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Al-Arabi
Al-Arabi SC Qatar logo.svg
Full name Al-Arabi Sports Club
(Arabic: النادي العربي الرياضي)
Nickname(s) Fareeg Al-Ahlam (The Dream Team)
Century Club in Qatar
Short name ARB
Founded 1 April 1952 (73 years ago) (1952-04-01)
Ground Al Thumama Stadium
Ground Capacity 44,400
President Sheikh Tamim Bin Fahad Al Thani
Head coach Pablo Amo
League Qatar Stars League
2024–25 Qatar Stars League, 9th of 12
Al Arabi's active sections
Football pictogram.svg
Football
Basketball pictogram.svg
Basketball
Handball pictogram.svg
Handball
Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg
Volleyball
Futsal pictogram.svg
Futsal
Football pictogram.svg
Reserves

Al-Arabi Sports Club (Arabic: النادي العربي الرياضي) is a famous sports club from Doha, the capital city of Qatar. It was started in 1952. The most well-known part of the club is its football team. This team plays in the top league in Qatar, called the Qatar Stars League.

Al-Arabi's home stadium is the Al Thumama Stadium. It can hold 44,400 fans. The team has played there since 2023. Al-Arabi first became very successful in 1978. They won the Emir of Qatar Cup. They then won many more titles in the 1980s and 1990s. This was their best time, winning 17 major trophies.

The club has won seven league titles in Qatar. They also won the Emir of Qatar Cup eight times. They have one Qatar Crown Prince Cup and six Qatar Sheikh Jassem Cups. In April 2023, they won their first international trophy, the Qatar X UAE Super Cup. They beat Sharjah FC in that match.

Al-Arabi's main uniform colors are red shirts and shorts with red socks. Their club badge has changed over time. The current badge shows a falcon. Fans call Al-Arabi the "Dream Team," "The Red Devils," and "Century Club." They have the biggest fan base in Qatar. A survey by the AFC showed that 41% of Qatari fans support Al-Arabi. They are the second most successful club in Qatar, after Al-Sadd.

Club History: From Early Days to Glory

How Al-Arabi Started (1952–1990)

The club began in 1952 as "Al-Tahrir." This makes them the second oldest team in Qatar. In 1957, Al-Tahrir joined with another club called Al-Wehda. They decided to use the name Al-Wehda. Back then, the club did not have much money. They could not play outside Qatar or host foreign teams.

In 1972, the club changed its name to Al-Arabi. Ahmed Ali Ahmed Al-Ansari was the first president. Al-Arabi became very popular in Qatar and other Gulf countries. Their success and famous players made them known worldwide. In 2003, the famous Argentine player Gabriel Batistuta joined. This made their popularity even bigger.

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics ranked Al-Arabi. They were 14th in the poll for the best Asian Club of the Century (1901–2000).

Founding Members

Many people helped start the club.

  • From Al-Wehda:

* Ahmed Ali Ahmed Al-Ansari * Sultan Abdullah Al-Jaber * Ahmad Yousef Saie * Mohammad Ali Ahmed Al-Ansari * Mullah Mohammed Abdulrahman * Sultan Said Ali * Faraj Said

  • From Al-Tahrir:

* Mubarak Mohammed Al Othman Al Khulaifi * Abdullah Mohammed Al Othman Al Khulaifi * Mohammed Saleh Al Hitmi * Salem Bakhit Ghurery * Khalifa Al Hitmi * Hitmi Bin Ahmed Al-Hitmi

The Golden Era (1990–2000)

The 1990s were a fantastic time for Al-Arabi. The team was known as the "Dream Team." Players like Marco Antônio and Richard Owebukeri were top scorers. Mubarak Mustafa was also a key player. Many people think he is one of Qatar's best footballers ever.

The team was very strong and won the Qatari league five times in ten years. They also did well internationally. In 1995, they were runners-up in the AFC Champions League. They won their first Heir Apparent cup in 1997.

Tough Times (2000–2011)

The new century brought a difficult period for Al-Arabi. Key players like Mubarak Mustafa left. Other local clubs also became stronger. In 2002, Al-Arabi finished 7th in the league. This was their lowest position since they started playing in the Qatar Stars League.

When Gabriel Batistuta joined in 2003, there was some hope. The team finished higher in the league. However, by the end of the 2007 season, they finished 9th. This was a new low for the club. They did not win any major trophies during this time. They also had their biggest loss ever against Al-Sadd, losing 7–0. This led to their coach, Cabralzinho, being fired.

In 2006, there was a change in leadership. Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak became the new president.

Recent Challenges (2011–Present)

Al Arabi SC Qatar headquarters in Doha in 2015
Al Arabi headquarters in 2015

The start of the 2011–12 season looked promising. Al-Arabi won their first trophy in 13 years. They beat Umm Salal SC in the final of the 2011 Sheikh Jassem Cup. But then, they had many bad results in the league. Their coach, Paulo Silas, was let go.

They also played in the 2012 AFC Champions League. They were the first team to be knocked out. During this time, the club changed coaches three times in three months. They became the first Qatari team since 2007 to lose every group stage match. Because of this, the club's football director, Mubarak Mustafa, left. The club president, Dr. Abdullah al-Mal, also retired from sports. Hitme bin Ali Al-Hitmi took over as president. The club's budget was also reduced.

Al-Arabi also missed out on qualifying for the AFC Champions League for the 2023-24 season. This was a big disappointment.

Al-Arabi Fans Club

The Al-Arabi Fans Club started on October 21, 2015. Its goal is to find new ways for fans to support the club's teams. On that day, the club gave the number 1 jersey to the fans. This showed how important the fans are to the club. Captain Masoud Zeraei gave up his jersey number for this. Al-Arabi has the largest fan base in Qatar. The fans club also helps unite supporters. The "Fans Derby" against Al-Rayyan is always a big event.

Home Stadium

The main stadium for Al-Arabi is Al Thumama Stadium. Before 2023, their home was Grand Hamad Stadium. Grand Hamad Stadium is also known as the Al-Arabi Sports Club Stadium. It can hold 13,000 people. This stadium was used for many sports during the 2006 Asian Games. The Iraq national football team and Qatar national football team also played some of their games there. In 2023, Al-Arabi moved to Al Thumama Stadium because it is much bigger, with a capacity of 44,400.

Big Rivalries

Al-Rayyan

Al-Rayyan and Al-Arabi have the most passionate fans in Qatar. Their matches are called the "Fans Derby." This derby is a big cultural event. People from all over Qatar watch the game, even if they don't support either team.

Match History (1994-2017)

Head-to-head
Competition Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference
Qatar Stars League 49 11 17 21 63 88 −25
Sheikh Jassem Cup 4 3 1 0 8 2 +6
Emir Cup 6 2 1 3 9 10 −1
Crown Prince Cup 7 1 1 5 6 16 −10
Reserve League 5 1 1 3 12 15 −3
Qatar Stars Cup 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
Total 72 18 21 33 98 133 −35

Al-Sadd

Matches between Al-Arabi and Al-Sadd are the biggest games of the season. These two teams are the most successful in Qatar. For some fans, winning this derby is even more important than winning the league. This derby is a key part of Qatar's culture.

Al-Arabi was once seen as the club for working-class people. Al-Sadd was thought to be for upper-class supporters. However, this difference between their fan bases has become less important over time.

Memorable Matches

Bold means Al-Arabi won.

Season Nuvola apps date.svg Result Competition Trophy.jpg Notes Note.svg
1981–82 0–1 Emir Cup
1985–86 1–0 Emir Cup
1992–93 2–0 Emir Cup
1995–96 0–0 Qatar Stars League Al Arabi crowned champions.
2009–10 3–3 Qatar Stars League Al Sadd came back from 3–0 down to deny Al Arabi an ACL spot.

Match History (1996-2017)

Head-to-head
Competition Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference
Qatar Stars League 49 13 12 24 54 91 −37
Sheikh Jassem Cup 6 1 0 5 8 13 −5
Emir Cup 11 3 2 6 11 17 −6
Crown Prince Cup 2 1 0 1 3 3 0
Reserve League 6 2 2 2 11 11 0
Qatar Stars Cup 4 1 2 1 8 12 −4
Total 78 21 18 39 95 147 −52

Team Sponsors and Kit Makers

Period Kit manufacture Shirt main sponsor Shirt sub sponsor
2000–2001 Thailand Grand Sport

Doha Bank

None
2001–2002 Germany Adidas None
2002–2003" None
2003–2004 Italy Erreà None
2004–2005" Thailand Grand Sport None None
2005–2006 None None
2006–2007 Germany Adidas

Doha Bank

None
2007–2008 Switzerland Burrda Sport None None
2008–2009 None None
2009–2010 QPM Salman & brother & Al Rayan Bank
2010–2011 Salman & brother
2011–2012 Germany Adidas
2012–2013 None
2013–2017 None None
2017–2018 Switzerland Burrda Sport None None
2018–2019 Germany Puma None None
2019-2021

Doha Bank

Sharq Insurance & Dreama

2021 – 2022

Sharq Insurance & Dreama & Snoonu

2022 – 2023

Snoonu

2023 – Present Germany Adidas

Doha Bank

Snoonu

Al Khaleej Takaful

Club Achievements

International Titles

  • Asian Club Championship
    • Runners-up (1): 1994–95

Regional Titles

  • Qatar–UAE Super Cup
    • Winners (1): 2023–24

Local Titles in Qatar

  • Qatar Stars League
    • Champions (7): 1982–83, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97
  • Emir of Qatar Cup
    • Champions (9): 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992–93, 2022–23
  • Qatar Crown Prince Cup
    • Champions (1): 1997
  • Qatar FA Cup
    • Champions (1) : 2021–22
  • Qatar Sheikh Jassem Cup
    • Champions (6): 1980, 1982, 1994, 2008, 2010, 2011

League Performance Over Time

Qatar Stars League

Playing in Asian Competitions

Al-Arabi has played in several competitions organized by the AFC.

  • Asian Club Championship: 5 times
    • 1987: Reached the Group stage (Top 8 teams)
    • 1993: Played in the Qualifying – 1st round
    • 1995: Finished as Runners-up
    • 1996: Reached the Group stage (Top 8 teams)
    • 1999: Played in the First Round
  • Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 2 times
    • 1990–91: Reached the Second Round
    • 1993–94: Reached the Semi-final
  • AFC Champions League Elite: 2 times
    • 2012: Played in the Group stage
    • 2023: Played in the 2nd Qualifying Round

Playing in Gulf Competitions

Al-Arabi has also competed in tournaments for clubs in the Gulf region.

  • Gulf Club Champions Cup: 11 times
    • 1983: Played in the Group stage
    • 1986: Finished as Runners-up
    • 1993: Finished 3rd
    • 1995: Finished 3rd
    • 1996: Finished 6th
    • 1998: Finished 5th
    • 1999: Finished 4th
    • 2002: Played in the Group stage
    • 2006: Played in the Group stage
    • 2011: Reached the Quarter-finals
    • 2015: Played in the Group stage

Playing in Arab Competitions

The club has also taken part in competitions for Arab football clubs.

  • Arab Cup Winners' Cup: 2 times
    • 1991: Played in the Group stage
    • 1995: Played in the Group stage
  • Arab Club Champions Cup: 2 times
    • 1987: Played in the Group stage
    • 1992: Finished as Runners-up

Current Players

No. Position Player
2 Qatar DF Yousef Muftah
3 Senegal DF Gueye Laye
5 Spain DF Simo Keddari
6 Qatar DF Abdullah Marafee
8 Qatar MF Ahmed Fatehi
10 Spain MF Rodri
11 Jordan FW Yazan Al Naimat
14 Kenya FW Michael Olunga
16 Qatar DF Abdullah Al-Sulaiti
19 Qatar MF Ibrahim Kala
20 Qatar MF Luiz Júnior
22 Senegal DF Abdou Diallo
23 Palestinian National Authority FW Alaa Aldeen Hassan
24 Qatar MF Abdullah Murisi
27 Qatar MF Ahmed Moein
30 Qatar GK Mohamed Saeed Ibrahim
31 Qatar GK Jasem Al-Hail
32 Qatar MF Salem Reda U21
No. Position Player
34 Qatar FW João Pedro U19
35 Qatar MF Ghanem Al-Sulaiti U21}
38 Qatar MF Mohammed Al-Sulaiti U21}
39 Qatar MF Ayad Mohammed U21}
40 Qatar MF Shadi Bouri U21}
41 Qatar DF Marwan Hassan U21}
45 Qatar DF Al-Hashmi Al-Hussain U21}
47 Qatar MF Tamer Bouri U21}
49 Qatar MF Faisal Al-Obaidili U21}
77 Qatar MF Yazan Esmat U21}
79 Qatar GK Hassan Thabet U21}
80 France FW Isaac Lihadji
Qatar GK Yousef Hassan
Qatar GK Ibrahim Bakri U21}
Qatar DF Helal Mohammed (on loan from Al-Khor)
Spain MF Pablo Sarabia
Netherlands MF Mohamed Taabouni
Qatar FW Mohamed Khaled Gouda U21}

Club Staff

Coaching and Admin Teams

 
Coaching Staff
Head coach Spain Pablo Amo
Assistant coach Algeria Adlène Guedioura
Spain Yeray Rodriguez
2nd assistant coach Qatar Omar El-Jaily
Goalkeeper coach Iran Masoud Zeraei
Fitness coach Sweden Marcus Svensson
Physical coach Qatar Mubarak Al-Yazidi
Performance analyst Qatar Jassem Ibrahim
Match analyst Qatar Yousef Al-Sheeb
Administration Staff
Team manager Qatar Adel Al Busairi
Reserve team manager Qatar Hamad Al-Sulaiti
Deputy director Qatar Ali Al-Sulaiti
 
Youth Team Technical Director
Technical director Netherlands Petrus In 't Groen
Youth Team Coaching Staff
U–19 head coach Croatia Teo Pirija
U–17 head coach Sudan Omer Khalid
U–15 head coach Tunisia Abderrazak Kniss
U–14 head coach Sudan Yousif Hamoor
U–13 head coach Netherlands Gideon Dijks
Goalkeeper coach Brazil Sandro Daros
Brazil Orlando Ribecaro

Club Leaders

Club Presidents

  • Qatar Meqbel bin Ali Al-Hitmi (1972–76)
  • Qatar Abdulrahman Al Jaber Muftah (1976–78)
  • Qatar Sultan Khaled Al-Suwaidi (1978–88)
  • Qatar Dr. Abdullah Yusuf Al-Mal (1988–00)
  • Qatar Sheikh Jassim bin Fahad bin Jassim Al-Thani (2000–01)
  • Qatar Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Jaber Al-Thani (2001–02)
  • Qatar Sheikh Falah bin Jassim Al-Thani (2002–06)
  • Qatar Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Al-Thani (2006–09)
  • Qatar Dr. Abdullah Yusuf Al-Mal (2009–12)
  • Qatar Hitmi bin Ali Al-Hitmi (2012–2016)
  • Qatar Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Jaber Al-Thani (2016–2020)
  • Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Fahad bin Jaber Al-Thani (2020–)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Al-Arabi SC (Catar) para niños

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