Wikipedia

2024–25 Saudi First Division League

The 2024–25 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) is the fourth season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 48th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976.

First Division League
Season2024–25
Dates19 August 2024 – May 2025
Matches played84
Goals scored192 (2.29 per match)
Top goalscorerRomarinho
(8 goals)
Biggest home winNeom 4–0 Al-Jandal
(27 August 2024)
Biggest away winAl-Jubail 0–4 Neom
(1 September 2024)
Highest scoringAbha 3–3 Al-Adalah
(10 November 2024)
Longest winning runAbha
Al-Hazem
Neom
(4 matches)
Longest unbeaten runJeddah
(9 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Ain
Ohod
(8 matches)
Longest losing runOhod
(8 matches)
All statistics correct as of 10 November 2024.

Overview

edit

Changes

edit

On 21 June 2024, the FDL announced the introduction of a play-off system to determine the third team to be promoted to the Saudi Pro League. Teams placed between third and sixth position took part in the promotion play-offs. The fifth-placed would face the fourth, while the sixth-placed team would face the third. The final would be single-legged, hosted by the higher-placed team.[1]

Team changes

edit

The following teams have changed division since the 2023–24 season.

Teams

edit

A total of 18 teams will be contesting the league, including 12 sides from the 2023–24 season, the three promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Saudi Pro League.

Al-Hazem were the first team to be relegated following a 4–1 home defeat to Al-Hilal on 11 May 2024.[2] Al-Hazem were relegated after just one year in the top flight. This was their third relegation in five years. Both Abha and Al-Tai were relegated on the final day of the season. Abha were relegated following a 2–1 defeat away to Al-Hazem.[3] Al-Tai were relegated following a 2–0 home defeat to Al-Okhdood.[4] Abha were relegated after five seasons in the top flight while Al-Tai were relegated after three seasons. Abha will play in their 20th season in the FD League, while Al-Hazem will play in their 15th season and Al-Tai in their 23rd season.

The first club to be promoted was Al-Jubail who did so after a 1–1 draw against Bisha on 16 March 2024.[5] On 22 March 2024, Neom became the second club to be promoted following a 3–2 win against Al-Zulfi.[6] The third and final club to be promoted was Al-Zulfi, who did so following a 3–0 aggregate win over Al-Diriyah in the promotion play-offs on 17 April 2024.[7]

Neom were crowned champions for the first time after defeating Al-Jubail 3–2 in the final.[8]

Neom return to the First Division League after an absence of 12 years. They return to the league for the first time since the 2011–12 season and will play in their 2nd overall season. In addition, this will be their first season in the FDL since their name change. Both Al-Jubail and Al-Zulfi were promoted to the First Division League for the first time in history.

Stadium and locations

edit
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2024–25 First Division League
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Abha Abha Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium 20,000[9]
Al-Adalah Al-Hasa Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium
Hajer Club Stadium 		19,099
12,000
Al-Ain Al Atawlah King Saud Sport City Stadium 10,000[10]
Al-Arabi Unaizah Department of Education Stadium 10,000[11]
Al-Batin Hafar al-Batin Al-Batin Club Stadium 6,000[12]
Al-Bukiryah Al Bukayriyah Al-Bukiryah Club Stadium 5,000[13]
Al-Faisaly Harmah Al Majma'ah Sports City (Al Majma'ah) 6,266
Al-Hazem Ar Rass Al-Hazem Club Stadium 8,000[14]
Al-Jabalain Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,250[15]
Al-Jandal Dumat al-Jandal Al-Orobah Club Stadium (Sakakah) 7,000[16]
Al-Jubail Jubail Al-Jubail Club Stadium 3,000[17]
Al-Najma Unaizah Department of Education Stadium
Al-Najma Club Stadium 		10,000
7,000[18]
Al-Safa Safwa Al-Safa Club Stadium
Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar)
Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium (Dammam) 		3,500
15,000[19]
22,042
Al-Tai Ha'il Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium 12,000
Al-Zulfi Al Zulfi Al-Zulfi Club Stadium 3,080[20]
Jeddah Jeddah Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium
Sports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City 		27,000
1,250
Neom Tabuk King Khalid Sport City Stadium 12,000[21]
Ohod Medina Ohod Club Stadium 5,000[22]

Managerial changes

edit
Team Outgoing manager Manner of
departure 		Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Abha   Pitso Mosimane End of contract 1 June 2024 Pre-season   Abderrazek Chebbi 20 August 2024[23]
Al-Adalah   Roel Coumans   Martin Ševela 19 June 2024[24]
Al-Ain   Zoran Milinković   Ricardo Sousa 15 August 2024[25]
Al-Arabi   Yousef Anbar   Maher Al-Shammari 21 June 2024[26]
Al-Bukiryah   Khalil Al-Masri   Denis Lavagne 11 July 2024[27]
Al-Faisaly   Marcelo Chamusca   Filipe Gouveia 6 June 2024[28]
Al-Jabalain   Nacif Beyaoui   Jorge Mendonça 14 July 2024[29]
Al-Jubail   Ayman El Seraj   Laurent Hagist 2 July 2024[30]
Al-Najma   Giovanni Solinas   Mário Silva 7 July 2024[31]
Al-Safa   Laurent Hagist   Carlos Pinto 30 June 2024[32]
Al-Tai   Leonardo Ramos   Aleksandar Ilić 12 July 2024[33]
Al-Zulfi   Makram Abdullah   Zoran Milinković 3 June 2024[34]
Jeddah   Maher Al-Shammari   Iván Carrasco 25 July 2024[35]
Neom   Afouène Gharbi   Péricles Chamusca 1 June 2024[36]
Ohod   Damir Burić   Yousef Anbar 20 July 2024[37]
Al-Batin   Abdulaziz Nasser End of caretaker period   Rui Almeida 15 July 2024[38]
Al-Arabi   Maher Al-Shammari Sacked 4 October 2024[39] 6th   Damir Burić 4 October 2024[40]
Al-Bukiryah   Denis Lavagne 4 October 2024[41] 18th   Nandinho 13 October 2024[42]
Al-Tai   Aleksandar Ilić 12 October 2024[43] 9th   Mohamed Kouki 15 October 2024[44]
Al-Batin   Rui Almeida Mutual consent 16 October 2024[45] 7th   Nacif Beyaoui 16 October 2024[46]

Foreign players

edit

On 9 March 2024, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players would be decreased from 7 players to 5 players.[47]

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
  • Players in italics were out of the squad or left the club within the season, after the pre-season transfer window, or in the mid-season transfer window, and at least had one appearance.
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Former players
Abha   Fabián Noguera   Modou Barrow   Lamine N'dao   Johnstone Omurwa   Godspower Aniefiok   François Kamano
Al-Adalah   Rédha Bensayah   Alan Cariús   Philipe Maia   Amine Atouchi   Anthony Okpotu
Al-Ain   Slaviša Bogdanović   Gozie Ugwu   Kwame Bonsu   Ença Fati   Halid Lwaliwa
Al-Arabi   Reinaldo Dutra   Romell Quioto   Hamidou Traoré   Ola John   Ablaye Mbengue
Al-Batin   Thibault Peyre   Kevin Luckassen   Ibrahim Tomiwa   João Amaral   Afonso Taira
Al-Bukiryah   Fernando Piñero   Connor Pain   Džiugas Bartkus   Henrique Luvannor   Hicham Faik
Al-Faisaly   Morato   Lucas Souza   Alexandre Guedes   Vladimir Stojković   Abdoulaye Ba
Al-Hazem   Okacha Hamzaoui   Juriën Gaari   Karim Yoda   Zinho Gano   Ibrahima Ndiaye   Alexandru Albu
Al-Jabalain   Marcelo Carné   Jobson   Kaká Mendes   Juanjo Narváez   Léo Lacroix
Al-Jandal   Leandrinho   Cheick Comara   Chisom Egbuchulam   Emanuel Novo   Yassine Amri   Leandro Silva
Al-Jubail   Tiago Bezerra   Roberto Dias   Rafael Martins   Vina   Walmerson
Al-Najma   Léo Tilica   Max Walef   Bilel Aouacheria   Ali Adnan   Sylla Sow   Agi Dambelley
Al-Safa   Fabinho   Maicon   Danilo Asprilla   Luis Hinestroza   Alexandru Albu   Daouda Toure
  Borhane Hakimi
Al-Tai   Léandre Tawamba   Marko Dugandžić   Ibrahima Tandia   Andrei Cordea   Emmanuel Banda
Al-Zulfi   Diego Miranda   Diego Silva   Sadat Karim   Erhun Obanor   Isaac Mitima
Jeddah   Isaías Rodríguez   Ricardo Caraballo   Medwin Biteghé   Bryant Ortega
Neom   Carlos   Romarinho   Ahmed Hegazi   Alfa Semedo   Mbaye Diagne
Ohod   Konrad Michalak

League table

edit
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Neom 9 7 1 1 20 5 +15 22 Promotion to the Pro League
2 Al-Hazem 9 7 1 1 17 7 +10 22
3 Jeddah 10 5 4 1 13 9 +4 19 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
4 Abha 10 5 2 3 17 17 0 17
5 Al-Najma 10 5 1 4 16 13 +3 16
6 Al-Bukiryah 10 4 3 3 9 6 +3 15
7 Al-Arabi 10 4 3 3 16 15 +1 15
8 Al-Adalah 10 4 3 3 12 11 +1 15
9 Al-Tai 8 4 2 2 9 9 0 14
10 Al-Jabalain 9 3 4 2 8 8 0 13
11 Al-Jandal 10 4 1 5 10 13 −3 13
12 Al-Faisaly 10 3 1 6 9 11 −2 10
13 Al-Safa 9 3 1 5 10 13 −3 10
14 Al-Jubail 10 3 1 6 8 12 −4 10
15 Al-Zulfi 10 2 4 4 5 9 −4 10
16 Al-Batin 10 2 4 4 12 17 −5 10 Relegation to the Second Division
17 Al-Ain 10 1 3 6 5 11 −6 6
18 Ohod 10 1 1 8 7 17 −10 4
Updated to match(es) played on 20 November 2024. Source: goalzz.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Fair-play points
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[48]

Positions by round

edit

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Abha16955344444
Al-Adalah210666855811
Al-Ain937881315161717
Al-Arabi111299116111376
Al-Batin814101212710121516
Al-Bukiryah17151617181816151410
Al-Faisaly42445588912
Al-Hazem7433232222
Al-Jabalain1317141313141214108
Al-Jandal141818161712911139
Al-Jubail15131718151114101214
Al-Najma181379107765
Al-Safa5111515161718181613
Al-Tai18161214796657
Al-Zulfi126111010151391115
Jeddah6722423333
Neom3111111111
Ohod105811141617171818
Promotion to the Pro League
Qualification for the promotion play-offs
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 10 November 2024. Source: [citation needed]

Results

edit
Home \ Away ABH ADA AIN ARB BAT BUK FSY HAZ JAB JAN JUB NAJ SAF TAI ZUL JED NEO OHD
Abha 3–3 3–1 2–2 0–2 2–1
Al-Adalah 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–0
Al-Ain 1–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–1
Al-Arabi 1–2 3–0 2–2 2–1 2–2
Al-Batin 3–2 0–3 1–3 0–0 1–2
Al-Bukiryah 0–1 2–1 0–0 0–0
Al-Faisaly 3–0 0–1 1–0 2–2 0–1
Al-Hazem 4–1 1–0 1–0 2–1 3–0 1–1
Al-Jabalain 2–1 0–1 1–1 1–0
Al-Jandal 1–0 1–2 0–0 2–3 2–0
Al-Jubail 0–1 1–2 3–1 1–2 0–1 0–4
Al-Najma 1–0 3–0 1–2 3–0 2–3
Al-Safa 0–3 3–2 1–2 0–1 1–3 3–0
Al-Tai 1–2 1–1 2–1
Al-Zulfi 0–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 2–0
Jeddah 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–1 3–0
Neom 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–0
Ohod 1–3 0–2 2–0 0–1 1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 20 November 2024. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion play-offs

edit
Semi-finals Final
        
3  
6  
 
 
4  
5  

Semi-finals

edit

Final

edit

Statistics

edit
As of 10 November 2024

Scoring

edit

Top scorers

edit
Rank Player Club Goals[49]
1   Romarinho Neom 8
2   Zinho Gano Al-Hazem 6
  Fahad Al-Johani Al-Jabalain
  Ammar Al-Najjar Jeddah
  Romell Quioto Al-Arabi
6   Ahmed Abdu Jaber Abha 5
7   Muhannad Al Saad Neom 4
  Léo Tilica Al-Najma
  Meshal Al-Mutairi Abha
  Abdullah Matuq Al-Jandal

Hat-tricks

edit
Player For Against Result Date Ref.
  Ahmed Abdu Jaber Abha Al-Faisaly 3–1 (H) 1 October 2024 [50]
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

Clean sheets

edit
Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Džiugas Bartkus Al-Bukiryah 6
2   Mustafa Malayekah Neom 5
  Saad Al-Saleh Al-Zulfi
4   Nawaf Bamehrez Jeddah 4
  Max Walef Al-Najmah
  Emanuel Novo Al-Jandal
7   Ali Al-Ameri Al-Adalah 3
  Moataz Al-Baqaawi Al-Tai
  Rafael Martins Al-Jubail
  Ibrahim Zaid Al-Hazem
  Marcelo Carné Al-Jabalain

Awards

edit

Round awards

edit
Round Player of the Round Reference
Player Club
Round 1   Agi Dambelley Al-Najma [51]
Round 2   Ahmed Abdu Jaber Abha [52]
Round 3   Ammar Al-Najjar Jeddah [53]
Round 4   Ammar Al-Najjar Jeddah [54]
Round 5   Ahmed Abdu Jaber Abha [55]
Round 6   Salman Al-Faraj Neom [56]
Round 7   Moataz Al-Baqaawi Al-Tai [57]
Round 9   Romell Quioto Al-Arabi [58]

Number of teams by province

edit
Rank Province Number Teams
1 Al-Qassim 4 Al-Arabi, Al-Bukiryah, Al-Hazem and Al-Najma
Eastern Province Al-Adalah, Al-Batin, Al-Jubail and Al-Safa
3 Ha'il 2 Al-Jabalain and Al-Tai
Riyadh Al-Faisaly and Al-Zulfi
5 Al-Bahah 1 Al-Ain
Al-Jawf Al-Jandal
Asir Abha
Mecca Jeddah
Medina Ohod
Tabuk Neom

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ ""PLAY-OFF» يحدد صاعدي «يلو"".
  2. ^ ""بالركاده".... الهلال يحسم الدوري ويصادق على هبوط الحزم".
  3. ^ "بعد 5 مواسم.. الحزم يسحب أبها إلى يلو".
  4. ^ "الطائي يهبط .. والأخدود يفلت". 27 May 2024.
  5. ^ "لأول مرة في تاريخه الجبيل إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى يلو".
  6. ^ "بثلاثية.. نيوم يكسب الزلفي ويصعد إلى يلو".
  7. ^ "صعود الزلفي «طواحين نجد» إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى «يلو»".
  8. ^ "تتويج نادي نيوم بكأس دوري الدرجة الثانية لموسم 2023-2024".
  9. ^ "Prince Sultan Sport City Stadium (Mahalah)".
  10. ^ "استاد مدينة الملك سعود الرياضية". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Department of Education Stadium in Unaizah".
  12. ^ "Al batin Club Stadiuem".
  13. ^ "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
  14. ^ "Alhazm Club Stadium".
  15. ^ "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  16. ^ "ملعب نادي العروبة - AlOrubah Club Stadium".
  17. ^ "ملعب نادي الجبيل".
  18. ^ "ملعب نادي النجمة".
  19. ^ "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
  20. ^ "ملعب نادي الزلفي - Zulfi Club Stadium".
  21. ^ "مدينة الملك خالد.. 30 عاماً في خدمة الشباب والرياضة".
  22. ^ "ملعب نادي أحد".
  23. ^ "الشابي يعود لقيادة #أبها".
  24. ^ "العدالة يعيد سيفيلا".
  25. ^ "ريكاردو سوزا مديراً فنياً لـ فخر الباحة".
  26. ^ "ماهر الشمري مدرباً للعربي السعودي". 22 June 2024.
  27. ^ "دينيس لافاني مدرباً لـ #البكيرية".
  28. ^ "الفيصلي يعلن التعاقد مع البرتغالي فيليب جوفيا". 7 June 2024.
  29. ^ "المدرب البرتغالي جورجي مندوسا جبلاويًا".
  30. ^ "الفرنسي لوران هاجيست مدربًا للفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
  31. ^ "OFICIAL: Mário Silva ruma ao Al Najma da segunda divisão saudita".
  32. ^ "Carlos Pinto de regresso à Arábia Saudita".
  33. ^ "إليكساندر إيليتش مدربا للطائي".
  34. ^ "الصربي زوران ميلينكوفيتش مديراً فنياً للفريق الأول لكرة القدم للموسم الرياضي القادم 2024_2025".
  35. ^ "نادي #جدة يتعاقد مع المدرب الاسباني ايفان لقيادة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
  36. ^ "رسميّا.. شاموسكا يقود نيوم في «يلو»".
  37. ^ "يوسُف عنبر مدربًا لنادي أحد".
  38. ^ "البرتغالي روي الميدا مدرباً للسماوي".
  39. ^ "قررت إدارة نادي العربي إنهاء عقد مدرب الفريق الكروي الأول الكابتن "ماهر الشمري"".
  40. ^ "أنهت إدارة النادي بقيادة الأستاذ "أمين الملاح" إجراءات التعاقد مع المدرب الكرواتي السيّد "دامير بوريتش"".
  41. ^ "إدارة #نادي_البكيرية تقرر إعفاء مدرب الفريق الفرنسي دينيس لافاني".
  42. ^ "ناندينهو مدرباً للبنفسجي".
  43. ^ "الطائي ينهي تعاقده مع إيليتش".
  44. ^ "الكوكي يعود للطائي".
  45. ^ "الإدارة تُنهي عقد مدرب الفريق الأول البرتغالي روي الميدا وتقدم شكرها له".
  46. ^ "رسمياً.. البياوي مدرباً للفريق الأول البلطن".
  47. ^ "أعداد اللاعبين في بطولات الفريق الأول للموسم الرياضي المقبل 2024-2025".
  48. ^ "اللائحة التنظيمية لدوري الأمير محمد بن سلمان لأندية الأولى" [Regulations of Prince Mohammed bin Salman League for Division One Teams] (PDF) (in Arabic). SAFF. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  49. ^ "First Division League 2024/2025 Scorers".
  50. ^ "قـائـد أبـهـا أحـمـد عـبـده وكـرة الهـاتـريـك".
  51. ^ "لاعـب @alnajmahfc جـاي ديمبلـي #نجم_الجولة الأولـى".
  52. ^ "لاعـب @abhaFC أحمـد عبـده #نجم_الجولة الثانيـة".
  53. ^ "لاعـب @Jeddahsportclub عـمـار الـنـجـار #نجم_الجولة الـثـالـثـة".
  54. ^ "عـمـار الـنـجـار .. نجم جولة #نحلم_ونحقق".
  55. ^ "لاعـب @abhaFC أحمـد عبـده #نجم_الجولة الخـامـسـة".
  56. ^ "سـلمان الـفـرج #نجم_الجولة الـسـادسـة".
  57. ^ "مـعـتـز البـقـعـاوي #نجم_الجولة الـسـابـعـة".
  58. ^ "#نجم_الجولة الـتـاسـعـة رومـيـل كـيـوتـو".
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2024–25_Saudi_First_Division_League&oldid=1258603314"