Al-Ula FC

Al-Ula Football Club is a football club based in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1981, they are currently members of the Saudi Second Division League, the third tier of the Saudi football league system.[1] They play their home matches at the 24,000-seater Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.[2]

Al-Ula
Full nameAl-Ula Football Club
Nickname(s)Al-Nomur Al-Arabiya (The Arabian Tigers)
Founded1981 (1981)
GroundPrince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, Medina
Capacity24,000
OwnerRoyal Commission for Al-'Ula
ChairmanZiad Al-Suhaibani
ManagerRodolfo
LeagueSecond Division League
2023–24Saudi Third Division, 1st (promoted)
WebsiteClub website

History

The roots of the foundation of Al-Ula FC go back to 1978 when a friendly match was held between two amateur sides in the city.[3] The match was attended by the governor of Medina Province at the time Prince Abdul Muhsin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Following the match's success, the two teams' leaders agreed to merge both clubs into one that would represent the governorate. The club was officially registered with the General Presidency of Youth Welfare in 1981 under the name of Wadi Al-Qura. A few years later the club changed their to Al-Ula. Since its inception, the club has had eight presidents, with Mousa Abdulwahed being the first.[4]

Al-Ula had a relatively anonymous existence in the lower tiers of Saudi football until June 2023, when the club came under the control of the Royal Commission for Al-'Ula, a state commission under Mohammed bin Salman as part of the Saudi Vision 2030.[5][6][7]

As part of the takeover, the club made substantial investments in new players, including Brazilian forward Allan Sousa, who joined from Danish club AaB for an annual salary believed to be €2.5 million. This significant signing occurred despite the club's participation in the Saudi Third Division, which is the fourth tier of the Saudi football league system.[8][9] Sousa was presented alongside Nigerian forward Christian Irobiso.[10] Sousa and Irobiso became the first foreign players in the club's history. In addition to Sousa and Irobiso's signings, the club also made other high-profile signings including former Saudi international Hamad Al-Juhaim, Ghallab Al-Enezi, Fahad Al-Johani and Muhannad Awadh. All of whom joined from First Division sides. During the January transfer window, Al-Ula made further additions to their squad including First Division top scorer Ousmane Barry, and Pro League winners Aqeel Baalghyth and Housain Al-Mogahwi. On 8 March 2024, Al-Ula secured promotion to the third tier, the Saudi Second Division League, for the first time in history after beating Al-Fao 3–1 in the final matchday of the group stages.[11] On 23 March 2024, Al-Ula won the Saudi Third Division for the first time after defeating Al-Anwar 8–7 on penalties (2–2 after extra time) in the final.[12]

Honours

Current squad
As of 20 September 2023[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  KSA Sultan Al-Shammari
2 DF  KSA Abdulaziz Al-Ahmadi
5 MF  KSA Abdullah Al-Bladi
6 MF  KSA Gusay Al-Shelali
8 MF  KSA Hamoud Al-Qarni
9 FW  KSA Hamad Al-Juhaim
10 FW  BRA Allan Sousa
11 MF  KSA Ammar Al-Harfi
12 FW  GUI Ousmane Barry
13 DF  KSA Adel Al-Thowaib
15 MF  KSA Mohammed Al-Sherif
17 MF  KSA Mohammed Al-Nakhli
19 DF  KSA Abdulaziz Al-Alawi
20 MF  KSA Thaar Al-Otaibi
21 MF  KSA Muhannad Awadh
24 DF  KSA Mohammed Al-Shammari
26 MF  KSA Ghallab Al-Enezi
No. Pos. Nation Player
27 GK  KSA Mazyad Freeh
30 DF  KSA Aqeel Baalghyth
31 MF  KSA Abdulmohsen Al-Burayk
32 DF  KSA Abdullah Al-Dossari
33 DF  KSA Bandar Baajaj
48 DF  KSA Riyadh Al-Kharaan
55 DF  KSA Nawaf Al-Sobhi
66 DF  KSA Khaled Al-Ruwaili
70 MF  KSA Housain Al-Mogahwi
71 MF  KSA Mohammed Al-Otaibi
77 FW  KSA Emad Al-Kanani
87 GK  KSA Ahmed Masrahi
88 DF  KSA Abdulrahman Al-Khaibari
92 GK  KSA Saad Al-Qarni
97 DF  KSA Haider Al-Ameri
98 DF  KSA Mohammed Al-Sharqi

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
25 FW  NGA Christian Irobiso (on loan to Petrolul Ploiești)

References
  1. "العلا - Al-Ula".
  2. "Al Ula". Saudi Arabian Football Federation. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  3. "قصة التأسيس".
  4. "الراشد ومعاذ وخوجة.. أبرز وجوه العلا".
  5. "نادي العلا | الاخبار" [Transfer of ownership of AlUla Club to the Royal Commission for AlUla Governorate]. Al-Ula FC (Press release) (in Arabic). 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  6. Sim, Josh (6 June 2023). "PIF takes ownership of four Saudi Pro League clubs as Aramco, Neom, Driyah Gate and Royal Commission for Al-Ula also buy in". SportsPro. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  7. "Saudi Arabia privatises football clubs, eyes big-name signings". Al Jazeera. 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  8. El-Itr, Obaida (15 September 2023). "Allan Sousa kickstarter enorm klubsatsning". Tipsbladet. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  9. El-Itr, Obaida (15 September 2023). "Afsløring: Så meget tjener Sousa i Saudi-Arabien". Tipsbladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  10. Bak, Daniel (19 September 2023). "Bekræftet: Sousa er på plads i Saudi-Arabien". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  11. "العلا يكتب التاريخ .. ويصعد إلى الثانية".
  12. Al-Hubaishi, Saud (24 March 2024). "العلا بطل دوري الدرجة الثالثة" [Al-Ula is the champion of the third division league]. AlRiyadiyah (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  13. "تشكيلة العلا".
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