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Al-Ahli (UAE))
Al Ahli Football Club (Arabic: الأهلي) is a United Arab Emirates professional football (soccer) club. They are based in Dubai.
Al Ahli is one of the most successful clubs in the UAE. Al Ahli, literally translating to "national" in Arabic was established in 1970, three local teams joined together to form the club. The club won three UAE League titles in the '70s and again won its fourth in 2006.
[edit] History
[edit] Establishment
The club was established in 1970, two local football teams Al Wehdah and Al Shabab (est.1962) joined together, and then four years later another local team Al Najah joined to form Al Ahli Club.
[edit] 1973-1980: The golden age
It took Al Ahli only four years after its establishment to win the UAE league twice consecutively in 1975 and 1976 then again in 1980. Drawing home-town fans, Al Ahli has been and continues to be one of the most popular sports teams in the UAE. However,Al Ahli club have suffered a lot in the last decades,and they went back to the second division when they played against Al shabab which alahli was willing just for a point from the match to stay in the 1 division. Al ahli has lost the match and Al Shabab has won the league. After a period of decline, Al Ahli went back on top winning its fourth league title in 2006 but through all these years Al Ahli continued to be a successful club in the UAE by winning 6 Emir Cups.
[edit] Al Ahli Castle
They are also known as Al Ahli Castle because of its involvement in other professional sports. The club competes in basketball, volleyball, handball, track sport, table tennis and track cycling. Al Ahli is also known for its involvement in cultural activities and community services. Al Ahli Drama club established in 1981, to promote Emirati plays focusing on UAE tradition, heritage and current events.
In August 2009 Al-Ahli (Though some early reports erroneously stated that it was Saudi outfit Al-Hilal) caught the attention of the British media when a hastily organised training ground friendly against Premier League side Chelsea erupted into a mass brawl following an alleged spate of dangerous play from the UAE side, a knee-high two-footed tackle on Ben Gordon was the catalyst, which started the fight in which Al-Ahli are accused of eye-gouging, karate-kicking and tearing the hair out of the Chelsea yougsters.[1][2][3][4] Both Chelsea and the Football Association have stated that the incident was started by Al-Ahli and an investigation has been launched.[1][3][5] After the conclusion of the investigation the FA is expected to contact their counterparts in the UAE after which action is expected to be taken against any guilty parties.[2]
[edit] 2009 FIFA Club World Cup
Al-Ahli as UAE Premier League 2008–09 champions and as Dubai was hosting the event, qualified for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup which was held in December 2009. The lost 0-2 to Auckland City in their only game in the competition.[6]
[edit] Crest and Nickname
The original Al Ahli logo reflected a falcon on top of football and the words "Al Ahli Club" written horizontally. After rebranding themselves to Red Knights in 2006, the logo changed to a horse head shape with the letters A C (Al Ahli Club) on top. The new logo represents strength and high spirits also it goes along with the new nickname Red Knights instead of the old nickname the Red Devils.
[edit] Former Coaches
[edit] Current Squad
[edit] Transfers In 2008
[edit] Transfers Out
[edit] Famous Players
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Blues face FA probe over 'friendly' punch-up". News of the World. 22 August 2009. http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/466573/Brawlboys-Chelsea-face-FA-probe-over-punch-up.html. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
- ^ a b "FA to refer Chelsea brawl to UAE". Press Association. 24 August 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hc8PvxycDxu1MWfAIzV5RD3GTBmw. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Chelsea face FA probe as training ground 'friendly' ends in mass brawl". Daily Mail. 24 August 2009. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1208442/Chelsea-face-FA-probe-training-ground-friendly-ends-mass-brawl.html. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ "BBC Sport | Football | Sunday's gossip column". BBC Sport. 23 August 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/default.stm. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
- ^ "Brawl At Chelsea Friendly Against Al-Ahli". [www.goal.com Goal.com]. 23 August 2009. http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/08/23/1456619/brawl-at-chelsea-friendly-against-al-ahli-report. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- ^ "Al Ahli 0 - 2 Auckland City". ESPN. 2009-12-09. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=285405&cc=5739&league=FIFA.CWC. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
[edit] External links
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Nándor Hidegkuti
Srećko Juričić
Ilie Balaci
Markov Zeljko
Winfried Schäfer
Faozy Altaisha
Alan Michelle
Yousef Zawawi
Ivan Hašek
Hosny Abd Rabo
Hassan Nazari
Renato
Martin Kamburov
Juan Martín Parodi
Rachid Benmahmoud
Mohamed Kader
Jamal Mubarak
Fernando Rodriguez
Slavisa Mitrovic
Alousa Kabiro
Kelvin Sebwe
Seydou Traoré
