Al Rayyan SC

Al-Rayyan

Full name	Al Rayyan Sports Club ( Arabic : نادي الريان الرياضي )
Nickname(s)	The Lions & Al-Raheeb (The Fierce)
Founded	1967 (1967)
Ground	Ahmed bin Ali Stadium Al-Rayyan, Qatar
Ground Capacity	25,000
Chairman	Sheik Saoud Bin Khalid Al Thani
Manager	Manuel Jiménez
League	Qatar Stars League
2013–14	Qatar Stars League
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Al Rayyan's active sections
'Football'	Basketball	Handball
Volleyball	Futsal	Athletics

Al Rayyan Sports Club (Arabic: نادي الريان الرياضي‎) is a Qatari professional sports club fielding teams in a number of sports such as football, futsal, basketball, volleyball, handball, athletics, table tennis and swimming. It is based at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Omm Alafai in the city of Al-Rayyan. The club was founded in 1967 after merging the old Rayyan team with Nusoor Club. The official team colours are red and black. The team is nicknamed is 'The Lions' and also 'Al-Raheeb' which means the The Fierce.

They have won numerous titles in all sports, including two Asian championships in basketball, the Arab championship in handball, futsal domestic titles, table tennis and volleyball, as well as the GCC basketball championship. Both the basketball and handball teams have qualified for the world championships. However, the football team gets the most attention from the club officials as well as the media and the fans. ^[1][2]

History

1967–1973: Founding

Al Rayyan's history goes back to the mid-sixties when it was known as Old Al Rayyan. Old Al Rayyan, though an amateur football team, competed in matches arranged throughout the whole country, not being limited to the city in which it was based – a circumstance which was relatable to other sports club during the 1960s. Their headquarters was based in a two-bedroom house and they played their matches on a football field in a school based in the New Rayyan area. The club relied on donations from the fans during this period.

They applied to be a member club of the Qatar Football Association, but were rejected with the QFA proposing that they merge with Al Nusoor, a local sports club also based in Al Rayyan. In 1967, after an announcement by the Al Rayyan Sports Committee that Old Al Rayyan would merge with Al Nusoor, Al Rayyan SC was officially founded. A new headquarters was established to accommodate increased size demands as a result of the merger. The first head coach of Al Rayyan was Ashour Salem, a Sudanese national, who, besides working as a local physical education coach, trained the first team and youth team. In the early years, the club branched out to other sports, notably basketball and handball. As a result of donations from the club supporters, Al Rayyan was able to establish their home grounds in Doha Stadium, the largest stadium in Qatar at the time.^[3]

1973–1988: Early history

The club had success in the Qatar Stars League within the first decade of its formation, with the club participating in their first official season in 1972–73. In the 1974–75, after a mass brawl between the fans and players of Al Rayyan and Al Sadd, the QFA relegated Al Rayyan, who were in 2nd place at the time, to the second division. They won back promotion the following season and achieved their first league title 1976. In the 1977 season, the QFA annulled the results of Al Rayyan due to actions which took place in a match against Al Arabi. The perpetrator, who was an Al Arabi player by the name of Yassin Mustafa, was banned permanently from all league matches whereas the two clubs were warned.^{[4] note 1} They went on to win their second title in 1978. Al Rayyan continued to dominate league along with Al Arabi and Al Sadd during the late seventies and eighties.

In 1983, under the leadership of Sheikh Nasser bin Ahmed, a new club headquarters and home stadium were constructed. They won the league with a negative goal difference in 1983–84, making them one of the only 6 teams in the world and the only Qatari team in history to achieve this feat.^[5]

1988–2000: Relegation and return to glory

In the 1987–88 season, much to the surprise of critics and fans, they got relegated for the first time in league history.^[6] The relegation was preceded by a 0–1 loss to Al Sadd, as Hassan Jowhar scored a header goal which would prove to be the final nail in the coffin of Al Rayyan.^[4] They won back promotion to the premier league in their first season in the second division.

They would go on to win the league in 1990, the same season they were promoted back to the first division, beating out rivals Al Sadd. They won an additional league title in 1995.

2000–2013: League title drought

They inaugurated their home ground, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, in 2003 during the reign of Sheikh Mishaal Al Thani. The first match held on the grounds was the 2003 Emir Cup finals.

The club has not experienced much league success as of late, with the last successful league campaign being in 1994–95; however they finished 3rd in the 2010–11 season under Paulo Autuori. Nonetheless, they faced great success in the Emir's Cup and Heir Apparent Cup winning 8 cups in total in 14 years.

Supporters

Al Raheeb is the most supported club in the whole country.^[2] They constantly draw the largest attendance rates in the Qatar Stars League.^[7] They are supported throughout the entire Gulf region, as well as other parts of the world due to their high-profile signings.^[2]

The club has a mascot, a lion called "Al Muheeb". The concept of the mascot was designed and developed in the USA by a well known animations studio. It is notable for being one of the candidates for the official mascot of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.^[8]

A fan club was established on 4/10/2006 in an inaugural ceremony which included players from all sections of the clubs sports activities, a number of supporters, and the board of directors. It did not have a significant role in club activities until Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Thani took presidency of the fan club in 2008, a season which saw Al Rayyan boost its attendance numbers by a significant margin. Members of the club receive emails, texts, and notifications of the clubs upcoming games.

The fan club won the QFA-sanctioned award of Best fans in the 2008/09 season, and shared the award with Al Sadd in the 2012/13 season.^[9]

Honours

• Qatari League

Winners (7): 1975-76, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1994–95

• Qatar Crown Prince Cup

Winners (4): 1995, 1996, 2001, 2012

• Emir of Qatar Cup

Winners (6): 1999, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013

• Sheikh Jassem Cup

Winners (4): 1992, 2000, 2012, 2013

Stadium

Ahmed bin Ali Stadium (Al-Rayyan Stadium)

Al-Rayyan Stadium
Full name	Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
Location	Umm Al-Afai, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Capacity	44,740 (football)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	2003
Opened	2003

Ahmed bin Ali Stadium (Arabic: ملعب أحمد بن علي‎), popularly known as the Al-Rayyan Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar which serves as the home stadium for Al Rayyan's football section. It will be used as a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Stadium history

• New Rayyan School (1967–196?)
• Doha Stadium (196?–1983)
• Nasser bin Ahmed Stadium (1983–2003)
• Ahmed bin Ali Stadium (2003–present)

Current squad

First team

Last update: 22 June 2014. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Saud Al Hajiri 2 DF Mohammed Alaaeldin 3 MF Lucho González 4 MF Hamad Al Abedy 5 DF Nathan Otávio 6 DF Abdullah Alawi 7 FW Ahmed Alaaeldin 8 MF Abdurahman Al-Korbi 9 FW Marko Dević (on loan from Rubin Kazan) 10 MF Rodrigo Tabata 11 DF Abdulkarim Al-Ali 12 DF Hamid Ismail 14 DF Muaz Yousef Adam 15 DF Saleh Al-Zewaidi

No. Position Player 17 MF Kim Kyung-jung 18 MF Sayaf Al-Korbi 19 MF Abdulmajid Enad 20 FW Jaralla Al-Marri 22 GK Mohammed Jasser 24 DF Musa Haroon 26 DF Abdulhameed Enad 27 FW Riyadh Nasser 28 DF Taher Zakaria 29 DF Younes Yaghoub 30 GK Omar Bari 32 MF Mohammed Mahjob 77 MF Babou Sidiki Barro 95 DF Abdulla Medhat

For recent squad changes see: List of Qatari football transfers winter 2011–12 and List of Qatari football transfers summer 2012.

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player 44 FW Sultan Al Kuwari (at Villarreal B) 8 MF Abdulla Afifa (at Al-Sailiya SC) 16 FW Mohamed Salah El Neel (at Al-Sailiya SC) 14 FW Nasser Kaabi (at Al-Shahania Sports Club) 17 MF Saoud Naimi (at Al-Mesaimeer Sports Club) 21 MF Abdul Ghafoor Murad (at Al-Mesaimeer Sports Club)

Current technical staff

First team

Position	Staff
Head coach	Manuel Jiménez
Fitness Coach	Ramon Orellan Gonzalez
Assistant Coach	David Jiménez
Assistant Coach	Jesus Calderon Malagon
GoalKeeper Coach	Welesley Antônio "Neneca"
Translator	Alexandre Koliadis
Video Analyst	Yuri O. de Souza
Sports Director	Ali Salem Afifa
Team Manager	Mathker Al Shafi
Team Manager	Omar Saleh Al Azani
Media Officer	Salem Al Eida

Notable players

This list includes players whom have made significant contributions to their national team and to the club. At least 90 caps for the club or 100 caps for their national team is needed to be considered for inclusion.

Local players Mansour Muftah – 324 caps Younes Ali – 118 caps Mohammed Al Enazi – 92 caps Waleed Jassem – 99 caps Adel Lami – 91 caps Ali Rahma Al Marri – 121 caps Abdulrahman Mesbeh – 204 caps Salman Mesbeh – 187 caps

Foreign players Frank de Boer – 112 caps for Netherlands Bashar Abdullah – 133 caps for Kuwait Ahmed Mubarak – 101 caps for Oman Amad Al-Hosni – 100 caps for Oman Jasem Al Huwaidi – 100 caps for Kuwait Hassan Mudhafar – 111 caps for Oman Jamal Mubarak – 108 caps for Kuwait

Managerial history

Old Al Rayyan

• Jamal Zakout (19??–67)¹

Al Rayyan

Present and past managers of Al-Rayyan from 1967 (incomplete):

Salem Ashour (1967–??), (1973–??)1 Saleh Youssef (ca. 1976)2 Powell (1976–??)3 Abdul Moneim Al Haj (1981–83) Vavá (1984–85) Wayne Jones (1985) Colin Dobson (1985–87) Vavá (ca. 1989) Alan Dicks (1989–90) Abdul Moneim Al Haj (1990) René Simões (July 1, 1990–91) Luis Alberto (1991–92) René Simões (1992–June 30, 1993) Cabralzinho (1993–94) Jørgen E. Larsen (July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1995) Evaristo de Macedo (1995)[10] Benny Johansen (July 1, 1995–96) Eid Mubarak (1996–97) Antoni Piechniczek (1997) Zdzisław Podedworny (1997–98) Allan Jones (1998)[11] Eid Mubarak (1998)

Roald Poulsen (1998–99) Jørgen E. Larsen (July 1, 1999 – June 30, 2000) Dutra (2000) Paulo Campos (2000) Santos (2000–01) Paulo Henrique (2001–02) Amarildo (2002)[12] Jean Castaneda (2002–04) Bosse Nilsson (2004) Jørgen E. Larsen (July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005) Ron van den Berg (2005) Luis Fernández (June 26, 2005–Nov 15, 2005) Hassan Hormatallah (Nov 2005–05) Ladislas Lozano (2005–06) Rabah Madjer (2006–June 30, 2006) Pierre Lechantre (2006–07) Paulo Autuori (May 2, 2007 – May 17, 2009) Marcos Paquetá (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010) Paulo Autuori (Nov 21, 2009–June 30, 2011) Diego Aguirre (Sept 6, 2011–Nov 3, 2013) Manuel Jiménez (Nov 4, 2013–)

Administrative managers

• Ashraf Mehdi (1984–85)
• Saad Abu El Dahab (1985–)^[13]

Notes

• 1. Non-professional coach; worked as local physical education teacher.
• 2. First professional coach.
• 3. First non-Arab coach.

Presidential history

Source:^[14]

No.	President	No.	President
1967–1968	Engineer Hamad Abdullah Al Marri	1983–1985	HE Sheikh Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani
1968–1973	Majid Abdullah Aman	1985–1989	HE Mohammed bin Hammam
1973–1974	HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Faisal Al Thani	1989–1993	HE Sheikh Saud bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani
1974–1975	Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Darwish Al-Fakhro	1993–2004	HE Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
1975–1983	HE Mohammed bin Hammam	2004–2008	HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al Thani
		2008–2014	HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani

Management

Position	Staff
President	Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Al-Thani
Vice-president	Ali Mohammed Al-Naimi
Secretary general	Ali Salem Afifa
Assistant secretary	Sheikh Khalid bin Hassan Al-Thani
Treasurer	Mohammad Ali Hobash
Communication director	Ali Atiq Al-Abdullah
Board member	Husayn ibn Said
Board member	Sheikh Khalid bin Hassan Al-Thani

Statistics

• Seasons in First Division: 39 (relegated twice, in 1974–75 and 1987–88)
• Seasons in AFC Champions League: 3
• Seasons in Asian Club Championship: 3
• Seasons in AFC Cup: 1

• Note 1: Al-Ittihad withdrew from semifinals; Rayyan replaced them.

Al Rayyan in Asia

Competition	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
AFC Champions League	28	6	5	19	23	45
Total	28	6	5	19	23	45

• Q = Qualification
• GS = Group stage
• R16 = Round of 16
• QF = Quarter-final
• SF = Semi-final

AFC Champions League

Round Country Club Home Away 2005 GS PAS 1–2 1–2 GS Al Salmiya 2–1 0–2 GS Al-Shorta 2–0 0–0 2007 GS Al-Wahda 0–1 0–3 GS Al-Zawraa 0–0 1–3 GS Al-Arabi 1–2 1–1 2011 GS Al-Shabab 1–1 0–1 GS Emirates 2–0 0–2 GS Zob Ahan 0–1 1–3

Round Country Club Home Away 2012 GS Esteghlal 0–1 0–3 GS Al-Jazira 3–4 2–3 GS Nasaf Qarshi 3–1 0–1 2013 GS Esteghlal 3–3 0–3 GS Al-Hilal 0–2 1–3 GS Al-Ain 2–1 1–2

Other sports

Basketball

Futsal

Handball

Volleyball

Performance in AFC competitions

• AFC Champions League: 5 appearances

2005: Group stage

2007: Group stage

2011: Group stage

2012: Group stage

2013: Group stage

• AFC Cup: 1 appearance

2010: 2nd Place

References

External links

• Official website (Arabic)
• Rayyani TV on Youtube

Al Rayyan SC The club Stadium Honors Football team First team Reserve team Managers Footballers Other sports Basketball Handball Futsal Volleyball Rivalries Al Arabi Al Sadd

Qatari 2nd Division 2014–15 Al Ahli Reserves Al Arabi Reserves Al Gharafa Reserves Al Kharaitiyat Reserves Al Khor Reserves Al-Markhiya Mesaimeer Al Rayyan Al Sadd Reserves Al Sailiya Reserves Al-Shahania Reserves Al-Shamal Al Wakrah Reserves El Jaish Reserves Lekhwiya Reserves Muaither Qatar SC Reserves Umm Salal Reserves