2024–25 Saudi First Division League
| Season | 2024–25 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 19 August 2024 – May 2025 |
| Matches played | 133 |
| Goals scored | 327 (2.46 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Romarinho Zinho Gano (10 goals each) |
| Biggest home win | Al-Tai 5–0 Al-Batin (4 December 2024) |
| Biggest away win | Al-Jubail 0–4 Neom (1 September 2024) |
| Highest scoring | Abha 3–3 Al-Adalah (10 November 2024) Ohod 2–4 Al-Adalah (16 December 2024) |
| Longest winning run | Abha Al-Bukiryah Al-Hazem Neom (4 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Al-Jabalain Jeddah (9 matches) |
| Longest winless run | Ohod (9 matches) |
| Longest losing run | Ohod (9 matches) |
← 2023–24 2025–26 →
All statistics correct as of 6 January 2025. | |
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.
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.
To the First Division League[edit]Promoted from Second Division Relegated from Pro League |
From the First Division League[edit]Promoted to Pro League Relegated to Second Division
|
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 personnel
[edit]
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
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 Ghazaleh
|
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] |
| Al-Safa | Carlos Pinto
|
Sacked | 18 October 2024[47] | 17th | Eelco Schattorie
|
18 October 2024[48] |
| Al-Ain | Ricardo Sousa
|
28 October 2024 | 15th |  Toufik Rouabah
|
31 October 2024 | |
| Al-Jubail | Laurent Hagist
|
31 October 2024 | 10th |  Jonathan Mabanza (caretaker)
|
31 October 2024 | |
| Jonathan Mabanza (caretaker)
|
End of caretaker period | 16 November 2024 | 14th |  Darko Nestorović
|
16 November 2024[49] | |
| Al-Faisaly | Filipe Gouveia
|
Mutual consent | 28 November 2024[50] | 16th | Alhomaidi Al-Otaibi (caretaker)
|
28 November 2024[50] |
| Al-Safa | Eelco Schattorie
|
Resigned | 6 December 2024[51] | 14th |  Juan Brown
|
8 December 2024[52] |
| Al-Faisaly | Alhomaidi Al-Otaibi (caretaker)
|
End of caretaker period | 30 December 2024 | 15th | Pablo Franco
|
30 December 2024[53] |
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.[54]
- 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.
League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neom | 13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 27 | 10 | +17 | 29 | Promotion to the Pro League |
| 2 | Al-Hazem | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 27 | 21 | +6 | 29 | |
| 3 | Al-Adalah | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 28 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Al-Tai | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 14 | +8 | 25 | |
| 5 | Al-Najma | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 25 | |
| 6 | Al-Bukiryah | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 24 | |
| 7 | Al-Arabi | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 23 | |
| 8 | Al-Jabalain | 16 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 22 | |
| 9 | Jeddah | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 15 | +2 | 21 | |
| 10 | Al-Safa | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 23 | −4 | 21 | |
| 11 | Abha | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 26 | −7 | 21 | |
| 12 | Al-Jandal | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 20 | −3 | 20 | |
| 13 | Al-Zulfi | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 17 | |
| 14 | Al-Faisaly | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 20 | −3 | 17 | |
| 15 | Al-Batin | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 27 | −11 | 17 | |
| 16 | Al-Jubail | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 15 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 17 | Al-Ain | 15 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 16 | −5 | 14 | |
| 18 | Ohod | 15 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 26 | −13 | 8 |
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).[55]
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.
| Promotion to the Pro League | |
| Qualification for the promotion play-offs | |
| Relegation to the Second Division |
Results
[edit]Promotion play-offs
[edit]| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||
| 6 | |||||||||||
| 4 | |||||||||||
| 5 | |||||||||||
Semi-finals
[edit]Final
[edit]Statistics
[edit]- As of 6 January 2025
Scoring
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[56] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romarinho
|
Neom | 10 |
 Zinho Gano
|
Al-Hazem | ||
| 3 |  Romell Quioto
|
Al-Arabi | 9 |
| 4 |  Henrique Luvannor
|
Al-Bukiryah | 8 |
| Alan Cariús
|
Al-Adalah | ||
| 6 | Fahad Al-Johani
|
Al-Jabalain | 6 |
| Ammar Al-Najjar
|
Jeddah | ||
 Mbaye Diagne
|
Neom | ||
| 9 |  Ahmed Abdu Jaber
|
Abha | 5 |
| Vina
|
Al-Jubail | ||
 Chisom Egbuchulam
|
Al-Jandal | ||
| Léo Tilica
|
Al-Najma | ||
 Andrei Cordea
|
Al-Tai |
Hat-tricks
[edit]| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmed Abdu Jaber |
Abha | Al-Faisaly | 3–1 (H) | 1 October 2024 | [57] |
- Note
(H) – Home; (A) – Away
Clean sheets
[edit]| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Džiugas Bartkus
|
Al-Bukiryah | 8 |
| 2 | Saad Al-Saleh
|
Al-Zulfi | 7 |
| 3 | Mustafa Malayekah
|
Neom | 6 |
| Moataz Al-Baqaawi
|
Al-Tai | ||
| Emanuel Novo
|
Al-Jandal | ||
| Max Walef
|
Al-Najmah | ||
| Marcelo Carné
|
Al-Jabalain | ||
| 8 | Ali Al-Ameri
|
Al-Adalah | 5 |
| 9 | Nawaf Bamehrez
|
Jeddah | 4 |
| Meshal Hariss
|
Al-Batin | ||
| Rafael Martins
|
Al-Jubail |
Awards
[edit]Round awards
[edit]| Round | Player of the Round | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Club | ||
| Round 1 | Agi Dambelley
|
Al-Najma | [58] |
| Round 2 | Ahmed Abdu Jaber
|
Abha | [59] |
| Round 3 | Ammar Al-Najjar
|
Jeddah | [60] |
| Round 4 | Ammar Al-Najjar
|
Jeddah | [61] |
| Round 5 | Ahmed Abdu Jaber
|
Abha | [62] |
| Round 6 | Salman Al-Faraj
|
Neom | [63] |
| Round 7 | Moataz Al-Baqaawi
|
Al-Tai | [64] |
| Round 8 | Vina
|
Al-Jubail | [65] |
| Round 9 | Romell Quioto
|
Al-Arabi | [66] |
| Round 11 | Fabinho
|
Al-Safa | [67] |
| Round 12 | Andrei Cordea
|
Al-Tai | [68] |
| Round 13 | Zinho Gano
|
Al-Hazem | [69] |
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]- ^ ""PLAY-OFF» يحدد صاعدي «يلو"".
- ^ ""بالركاده".... الهلال يحسم الدوري ويصادق على هبوط الحزم".
- ^ "بعد 5 مواسم.. الحزم يسحب أبها إلى يلو".
- ^ "الطائي يهبط .. والأخدود يفلت". 27 May 2024.
- ^ "لأول مرة في تاريخه الجبيل إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى يلو".
- ^ "بثلاثية.. نيوم يكسب الزلفي ويصعد إلى يلو".
- ^ "صعود الزلفي «طواحين نجد» إلى دوري الدرجة الأولى «يلو»".
- ^ "تتويج نادي نيوم بكأس دوري الدرجة الثانية لموسم 2023-2024".
- ^ "Prince Sultan Sport City Stadium (Mahalah)".
- ^ "استاد مدينة الملك سعود الرياضية". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Department of Education Stadium in Unaizah".
- ^ "Al batin Club Stadiuem".
- ^ "Albukiryah Club Stadium".
- ^ "Alhazm Club Stadium".
- ^ "استاد الأمير عبدالعزيز بن مساعد بن جلوي". kooora.com. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "ملعب نادي العروبة - AlOrubah Club Stadium".
- ^ "ملعب نادي الجبيل".
- ^ "ملعب نادي النجمة".
- ^ "استاد مدينة الأمير سعود بن جلوي الرياضية (الراكة)".
- ^ "ملعب نادي الزلفي - Zulfi Club Stadium".
- ^ "مدينة الملك خالد.. 30 عاماً في خدمة الشباب والرياضة".
- ^ "ملعب نادي أحد".
- ^ "الشابي يعود لقيادة #أبها".
- ^ "العدالة يعيد سيفيلا".
- ^ "ريكاردو سوزا مديراً فنياً لـ فخر الباحة".
- ^ "ماهر الشمري مدرباً للعربي السعودي". 22 June 2024.
- ^ "دينيس لافاني مدرباً لـ #البكيرية".
- ^ "الفيصلي يعلن التعاقد مع البرتغالي فيليب جوفيا". 7 June 2024.
- ^ "المدرب البرتغالي جورجي مندوسا جبلاويًا".
- ^ "الفرنسي لوران هاجيست مدربًا للفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
- ^ "OFICIAL: Mário Silva ruma ao Al Najma da segunda divisão saudita".
- ^ "Carlos Pinto de regresso à Arábia Saudita".
- ^ "إليكساندر إيليتش مدربا للطائي".
- ^ "الصربي زوران ميلينكوفيتش مديراً فنياً للفريق الأول لكرة القدم للموسم الرياضي القادم 2024_2025".
- ^ "نادي #جدة يتعاقد مع المدرب الاسباني ايفان لقيادة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم".
- ^ "رسميّا.. شاموسكا يقود نيوم في «يلو»".
- ^ "يوسُف عنبر مدربًا لنادي أحد".
- ^ "البرتغالي روي الميدا مدرباً للسماوي".
- ^ "قررت إدارة نادي العربي إنهاء عقد مدرب الفريق الكروي الأول الكابتن "ماهر الشمري"".
- ^ "أنهت إدارة النادي بقيادة الأستاذ "أمين الملاح" إجراءات التعاقد مع المدرب الكرواتي السيّد "دامير بوريتش"".
- ^ "إدارة #نادي_البكيرية تقرر إعفاء مدرب الفريق الفرنسي دينيس لافاني".
- ^ "ناندينهو مدرباً للبنفسجي".
- ^ "الطائي ينهي تعاقده مع إيليتش".
- ^ "الكوكي يعود للطائي".
- ^ "الإدارة تُنهي عقد مدرب الفريق الأول البرتغالي روي الميدا وتقدم شكرها له".
- ^ "رسمياً.. البياوي مدرباً للفريق الأول البلطن".
- ^ "تمنياتنـا لكم بالتوفيق والنجـاح".
- ^ "Welcome "Eelco Schattorie" to Alsafa club".
- ^ "الصربي داركو مدربا للفريق الاول بنادي الجبيل".
- ^ a b "إدارة النادي تنهي العلاقة التعاقدية مع المدير الفني "فيليب غوفيا" وتكلف الكابتن الحميدي العتيبي".
- ^ "وافقت إدارة النادي على قبول استقالة الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالتراضي وذلك نظراً للظروف الشخصية".
- ^ "Bienvenido AlSafa Club".
- ^ "الإسباني بابلو فرانك مدرباً للفيصلي".
- ^ "أعداد اللاعبين في بطولات الفريق الأول للموسم الرياضي المقبل 2024-2025".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "First Division League 2024/2025 Scorers".
- ^ "قـائـد أبـهـا أحـمـد عـبـده وكـرة الهـاتـريـك".
- ^ "لاعـب @alnajmahfc جـاي ديمبلـي #نجم_الجولة الأولـى".
- ^ "لاعـب @abhaFC أحمـد عبـده #نجم_الجولة الثانيـة".
- ^ "لاعـب @Jeddahsportclub عـمـار الـنـجـار #نجم_الجولة الـثـالـثـة".
- ^ "عـمـار الـنـجـار .. نجم جولة #نحلم_ونحقق".
- ^ "لاعـب @abhaFC أحمـد عبـده #نجم_الجولة الخـامـسـة".
- ^ "سـلمان الـفـرج #نجم_الجولة الـسـادسـة".
- ^ "مـعـتـز البـقـعـاوي #نجم_الجولة الـسـابـعـة".
- ^ "#نجم_الجولة الثامنة لاعب @Jubailclub فينيسيوس باربوزا".
- ^ "#نجم_الجولة الـتـاسـعـة رومـيـل كـيـوتـو".
- ^ "لاعب @alsafaclub فابـيـو تـيـكسـيرا #نجم_الجولة 11".
- ^ "#نجم_الجولة 12 لاعـب@tai1381 أنـدريـه كـورديـا".
- ^ "#نجم_الجولة 13 لاعب @alhazem_fc جــانــو زيـنـهـو".