UAE Pro League
File:UAE Pro-League.png | |
Founded | 1973 |
---|---|
Country | ![]() |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 14 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | First Division League |
Domestic cup(s) | President's Cup League Cup Super Cup |
International cup(s) | AFC Champions League |
Current champions | Al-Ain (13 titles) (2017–18) |
Most championships | Al-Ain (13 titles) |
TV partners | Abu Dhabi Sports Dubai Sports |
Website | www.agleague.ae |
Current: 2018–19 season |
The UAE Pro-League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Arabian Gulf League,[1][2] is the top professional football league in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first team to win the title was Al-Sharjah, whilst Al-Ain has the record with 12 league titles to their name. Fourteen clubs compete in the League that operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the First Division League.
The League was founded in 1973 as the UAE Football League. The first 1973–74 season was a "trial" championship but was declared official by the UAE FA in 2001.[3] In February 2007, the Pro League Committee was formed, and became the organizing body of the League.
Name change
Starting from the 2013–14 season the name was changed from UAE Pro League to Arabian Gulf League, which was named after the Arabian Gulf as per the chairman of Pro League Committee.[4] However, the name change has been viewed as a revival of the Persian Gulf naming dispute[5] with Iran accusing the United Arab Emirates of racism,[6] and the Iranian Football Federation barring the transfer of Javad Nekounam to a UAE club.[7] After about four months of the name change a 70 million AED one-year renewable partnership deal was announced with Arabian Gulf Development to be named Official Title Partner.[8]
Member clubs (2018–19)
- Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
Club | Home city | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Ajman | Ajman | Ajman Stadium | 5,537 |
Al-Ain | Al-Ain | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium | 22,717 |
Al-Dhafra | Madinat Zayed | Al Dhafra Stadium | 5,020 |
Al-Jazira | Abu Dhabi | Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium | 42,056 |
Al-Nasr | Dubai | Al-Maktoum Stadium | 12,000 |
Al-Wahda | Abu Dhabi | Al Nahyan Stadium | 12,000 |
Al-Wasl | Dubai | Zabeel Stadium | 8,439 |
Baniyas | Abu Dhabi | Baniyas Stadium | 9,570 |
Dibba Al-Fujairah | Fujairah | Fujairah Club Stadium | 10,645 |
Emirates | Ras Al Khaimah | Emirates Club Stadium | 5,200 |
Fujairah | Fujairah | Fujairah Club Stadium | 10,645 |
Kalba | Kalba | Ittihad Kalba Stadium | 8,500 |
Shabab Al Ahli-Dubai | Dubai | Al-Rashid Stadium | 18,000 |
Sharjah | Sharjah | Sharjah Stadium | 11,073 |
Managers
Nat. | Name | Club | Appointed |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Ayman Elramady | Ajman | 3 June 2016 |
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Paulo Comelli | Dibba Al Fujairah | 19 January 2017 |
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Zoran Mamić | Al Ain | 30 January 2017 |
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Laurențiu Reghecampf | Al Wahda | 2 June 2017 |
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Abdulaziz Mohamed | Sharjah | 15 October 2017 |
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Ivan Jovanović | Al Nasr | 19 January 2018 |
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Jalal Qadiri | Emirates | 28 May 2018 |
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José Luis Sierra | Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai | 28 May 2018 |
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Ivan Hašek | Fujairah | 29 May 2018 |
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Krunoslav Jurčić | Baniyas | 30 May 2018 |
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Marcel Keizer | Al Jazira | 2 June 2018 |
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Gustavo Quinteros | Al Wasl | 30 June 2018 |
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Vuk Rašović | Al Dhafra | 30 June 2018 |
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Fabio Viviani | Kalba | 2 September 2018 |
List of champions
Source:[9]
Season | Winner |
---|---|
1973–74 | Sharjah |
1974–75 | Al-Ahli |
1975–76 | Al-Ahli |
1976–77 | Al-Ain |
1977–78 | Al-Nasr |
1978–79 | Al-Nasr |
1979–80 | Al-Ahli |
1980–81 | Al-Ain |
1981–82 | Al-Wasl |
1982–83 | Al-Wasl |
1983–84 | Al-Ain |
1984–85 | Al-Wasl |
1985–86 | Al-Nasr |
1986–87 | Sharjah |
1987–88 | Al-Wasl |
1988–89 | Sharjah |
1989–90 | Al-Shabab |
1990–91 | - |
1991–92 | Al-Wasl |
1992–93 | Al-Ain |
1993–94 | Sharjah |
1994–95 | Al-Shabab |
1995–96 | Sharjah |
1996–97 | Al-Wasl |
1997–98 | Al-Ain |
1998–99 | Al-Wahda |
1999–00 | Al-Ain |
2000–01 | Al-Wahda |
2001–02 | Al-Ain |
2002–03 | Al-Ain |
2003–04 | Al-Ain |
2004–05 | Al-Wahda |
2005–06 | Al-Ahli |
2006–07 | Al-Wasl |
2007–08 | Al-Shabab |
2008–09 | Al-Ahli |
2009–10 | Al-Wahda |
2010–11 | Al-Jazira |
2011–12 | Al-Ain |
2012–13 | Al-Ain |
2013–14 | Al-Ahli |
2014–15 | Al-Ain |
2015–16 | Al-Ahli |
2016–17 | Al-Jazira |
2017–18 | Al Ain
|
Notes
1. Al-Sharjah won its first championship in 1973–74 as Al-Oroba.
2. 1990-91 season was not completed due to Gulf War
Champions
Performance by club
Club Name | Won | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Al-Ain | 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18 | 1975–76, 1977–78, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2004–05, 2015–16 | ||
Al-Wasl | 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07 | 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1995–96, 2016–17 | ||
Al-Ahli | 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16 | 1973–74, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2012–13 | ||
Sharjah | 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96 | 1974–75, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1997–98 | ||
Al-Wahda | 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10 | 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2013–14, 2017–18 | ||
Al-Nasr | 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86 | 1980–81, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2011–12 | ||
Al-Shabab | 1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08 | — | ||
Al-Jazira | 2010–11, 2016–17 | 2001–02, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2014–15 | ||
Al-Shaab | — | 1979–80, 1984–85 | ||
Baniyas | — | 2009–10 |
Performance by city
City / Area | Titles | Clubs | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|
Dubai | Al-Wasl | (7): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07 | |
Al-Ahli | (7): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16 | ||
Al-Nasr | (3): 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86 | ||
Al-Shabab | (3): 1989–90, 1994–95, 2007–08 | ||
Al Ain | Al-Ain | (12): 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15 | |
Abu Dhabi | Al-Wahda | (4): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10 | |
Al-Jazira | (2): 2010–11, 2016–17 | ||
Sharjah | Al-Sharjah | (5): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96 |
As of July 2016 following clubs are officially allowed to wear stars while playing in the League, Each country's usage is unique and in UAE the practice is to award one star for each five titles won. The number in parentheses is for League titles won. [10]
Al-Ain (13)
Shabab Al-Ahli (10)*
Al-Wasl (7)
Sharjah (5)
Players
All-time top scorers
Source:[11]
Rank | Nat | Name | Club | Years | Goals | Apps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Fahad Khamees | Al-Wasl | 1980–1997 | 166 | 230 |
2 | ![]() |
Mohammad Omar | Al-Wasl Al-Ain Al-Jazira Al-Dhafra Al-Nasr Ajman |
1992–2011 | 132 | 237 |
3 | ![]() |
Adnan Al Talyani | Al-Shaab | 1980–1999 | 129 | 232 |
4 | ![]() |
Abdulaziz Mohamed | Al-Sharjah | N/A–2002 | 127 | N/A |
5 | ![]() ![]() |
Youssouf Atiq Ahmed Abdullah |
Al-Ahli Al-Ain |
1988–2002 1978–1995 |
117 | N/A |
6 | ![]() |
Faisal Khalil | Al-Ahli Al-Wasl Al-Shaab |
1999–2013 | 114 | 302 |
7 | ![]() |
Ali Mabkhout | Al-Jazira | 2009–Present | 111 | 151 |
8 | ![]() |
Asamoah Gyan | Al-Ain Al-Ahli |
2011–2017 | 101 | 97 |
9 | ![]() |
Anderson Barbosa | Al-Sharjah Al-Wasl |
2002–2009 | 99 | 128 |
10 | ![]() |
Ali Thani | Al-Sharjah | N/A | 93 | N/A |
Top scorers by season
References
- ^ Studios, XS. "Arabian Gulf Development introduced as new Title Sponsor for the Arabian Gulf League - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.uae.agleague.ae. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ Studios, XS. "Arabian Gulf Development renews League sponsorship - News - UAE Pro League Committee". beta.proleague.ae. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
- ^ "1973/74 UAE Football League". Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ "New League name announced by H.E. Mohammed Thani Murshed Al Romaithi - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.uae.agleague.ae.
- ^ "Gulf rivalry between Iran, UAE transfered to the football pitch". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ Category: Asia (29 May 2013). "Iran accuses UAE of racism in renaming Pro League to the Arabian Gulf League". Inside World Football. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ "Iran bars captain's UAE transfer over Gulf name". Fox News. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ "Arabian Gulf Development introduced as new Title Sponsor for the Arabian Gulf League - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.uae.agleague.ae. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Atsushi Fujioka (19 May 2011). "United Arab Emirates - List of Champions". UAE FA website. RSSSF. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "لماذا ستوضع نجمة على قمصان بعض الفرق الإماراتية؟ - سبورت 360 عربية". arabic.sport360.com.
- ^ "100s". FootballUAE.net. Archived from the original on 25 June 2002. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "United Arab Emirates 1974/75". RSSSF.com.
- ^ a b c "1975-1978" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Scorers 1980-2001". FootballUAE.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 16 December 2001. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "The league championship 35 years old story" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
- ^ a b "Top-scorer Valder calls for professional set-up in UAE". GulfNews.com.
- ^ "1983–84: Goals" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
- ^ a b c d "1984–91" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
- ^ "1987–88: Goals". RSSSF.com.
- ^ "1974–06" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
- ^ "1991–92: Goals". RSSSF.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Al Ain achieve a record in the ninth title" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
- ^ "1993–94: Goals". RSSSF.com.
- ^ "1995–96: Goals". RSSSF.com.
- ^ "The Pro-League 4th edition launches today". AGLeague.ae.
- ^ "1999–00: Goals". RSSSF.com.
- ^ a b "2000-01: Goals". GulfNews.com.
- ^ "2000-01: Goals". RSSSF.com.
- ^ "2001-02: Goals". GulfNews.com.
- ^ "2002-03: Goals". GulfNews.com.
- ^ "2003-04: Goals". RSSSF.com.
- ^ "2004-05: Goals". Goalzz.com.
- ^ "2005-06: Goals". Goalzz.com.
- ^ "2006-07: Goals". Goalzz.com.
- ^ "2007-08: Goals". Goalzz.com.
- ^ "2008-09: Goals". Goalzz.com.
- ^ "2009-10: Goals". Soccerway.com.
- ^ "2010-11: Goals". Soccerway.com.
- ^ "2011-12: Goals". Soccerway.com.
- ^ "2012–13: Goals". Soccerway.com.
- ^ "2013-14: Goals". Soccerway.com.