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2024–25 Saudi First Division League

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First Division League
Season2024–25
Dates19 August 2024 – May 2025
Matches played67
Goals scored146 (2.18 per match)
Top goalscorerRomarinho
(8 goals)
Biggest home winNeom 4–0 Al-Jandal
(27 August 2024)
Biggest away winAl-Jubail 0–4 Neom
(1 September 2024)
Longest winning runAbha
Al-Hazem
Neom
(4 matches)
Longest unbeaten runJeddah
Neom
(8 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Ain
Al-Bukiryah
Al-Safa
Ohod
(6 matches)
Longest losing runOhod
(6 matches)
All statistics correct as of 30 October 2024.

The 2024–25 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) is the fourth season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 48th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976.

Overview

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Changes

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On 21 June 2024, the FDL announced the introduction of a play-off system to determine the third team to be promoted to the Saudi Pro League. Teams placed between third and sixth position took part in the promotion play-offs. The fifth-placed would face the fourth, while the sixth-placed team would face the third. The final would be single-legged, hosted by the higher-placed team.[1]

Team changes

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The following teams have changed division since the 2023–24 season.

Teams

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A total of 18 teams will be contesting the league, including 12 sides from the 2023–24 season, the three promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Saudi Pro League.

Al-Hazem were the first team to be relegated following a 4–1 home defeat to Al-Hilal on 11 May 2024.[2] Al-Hazem were relegated after just one year in the top flight. This was their third relegation in five years. Both Abha and Al-Tai were relegated on the final day of the season. Abha were relegated following a 2–1 defeat away to Al-Hazem.[3] Al-Tai were relegated following a 2–0 home defeat to Al-Okhdood.[4] Abha were relegated after five seasons in the top flight while Al-Tai were relegated after three seasons. Abha will play in their 20th season in the FD League, while Al-Hazem will play in their 15th season and Al-Tai in their 23rd season.

The first club to be promoted was Al-Jubail who did so after a 1–1 draw against Bisha on 16 March 2024.[5] On 22 March 2024, Neom became the second club to be promoted following a 3–2 win against Al-Zulfi.[6] The third and final club to be promoted was Al-Zulfi, who did so following a 3–0 aggregate win over Al-Diriyah in the promotion play-offs on 17 April 2024.[7]

Neom were crowned champions for the first time after defeating Al-Jubail 3–2 in the final.[8]

Neom return to the First Division League after an absence of 12 years. They return to the league for the first time since the 2011–12 season and will play in their 2nd overall season. In addition, this will be their first season in the FDL since their name change. Both Al-Jubail and Al-Zulfi were promoted to the First Division League for the first time in history.

Stadium and locations

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class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2024–25 First Division League
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Abha Abha Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 20,000[9]
Al-Adalah Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Hajer Club Stadium 		26,000[10]
12,000
Al-Ain Al Atawlah King Saud Sport City Stadium 10,000[11]
Al-Arabi Unaizah Department of Education Stadium 10,000[12]
Al-Batin Hafar al-Batin Al-Batin Club Stadium 6,000[13]
Al-Bukiryah Al Bukayriyah Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium 5,000[14]
Al-Faisaly Harmah Al Majma'ah Sports City (Al Majma'ah) 7,000
Al-Hazem Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium 8,000[15]
Al-Jabalain Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,250[16]
Al-Jandal Dumat al-Jandal Al-Orobah Club Stadium (Sakakah) 7,000[17]
Al-Jubail Jubail Al-Jubail Club Stadium 3,000[18]
Al-Najma Unaizah Department of Education Stadium
Al-Najma Club Stadium 		10,000
7,000[19]
Al-Safa Safwa Al-Safa Club Stadium
Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar)
Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium (Dammam) 		3,000
15,000[20]
26,000[21]
Al-Tai Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000
Al-Zulfi Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium 3,080[22]
Jeddah Jeddah Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium
Sports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City 		27,000
1,000
Neom Tabuk King Khalid Sport City Stadium 12,000[23]
Ohod Medina Ohod Club Stadium 5,000[24]

Managerial changes

[edit]
Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure 		Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Abha South Africa Pitso Mosimane End of contract 1 June 2024 Pre-season Tunisia Abderrazek Chebbi 20 August 2024[25]
Al-Adalah Netherlands Roel Coumans Slovakia Martin Ševela 19 June 2024[26]
Al-Ain Serbia Zoran Milinković Portugal Ricardo Sousa 15 August 2024[27]
Al-Arabi Saudi Arabia Yousef Anbar Kuwait Maher Al-Shammari 21 June 2024[28]
Al-Bukiryah Saudi Arabia Khalil Al-Masri France Denis Lavagne 11 July 2024[29]
Al-Faisaly Brazil Marcelo Chamusca Portugal Filipe Gouveia 6 June 2024[30]
Al-Jabalain Tunisia Nacif Beyaoui Portugal Jorge Mendonça 14 July 2024[31]
Al-Jubail Egypt Ayman El Seraj France Laurent Hagist 2 July 2024[32]
Al-Najma Italy Giovanni Solinas Portugal Mário Silva 7 July 2024[33]
Al-Safa France Laurent Hagist Portugal Carlos Pinto 30 June 2024[34]
Al-Tai Uruguay Leonardo Ramos Serbia Aleksandar Ilić 12 July 2024[35]
Al-Zulfi Tunisia Makram Abdullah Serbia Zoran Milinković 3 June 2024[36]
Jeddah Kuwait Maher Al-Shammari Spain Iván Carrasco 25 July 2024[37]
Neom Tunisia Afouène Gharbi Brazil Péricles Chamusca 1 June 2024[38]
Ohod Croatia Damir Burić Saudi Arabia Yousef Anbar 20 July 2024[39]
Al-Batin Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz Nasser End of caretaker period Portugal Rui Almeida 15 July 2024[40]
Al-Arabi Kuwait Maher Al-Shammari Sacked 4 October 2024[41] 6th Croatia Damir Burić 4 October 2024[42]
Al-Bukiryah France Denis Lavagne 4 October 2024[43] 18th Portugal Nandinho 13 October 2024[44]
Al-Tai Serbia Aleksandar Ilić 12 October 2024[45] 9th Tunisia Mohamed Kouki 15 October 2024[46]
Al-Batin Portugal Rui Almeida Mutual consent 16 October 2024[47] 7th Tunisia Nacif Beyaoui 16 October 2024[48]

Foreign players

[edit]

On 9 March 2024, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players would be decreased from 7 players to 5 players.[49]

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
  • Players in italics were out of the squad or left the club within the season, after the pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Former players
Abha Argentina Fabián Noguera The Gambia Modou Barrow Ivory Coast Lamine N'dao Kenya Johnstone Omurwa Nigeria Godspower Aniefiok Guinea François Kamano
Al-Adalah Algeria Rédha Bensayah Brazil Alan Cariús Brazil Philipe Maia Morocco Amine Atouchi Nigeria Anthony Okpotu
Al-Ain Bosnia and Herzegovina Slaviša Bogdanović England Gozie Ugwu Ghana Kwame Bonsu Guinea-Bissau Ença Fati Uganda Halid Lwaliwa
Al-Arabi Brazil Reinaldo Dutra Honduras Romell Quioto Mali Hamidou Traoré Netherlands Ola John Senegal Ablaye Mbengue
Al-Batin France Thibault Peyre Netherlands Kevin Luckassen Nigeria Ibrahim Tomiwa Portugal João Amaral Portugal Afonso Taira
Al-Bukiryah Argentina Fernando Piñero Australia Connor Pain Lithuania Džiugas Bartkus Moldova Henrique Luvannor Netherlands Hicham Faik
Al-Faisaly Brazil Morato Brazil Lucas Souza Portugal Alexandre Guedes Portugal Vladimir Stojković Senegal Abdoulaye Ba
Al-Hazem Algeria Okacha Hamzaoui Curaçao Juriën Gaari France Karim Yoda Guinea-Bissau Zinho Gano Senegal Ibrahima Ndiaye Romania Alexandru Albu
Al-Jabalain Brazil Marcelo Carné Brazil Jobson Brazil Kaká Mendes Colombia Juanjo Narváez Switzerland Léo Lacroix
Al-Jandal Brazil Leandrinho Ivory Coast Cheick Comara Nigeria Chisom Egbuchulam Portugal Emanuel Novo Tunisia Yassine Amri Portugal Leandro Silva
Al-Jubail Brazil Tiago Bezerra Brazil Roberto Dias Brazil Rafael Martins Brazil Vina Brazil Walmerson
Al-Najma Brazil Léo Tilica Brazil Max Walef France Bilel Aouacheria Iraq Ali Adnan Netherlands Sylla Sow Spain Agi Dambelley
Al-Safa Brazil Fabinho Brazil Maicon Colombia Danilo Asprilla Colombia Luis Hinestroza Romania Alexandru Albu Mali Daouda Toure
Tunisia Borhane Hakimi
Al-Tai Cameroon Léandre Tawamba Croatia Marko Dugandžić Mali Ibrahima Tandia Romania Andrei Cordea Zambia Emmanuel Banda
Al-Zulfi Brazil Diego Miranda Brazil Diego Silva Ghana Sadat Karim Nigeria Erhun Obanor Rwanda Isaac Mitima
Jeddah Argentina Isaías Rodríguez Colombia Ricardo Caraballo Gabon Medwin Biteghé Venezuela Bryant Ortega
Neom Brazil Carlos Brazil Romarinho Egypt Ahmed Hegazi Guinea-Bissau Alfa Semedo Senegal Mbaye Diagne
Ohod Poland Konrad Michalak

League table

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Neom 9 7 1 1 20 5 +15 22 Promotion to the Pro League
2 Al-Hazem 9 7 1 1 17 7 +10 22
3 Jeddah 10 5 4 1 13 9 +4 19 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
4 Abha 10 5 2 3 17 17 0 17
5 Al-Najma 9 5 1 3 15 10 +5 16
6 Al-Arabi 9 4 2 3 14 13 +1 14
7 Al-Tai 8 4 2 2 9 9 0 14
8 Al-Jabalain 9 3 4 2 8 8 0 13
9 Al-Jandal 9 4 1 4 9 11 −2 13
10 Al-Bukiryah 9 3 3 3 7 5 +2 12
11 Al-Adalah 9 3 3 3 9 10 −1 12
12 Al-Faisaly 10 3 1 6 9 11 −2 10
13 Al-Safa 9 3 1 5 10 13 −3 10
14 Al-Jubail 10 3 1 6 8 12 −4 10
15 Al-Zulfi 10 2 4 4 5 9 −4 10
16 Al-Batin 9 2 3 4 10 15 −5 9 Relegation to the Second Division
17 Al-Ain 10 1 3 6 5 11 −6 6
18 Ohod 10 1 1 8 7 17 −10 4
Updated to match(es) played on 10 November 2024. Source: goalzz.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[50]

Positions by round

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The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Abha169553444
Al-Adalah210666855
Al-Ain93788131516
Al-Arabi1112991161113
Al-Batin81410121271012
Al-Bukiryah1715161718181615
Al-Faisaly42445588
Al-Hazem74332322
Al-Jabalain1317141313141214
Al-Jandal141818161712911
Al-Jubail1513171815111410
Al-Najma1813791077
Al-Safa511151516171818
Al-Tai181612147966
Al-Zulfi12611101015139
Jeddah67224233
Neom31111111
Ohod10581114161717
Promotion to the Pro League
Qualification for the promotion play-offs
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 30 October 2024. Source: [citation needed]

Results

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Home \ Away ABH ADA AIN ARB BAT BUK FSY HAZ JAB JAN JUB NAJ SAF TAI ZUL JED NEO OHD
Abha 3–3 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–1
Al-Adalah 2–0 1–1 1–0
Al-Ain 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–1
Al-Arabi 1–2 3–0 2–1 2–2
Al-Batin 3–2 0–3 1–3 0–0 1–2
Al-Bukiryah 0–1 0–0 0–0
Al-Faisaly 3–0 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–1
Al-Hazem 4–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 1–1
Al-Jabalain 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–0
Al-Jandal 1–0 1–2 0–0 2–3 2–0
Al-Jubail 0–1 1–2 3–1 1–2 0–1 0–4
Al-Najma 1–0 3–0 1–2 3–0 2–3
Al-Safa 0–3 3–2 1–2 0–1 1–3 3–0
Al-Tai 1–2 1–1 2–1
Al-Zulfi 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 2–0
Jeddah 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–0
Neom 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–0
Ohod 1–3 0–2 2–0 0–1 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 10 November 2024. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion play-offs

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Semi-finals Final
        
3  
6  
 
 
4  
5  

Semi-finals

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Final

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Statistics

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As of 30 October 2024

Scoring

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[51]
1 Brazil Romarinho Neom 8
2 Guinea-Bissau Zinho Gano Al-Hazem 5
Saudi Arabia Fahad Al-Johani Al-Jabalain
Saudi Arabia Ammar Al-Najjar Jeddah
5 Eritrea Ahmed Abdu Jaber Abha 4
Saudi Arabia Muhannad Al Saad Neom

Hat-tricks

[edit]
Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Eritrea Ahmed Abdu Jaber Abha Al-Faisaly 3–1 (H) 1 October 2024 [52]
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

Clean sheets

[edit]
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 Saudi Arabia Mustafa Malayekah Neom 5
Saudi Arabia Saad Al-Saleh Al-Zulfi
3 Lithuania Džiugas Bartkus Al-Bukiryah 4
4 Saudi Arabia Ali Al-Ameri Al-Adalah 3
Saudi Arabia Nawaf Bamehrez Jeddah
Brazil Max Walef Al-Najmah
Portugal Emanuel Novo Al-Jandal
Saudi Arabia Moataz Al-Baqaawi Al-Tai
Brazil Rafael Martins Al-Jubail

Awards

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Round awards

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Round Player of the Round Reference
Player Club
Round 1 Spain Agi Dambelley Al-Najma [53]
Round 2 Eritrea Ahmed Abdu Jaber Abha [54]
Round 3 Saudi Arabia Ammar Al-Najjar Jeddah [55]
Round 4 Saudi Arabia Ammar Al-Najjar Jeddah [56]
Round 5 Eritrea Ahmed Abdu Jaber Abha [57]
Round 6 Saudi Arabia Salman Al-Faraj Neom [58]
Round 7 Saudi Arabia Moataz Al-Baqaawi Al-Tai [59]

Number of teams by province

[edit]
Rank Province Number Teams
1 Al-Qassim 4 Al-Arabi, Al-Bukiryah, Al-Hazem and Al-Najma
Eastern Province Al-Adalah, Al-Batin, Al-Jubail and Al-Safa
3 Ha'il 2 Al-Jabalain and Al-Tai
Riyadh Al-Faisaly and Al-Zulfi
5 Al-Bahah 1 Al-Ain
Al-Jawf Al-Jandal
Asir Abha
Mecca Jeddah
Medina Ohod
Tabuk Neom

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ ""PLAY-OFF» يحدد صاعدي «يلو"".
  2. ^ ""بالركاده".... الهلال يحسم الدوري ويصادق على هبوط الحزم".
  3. ^ "بعد 5 مواسم.. الحزم يسحب أبها إلى يلو".
  4. ^ "الطائي يهبط .. والأخدود يفلت". 27 May 2024.
  5. ^ "لأول مرة في تاريخه الجبيل إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى يلو".
  6. ^ "بثلاثية.. نيوم يكسب الزلفي ويصعد إلى يلو".
  7. ^ "صعود الزلفي «طواحين نجد» إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى «يلو»".
  8. ^ "تتويج نادي نيوم بكأس دوري الدرجة الثانية لموسم 2023-2024".
  9. ^ "Prince Sultan Sport City Stadium (Mahalah)".
  10. ^ "Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium".
  11. ^ "استاد مدينة الملك سعود الرياضية". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Department of Education Stadium in Unaizah".
  13. ^ "Al batin Club Stadiuem".
  14. ^ "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
  15. ^ "Alhazm Club Stadium".
  16. ^ "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  17. ^ "ملعب نادي العروبة - AlOrubah Club Stadium".
  18. ^ "ملعب نادي الجبيل".
  19. ^ "ملعب نادي النجمة".
  20. ^ "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
  21. ^ "استاد الأمير محمد بن فهد - Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad Stadium".
  22. ^ "ملعب نادي الزلفي - Zulfi Club Stadium".
  23. ^ "مدينة الملك خالد.. 30 عاماً في خدمة الشباب والرياضة".
  24. ^ "ملعب نادي أحد".
  25. ^ "الشابي يعود لقيادة #أبها".
  26. ^ "العدالة يعيد سيفيلا".
  27. ^ "ريكاردو سوزا مديراً فنياً لـ فخر الباحة".
  28. ^ "ماهر الشمري مدرباً للعربي السعودي". 22 June 2024.
  29. ^ "دينيس لافاني مدرباً لـ #البكيرية".
  30. ^ "الفيصلي يعلن التعاقد مع البرتغالي فيليب جوفيا". 7 June 2024.
  31. ^ "المدرب البرتغالي جورجي مندوسا جبلاويًا".
  32. ^ "الفرنسي لوران هاجيست مدربًا للفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
  33. ^ "OFICIAL: Mário Silva ruma ao Al Najma da segunda divisão saudita".
  34. ^ "Carlos Pinto de regresso à Arábia Saudita".
  35. ^ "إليكساندر إيليتش مدربا للطائي".
  36. ^ "الصربي زوران ميلينكوفيتش مديراً فنياً للفريق الأول لكرة القدم للموسم الرياضي القادم 2024_2025".
  37. ^ "نادي #جدة يتعاقد مع المدرب الاسباني ايفان لقيادة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
  38. ^ "رسميّا.. شاموسكا يقود نيوم في «يلو»".
  39. ^ "يوسُف عنبر مدربًا لنادي أحد".
  40. ^ "البرتغالي روي الميدا مدرباً للسماوي".
  41. ^ "قررت إدارة نادي العربي إنهاء عقد مدرب الفريق الكروي الأول الكابتن "ماهر الشمري"".
  42. ^ "أنهت إدارة النادي بقيادة الأستاذ "أمين الملاح" إجراءات التعاقد مع المدرب الكرواتي السيّد "دامير بوريتش"".
  43. ^ "إدارة #نادي_البكيرية تقرر إعفاء مدرب الفريق الفرنسي دينيس لافاني".
  44. ^ "ناندينهو مدرباً للبنفسجي".
  45. ^ "الطائي ينهي تعاقده مع إيليتش".
  46. ^ "الكوكي يعود للطائي".
  47. ^ "الإدارة تُنهي عقد مدرب الفريق الأول البرتغالي روي الميدا وتقدم شكرها له".
  48. ^ "رسمياً.. البياوي مدرباً للفريق الأول البلطن".
  49. ^ "أعداد اللاعبين في بطولات الفريق الأول للموسم الرياضي المقبل 2024-2025".
  50. ^ "اللائحة التنظيمية لدوري الأمير محمد بن سلمان لأندية الأولى" [Regulations of Prince Mohammed bin Salman League for Division One Teams] (PDF) (in Arabic). SAFF. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  51. ^ "First Division League 2024/2025 Scorers".
  52. ^ "قـائـد أبـهـا أحـمـد عـبـده وكـرة الهـاتـريـك".
  53. ^ "لاعـب @alnajmahfc جـاي ديمبلـي #نجم_الجولة الأولـى".
  54. ^ "لاعـب @abhaFC أحمـد عبـده #نجم_الجولة الثانيـة".
  55. ^ "لاعـب @Jeddahsportclub عـمـار الـنـجـار #نجم_الجولة الـثـالـثـة".
  56. ^ "عـمـار الـنـجـار .. نجم جولة #نحلم_ونحقق".
  57. ^ "لاعـب @abhaFC أحمـد عبـده #نجم_الجولة الخـامـسـة".
  58. ^ "سـلمان الـفـرج #نجم_الجولة الـسـادسـة".
  59. ^ "مـعـتـز البـقـعـاوي #نجم_الجولة الـسـابـعـة".
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