15[20]
Saudi Arabia Khalid Al Rejaib Hajer 2007–2008 9
Saudi Arabia Al Hasan Al-Yami Najran 2006–2007 20
Saudi Arabia Mubarak Al Khaleefah Khaleej 2005–2006 18
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abuarad Abha 2004–2005 19
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abuarad Abha 2003–2004 15
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abuarad Abha 2002–2003 16
Senegal Mohammed Manga Sdoos 2001–2002 12[21]
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Abuarad Abha 2000–2001 14
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Harshan Najran 1999–2000 11
Saudi Arabia Mubarak Al Khaleefah Al-Rawdhah 1998–1999 13[22]
1997–1998
Saudi Arabia Mousa Sahab Al-Taawoun 1996–1997
Saudi Arabia Obeid Al-Dosari Al-Wehda 1995–1996
Senegal Yehey Jako Al-Ta'ee 1994–1995 11[23]
Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 1993–1994 15
Saudi Arabia Hamzah Idris Ohod 1992–93 10
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia		 Sulaiman Al Hadaithi
Mohamed Al Khalifa
Nasser Al-Qahtani		 Al-Najma
Hajer
Al-Rawdhah		 1991–1992 11
Saudi Arabia Ahmed Al-Zaaq Al-Taawoun 1990–1991 11
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia		 Khalid Al-Mansour
Hamzah Idris		 Al-Arabi
Ohod		 1989–1990 11
Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 1988–1989 14
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia		 Khalid Al-Mansour
Fahd Al-Hamdan		 Al-Arabi
Al-Riyadh		 1987–1988 11
Saudi Arabia Khalid Al-Mansour Al-Arabi 1986–1987 16
Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al Saab Al-Fayha 1985–1986 8[24]
Saudi Arabia Walid Sharqi Al-Ansar 1984–1985
Saudi Arabia Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed Damac 1983–1984 11
Saudi Arabia Shaye Al-Nafisah Al-Kawkab 1982–1983 12
1981–1982

1First Division and Premier League were merged
Saudi Arabia Abdullah Al-Mansour Al-Taawoun 1980–1981 9
Saudi Arabia Daran Al Daran Al-Jabalain 1979–1980 16[25]
1978–1979
1977–1978
1976–1977

See also

References
  1. Official SAFF site in English（also known as Saudi League 1st Division）
  2. Official SAFF site in English
  3. تنفيذاً لقرار مجلس ادارة الاتحاد السعودي لكرة القدم بزيادة عدد الأندية في الموسم المقبل: (in Arabic). SAFF. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  4. "سجل الفائزين". Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  5. "Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium".
  6. "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
  7. "Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium".
  8. "ALMajma`a City Stadium".
  9. "Alhazm Club Stadium".
  10. "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  11. "al shoulla stadium".
  12. "ملعب نادي الخليج - AlKhaleej Club Stadium".
  13. "Prince Fahad bin Salman Stadium".
  14. "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
  15. "أمير الحدود الشمالية يفتتح مدينة الأمير عبدالله بن عبدالعزيز بن مساعد الرياضية الأربعاء القادم".
  16. "نادي هجر النموذجي".
  17. "www.slstat.com/spl2015-2016en/stadium.php?id=24". slstat.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  18. "Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium".
  19. "10 ملايين و7 أجانب في دوري الأمير محمد بن سلمان". 24 February 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  20. alriyadh 12 May 2009 issue 14932 (in Arabic)
  21. Al Jazirah 30 Mar 2002 issue 10775 (in Arabic)
  22. Al Jazirah 5 Mar 1999 issue 9654 (in Arabic)
  23. Al Jazirah 2 Apr 1995 issue 8211 (in Arabic)
  24. Al Jazirah 7 Mar 1986 issue 4908 (in Arabic)
  25. Al Jazirah 7 April 1980 issue 2819 (in Arabic)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saudi First Division.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.