Al-Riyadh SC

Al-Riyadh SC is a professional football club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It currently plays in the Saudi Pro League (the first tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia). It was established in 1953 as Ahli Al-Riyadh, then changed its name to Al-Yamamah and finally to Al-Riyadh. Best known for its football team, Al-Riyadh also have squads in other sports.
Al-Riyadh have won one major title: the Crown Prince Cup in 1994. The team also finished as runners-up in the Saudi Premier League in 1994; they have never won the top league.
Al-Riyadh was promoted to the Saudi Pro League in 2023.
History
Early history
The club was founded in 1953 under the name "Ahli Al-Riyadh", before changing to "Al-Yamama" and then to "Al-Riyadh." It is currently based in west Riyadh. They reached the final of the Kings Cup in 1962 and 1978, but triumphed on neither occasion.
Golden era
Al-Riyadh was promoted to the Saudi Premier League at the end of the 1988/89 season after winning the Saudi First Division League.
In the early 1990s, under the leadership of the Brazilian coach Zumario and players such as Khalid Al-Qarouni, Talal Al-Jabreen, Yasser Al-Taafi and Fahd Al-Hamdan, Al-Riyadh won the Crown Prince Cup in 1994. They were unable to retain the Cup in 1995, losing in the final to Al-Hilal. However, they did win the 1995 Federation Cup and reached the semi-final of the 1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. In 1998, Al-Riyadh once again reached the finals of the Crown Prince Cup, and lost to Al-Ahli.
Al-Riyadh were relegated at the end of the 2004/5 season.
Return to the top flight
Al-Riyadh finished fourth in the Saudi First Division League in the 2022/23 season. Normally, a fourth-place finish would not be good enough for promotion, but the Saudi Premier League was expanding from 16 teams to 18, offering an additional promotion spot.
Honours
Domestic
Saudi Premier League
Runners-up (1): 1993–94
Saudi First Division League
Winners (2): 1977–78, 1988–89
Runners-up (2): 1979–80, 1982–83
Kings CupRunners-up (2): 1962, 1978
Crown Prince Cup
Winners (1): 1993–94Runners-up (2): 1994–95, 1997–98
Prince Faisal Cup
Winners (1): 1994–95
Continental
Arab Super Cup
Runners-up (1): 1996
Current squad As of 14 August 2023:''
Management staff
Managerial history
Khalid Al-Koroni (January 11, 2010 – April 12, 2010)
Fahd Al-Hamdan (caretaker) (April 12, 2010 – May 1, 2010)
Marian Bondrea (July 1, 2010 – February 19, 2011)
Mohamed Aldo (February 19, 2011 – May 30, 2011)
Djamel Belkacem (July 26, 2011 – May 30, 2012)
Ayman El Yamani (July 3, 2012 – December 12, 2012)
Habib Ben Romdhane (December 12, 2012 – May 1, 2014)
Amir Alagić (June 17, 2014 – September 15, 2014)
Lotfi Kadri (September 16, 2014 – December 15, 2014)
Zouhair Louati (December 15, 2014 – July 28, 2015)
Leandro Simpson (August 7, 2015 – December 18, 2015)
Abderrazek Chebbi (December 18, 2015 – April 30, 2016)
Sultan Khamees (June 23, 2016 – November 18, 2016)
Hani Anwar (November 18, 2016 – May 30, 2017)
Adel Latrach (July 13, 2017 – November 26, 2017)
Yousef Khamees (November 26, 2017 – February 14, 2018)
Bandar Al-Jaithen (February 14, 2018 – April 1, 2018)
Amro Anwar (August 15, 2018 – December 2, 2018)
Bandar Al-Jaithen (December 2, 2018 – January 27, 2019)
Khalid Al-Koroni (January 27, 2019 – October 15, 2019)
Saad Al-Subaie (October 15, 2019 – January 25, 2020)
Yousri bin Kahla (January 25, 2020 – February 7, 2021)
Anis Chaieb (February 10, 2021 – June 1, 2021)
Moncef Mcharek (June 24, 2021 – May 1, 2022)
Dejan Arsov (May 3, 2022 – September 8, 2022)
Teo Pirija (caretaker) (September 8, 2022 – September 18, 2022)
Damir Burić (September 18, 2022 – June 1, 2023)
Yannick Ferrera (June 6, 2023 – September 20, 2023)
Bandar Al-Kubaishan (caretaker) (September 20, 2023 – October 8, 2023)
Odair Hellmann (October 8, 2023 – )
International competitions
Overview
Record by country
Matches
Key: QR – Qualifying round; 1R/2R – First/Second round; R16 – Round of 16; QF – Quarter-final; SF – Semi-final;
Notes
See also
List of football clubs in Saudi Arabia
References
Football clubs in Saudi Arabia
Football clubs in Riyadh
1953 establishments in Saudi Arabia
Association football clubs established in 1953
Sport in Riyadh