Bahraini Premier League

Premier League
2010–11 Bahrain First Division League
Founded
1952
Nation
Number of Teams
10
Asian Qualification
AFC Cup
Cups
King's Cup </br> FA Cup </br> Crown Prince Cup
Most time Champions
Muharraq Club (31)
Current Champions (2010)
Al-Ahli (Manama)
The Bahraini Premier League is the main football competition in Bahrain. The first season was held in 1957. The winners of the domestic championship qualify for the AFC Cup. The championship is currently contested by 10 clubs
==Structure==
===Current Structure===
10 clubs currently play a two round robin set of fixtures totalling 18 games in total to determine the league champions. Although games are played on a home and away basis, almost all games are played at the National Stadium.
The bottom placed club is relegated with the team finishing second bottom enetering a relegation/promotion playoff match.
===Previous Structures===
In seasons gone by, the league has been radically overhauled to feature all professional clubs of Bahrain. Instances being the 2008-09 and 2002 league seasons. The leagues featuring upto 19 teams would play each other on one occasion with the top 10 teams staying in the Premier League top flight and the bottom sides (from 11 to 19) forming the next seasons 2nd division.
Between the seasons of 2002 and 2009, the top four sides of the league would also play in the Crown Prince Cup.
==Team Re-structuring==
In 2002, a host of clubs were amalgamated together:
[*1] Bahrain are an amalgamation of Bahrain and Al-Khaleej
[*2] Riffa are an amalgamation of West Riffa and Zallaq
[*3] Al-Najma are an amalgamation of Al-Hilal, Al-Qadisiya and Ras Al-Rumman
[*4] Al-Sahel are an amalgamation of Qalali and Hadd
[*5] Al-Tadamun are an amalgamation of Boori, Karazkan, Hamla, Reef Union and Damastan
[*6] Al-Shabab are an amalgamation of Deyya, Sanabis, Jadd Hafs, Naeem, Karrana, Sahla and Karbabad 
[*7] Al-Ittifaq are an amalgamation of Al-Arabi, Maqaba and Bani Jumra
== List of Champions ==
*1957 : Muharraq Club
*1958 : Muharraq Club
*1959 : Al-Nasr
*1960 : Muharraq Club
*1961 : Muharraq Club
*1962 : Muharraq Club
*1963 : Muharraq Club
*1964 : Muharraq Club
*1965 : Muharraq Club
*1966 : Muharraq Club
*1967 : Muharraq Club
*1968 : Bahrain Club
*1969 : Al-Ahli (Manama)
*1970 : Muharraq Club
*1971 : Muharraq Club
*1972 : Al-Ahli (Manama)
*1973 : Muharraq Club
*1974 : Muharraq Club
*1975 : Arabi Club
*1976 : Muharraq Club
*1977 : Al-Ahli (Manama)
*1978 : Bahrain Club
*1979 : Al Hala
*1980 : Muharraq Club
*1981 : Bahrain Club
*1982 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*1983 : Muharraq Club
*1984 : Muharraq Club
*1985 : Bahrain Club
*1986 : Muharraq Club
*1987 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*1988 : Muharraq Club
*1989 : Bahrain Club
*1990 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*1991 : Muharraq Club
*1992 : Muharraq Club
*1993 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*1994 : East Riffa Club
*1995 : Muharraq Club
*1996 : Al-Ahli (Manama)
*1997 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*1998 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*1999 : Muharraq Club
*2000 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*2001 : Muharraq Club
*2002 : Muharraq Club
*2003 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*2004 : Muharraq Club
*2005 : Bahrain Riffa Club
*2006 : Muharraq Club
*2007 : Muharraq Club
*2008 : Muharraq Club
*2009 : Muharraq Club
*2010 : Al-Ahli (Manama)
==Total Championships==
The number of national championships that clubs in Bahrain have attained.
Club 	Number of Championships
Muharraq Club 	31
Bahrain Riffa Club (includes West Riffa)	9
Bahrain Club 	5
Al-Ahli (Manama) 	5
Arabi Club 	1
Al Hala 	1
Al-Nasr 	1
East Riffa Club 	1
== Topscorers==
Year 		Best scorers 	Team 	Goals
2003-04		Duaij Naser Abdulla 	Muharraq Club 	15
2004-05		Salman Isa 	Bahrain Riffa Club	15
2005-06		Jaycee John 	Al-Ahli 	17
2006-07		Leandson Dias da Silva	Bahrain Riffa Club	25
2007-08		Jaycee John 	Muharraq Club 	24
2008-09		Abdulrahman Mubarak 	Bahrain Riffa Club	14
== See also ==
* Bahrain Football Association
== External links ==
* Bahraini Premiere League (Arabic)
* goalzz.com - Bahraini Premiere League
* Soccerway - Bahrain Premier League
Category:Leagues