Al-Nassr FC
Full name | Al-Nassr Saudi Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) |
Al A'alamy (The Global) Fursan Najd (Knights of Najd) | ||
Founded | 24 October 1955[1] | ||
Ground | King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh | ||
Capacity | 62,685[2] | ||
Chairman | Faisal bin Turki bin Nasser | ||
Manager | Ricardo Gomes | ||
League | Professional League | ||
2016-17 | Professional League, 3rd | ||
Website | Club website | ||
| |||
Al-Nassr Saudi Club (Arabic نادي النصر السعودي Victory) is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955 the club plays its home games at King Fahd Stadium and Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. Its home colours are yellow and blue.
Al-Nassr is one of the most popular clubs in Saudi Arabia, with a combined total of 42 national, regional and friendly championships to its name. [3]
The club have won 8 Premier League titles, 8 Riyadh Region League titles, 2 GCC Champions League titles, 3 Saudi Crown Prince Cup, 6 Saudi King's Cups, and holds the impressive feat of pulling a historic Asian double in 1998, by claiming both the Asian Cup Winners' Cup and Asian Super Cup,[3] This achievement landed Al-Nassr a spot in the first FIFA Club World Cup where it won the Fair Play award, thus, making Al-Nassr the first club from Asia to play on an international level, as well as becoming the first team in the world to win such an award.[4] This in turn, gave the club its famous nickname: "The International".[5]
History
Beginnings and triumphs (1955–1989)
Al-Nassr was established in 1955 by the brothers Husein and Zeid Al-Ja'ba in their house on Al-Ataif Street in Riyadh. Training took place in an old playground at Gashlat Al-Shortah west of Al-Fotah Garden where there was a small football field and a small room to store balls and shirts. In addition to Al-Ja'ba Brothers, Ali and Issa Al-Owais were among the first workers at the club.
The club operated as an amateur club until 1960 when it was registered officially with the General Presidency of Youth Welfare. It was at this time that Prince Abdulrahman Bin Saud became head of Al-Nassr. Al-Nassr started in the second division of the league. They were promoted to the first division in 1963. During the 1970s and 1980s, the club won sixteen Saudi Premier League titles, six King's Cups, three Crown Prince Cups and three Federation Cup. The team's success was built around the "Saudi Golden Trio" of Majed Abdullah, Fahd Al-Herafy and Mohaisn Al-Jam'aan.
90's era (1989–2002)
In the 1990s, Al-Nassr won two further Saudi Premier League titles, a King's Cup and a Federation Cup. They also had success in several international tournaments, winning two GCC Champions Leagues, one Asian Cup Winners' Cup and one Asian Super Cup. The club represented the AFC region in the first FIFA Club World Cup in Brazil in 2000. In the competition Al-Nassr played against Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, Real Madrid and Raja Casablanca, and finished 3rd in the group. Al-Nassr won the competition's Fair Play award.
Setbacks (2003–2007)
After the Golden Trio's retirement, Al-Nassr went into some major setbacks. In 2006–07, the club only avoided relegation on the last day of the season, which prompted honorary members of the club to begin an effective long-term plan, to revolutionize management and team members.
Return of The Global (2008–present)
After a major overhaul of playing staff, Al-Nassr went on to win the Federation Cup 2008 against city rivals, Al Hilal. The club finished third in 2009–10 securing Asian Champions League football for the following season. In 2011–12, Al-Nassr saw itself on the King Cup's final, only to finish as a runners-up, and in 2012–13, Al-Nassr continued its steady steps into returning to the Saudi giant it once was, where it reached the Crown Prince Cup final, only to lose to Al-Hilal on penalties.
In 2013–14, Al-Nassr finally achieved its long-term goal of returning to crowning stages, by earning an impressive double against city rivals Al-Hilal on both league and Crown Prince cups. The team subsequently qualified for the 2015 AFC Champions League following the astonishing accomplishment.
In the 2014–15 season, Al-Nassr continued defending the title as holding champion, by winning the league, and reaching the King's Cup final, as well as qualifying for the Crown Prince's semi-final. The identity of a returning champion still persists within club halls.
Name, Logo and Colors
Al-Nassr is the Arabic word for "victory". Clubs with the same name are found in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE and Libya but the Saudi Arabian club was the first to take the name.
The club's logo represents the map of Arabia with yellow and blue colors. Yellow for the gorgeous sand of the Arabian deserts, and blue for the magnificent water in the Arabian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea surrounding the Arabian Peninsula. Recently the old logo has been replaced by a "more modern version", but still is heavily influenced by the old club logo. The new logo only represents the football team while the old logo represents the club as a whole.
Sponsorship
Since the start of the 2013/2014 season, Al-Nassr lacked any sponsors. Yet, still managed to pull through with a double, by winning the Crown Prince's cup, as well as finishing first in the SPL. In the 2014/2015 season, Al-Nassr managed to land on multiple sponsors, including electronic manufacturer UGINE, and telecom giants Mobily for a developing partnership that spans for almost 5 years, beginning with a small advert on the team's jerseys, all for an undisclosed fee nearing $32,000,000 dollars a year.[6][7]
Kit providers
- 2007/08 until 2009/10: Lotto
- 2010/11 until 2011/12 : Nike
- Since 2012/13: Al-Nassr FC official store.
- 2017/18: New Balance
Current Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Personnel
Current technical Staff
Position | Name |
---|---|
Head Coach | Ricardo Gomes |
Assistant Coach | Patrick Colleter |
Assistant Coach | Luiz Ferreira |
Fitness Coach | Rodrigo Poletto |
Goalkeeping Coach | Abdul Ghani Fahmi |
Club Doctor | Samir Fathi |
Physiotherapist | Azeim Deeb |
Masseur | Alexander Vlad |
Translator | Khaled Baker |
Under-21 Team Coach | Salih Al-Mutlaq |
Under-19 Team Coach | Vacant |
Under-17 Team Coach | Vacant |
Coach Shoots | Vacant |
Management
Current board of directors and administrators
Office | Name |
---|---|
President | Faisal bin Turki bin Nasser |
Vice President | Abdullah Aomrani |
Member of the board of directors, General Supervisor of Football Administration | Al-Waleed Bin Bader |
Member of the Board, Investment Officer | Bader Al-Harbi |
Member of the Board, Director of Football Administration | Mohammed Al-Suwailem |
Member of the Board, Director of Football | Salem Al-Othman |
Member of the Board, Secretary-General | Ali Hamdan |
Assistant Secretary-General | Abdulrahman Saad Al-Ghamdi |
Member of the Board, Director of the Media Center | Ali Hamdan |
Member of the Board, Deputy Director of the Media Centre | Talal Al-Naggar |
Member of the Board, Treasurer | Mansour Al-Shalhoub |
Public Relations Officer | Mohammed Al-Khering |
Professionals Office Manager | Jaafar Al-Subaie |
Club Accountant | Hassan al-Hazmi |
Secretary of the club | Badawi ElDesoki |
Former coaches
- Ahmed Al-Joker (1960–62)
- Ahmied Abdullah (1962–65)
- Lamaat Qatna (1966–67)
- Abdulmajid Tarnah (1967–69)
- Hassan Sultan (1969–70)
- Zaki Osman (1971)
- Mimi Abdulmajid (1972)
- Hassan Khairi (1973–74)
- Mahmoud Abu Rojeila (1975)
- Vivas (1976)
- Ljubiša Broćić (1976–79)
- Chico Formiga (1980–81)
- Mário Zagallo (1981)
- Francisco Sarno (1983)
- José Chira (1983)
- Carpergiani (1983–84)
- Robert Herbin (1985–86)
- Billy Bingham (1987–88)
- Joel Santana (1988–89)
- Yousef Khamis (1989)
- Claudio Deorati (1990)
- Nasser Al-Johar (1990–91)
- Dragoslav Šekularac (1992)
- Qadies (1992–93)
- Nasser Al-Johar (1993)
- Majed Abdullah (1993)
- Jean Fernandez (1993–94)
- Henri Michel (1995)
- Yousef Khamis (1995)
- Jean Fernandez (1995–96)
- Ilie Balaci (1996–97)
- Dimitar Penev (1997)
- Dušan Uhrin (1997–98)
- Jean Fernandez (1998)
- Dutra (1998–99)
- Procópio Cardoso (1999)
- Milan Živadinović (2000)
- Yousef Khamis (2000)
- Artur Jorge (2000–01)
- Héctor Núñez (2001)
- Salih Al-Mutlaq (2001)
- Jorge Habegger (2001–02)
- Julio Asad (2002–03)
- Ljubiša Tumbaković (2003)
- Mircea Rednic (2004)
- Mohsen Saleh (2004)
- Dimitar Dimitrov (2004–05)
- Mariano Barreto (2005–06)
- Khalid Al-Koroni (2006)
- Yousef Khamis (2006)
- Artur Jorge (2006)
- Jorge Habegger (2006–07)
- Ednaldo Patrício (2007)
- Foeke Booy (2007)
- Julio Asad (2007)
- Rodion Gačanin (2008)
- Edgardo Bauza (2009)
- Jorge da Silva (2009–10)
- Walter Zenga (2010)
- Dragan Skočić (2011)
- Gustavo Costas (2011)
- Ali Kmeikh (2011)
- Francisco Maturana (2011–12)
- José Daniel Carreño (2012–14)
- Raúl Caneda (2014)
- Jorge da Silva (2014–15)
- René Higuita (interim) (2015)
- Fabio Cannavaro (2016)
- René Higuita (interim) (2016)
- Raúl Caneda (2016)
- Zoran Mamić (2016–17)
Presidential history
No | Name | From | To |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mr. Zeid Al-Ja'ba | 1955 | 1956 |
2 | Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Ahmed | 1956 | 1960 |
3 | Mr. Mohammed Asaad Al-Wehaibi | 1960 | 1960 |
4 | Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Al-Odaini | 1960 | 1960 |
5 | Prince Abdulrahman Bin Saud | 1960 | 1969 |
6 | Prince Sultan Bin Saud | 1969 | 1975 |
7 | Prince Abdulrahman Bin Saud | 1975 | 1997 |
8 | Prince Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Saud | 1997 | 2000 |
9 | Prince Abdulrahman Bin Saud | 2000 | 2005 |
10 | Prince Mamdoh Bin Abdulrahman Bin Saud | 2005 | 2006 |
11 | Prince Faisal Bin Abdulrahman Bin Saud | 2006 | 2009 |
12 | Prince Faisal Bin Turki Bin Nasser | 2009 | – |
Honours
Al-Nassr have won a combined total of 42 national, regional and friendly tournaments,[4] with many domestic and international records.[8] The club is recognized by FIFA as the first Asian club to play on an international level, as well as the first club in the world to win the FIFA Fair Play Award in the FIFA Club World Cup.[9][10] On a continental level, Al-Nassr appeared on 4 Asian finals, with two victories, and two times as runners-up.[11][12][13]
National titles
- Saudi Premier League Official[14]
- Riyadh Region league
- Winners (8): 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
- Kings Cup Official
- Saudi Crown Prince Cup Official
- Saudi Federation cup Official
- Saudi Super Cup Official
- Saudi Second league Cup
- Winners (1): 1963
International titles
- Asian Cup Winners Cup Official
- Asian Super Cup Official
- Winners (1): 1998
- AFC Champions League Official
- Runners-up (1): 1995
- GCC Champions League Official
Friendly
- Palestine Martyrs Tournament Cup
- Winners (1): 1969
- Eastern Region Tournament
- Winners (2): 1971, 1972
- Prince Turki bin Nassir International Tournament
- Winners (2): 1987, 1989
- Damascus International Championship
- Winners (1): 2004
- Bani Yas International Tournament
- Al-Wehda International Cup
- Winners (1): 2012
International awards
- 2000
Records and Statistics
International records
Internationally, Al-Nassr boasts many appearances, both in the Arab world and on the international scale. In 1996 and 1997, Al-Nassr won the GCC Champions League twice in a row, and ran for runners-up in 2008. Al-Nassr appeared in Syria's international tournament, the Damascus International Championship in 2004, and won. Al-Nassr also had successful appearances in Emirati international tournaments, such the Bani Yas International Tournament, winning it two times in 2011 and 2013, as well as winning Al-Wehda International Cup in 2012. Other UAFA participations include a single appearance in the Arab Cup Winners' Cup in the year 2000, as well as the Arab Super Cup in 2001. The club reached finals on both occasions, only to finish course as runners-up, with the two cups going defunct ever since.
2000 FIFA Club World Cup
Winning the Asian Super Cup in 1998 allowed Al-Nassr to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup. In doing so, they became the first team to officially represent Asia in an international tournament, which was held in Brazil from 5 January till 14 January, in the year 2000. The nickname "The International Club" was obtained following their respective participation in the Club World Cup. Al-Nassr won the FIFA Fair play award following the end of the Club World Cup, and were the first team in the world to win such an award.[10]
Al-Nassr were drawn in Group A along with Corinthians (tournament champion), Real Madrid and Raja Casablanca.
Al-Nassr results
2000-01-05 18:45 |
Real Madrid | 3–1 | Al Nassr |
---|---|---|
Anelka 21' Raúl 62' Sávio 69' (pen.) |
(Report) | Al Husseini 45' (pen.) |
2000-01-07 21:15 |
Raja Casablanca | 3–4 | Al Nassr |
---|---|---|
Nejjary 13' El Moubarki 81' El Karkouri 87' |
(Report) | Amin 3' Bahja 48' Al-Husseini 50' Saïb 87' |
Group A final standings
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Corinthians | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 7 |
Real Madrid | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 7 |
Al-Nassr | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 3 |
Raja Casablanca | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | −4 | 0 |
Participating squad
Number | Player | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | |||||
1 | Madhi Al Dosari | ||||
22 | Mohammed Al-Khojali | ||||
9 | Mohamed Shareefy | ||||
Defenders | |||||
2 | Nasser Al Halawi | ||||
5 | Smahi Triki | ||||
4 | Saleh Aboshahin | ||||
12 | Hamad Al Khathran | ||||
16 | Abdulaziz Al-Janoubi | ||||
20 | Mohsin Harthi | ||||
21 | Hadi Sharify | ||||
23 | Ibrahim Al Shokia | ||||
Midfielders | |||||
3 | Faisal Al Dosari | ||||
6 | Ibrahim Al-Harbi | ||||
8 | Fahd Al-Herafy | ||||
10 | Fuad Amin | ||||
14 | Nassip Al Ghamdi | ||||
17 | Mansour Al-Mousa | ||||
18 | Abdullah Al Karni | ||||
Forwards | |||||
7 | Fahad Al-Mehallel | ||||
11 | Mohaisn Al-Jam'aan | ||||
13 | Ahmed Bahja | ||||
15 | Nahar Al Dhaferi | ||||
19 | Moussa Saïb | ||||
Manager | |||||
Milan Živadinović |
References
- ↑ "Club History". Al Nassr FC. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ↑ "King Fahad International Stadium". Saudi Pro League Statistics. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- 1 2 "Al Nassr FC Trophies". Al Nassr FC. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- 1 2 "Al Nassr FC Trophies". Al Nassr Football Club. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ↑ "Classic Club: Al Nasr, the Saudi Vanguard". FIFA. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ↑ Rayan, Abu. "Coverage of Mobily partnership". Nassr Official Media Center. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ↑ Al Otaibi, Bandar. "Al-Nassr and Mobily Sign a 5-Year Partnership". Al Riyadh Newspaper. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ↑ Abdulaziz, Al Sharif. ".". Sabq Media Group. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- 1 2 "FIFA Club World Cup 2000". FIFA. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- 1 2 Pierrend, José. "FIFA Awards". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ↑ Halchuk, Stephen. "Asian Champions' Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ↑ Halchuk, Stephen. "Asian Cup Winners' Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ↑ Halchuk, Stephen. "Asian Super Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
- ↑ "Al Nasr". fifa.com. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Al-Nassr. |
- Official website (in English)
- fifa.com
- The Saudi Professional League
- Saudi Arabia Football Federation
- Al-Nassr FC Official English Website
- Saudi Arabian football federation
- fifa.com