Sports
16.08.2023
Al-Hilal: All you need to know about the Saudi Arabian football team
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Al-Hilal is a professional football club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which competes in the Saudi Pro League, the country’s premier football league.
Founded on October 16, 1957, Al-Hilal is one of the most successful clubs in the Middle East, having won several domestic and international trophies over the years.
In 2023, Al Hilal hit the headlines after it was rumoured that Lionel Messi might be joining the Saudi club after leaving French outfit Paris Saint-Germain. The move, however, didn’t pan out eventually as the Argentinian football star opted for a move to America to play in MLS instead.
On August 15th it was announced that Brazilian footbal star Neymar will join Al-Hilal.
Incidentally Lionel Messi’s arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr, Al Hilal’s cross-city rivals.
Al-Hilal history
The original name of the team was Olympic Club. It was changed to Al-Hilal on December 2, 1958, by Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the then King of Saudi Arabia. The other two proposed names for Olympic Club were Al-Yamama and Al-Wahda. The location of the club headquarters changed several times within Riyadh before settling in Al Uraija. Al-Hilal play their home games at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.
Al-Hilal won their first title in the 1960-61 season when they claimed the Saudi Cup Trophy. They won their first domestic league title in 1976-77 and the club has won over 60 trophies over the course of time. This includes a record 18 Saudi Arabian domestic league titles, 13 Saudi Crown Prince Cup trophies and nine Saudi Cup titles. It is perhaps appropriate that the club is nicknamed Al-Za'eem, which means ‘leader’ or ‘the one who dominates.’
Al-Hilal have found international success too. The club has won eight Asian titles, including the AFC Champions League a record four times. They were runners-up on another five occasions.
In recent years, Al-Hilal have dominated Saudi Arabian football, winning four league titles between 2016 and 2022. Domestically, Al-Hilal have only been rivalled by Al Nassr and Al-Ittihad. In the last decade, Al-Hilal and Al Nassr have shared eight titles between themselves.
Al-Hilal is currently coached by former Argentina football player Ramón Díaz.
Al-Hilal: records and stats
Former Saudi national team captain Yasser Al-Qahtani is the top goal scorer for Al-Hilal with 129 goals in 283 matches. Frenchman Bafétimbi Gomis is next with 111 goals in 148 matches. The two are the only players to have netted 100 goals for Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal’s biggest victory margin was a 9-0 win over Al-Deraa in the first round of the 2018-19 King’s Cup.
Al-Hilal suffered their heaviest loss after they went down 0-5 to Al-Taawoun FC in the semi-finals of the 2018-19 King’s Cup.
At 17 years and seven months, goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf is the youngest player to represent Al-Hilal.
At 39 years nine months, midfielder Mohammad Al-Shalhoub is the oldest man to play for Al-Hilal.
Mohammad Al-Shalhoub is also the oldest goal-scorer for Al-Hilal. At the age of 39 years, he netted one against Al-Jabalain FC during the second round of the 2019 King’s Cup.
Ahmed Al-Suwailh is the youngest goal-scorer for Al-Hilal. He set the record at the age of 17 years 10 months during the 2004 AFC Champions League Group C game against Al-Shorta SC.
Founded on October 16, 1957, Al-Hilal is one of the most successful clubs in the Middle East, having won several domestic and international trophies over the years.
In 2023, Al Hilal hit the headlines after it was rumoured that Lionel Messi might be joining the Saudi club after leaving French outfit Paris Saint-Germain. The move, however, didn’t pan out eventually as the Argentinian football star opted for a move to America to play in MLS instead.
On August 15th it was announced that Brazilian footbal star Neymar will join Al-Hilal.
Incidentally Lionel Messi’s arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr, Al Hilal’s cross-city rivals.
Al-Hilal history
The original name of the team was Olympic Club. It was changed to Al-Hilal on December 2, 1958, by Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the then King of Saudi Arabia. The other two proposed names for Olympic Club were Al-Yamama and Al-Wahda. The location of the club headquarters changed several times within Riyadh before settling in Al Uraija. Al-Hilal play their home games at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.
Al-Hilal won their first title in the 1960-61 season when they claimed the Saudi Cup Trophy. They won their first domestic league title in 1976-77 and the club has won over 60 trophies over the course of time. This includes a record 18 Saudi Arabian domestic league titles, 13 Saudi Crown Prince Cup trophies and nine Saudi Cup titles. It is perhaps appropriate that the club is nicknamed Al-Za'eem, which means ‘leader’ or ‘the one who dominates.’
Al-Hilal have found international success too. The club has won eight Asian titles, including the AFC Champions League a record four times. They were runners-up on another five occasions.
In recent years, Al-Hilal have dominated Saudi Arabian football, winning four league titles between 2016 and 2022. Domestically, Al-Hilal have only been rivalled by Al Nassr and Al-Ittihad. In the last decade, Al-Hilal and Al Nassr have shared eight titles between themselves.
Al-Hilal is currently coached by former Argentina football player Ramón Díaz.
Al-Hilal: records and stats
Former Saudi national team captain Yasser Al-Qahtani is the top goal scorer for Al-Hilal with 129 goals in 283 matches. Frenchman Bafétimbi Gomis is next with 111 goals in 148 matches. The two are the only players to have netted 100 goals for Al-Hilal.
Al-Hilal’s biggest victory margin was a 9-0 win over Al-Deraa in the first round of the 2018-19 King’s Cup.
Al-Hilal suffered their heaviest loss after they went down 0-5 to Al-Taawoun FC in the semi-finals of the 2018-19 King’s Cup.
At 17 years and seven months, goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf is the youngest player to represent Al-Hilal.
At 39 years nine months, midfielder Mohammad Al-Shalhoub is the oldest man to play for Al-Hilal.
Mohammad Al-Shalhoub is also the oldest goal-scorer for Al-Hilal. At the age of 39 years, he netted one against Al-Jabalain FC during the second round of the 2019 King’s Cup.
Ahmed Al-Suwailh is the youngest goal-scorer for Al-Hilal. He set the record at the age of 17 years 10 months during the 2004 AFC Champions League Group C game against Al-Shorta SC.
Photo: Getty Images
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