page_title: Shabab Al-Ahli Club
section_title: 1973–1980: The golden age and aftermath decline
hierarchical_section_title: Shabab Al-Ahli Club / History / 1973–1980: The golden age and aftermath decline
caption_attribution_description: English: Al Ahli
context_page_description: Shabab al-Ahli Club is a United Arab Emirates professional association football club based in Dubai, that currently plays in the UAE Arabian Gulf League. Al-Ahli is one of the most successful clubs in the UAE.
  Al-Ahli Club was established in 1958 in Dubai. Is an Emirati club. and its president is Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Vice President Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the chairman of the club is Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and deputy chairman is Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. And Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed is also the head of Shabab Al Ahli Football Company.
  Al Ahli FC has won 7 league titles, a record of 9 UAE's President Cup titles, 4 UAE super Cup titles, 4 UAE League Cup titles and 1 Emirati-Moroccan Super Cup, earning a total of 25 titles, making them the second most successful team in UAE. In the latest ranking by IFFHS, Shabab Al Ahli is the 7th best Asian club and ranked 110 in the world and 4th in Asia.
  In 2017, the Dubai CSC and Al Shabab merged with Al Ahli FC making Shabab Al Ahli FC.
context_section_description: It took Al Ahli only four years after its establishment to win the UAE Arabian Gulf League twice consecutively in 1974-75 and 1975-76 then again in 1979-80 for the third time, which allowed them to permanently keep the league trophy. The victorious team, led by coach Mohamed Shehta and featuring players such as Hassan Nazari and Hassan Roshan. The team also won three President Cup titles during that period. Drawing hometown fans, Al Ahli has been and continues to be one of the most popular sports teams in the UAE. However, the club went into decline for few decades, the result of which saw the club relegated to the second division (1995–96) in a dramatic way, when Al Ahli played against neighbour rival Al Shabab, Al Ahli needed just one point from the match to stay in the first division. Al Ahli has lost the match and Al Shabab has won the league title. The same year, Al Ahli won the President Cup title. After a period of decline, Al Ahli went back on top under new leadership of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, winning its fourth league title in 2006 and in the following years, Al Ahli continued to be a successful club in the UAE by winning 6 President Cups. The early 2000s saw Iranian legend Ali Karimi play multiple seasons for Al Ahli, finishing as league top scorer in 2003-04 and being named Asian footballer of the year 2004.
caption: Mohammed Shehta in the middle, the first manager for Al Ahli Club in early 70s.
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