Qatar Stars League

The Qatar Stars League (Arabic: دوري نجوم قطر; abbreviated as QSL), known as Expo Stars League for sponsorship reasons, is the top level football league in Qatar football league system. Contested by 12 teams, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Qatari Second Division (QSD). The QSL season usually runs from September to April. The league's first season was played in 1963, although the first official season occurred in 1972. The league currently features 12 clubs, with one club being demoted to make room for one club being promoted.

Qatar Stars League
Founded1972 (1972)
CountryQatar
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toQatari Second Division
Domestic cup(s)
International cup(s)
Current championsAl-Sadd (17th title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsAl-Sadd (17 titles)
TV partnersbeIN Sports
Alkass Sports
Websiteqsl.qa
Current: 2023–24 Qatar Stars League

The Qatari league system provides 5 domestic cups that various clubs can compete for: the Emir of Qatar Cup, open to all teams in both the first and second divisions, the Qatar Crown Prince Cup a postseason tournament played by the top four first division teams, the Sheikh Jassem Cup, a prelude to the first division regular season, the Qatari Stars Cup, a round-robin tournament played midseason, and the Qatar FA Cup, where the bottom 8 teams from the QSL and the entire QSD participate. The league title has been officially won by 7 clubs since its inception. The club that has won the most championships is Al Sadd SC, with 16 titles.

League structure

There are 2 divisions in the Qatari football structure and the league has previously seen one club promoted and relegated each year except in expansion seasons. The Qatar Stars League, previously known as the Q-League currently features 12 teams, with the 2nd division featuring 8 teams. The top four clubs at the end of the regular league system participate in the Qatar Crown Prince Cup, which was formed in the 1994/95 season.[1]

The Qatar Stars League has slowly expanded since the turn of the decade moving from 9 clubs to 10 clubs, and then latest setup of 12 clubs for the Qatari League 2009-10 campaign. It was announced that in the 2013-14 season, the number of clubs in the top division would increase to 14, whereas the second division would increase to 18 clubs which includes the reserve teams of the top division clubs.[2]

It was announced on 15 April 2009 that no clubs would be relegated from the top flight in the 2008–09 Qatar Stars League season, due to expansion reasons, however the announcement was made with only one game remaining.[3] That year, the top league expanded to 12 clubs. In May 2013, the QFA again expanded the league by two more teams, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 14.[4] In 2017 the number of teams moved back to 12.

There are currently 4 official amateur football leagues in Qatar. Three amateur leagues are under the jurisdiction of the Qatar Community Football League (QCFL), established by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and the fourth, known as the Qatar Amateur League (QAL) is recognized by the QFA. Inaugurated in November 2013,[5] the QAL has 14 teams, all of which were established through the country's government, political and social sectors.[6]

History

Early history

The first unofficial season of the Qatar Stars League was the 1963–64 season, 3 years after the formation of the QFA. Similarly, a second division was also created during this time. For many years, there was no promotion or relegation system.[7] Al-Maref, a club representing the Ministry of Education, was dissolved in 1966-67 by decision of the QFA and its players distributed to other clubs.[8]

First official season

In 1972–73, the first official season was played.[9] Al Esteqlal, now known as Qatar SC, won the first championship.[10]

The first time there was a playoff for the championship was in 1980, between Al Sadd and Al Arabi. Al Sadd won the match 1–0.[7]

Although a second division had been in place for some time, there was no relegation or promotion system. However, in 1981, such a system was put in place for the first time. Five clubs participated in the second division that year.[7]

In 1984–85, there was no relegation or promotion due to a lack of players as members of the Qatar national football team were preparing for the qualification rounds of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.[7]

In 1994, for one season, the QFA launched a new system where matches ending in draws would end in a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. This was put in place in an effort to improve attendance.[7]

Three second division clubs were dissolved in the 1990 season: Al Nasr, Al Tadamon, and Al Nahda. Many of their players were distributed to first division clubs and became prominent players in Qatari football history, such as Fahad Al Kuwari, Ahmed Al Kuwari and Hamad Al Khalifa. After the dissolution of these clubs, there was no longer any relegation or promotion for five years. In 1995/96, the second division was brought back with five clubs, while there were ten clubs participating in the first division.[7]

The 2003 money influx from QFA

A successful method the QFA used to develop the league was allocating each Q-League club with a sum of $10,000,000 to buy big-name foreign players in order to increase popularity, in the summer of 2003. The attempt brought in players such as Ronald and Frank de Boer, Romário, Pep Guardiola, Fernando Hierro, Marcel Desailly, Stefan Effenberg, Claudio Caniggia, and Gabriel Batistuta who soon appeared and shone in the league.[11][12]

In addition, in 2004, the Aspire Academy was formed, which provides training facilities to young people in order to improve the footballing standard not only in Qatar, but internationally. Many notable players have graduated from the academy, including Abdelkarim Hassan, Saad Al Sheeb, and Ibrahim Majid.[13]

2009: Changing name to Qatar Stars League

In 2009, no clubs were relegated from the top division. Due to the recent formation of Lekhwiya and El Jaish, this meant that the second division would lose two clubs while two more clubs would enter the first division, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 12, and the second division to 6.[3] As part of the expansion campaign, the "Q-League" changed its name to what it is currently known as, "Qatar Stars League",[14] and inaugurated a new domestic cup, the "Qatari Stars Cup".[15]

Clubs

Champions
Club Wins Winning years[16]
Al Sadd 17 1971–72, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2012–13, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24
Al-Duhail 8 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23
Qatar SC 8 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1972–73, 1976–77, 2002–03
Al-Rayyan 8 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1994–95, 2015–16
Al-Arabi 7 1982–83, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97
Al-Gharafa 7 1991–92, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
Al-Wakrah 2 1998–99, 2000–01

2022–23 season
Qatar Stars League
Club Location Stadium Year formed
Al Ahli SC Doha Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium 1950
Al-Arabi SC Doha Grand Hamad Stadium 1952
Al-Duhail SC Doha Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium 2009
Al-Gharafa SC Doha Thani bin Jassim Stadium 1979
Al-Markhiya SC Al-Markhiya Al-Markhiya Stadium 1995
Al-Rayyan SC Al Rayyan Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium 1967
Al Sadd SC Al Sadd Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium 1969
Al-Sailiya SC Doha Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium 1950
Al-Shamal SC Madinat ash Shamal Al-Shamal SC Stadium 1980
Al-Wakrah SC Al Wakrah Al Janoub Stadium 1959
Qatar SC Doha Suheim bin Hamad Stadium 1959
Umm Salal SC Umm Salal Thani bin Jassim Stadium 1979

Total titles won by region
Region Number of titles Clubs
Doha
34
 Al-Sadd SC (16), Qatar SC (3), Al-Duhail SC (8), Al-Arabi SC (7)
Al Rayyan
15
 Al-Rayyan SC (8), Al-Gharafa SC (7)
Al Wakrah
2
 Al-Wakrah SC (2)

Media coverage

Qatar

In 2012, Alkass Sports signed a deal to have the rights to broadcast Stars League in English.[17] beIN Sports also bought rights to broadcast Stars League.

Seasons Channel
2012–present Alkass Sports
beIN Sports

International
Seasons Countries Channel
2023–present  Brazil Paramount+
 South Korea SPOTV
 ASEAN

Post-season awards

An award system was developed in 2006 in which the best player and coach of the footballing season are selected by a panel of journalists. Each award winner receives $100,000.[18][19] There are also awards for youth players and club staff.

Year Best Player Club Best Coach Club
2006[18] Sebastián Soria Al Gharafa Jorge Fossati Al Sadd
2007[18] Emerson Sheik Al Sadd Jorge Fossati Al Sadd
2008[18] Aziz Ben Askar Umm Salal Marcos Paquetá Al Gharafa
2009[18] Leonardo Pisculichi Al Arabi Sebastião Lazaroni Qatar SC
2010[18] Juninho Pernambucano Al Gharafa Caio Júnior Al Gharafa
2011[18] Bakari Koné Lekhwiya Abdullah Mubarak Al Ahli
2012[20] Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan Diego Aguirre Al-Rayyan
2013[21] Khalfan Ibrahim Al Sadd Hussein Amotta Al Sadd
2014 Nadir Belhadj Al Sadd Sami Trabelsi Al-Sailiya SC
2015 Hassan Al-Haydos Al Sadd Michael Laudrup Lekhwiya SC
2016 Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan Jorge Fossati Al-Rayyan
2017 Nam Tae-hee Lekhwiya Jesualdo Ferreira Al Sadd
2018 Youssef Msakni Al-Duhail SC Djamel Belmadi Al-Duhail SC
2019 Akram Afif Al Sadd Jesualdo Ferreira Al Sadd
2020 Akram Afif Al Sadd Diego Aguirre Al-Rayyan
2021 Santi Cazorla Al Sadd Xavi Al-Sadd
2022 Akram Afif Al Sadd Tintín Márquez Al-Wakrah
2023 Youssef Msakni Al Arabi Younes Ali Al Arabi

Top goalscorers

Source:[22][23]

Year Best scorers Team Goals
1972–73 Awodh HassanAl-Esteqlal10
1973–74 Mansoor MuftahAl-Rayyan15
1974–75 Not held
1975–76 Jamal Al KhatibAl-Esteqlal13
1976–77 Mansoor MuftahAl-Rayyan13
1977–78 Mansoor MuftahAl-Rayyan11
1978–79 Hassan MattarAl-Sadd11
1979–80


Hamdan Hamed
Badr Bilal
Sharif Abdul-Hamed
Mansoor Muftah		Al-Ahli
Al-Sadd
Qatar SC
Al-Rayyan		5
1980–81 Hassan MattarAl-Sadd9
1981–82 Mansoor MuftahAl-Rayyan18
1982–83 Mansoor MuftahAl-Rayyan10
1983–84 Mansoor MuftahAl-Rayyan7
1984–85 Ahmed YaqoubAl-Arabi7
1985–86 Mansoor MuftahAl-Rayyan22
1986–87 Hassan SabelaAl-Ahli9
1987–88 Hassan JowharAl-Sadd11
1988–89 Farshad PiousAl-Ahli9
1989–90 Marquinho CariocaAl-Arabi10
1990–91

Mahmoud Soufi
Adel Khamis
Hassan Sabela		 Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad
Al-Ahli		 8
1991–92 Mubarak Mustafa
Rabah Madjer		 Al-Arabi
Qatar SC		 12
1992–93 Mubarak MustafaAl Arabi9
1993–94

Ahmed Daham
Mahmoud Soufi
Marquinho Carioca		Al-Shamal
Al-Ittihad
Al-Arabi		9
1994–95 Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi Al-Rayyan 9
1995–96 Ricky OwubokiriAl-Arabi SC16
1996–97
Mubarak Mustafa
Alboury Lah		 Al-Arabi
Al-Ahli		 11
1997–98

Hussein Ammouta
Alboury Lah
Cláudio Prates		 Al-Sadd
Al-Ahli
Al-Arabi		 10
1998–99 AkwáAl-Wakrah11
1999–2000 Mohammed Salem Al-EnaziAl-Rayyan14
2000–01 Mamoun DiopAl-Wakrah14
2001–02 Rachid AmraneAl-Ittihad16
2002–03 Rachid RokkiAl-Khor15
2003–04 Gabriel BatistutaAl-Arabi25
2004–05 Sonny AndersonAl-Rayyan20
2005–06 Carlos TenorioAl-Sadd21
2006–07 Younis MahmoudAl-Gharafa24
2007–08 Clemerson AraújoAl-Gharafa27
2008–09 Magno AlvesUmm Salal25
2009–10
Cabore
Younis Mahmoud		Al-Arabi
Al-Gharafa		21
2010–11 Younis MahmoudAl-Gharafa15
2011–12 AdrianoEl Jaish18
2012–13 Sebastián SoriaLekhwiya19
2013–14 Dioko KaluyitukaAl-Ahli22
2014–15 Dioko KaluyitukaAl-Ahli25
2015–16
Abderrazak Hamdallah
Rodrigo Tabata		 El Jaish
Al-Rayyan		 21
2016–17
Baghdad Bounedjah
Youssef El-Arabi		Al-Sadd
Lekhwiya		24
2017–18 Youssef El-ArabiAl-Duhail26
2018–19 Baghdad BounedjahAl-Sadd39
2019–20
Yacine Brahimi
Akram Afif		 Al-Rayyan
Al-Sadd		 15
2020–21 Baghdad BounedjahAl-Sadd21
2021–22 Michael OlungaAl-Duhail24
2022–23 Michael OlungaAl-Duhail22
2023–24 Akram AfifAl-Sadd26

By player
Rank Player Country Titles Seasons
1Mansoor Muftah Qatar81973–74, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
2Mubarak Mustafa Qatar31991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97
2Younis Mahmoud Iraq32006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11
2Baghdad Bounedjah Algeria32016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21
5Hassan Mattar Qatar21977–78, 1980–81
5Hassan Sabela Qatar21986–87, 1990–91
5Marquinho Carioca Brazil21989–90, 1993–94
5Mahmoud Soufi Qatar21990–91, 1993–94
5Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi Qatar21994–95, 1999–2000
5Alboury Lah Senegal21996–97, 1997–98
5Dioko Kaluyituka Democratic Republic of the Congo22013–14, 2014–15
5Youssef El-Arabi Morocco22016–17, 2017–18
5Akram Afif Qatar22019–20, 2023–24
5Michael Olunga Kenya22021–22, 2022–23

All-time top scorers
Rank Nat Name Club Years Goals Apps Assists
1 Sebastián Soria Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC, Al-Rayyan, Al-Duhail, Al-Arabi 2004–20942358
2 Mansour Muftah Al-Rayyan, Al-Wakrah 1973–1998182+——
3 Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd 2015–15015741
4 Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan, Al-Sadd 2011–148273101
5 Younis Mahmoud Al-Gharafa, Al-Sadd, Al-Arabi, Al-Khor, Al-Wakrah 2004–20131311904
6 Meshal Abdullah Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC, Al-Wakrah, Al-Sailiya, Al-Ahli 1999–201012335428
7 Youssef Msakni Al-Arabi, Al-Duhail 2013–10517860
8 Hassan Al-Haydos Al-Sadd 2007–9932886
9 Akram Afif Al-Sadd 2018–9911463
10 Nam Tae-hee Al-Sadd, Al-Duhail 2012–20239423175
11 Mubarak Mustafa Al-Arabi SC,Al-Khor,Al-Gharafa 1990–2007+91+179+42
12 Dioko Kaluyituka Al-Duhail , Al-Gharafa, Al-Kharaitiyat, Muaither, Al-Ahli 2011–20178412112
13 Khalfan Ibrahim Al-Arabi , Al-Sadd, Al-Rayyan 2004–20208324149
14 Youssef El-Arabi Al-Duhail 2016–2019765913
15 Moumouni Dagano Al-Sailiya, Qatar SC, Al-Shamal, Al-Duhail, Al-Khor 2008–20157215820
16 Akwá Qatar SC, Al-Gharafa, Al-Wakrah 1998–200670123
17 Clemerson Araújo Al-Gharafa 2007–20106884
18 Michael Olunga Al-Duhail 202067695
19 Rachid Rokki Al-Khor, Umm Salal 2000–200865118
20 Carlos Tenorio Al-Sadd 2003–20086388
21 Leonardo Pisculichi Al-Arabi 2007–20126311215
22 Yahia Kébé Al-Kharaitiyat 2009–20165813221
23 Wagner Ribeiro Al-Sailiya, Al-Arabi, El Jaish,Al-Ahli 2009–20185717429
24 Cabore Umm Salal, Al-Arabi 2009–2014579015
25 Mirghani Al Zain Al-Gharafa, Al-Wakrah ,Al-Sailiya 1996–201957420
26 Júlio César Al-Khor, Al-Ahli 2009–20165611713
27 Abdulgadir Ilyas Bakur Al-Sailiya, Al-Arabi, El Jaish,Umm Salal,Al-Markhiya 2008–5518439
28 Amad Al-Hosni Qatar SC,Al-Rayyan 2005–2010521006
29 Yacine Brahimi Al-Gharafa, Al-Rayyan 2019–539429
30 Yannick Sagbo Umm Salal 2015–2020519812
32 Mohamed Benyettou Al-Wakrah 2019–51103
31 Ali Afif Al-Sadd ,Al-Duhail 2015–20205026934
33 Boualem Khoukhi Al-Sadd ,Al-Arabi 2009–4925825

See also

References
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  17. "'Football is a powerful marketing tool'". 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
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  23. "Qatar Football Association Award 2021-22". Retrieved 2022-12-19.
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