Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah) facts for kids
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| Full name | Al-Ittihad FC | |||
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| Founded | 26 December 1927 | |||
| Ground | King Abdullah Sports City Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City (selected matches) |
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| Capacity | 62,345 27,000 |
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| Owner | Public Investment Fund (75%) Ittihad Non-Profit Foundation (25%) |
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| Manager | Laurent Blanc | |||
| League | Saudi Pro League | |||
| 2024–25 | Pro League, 1st of 18 (champions) | |||
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Al-Ittihad Club (Arabic: نادي الاتحاد), also known as Al-Ittihad or just Ittihad, is a professional football club from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The club was started way back in 1927, making it the oldest sports club in the country that is still around today. Because of this, they are sometimes called the "Chief of Clubs."
The team plays in the Saudi Pro League, the top football league in Saudi Arabia. They have won an amazing 60 championships in their history. Their home games are played at King Abdullah Sports City, a huge stadium that can hold over 62,000 fans.
Al-Ittihad has a famous rivalry with the club Al-Hilal. Their matches are called the Saudi El Clasico and are some of the biggest and most-watched games in Saudi football each year. The club is one of the most successful in Asia, having won the AFC Champions League two times in a row.
Contents
History of the Club
How It All Began (1927–1949)
On December 26, 1927, a group of football fans in Jeddah decided to create a new team. They wanted a club that could compete against visiting teams and give young people a place to play sports. They chose the name Ittihad, which means "United" or "Union" in Arabic, because the club brought them all together.
As long as we are here together, let's call it Ittihad — Mazen Mohammed
In its early days, Ittihad quickly became popular. They won their first tournament, the "Cup of Nishan Nazer," by beating a team called Al-Mukhtalat 3–0. This victory helped the club gain many new fans.
Winning Trophies (1950–1999)
The 1950s and 1960s were a great time for Ittihad. They won the King's Cup three years in a row (1958, 1959, 1960). In 1960, they had a huge 7–0 victory over their rivals Al-Ahli, which is still the biggest win in the derby's history.
After a quiet period, the club won its first-ever league title in 1982. The 1990s marked the start of a "golden age" for Ittihad. In the 1996–97 season, they won three major trophies: the Premier League, the Crown Prince Cup, and the Federation Cup.
In 1999, they won their first Asian championship, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup, by beating a team from South Korea. This amazing season ended with the team winning four trophies in total.
The Miracle and Asian Glory (2000–2010)
The club's success continued into the new century. They won the league again in 2000 and 2001. During the 1999-2000 season, their striker Hamzah Idris scored 33 goals, a record at the time.
The most famous moment in the club's history came in the 2004 AFC Champions League final. After losing the first game at home 3-1 to the Korean team Seongnam, it seemed impossible for them to win. But in the second game, Ittihad made an incredible comeback. They won the match 5-0, making the final score 6-3. This amazing victory is now known as "the miracle."
The next year, in 2005, Ittihad won the AFC Champions League again, becoming the only club to win it back-to-back. This victory allowed them to play in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they finished in 4th place. The president of FIFA at the time, Sepp Blatter, said he had never seen such a great Asian team.
Rivalries
Jeddah Derby
The Jeddah Derby is the game between Ittihad and their city rivals, Al-Ahli. It is one of the most exciting matches in Saudi football. The two clubs have been competing for over 70 years.
Saudi Clasico
The Saudi El Clasico is the name for the match between Ittihad and Al-Hilal. This game is a big deal because it features two of the most successful clubs from Saudi Arabia's two biggest cities, Jeddah and Riyadh. It is the most-watched match in the country. The first official game between them was in 1964, which Ittihad won 3–0.
Fans and Stadium
Ittihad has a huge and passionate fanbase. They have the highest attendance of any club in Saudi Arabia. In 2016, one website ranked their fans as the 12th best in the entire world.
Since 2014, Ittihad has played its home games at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium. It is a modern stadium that they share with their local rivals, Al-Ahli.
Honours
Ittihad is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia. They have won 37 official trophies.
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
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| Domestic | Premier League/Pro League | 10 | 1982, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2023, 2025 |
| King's Cup | 10 | 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1988, 2010, 2013, 2018, 2025 | |
| Saudi Super Cup | 1 | 2022 | |
| Crown Prince's Cup | 8 | 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1991, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2017 | |
| Saudi Federation Cup | 3 | 1986, 1997, 1999 | |
| Continental | AFC Champions League Elite | 2 | 2004, 2005 |
| Asian Cup Winners Cup | 1 | 1999 | |
| Regional | Arab Champions League | 1 | 2005 |
| GCC Champions League | 1 | 1999 |
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- s shared record
Players
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See also
In Spanish: Al-Ittihad Jeddah Club para niños
- List of football clubs in Saudi Arabia
- Al-Ittihad Club (women)
- Al-Ittihad Jeddah (basketball)
- Al-Ittihad Club Stadium
