Competition: | Professional League |
Season: | 2018–19 |
Dates: | 30 August 2018 – 16 May 2019 |
Winners: | Al-Nassr (9th title) |
Relegated: | Al-Qadsiah Al-Batin Ohod |
Continentalcup1: | AFC Champions League |
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers: | Al-Nassr Al-Hilal Al-Taawoun Al-Ahli |
Continentalcup2: | Arab Club Champions Cup |
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | Al-Shabab Al-Ittihad |
Matches: | 240 |
Total Goals: | 706 |
League Topscorer: | Abderrazak Hamdallah (34 goals) |
Biggest Home Win: | (18 April 2019) (16 May 2019) |
Biggest Away Win: | (26 October 2018) (4 April 2019) |
Highest Scoring: | (28 March 2019) |
Longest Wins: | 9 matches[1] Al-Hilal |
Longest Unbeaten: | 12 matches Al-Hilal |
Longest Winless: | 12 matches[2] Al-Ittihad |
Longest Losses: | 8 matches Ohod |
Highest Attendance: | 59,174[3] Al-Nassr 2–1 Al-Batin (16 May 2019) |
Lowest Attendance: | 420 Al-Qadsiah 4–2 Ohod (5 April 2019) |
Average Attendance: | 8,355 |
Prevseason: | 2017–18 |
Nextseason: | 2019–20 |
Updated: | 16 May 2019 |
The 2018–19 Saudi Professional League was the 43rd edition of the Saudi Professional League, the top Saudi professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1975. The season started on 30 August 2018 and concluded on 16 May 2019.[4]
Al-Hilal were the defending champions after winning the Pro League last season for the 15th time. Al-Wehda and Al-Hazem have entered as the promoted teams from the 2017–18 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League. Al-Nassr were crowned as league winners for the 8th time on 16 May, after defeating Al-Batin 2–1 on the final day of the season.[5]
Ohod were the first team to be relegated after a 3–1 defeat to Al-Fayha FC on 12 April 2019.[6] Al-Batin were the second team to be relegated following their 1–0 defeat to an already relegated Ohod.[7] Al-Qadsiah were the third and final team to be relegated after a draw against Al-Hazem on the final day of the season.[8]
Abderrazak Hamdallah from Al-Nassr was the top scorer with 34 goals, and was also named Player of the Season.[9] . Pedro Emanuel of Al-Taawoun won the Manager of the Season award.[10]
On 7 March 2018, the Saudi FF announced that the league would be increased from 14 teams to 16 teams.[11] They also announced new rules limiting the club's squad size to 28 players.[12]
Sixteen teams competed in the league – the top twelve teams from the previous season, the two play-off winners and two teams promoted from the 2017–18 Prince Mohammad bin Salman League.
Teams who were promoted to the Pro League
The first club to be promoted was Al-Wehda, following their 2–2 draw away to Al-Mujazzal on 11 April 2018. Al-Wehda will play in the top flight of Saudi football after a season absence.[13] They were crowned champions on 18 April 2018 after beating Al-Khaleej 1–0 at home.[14]
The second club to be promoted was Al-Hazem, following their 4–1 win at home against Al-Mujazzal on 18 April 2017, coupled with Al-Tai's defeat against Hajer. Al-Hazem will play in the top flight of Saudi football for the first time since 2010–11.[15]
Teams who were relegated to the MS League
No teams were relegated to the Prince Mohammad bin Salman League. Due to an increase in the number of teams, the Saudi FF announced that the relegation was canceled and in its place was a relegation play-off.[11] Both Pro League teams, Al-Raed and Ohod, won the playoffs and secured their top-flight status.
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Al-Ahli | Jeddah | King Abdullah Sports City | |
Al-Batin | Hafar al-Batin | Al-Batin Club Stadium | |
Al-Ettifaq | Dammam | Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium | |
Al-Faisaly | Harmah | King Salman Sport City Stadium | |
Al-Fateh | Al-Hasa | Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium | |
Al-Fayha | Al Majma'ah | King Salman Sport City Stadium | |
Al-Hazem | Ar Rass | Al-Hazem Club Stadium | |
Al-Hilal | Riyadh | King Saud University Stadium | |
Al-Ittihad | Jeddah | King Abdullah Sports City | |
Al-Nassr | Riyadh | King Fahd International Stadium | |
Al-Qadsiah | Khobar | Prince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium | |
Al-Raed | Buraidah | King Abdullah Sport City Stadium | |
Al-Shabab | Riyadh | King Fahd International Stadium | |
Al-Taawoun | Buraidah | King Abdullah Sport City Stadium | |
Al-Wehda | Mecca | King Abdul Aziz Stadium | |
Ohod | Medina | Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium | |
Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Al-Ahli | Yousef Anbar (caretaker) | Hussein Abdulghani | Umbro | Saudia, Almosafer1, BOGA3 |
Al-Batin | Ciprian Panait | Mohanna Waqes | Givova | Gree Electric, Al Asasyah1, Rayat Al Shalal Hotel1, Al-Maali Hospital2 |
Al-Ettifaq | Hélder (caretaker) | Filip Kiss | Jako | Almana General Hospital, Al-Majdouie Hyundai, Goodyear1, Yaumi1, Innosoft2, APSCO Mobil 12, Kanaf3 |
Al-Faisaly | Al-Homaidy Al-Otaibi (caretaker) | Omar Abdulaziz | Adidas | ALDREES, Roco, Al Riyadh Travel & Tourism1, Shmagh Albassam1, Al Wefaq2, Al Tazaj3 |
Al-Fateh | Fathi Al-Jabal | Mohammed Al-Fuhaid | Offside | Al Kifah1, AlMoosa Hospital1 |
Al-Fayha | Noureddine Zekri | Sami Al-Khaibari | Skillano | Shawarmer, The Fourth Triangle |
Al-Hazem | Daniel Isăilă | Khaled Al-Barakah | ProIcon | Cabrito, RAKAA Holding1 |
Al-Hilal | Péricles Chamusca (caretaker) | Salman Al-Faraj | Nike | Kingdom Holding Company, Abdul Samad Al Qurashi1, Sun & Sand Sports1, Jawwy from STC2, APSCO Mobil 12 |
Al-Ittihad | José Luis Sierra | Karim El Ahmadi | Joma | Noon, APSCO Mobil 12 |
Al-Nassr | Rui Vitória | Ibrahim Ghaleb | Sporta | Etihad Airways |
Al-Qadsiah | Élton Arábia | Offside | Almana General Hospital, Al Yamama, Zamil Industrial, Tamimi Group1, Aljomaih Holding Company1, Al Hokair Group2, Al Wefaq2 | |
Al-Raed | Besnik Hasi | Yahya Al-Musalem | Erreà | Naqi Water1 |
Al-Shabab | Marius Șumudică | Nasser Al-Shamrani | Xtep | Moya, Al Saif Gallery1, Boudl Hotels1, Al Wefaq2, Physio Trio3 |
Al-Taawoun | Pedro Emanuel | Jehad Al-Hussain | Mafro | Almosafer, Naqi Water1, Shmagh Albassam1, Al Wefaq2 |
Al-Wehda | Juan Brown | Osama Hawsawi | Adidas | Abdul Samad Al Qurashi1 |
Ohod | Ammar Souayah | Abdoh Besisi | Erreà | Mozn, Saudi German Hospital1, Al Tazaj3 |
Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Al-Ettifaq | Saad Al-Shehri | Signed by Saudi Arabia U23 | 13 April 2018[16] | Pre-season | Leonardo Ramos | 23 May 2018[17] |
Al-Nassr | Krunoslav Jurčić | End of contract | 13 April 2018 | José Daniel Carreño | 14 April 2018[18] | |
Al-Hilal | Juan Brown | Interim period ended | 13 April 2018 | Jorge Jesus | 5 June 2018[19] | |
Al-Qadsiah | Bandar Basreh | 13 April 2018 | Aleksandar Stanojević | 23 May 2018[20] | ||
Al-Shabab | Khalid Al-Koroni | 13 April 2018 | Marius Șumudică | 14 June 2018[21] | ||
Al-Taawoun | Resigned | 2 May 2018[22] | Pedro Emanuel | 7 May 2018[23] | ||
Al-Faisaly | Vuk Rašović | Signed by Al Dhafra[24] | 3 May 2018 | Mircea Rednic | 2 July 2018[25] | |
Ohod | Sadio Demba | End of contract | 4 May 2018 | Francisco Arce | 9 June 2018[26] | |
Al-Hazem | Abdulwahab Al-Harbi | 5 May 2018 | Daniel Isăilă | 8 June 2018[27] | ||
Al-Wehda | Djamel Belkacem | 5 May 2018 | Fábio Carille | 22 May 2018[28] | ||
Al-Ahli | Fathi Al-Jabal | End of caretaker spell | 15 May 2018[29] | Pablo Guede | 15 May 2018[30] | |
Al-Ittihad | José Luis Sierra | End of contract | 21 May 2018[31] | Ramón Díaz | 22 May 2018[32] | |
Al-Batin | Ciprian Panait | 31 May 2018 | Franky Vercauteren | 26 July 2018[33] | ||
Al-Raed | Aleksandar Ilić | 31 May 2018 | Besnik Hasi | 26 July 2018[34] | ||
Al-Ittihad | Ramón Díaz | Sacked | 15 September 2018[35] | 16th | Slaven Bilić | 27 September 2018[36] |
Al-Faisaly | Mircea Rednic | 8 October 2018[37] | 11th | Péricles Chamusca | 14 October 2018[38] | |
Al-Fayha | Gustavo Costas | 15 October 2018[39] | 14th | Slavoljub Muslin | 15 October 2018[40] | |
Al-Batin | Franky Vercauteren | 1 November 2018[41] | 14th | Yousef Al-Ghadeer | 10 November 2018[42] | |
Al-Qadsiah | Aleksandar Stanojević | 4 November 2018[43] | 15th | Ivaylo Petev | 11 November 2018[44] | |
Al-Nassr | José Daniel Carreño | 10 November 2018[45] | 2nd | Rui Vitória | 10 January 2019[46] | |
Ohod | Francisco Arce | 23 November 2018[47] | 15th | Paulo Alves | 27 November 2018[48] | |
Al-Ettifaq | Leonardo Ramos | 27 November 2018[49] | 7th | Sergio Piernas | 1 December 2018[50] | |
Al-Wehda | Fábio Carille | Signed by Corinthians | 13 December 2018[51] | 5th | Mido | 5 January 2019[52] |
Ohod | Sacked | 14 January 2019[53] | 16th | Ammar Souayah | 19 January 2019[54] | |
Al-Hilal | Jorge Jesus | 30 January 2019[55] | 1st | Zoran Mamić | 30 January 2019 | |
Al-Fayha | Slavoljub Muslin | 2 February 2019[56] | 14th | Noureddine Zekri | 5 February 2019[57] | |
Al-Ahli | Pablo Guede | 5 February 2019[58] | 4th | Jorge Fossati | 8 February 2019[59] | |
Al-Batin | Yousef Al-Ghadeer | Mutual consent | 17 February 2019[60] | 13th | Ciprian Panait | 17 February 2019[61] |
Al-Ittihad | Slaven Bilić | Sacked | 24 February 2019[62] | 15th | José Luis Sierra | 24 February 2019[63] |
Al-Qadsiah | Ivaylo Petev | 10 March 2019[64] | 11th | Bandar Basreh | 10 March 2019[65] | |
Al-Wehda | Mido | 19 March 2019[66] | 6th | Juan Brown | 20 March 2019[67] | |
Al-Ahli | Jorge Fossati | 17 April 2019[68] | 5th | Yousef Anbar (caretaker) | 17 April 2019 | |
Al-Ettifaq | Sergio Piernas | 19 April 2019[69] | 10th | Hélder (caretaker) | 19 April 2019[70] | |
Al-Qadsiah | Bandar Basreh | Mutual consent | 22 April 2019[71] | 14th | Nacif Beyaoui | 22 April 2019[72] |
Al-Faisaly | Péricles Chamusca | Loaned to Al-Hilal | 27 April 2019[73] | 6th | Al-Homaidy Al-Otaibi (caretaker) | 27 April 2019 |
Al-Hilal | Zoran Mamić | Sacked | 27 April 2019[74] | 2nd | Péricles Chamusca (caretaker) | 27 April 2019 |
The number of foreign players is limited to 7 per team.[75] On June 7, 2018, the Saudi FF increased the number of foreign players from 7 to 8 players.[76]
The following table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve the chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward. If a club from the Saudi Professional League wins the King Cup, they will qualify for the AFC Champions League, unless they have already qualified for it through their league position. In this case, an additional AFC Champions League group stage berth will be given to the 3rd placed team, and the AFC Champions League play-off round spot will be given to 4th.
The 13th place team in the Saudi Professional League, Al-Hazem, will face the 4th place team in the MS League, Al-Khaleej, over two legs on a home-and-away basis.[78]
All times are AST (UTC+3).
Rank | Player | Club | Goals[79] | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | 34 | |
2 | Léandre Tawamba | Al-Taawoun | align=center rowspan=2 | 21 |
Bafétimbi Gomis | Al-Hilal | |||
4 | Djaniny | Al-Ahli | 20 | |
5 | Omar Al Somah | Al-Ahli | 19 | |
6 | Saleh Al-Shehri | Al-Raed | 16 | |
7 | Danilo Asprilla | Al-Fayha | 15 | |
8 | Cristian Guanca | Al-Ettifaq | 14 | |
9 | Abdulfattah Adam | Al-Taawoun | 12 | |
10 | Fahad Al-Muwallad | Al-Ittihad | 11 | |
Player | For | Against | Result | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3–0 (A) | [80] | ||||
3–0 (H) | [81] | ||||
3–3 (A) | [82] | ||||
Abderrazak Hamdallah4 | 4–0 (H) | [83] | |||
3–0 (H) | [84] | ||||
3–4 (A) | [85] | ||||
Djaniny5 | 5–1 (H) | [86] | |||
4–0 (H) | [87] | ||||
4–1 (H) | [88] | ||||
Abderrazak Hamdallah4 | 4–0 (A) | [89] | |||
Saleh Al-Shehri4 | 5–4 (A) | [90] | |||
5–0 (A) | [91] | ||||
5–1 (H) | [92] | ||||
3–0 (A) | [93] | ||||
6–2 (H) | [94] | ||||
5–0 (H) | [95] | ||||
Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets[96] | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Brad Jones | Al-Nassr | align=center rowspan=2 | 11 |
Maksym Koval | Al-Fateh | |||
3 | Cássio | Al-Taawoun | align=center rowspan=2 | 10 |
Farouk Ben Mustapha | Al-Shabab | |||
5 | Mohammed Al-Owais | Al-Ahli | 9 | |
6 | Azzedine Doukha | Al-Raed | 8 | |
7 | Adriano Facchini | Al-Batin | align=center rowspan=3 | 7 |
Fawaz Al-Qarni | Al-Ittihad | |||
Mustafa Malayekah | Al-Faisaly | |||
10 | Raïs M'Bolhi | Al-Ettifaq | align=center rowspan=4 | 6 |
Jack Duncan | Al-Qadsiah | |||
Mohamed Awad | Al-Wehda | |||
Ali Al-Habsi | Al-Hilal | |||
††
Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Club | Player | Club | ||||
September | Jorge Jesus | Al-Hilal | Raïs M'Bolhi | Al-Ettifaq | align=center | [98] [99] | |
October | Fábio Carille | Al-Wehda | Rómulo Otero | Al-Wehda | align=center | [100] [101] | |
November | Slavoljub Muslin | Al-Fayha | Léandre Tawamba | Al-Taawoun | align=center | [102] [103] | |
December | Marius Șumudică | Al-Shabab | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | align=center | [104] [105] | |
January | Slaven Bilić | Al-Ittihad | Djaniny | Al-Ahli | align=center | [106] | |
February | Fathi Al-Jabal | Al-Fateh | Bafétimbi Gomis | Al-Hilal | align=center | [107] | |
March | Rui Vitória | Al-Nassr | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | align=center | [108] | |
April | José Luis Sierra | Al-Ittihad | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | align=center | [109] |
Month | Manager of the Round | Player of the Round | Fans of the Round | Reference | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Club | Player | Club | Club | |||
Round 2 | Aleksandar Stanojević | Al-Qadsiah | Élton Arábia | Al-Qadsiah | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [110] [111] |
Round 3 | José Daniel Carreño | Al-Nassr | Ahmed Musa | Al-Nassr | Al-Ahli | align=center | [112] |
Round 4 | Daniel Isăilă | Al-Hazem | Abdulla Al Salem | Al-Fayha | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [113] |
Round 5 | José Daniel Carreño | Al-Nassr | Nordin Amrabat | Al-Nassr | Al-Nassr | align=center | [114] |
Round 6 | Leonardo Ramos | Al-Ettifaq | Brahian Alemán | Al-Ettifaq | Al-Wehda | align=center | [115] |
Round 7 | Slavoljub Muslin | Al-Fayha | Djaniny | Al-Ahli | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [116] |
Round 8 | Pablo Guede | Al-Ahli | Djaniny | Al-Ahli | Al-Hilal | align=center | [117] |
Round 9 | Abdulaziz Al-Bishi | Al-Qadsiah | Haroune Camara | Al-Qadsiah | Al-Hilal | align=center | [118] |
Round 10 | Pedro Emanuel | Al-Taawoun | Léandre Tawamba | Al-Taawoun | Al-Ahli | align=center | [119] |
Round 11 | Fábio Carille | Al-Wehda | Ahmed Abdu Jaber | Al-Wehda | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [120] |
Round 12 | Hélder | Al-Nassr | Nordin Amrabat | Al-Nassr | Al-Hilal | align=center | [121] |
Round 13 | Daniel Isăilă | Al-Hazem | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | Al-Taawoun | align=center | [122] |
Round 14 | Ivaylo Petev | Al-Qadsiah | Omar Al Somah | Al-Ahli | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [123] |
Round 15 | Mido | Al-Wehda | Rómulo Otero | Al-Wehda | Al-Wehda | align=center | [124] |
Round 16 | Marius Șumudică | Al-Shabab | Djaniny | Al-Ahli | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [125] |
Round 17 | Yousef Al-Ghadeer | Al-Batin | Carlos Eduardo | Al-Hilal | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [126] |
Round 18 | Pedro Emanuel | Al-Taawoun | Bafétimbi Gomis | Al-Hilal | Al-Hilal | align=center | [127] |
Round 19 | Ammar Souayah | Ohod | Bafétimbi Gomis | Al-Hilal | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [128] |
Round 20 | Péricles Chamusca | Al-Faisaly | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | Al-Hilal | align=center | [129] |
Round 21 | Zoran Mamić | Al-Hilal | Mohammed Al-Majhad | Al-Fateh | Al-Hilal | align=center | [130] |
Round 22 | Pedro Emanuel | Al-Taawoun | Léandre Tawamba | Al-Taawoun | Al-Ahli | align=center | [131] |
Round 23 | Mido | Al-Wehda | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | Al-Ittihad | align=center | [132] |
Round 24 | Rui Vitória | Al-Nassr | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | Al-Nassr | [133] | |
Round 25 | Rui Vitória | Al-Nassr | Bruno Uvini | Al-Nassr | Al-Shabab | [134] | |
Round 26 | Jorge Fossati | Al-Ahli | Danilo Asprilla | Al-Fayha | Al-Ittihad | [135] | |
Round 27 | José Luis Sierra | Al-Ittihad | Fahad Al-Muwallad | Al-Ittihad | Al-Nassr | [136] | |
Round 28 | Pedro Emanuel | Al-Taawoun | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | Al-Ittihad | [137] | |
Round 29 | José Luis Sierra | Al-Ittihad | Abderrazak Hamdallah | Al-Nassr | Al-Ittihad | [138] |
Award | Winner | Club | |
---|---|---|---|
Manager of the Season | Pedro Emanuel[139] | Al-Taawoun | |
Player of the Season | Abderrazak Hamdallah[140] | Al-Nassr | |
Saudi Player of the Season | Mohamed Kanno[141] | Al-Hilal | |
Young Player of the Season | Muteb Al-Mufarrij[142] | Al-Taawoun | |
Golden Glove | Farouk Ben Mustapha[143] | Al-Shabab | |
Golden Boot | Abderrazak Hamdallah[144] | Al-Nassr |