Al Taawoun FC
| File:AL Taawoun new logo.png | |||
| Full name | Al-Taawoun Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Sukri Al-Qasim Al Dhiaab (The Wolves) | ||
| Founded | 1956 | ||
| Ground | King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia | ||
| Capacity | 25,000[1] | ||
| Chairman | Mohammed Al-Qasim | ||
| Manager | Patrice Carteron | ||
| League | Pro League | ||
| 2019–20 | Pro League, 12th of 16 | ||
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Al-Taawoun (Arabic: التعاون, lit. 'Cooperation'), sometimes known as Al-Tawen, is a professional football club based in Buraidah, that plays in the Saudi Professional League, the top tier of Saudi Football.
Al-Taawoun have won the King Cup once, in 2019, defeating Al-Ittihad in the final. Their best ever top-flight season came in 2018–19 when the club successfully challenged for the Asian Champions League spots, eventually finishing in third place in the top division, their highest league position to date, as well as winning the King Cup. In 2017, the club became the first team from the Qasim region to play in the Asian Champions League. Al-Taawoun have been second-tier champions once and runners-up twice. The club holds the distinct achievement as being the one of the two second-tier teams to play in the final of the King Cup.
The club play their home games at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Buraidah, sharing the stadium with city rivals Al-Raed with whom they contest the Qasim Derby with.
History
Al-Taawoun were founded in the year of 1956 under the name of "Al-Shabab" and were founded by Saleh Al Wabili. Four years after the founding of the club, they were officially registered as a professional club in 1960. Under the guidance of Zayed Al-Omrani, as president, the club tasted top flight football for the first time in its history, before being relegated back to the first division in the next season. 2 years after that Al-Taawoun once again won promotion to the Pro League, but this time as champions of the first division. The club were then relegated to the first division after 1 year. In the 2009–10 season Al-Taawoun won promotion to the Pro League for the first in over a decade as runners-up of the league. They have been playing in the Saudi Professional League since the 2010–2011 season.[2] On 29 May 2016, Al-Taawoun qualified for the AFC Champions League for the first time ever by finishing fourth in the league during the 2015–16 season.[3] On 2 May 2019, Al-Taawoun won their first-ever King Cup, as well as their first-ever top-flight trophy, by defeating Al-Ittihad in the final.[4] Al-Taawoun also became the first club from Al-Qassim Region to win the King Cup.
Honours
- Runners-up (1): 2019
Saudi First Division (Level 2)
- Winners (1): 1996–97
- Runners-up (2): 1994–95, 2009–10
Saudi Second Division (Level 3)
- Winners (1): 1977–78
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Cup for Division 1 and 2 Teams
- Winners (4): 1996–97, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2008–09
Current squad
- As of 17 October 2020[6]
Out on loan
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