# Al-Fotuwa SC

Al-Fotuwa Sports Club (Arabic: نادي الفتوة الرياضي) is a Syrian professional football club based in the city of Deir ez-Zor that competes in the Syrian Premier League, the top flight of Syrian football. Nicknamed "the Blue Knight" (Arabic: الفارس الأزرق) or Azzurri Deir ez-Zor, Al-Fotuwa have won three Premier League titles and four Cup titles. It was founded in 1930 in Deir ez-Zor.

## History

Al-Fotuwa was founded in 1930 as Ghazi Club and in 1950 was renamed as Al-Fotuwa Sports Club. Al-Fotuwa Club dominated the 1980s at the level of the Syrian Premier League and is a record holder by reaching the final match of the Syrian Cup nine times in a row, winning four of them. They achieved a double, by winning the league and cup titles, twice in 1990 and 1991. In addition, the club won the title of the Syrian-Lebanese Super Cup, which was held only once.
In the 2022–23 season, they won their third title after 32 years and also qualified to their debut 2023–24 AFC Cup. On 2 October 2023, Al-Fotuwa recorded their first ever win in the AFC Cup in a 1–0 win against Lebanon side, Al Ahed. In the 2023–24 season, Al-Fotuwa achieved their third domestic double in history.

## Stadium

Deir ez-Zor Municipal Stadium is located in Arifi area of Deir ez-Zor, Syria. The stadium consists of a football field, and spaces that accommodate 13,000 spectators.

## Colours and kits

Since its foundation, the traditional colour of Fotuwa's home kit is yellow with various designs over the years.

## Supporters and rivalries

This club is supported by fans from Deir ez-Zor Governorate, and it is considered one of the four largest fans in Syria. The main rival of the club is Al-Jihad SC from Al-Qamishli.

## Achievements

* Syrian Premier League: 4
** Champion: 1990, 1991, 2022–23, 2023–24
* Syrian Cup: 5
** Champion: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2024
* Syrian-Lebanese Super Cup: 1
** Champion: 1991

## Performance in AFC competitions

* Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance
       1988–89: Group stage
* AFC Cup: 1 appearance
       2023–24: Group stage
* AFC Challenge League: 1 appearance
       2024–25: Group stage

### Records

    As of 1 November 2024
| Match won | Match drawn | Match lost | Champions | Runners-up |
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 1988–89 | Asian Club Championship | Qualifying Group | Al-Rasheed | 0–3 | 0–3 | 3rd place |
| 1988–89 | Asian Club Championship | Qualifying Group | Al-Sadd | 1–4 | 1–4 | | 3rd place |
| 1988–89 | Asian Club Championship | Qualifying Group | Al-Ansar | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 3rd place |
| 2023–24 | AFC Cup | Group stage | Jabal Al-Mukaber | – | 0–1 | 3rd place |
| 2023–24 | AFC Cup | Group stage | Al Ahed | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3rd place |
| 2023–24 | AFC Cup | Group stage | Al-Nahda | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3rd place |
| 2024–25 | AFC Challenge League | Group stage | Al-Seeb | 0–5 | 0–5 | 3rd place |
| 2024–25 | AFC Challenge League | Group stage | Hilal Al-Quds | 0–0 | 0–0 | | 3rd place |
| 2024–25 | AFC Challenge League | Group stage | Al-Ahli Club | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 3rd place |
* 1 2 Jabal Al-Mukaber withdrew during the competition.

## Performance in UAFA competitions

* Arab Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance
       1989: Group Stage

### Records

Accurate as of 12 June 2022
| Match won | Match drawn | Match lost | Champions | Runners-up |
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 1989 | Arab Cup Winners' Cup | Group | Al-Ittihad Jeddah | 0–5 | 0–5 | 4th place |
| 1989 | Arab Cup Winners' Cup | Group | Stade Tunisien | 0–4 | 0–4 | | 4th place |
| 1989 | Arab Cup Winners' Cup | Group | Al-Rasheed | 0–7 | 0–7 | | 4th place |

## Players

As 11 June 2024

### Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | SYR | Talal Al Hussen |
| 2 | DF | SYR | Fares Arnaout |
| 3 | DF | SYR | Karam Imran |
| 5 | MF | SYR | Subhi Shoufan |
| 6 | MF | SYR | Ahmed Hussein |
| 7 | MF | SYR | Oday Al Jafal |
| 8 | MF | SYR | Ward Al Salama |
| 9 | FW | SYR | Mahmoud Al Baher |
| 10 | MF | SYR | Mustafa Jneid |
| 11 | MF | SYR | Ammar Mostat |
| 12 | MF | SYR | Muhammad Abbadi |
| 14 | DF | SYR | Ahmed Al Ashkar |
| 15 | DF | SYR | Khalil Ibrahim |
| 16 | DF | SYR | Abdulhadi Hanbazli |
| 17 | MF | SYR | Oqbah Al Marel |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | DF | SYR | Ahmad Al Khassi |
| 22 | GK | SYR | Ahmad Kanaan |
| 25 | DF | SYR | Youssef Al Hamawi |
| 26 | MF | SYR | Zid Gharir |
| 27 | DF | SYR | Mesra Alarsaan |
| 30 | MF | SYR | Ali Baaj |
| 31 | GK | SYR | Taha Mosa |
| 38 | MF | SYR | Mohammad Al Salama |
| 77 | MF | SYR | Abdul Rahman Al Hussein |
| 80 | GK | SYR | Omar Al Fateh |
| 88 | DF | SYR | Abdal Razak Al Mohamad |
| 90 | FW | SYR | Hassan Owaid |
| 93 | FW | SYR | Mohammad Malta |
| 95 | FW | SYR | Assad Al Khoder |

## Coaches

* Anouar Abdul Kader (2008–2013)
* Osama Al Ghabad (2013–2015)
* Anouar Abdul Kader (2015–2017)
* Mohamed Aqil (2021–2023)
* Ammar Shamali (2023)
* Ayman Hakeem (2023–2024)
* Ammar Shamali (2024)
* Sofiane Nechma (2024–present)