Al-Zawra'a SC

Al-Zawra'a Sport Club (Arabic: نادي الزوراء‎) is an Iraqi football club based in Karkh, Baghdad. Al-Zawraa is considered to be one of the best Iraqi football clubs in history, as it has won 12 national titles (most recently the 2010 - 2011 season). The team was a runner-up to the Japanese club Shimizu S-Pulse in the 2000 edition of the now defunct Asian Cup Winner's Cup.

History

Before the founding of the Iraqi League in 1974, the local league competitions was based on national institutions such as the military and transport ministries. Al-Muwasalat (Transportation) and Sikak Al-Hadeed (Railways) were teams linked to the Transport Ministry and based in the same headquarters in western Baghdad.

Al-Muasalat

Al-Muwasalat (Arabic: المواصلات‎, literally: Transportation) was founded in 29/6/1969 and renamed to Al-Zawraa in 1972. The club promoted for first time to Iraqi League in the 1975-76 season, and they won the first title in the same year.

Sikak Al-Hadeed

Sikak Al-Hadeed (Arabic: سكك الحديد‎ literally: Railways) was founded in 1937. In 1974 after the formation of the Iraq League, the club were renamed Al-Naqil (Arabic: النقل‎ literally: Transport) after the Transport Ministry. The following season, the club folded and the club's players joined newly promoted and fellow Ministry of Transport team Al-Zawraa..

History Timeline

• In 1937 Sikak Al-Hadeed (Railways) was founded.
• In 1969 Al-Muwasalat (Transportation) was founded.
• In 1972 Al-Muwasalat (Transportation) renamed Al-Zawraa.
• In 1974 Sikak Al-Hadeed (Railways) renamed Al-Naqil (Transport).
• In 1975 Al-Naqil players and coaching staff join fellow Ministry of Transport club Al-Zawraa after Al-Naqil (Transport) is dissolved.
• In 1975 Al-Zawra promoted to Iraqi League for the first time and win the league and cup double in first season.

Stadium

Al Zawra Stadium (Arabic: ملعب الزوراء‎) is a multi-use stadium in Baghdad, Iraq. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Al Zawra. The stadium holds 20,000 people and was built in 1978.

Al Shaab Stadium (Arabic: ملعب الشعب‎) also known as The People's Stadium, is a multi-use stadium in Baghdad, Iraq. It is used mostly for football (soccer) matches and is the home of the Iraq national football team. The stadium has seating for 45,000 fans. It was built in 1966. The opening match featured Iraq and Benfica, for whom Eusébio was playing.

Colours

Al-Zawraa's Home colours is a white shirt with blue strips, white shorts and white socks. while the Away colours is a full blue shirt, blue Shorts and blue socks. but some times Al-Zawraa's away colours changes, for example in the 2008-09 season Al-Zawraa's away colours was a full green shirts, green shorts and green socks.

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Notable players

For a list of all Al-Zawraa players, see List of Al-Zawraa players

Special number

Number 8 is considered the most special number in Al-Zawraa, It started when Falah Hassan wore this number in the 70's, Falah Hassan was famous of his dribbling skills and nicknamed as the Iraqi Fox. In the 80's another Legend wore number 8, Ahmad Radhi who won many titles with Al-Zawraa and Iraq national team such like the first AFC player in the year, Arab player of the year 88 among other titles. In the 90's Hesham Mohammed one of the best strikers in Al-Zawraa wore number 8. In the millennium Falah Hassan's nephew Haidar Sabah is the current holder of number 8.

Al-Zawraa players who carried number 8 in the club also carried it in the National team too.

Rivalries

Al-Zawra rival team is Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.

Famous Head Coaches

• Jergis Elias
• Saadi Salih
• Anwar Jassam
• Wathiq Naji
• Falah Hassan
• Ammo Baba
• Hadi Mutnash
• Adnan Hamad
• Amer Jamil
• Sabah Abdul-Jalil
• Salih Radhi
• Radhi Shenaishil

Famous players

Honours

Local Honours

• Iraqi Premier League: (12)

1976, 1977, 1979, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2011

• Iraq FA Cup Winners: (14)

1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000

Al-Zawraa in the Iraqi League