Nejmeh SC facts for kids
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| Full name | Nejmeh Sporting Club | |
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| Nickname(s) | القلعة النبيذية (The Burgundy Castle) | |
| Short name | Nejmeh | |
| Founded | 10 March 1945 | |
| Ground | Rafic Hariri Stadium | |
| Capacity | 5,000 | |
| Chairman | Mazen Al Zaani | |
| Manager | Dragan Jovanovic | |
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Nejmeh Sporting Club (which means "The Star Sporting Club" in Arabic) is a popular football team from Beirut, Lebanon. They play in the top football league in Lebanon.
This club started in Beirut in 1945. They got their official license to play in 1947. Nejmeh has won many important trophies in Lebanon. They have won the Lebanese Premier League nine times and the Lebanese FA Cup eight times. In Asia, they were runners-up in the 2005 AFC Cup. This means they came in second place in a big Asian competition.
Nejmeh is mostly supported by the Sunni Muslim community in Lebanon. They also have some Shiite and Druze supporters. They have a big rivalry with another Beirut team called Ansar. Their games are known as the Beirut derby.
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History of Nejmeh Sporting Club
Nejmeh was founded in 1945 by people from the Druze and Sunni communities in Ras Beirut, a part of Beirut. Anis Radwan was the first president of the club. They asked the Lebanese government for a license on March 4, 1947, and got it on April 28.
The name "Nejmeh" means "The Star." The story goes that on October 11, 1945, a meeting was held at Radwan's house. While looking at the stars in the night sky, Radwan decided to name the team Nejmeh. The five-pointed star is a special symbol for the Druze community.
Early Success and First Trophies
On July 25, 1950, Nejmeh won the Lebanese Second Division. This meant they could move up to the main league. They officially joined the Lebanese Premier League in 1951. Their first season in the top league was 1953–54.
Nejmeh reached the final of the Lebanese FA Cup twice early on. They lost in 1951 and again in 1964. But they finally won their first trophy, the Lebanese FA Cup, on October 31, 1971. They beat Safa 3–1 in that exciting final.
During the 1970s, some famous international players visited Nejmeh. Brazilian football legends Pelé and Bebeto even played matches with the team as special guests!
Team Colors and Badge
Since Nejmeh Sporting Club started, their main color has always been burgundy red. This color is very important to the team's identity.
Changes to the Club Logo
The club's badge used to have a star in the middle. This star was a clear nod to the club's name, "Nejmeh," which means "Star" in Arabic. It also had two cedar trees on the sides. These trees are a national symbol of Lebanon.
In 2019, the logo got some updates. The star changed from white to gold, and the cedar trees changed from green to burgundy. The text also changed from burgundy to black. Some other small changes were made, like making the white border wider.
In 2023, the logo changed a lot again. It became much simpler. The new logo is a picture of a burgundy "N" (for Nejmeh) and a "C" (for Club) joined together. There is a gold star in the middle of these letters. The year "1945" is written above the letters, and "BEIRUT" is written below, both in burgundy.
Nejmeh's Home Stadium
Nejmeh's home stadium is the Rafic Hariri Stadium. It is located in the Manara area of Beirut. The stadium has a football field and seats for about 5,000 fans. There's also a special VIP area for about 100 guests, a cafeteria, and a gym.
Stadium Improvements and Naming
The club's old stadium was just a sand training field. It didn't have many facilities or fences. But it went through a big improvement project. They put in real grass for the field and added more seats for fans. They also improved the stadium's facilities, walls, and fences. The first part of these improvements started in June 2003 and finished in March 2004.
On February 21, 2005, the stadium was renamed "The Martyr Rafic Hariri Stadium." This was done to honor the late Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafic Hariri.
Nejmeh's Supporters
Nejmeh has a very passionate group of fans called "Ultras Supernova." This group started on February 9, 2018. They were the first "ultras" fan group in Lebanon. The name "Supernova" connects to the club's name, Nejmeh, which means "Star." A supernova is a very bright, exploding star.
Fan Incidents and International Appearances
Before a game in 2018 against Al-Ahly of Egypt, seven "Ultras Supernova" fans were arrested in Egypt. This happened because the word "Ultras" has a negative meaning in Egypt. The fans were sent back to Lebanon after the Lebanese Ambassador in Cairo asked for their release.
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, some Nejmeh ultras were hired by the Qatari government. They acted as fans for the Qatar national football team during their games. About 1,500 of these "adopted" ultras wore maroon t-shirts with "Qatar" on them. They sang the Qatari national anthem and cheered for the team.
Club Rivalries
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Nejmeh has some big rivalries with other football clubs. These games are always very exciting!
The Beirut Derby
The most famous rivalry is the Beirut derby against Ansar. Both teams are from Beirut, and they have won most of the football titles in Lebanon. Nejmeh has done better in Asian competitions, but Ansar has won more league titles and FA Cups.
Rivalry with Al-Ahed
In recent years, a strong rivalry has also grown between Nejmeh and Ahed. Ahed is also based in Beirut. They have won many league titles since 2014–15. The games between Nejmeh and Ahed can be very tense. Sometimes, the football federation has to change where the games are played. In the 2016–17 season, Nejmeh even refused to play against Ahed in a game that would decide the league winner. Because of this, Nejmeh lost six points.
Other Important Matches
Another rivalry that has become more intense recently is with Salam Zgharta. Since the 2016–17 season, Nejmeh and Salam Zgharta have played many fierce games. Sometimes, these games have even led to offensive chants between the fans.
Nejmeh also has important matches against Safa and Racing. Both of these clubs are also located in Beirut.
Players of Nejmeh Sporting Club
Current Squad Members
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Famous Players Who Played for Nejmeh
Many talented players have played for Nejmeh. Some of them have even played for their national teams in big international competitions. Here are a few examples:
| Competition | Player | National Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 AFC Asian Cup | Abbas Chahrour |  Lebanon |
| Wahid El Fattal | Lebanon |
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| Mohamed Halawi | Lebanon |
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| Moussa Hojeij | Lebanon |
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| 2007 AFC Asian Cup | Bassim Abbas |  Iraq |
| 2012 Africa Cup of Nations | Osama Chtiba |  Libya |
| 2017 Africa Cup of Nations | Hassan Wasswa |  Uganda |
| 2019 AFC Asian Cup | Kassem El Zein | Lebanon |
| Ali Hamam | Lebanon |
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| Hassan Maatouk | Lebanon |
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| Nader Matar | Lebanon |
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| 2023 AFC Asian Cup | Ali Sabeh | Lebanon |
| Maher Sabra | Lebanon |
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| Kassem El Zein | Lebanon |
Nejmeh's Trophies and Awards
Nejmeh Sporting Club has won many titles and awards throughout its history.
Domestic Trophies (in Lebanon)
League Titles
- Lebanese Premier League (Top League)
- Winners (9 times): 1972–73, 1974–75, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2023–24
- Lebanese Second Division (Second League)
- Winners (1 time): 1950–51
Cup Competitions
- Lebanese FA Cup
- Winners (8 times): 1970–71, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2015–16, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Runners-up (9 times): 1950–51, 1963–64, 1995–96, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2020–21
- Lebanese Elite Cup (This cup is no longer played)
- Winners (12 times; a record!): 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021
- Runners-up (2 times): 1997, 2013
- Lebanese Super Cup
- Winners (7 times): 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2023
- Runners-up (5 times): 1996, 1997, 2005, 2018, 2021
Continental Trophies (in Asia)
- AFC Cup
- Runners-up (1 time): 2005
- Arab Club Champions Cup
- Runners-up (1 time): 1981–82
Special Awards
- Best Team in Asia
- Winners (1 time): March 2000
Nejmeh's Performance in Asian Competitions
Nejmeh has played in many important football tournaments across Asia.
In 1982, Nejmeh reached the final of the 1981–82 Arab Club Champions Cup. They lost to an Iraqi club called Al-Shorta. In 2005, Nejmeh made it to the final of the AFC Cup. They lost to Al-Faisaly from Jordan. This was a very big moment because it was the first time a Lebanese football team had reached the final of any major Asian competition!
Here's a look at how Nejmeh has done in different Asian tournaments:
- AFC Champions League: 2 times
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- 1996–97: Reached the Second Round
- 2002–03: Reached the First Round
- AFC Cup: 11 times
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- 2004: Reached the Quarter-finals
- 2005: Reached the Final
- 2006: Reached the Semi-finals
- 2007: Reached the Semi-finals
- 2010: Played in the Group Stage
- 2014: Reached the Round of 16
- 2015: Played in the Group Stage
- 2017: Played in the Group Stage
- 2019: Played in the Group Stage
- 2022: Played in the Group Stage
- 2023–24: Played in the Group Stage
- AFC Challenge League: 1 time
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- 2024–25: To Be Determined
- Asian Cup Winners' Cup: 3 times
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- 1990–91: Reached the First Round
- 1997–98: Reached the First Round
- 1998–99: Reached the First Round
See also
In Spanish: Nejmeh Sporting Club para niños
- List of football clubs in Lebanon
