Al-Rayyan Sc

It is based at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Umm Al Afaei in the city of Al Rayyan. The club was founded in 1967 after merging the old Rayyan team with Nusoor Club. The official team colours are red and black.

Al-Rayyan SC

Full name	Al-Rayyan Sports Club
Nickname(s)	The Lions
Founded	1967; 57 years ago (1967)
Ground	Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
Capacity	40,740
Chairman	Al Qaqa bin Hamad Al Thani
Manager	Leonardo Jardim
League	Qatar Stars League
2022–23	Qatar Stars League, 9th of 12
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Al Rayyan's active sections
Football	Basketball	Handball
Volleyball	Futsal	Athletics

They have won numerous titles in all sports, including two Asian championships in basketball, the Arab championship in handball, futsal domestic titles, table tennis, and volleyball, as well as numerous GCC basketball, handball, and volleyball championships. Both the basketball and handball teams have qualified for the world championships. However, the football team gets the most attention from the club officials, media, and fans.

1967–1973: Founding

Al Rayyan's history goes back to the mid-1960s when it was known as Old Al Rayyan. Old Al Rayyan, though an amateur football team, competed in matches arranged throughout the whole country, not being limited to the city in which it was based. Their headquarters was in a two-bedroom house, and they played their matches on a football field in a school based in the New Rayyan area. The club relied on donations from the fans during this period.

In 1967, Al Rayyan began as a combination of two groups called " new Al Rayyan’sons and old al-Rayyan’son". In 1967, Al-Rayyan started its factory. From 1967 until now, Al-Rayyan has won many trophies not only in soccer even in the rest of the games such as handball, basketball and volleyball. The people who contributed to build Al Rayyan knew that this team would not be a regular team, but it will also represent the culture of the city of Al Rayyan outside of Qatar. In 2008, the club established magazine called SOUT AL RAYYAN (The Voice of Al Rayyan) which is the first magazine that cares about Al Rayyan news, and it is the only team's magazine in Qatar.

They applied to be a member club of the Qatar Football Association, but were rejected with the QFA proposing that they merge with Al Nusoor, a local sports club also based in Al Rayyan. In 1967, after an announcement by the Al Rayyan Sports Committee that Old Al Rayyan would merge with Al Nusoor, Al Rayyan SC was officially founded. A new headquarters was established to accommodate increased size demands as a result of the merger. The first head coach of Al Rayyan was Ashour Salem, a Sudanese national, who, besides working as a local physical education coach, trained the first team and youth team. In the early years, the club branched out to other sports, notably basketball and handball. As a result of donations from the club supporters, Al Rayyan was able to establish their home grounds in Doha Stadium, the largest stadium in Qatar at that time.

1973–1988: Early history

The club had success in the Qatar Stars League within the first decade of its formation, with the club participating in their first official season in 1972–73. In the 1974–75, after a mass brawl between the fans and players of Al Rayyan and Al Sadd, the QFA relegated Al Rayyan, who were in 2nd place at the time, to the second division. They won back promotion the following season and achieved their first league title 1976. In the 1977 season, the QFA annulled the results of Al Rayyan due to actions which took place in a match against Al Arabi. The perpetrator, who was an Al Arabi player by the name of Yassin Mustafa, was banned permanently from all league matches whereas the two clubs were warned.

In 1983, under the leadership of Mohammed Bin Hammam Al Abdulla, a new club headquarters and home stadium were constructed. They won the league with a negative goal difference in 1983–84, making them one of the only 6 teams in the world and the only Qatari team in history to achieve this feat.

1988–2000: Relegation and return to glory

In the 1987–88 season, much to the surprise of critics and fans, they got relegated for the first time in league history. The relegation was preceded by a 0–1 loss to Al Sadd, as Hassan Jowhar scored a header goal which would prove to be the final nail in the coffin of Al Rayyan. They won back promotion to the premier league in their first season in the second division. ^{[citation needed]}

They would go on to win the league in 1990, the same season they were promoted back to the first division, beating out rivals Al Sadd. They won an additional league title in 1995. ^{[citation needed]}

2000–2013: League title drought

They inaugurated their home ground, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, in 2003 during the reign of Sheikh Mishaal Al Thani. The first match held on the grounds was the 2003 Emir Cup finals. ^{[citation needed]}

The club has not experienced much league success as of late, with the last successful league campaign being in 1994–95; however they finished third in the 2010–11 season under Paulo Autuori. Nonetheless, they faced great success in the Emir's Cup and Heir Apparent Cup winning eight cups in total in 14 years. ^{[citation needed]}

2014–: Return to success

In 2014–15 the club won the Qatargas League and returned to Qatar Stars League. On 28 November 2015, Al-Rayyan Broke the record of most consecutive league matches won to 11. ^{[citation needed]}

On 5 March 2016, after 21 years Al-Rayyan won the league once again, and became the first ever team to win both leagues in two years.

 

Al-Rayyan is one of the most popular clubs in Qatar and is supported throughout the Gulf region, as well as other parts of the world due to their high-profile signings. In 2010, they had the highest attendance in the Qatar Stars League. The fan club won the QFA-sanctioned award of "best fans" in the 2008–09 season, and shared the award with Al Sadd in the 2012–13 season.

Al Arabi

Head-to-head

Since 1994 Updated 26 September 2023

Al Sadd

Head-to-head

Since 1995 Updated 22 September 2023

Al Gharafa

Head-to-head

Since 1995 Updated 21 September 2023

Al Duhail

Head-to-head

Updated 21 September 2023

As of 9 May 2023

League

• Qatar Stars League
  • Champions (8): 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1994–95, 2015–16

Cup

• Emir of Qatar Cup
  • Champions (6): 1998–99, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2010, 2011, 2013
• Qatar Cup
  • Champions (4): 1995, 1996, 2001, 2012
• Sheikh Jassim Cup
  • Champions (5): 1992, 2000, 2012, 2013, 2018

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Home	Away	Aggregate
1991	Asian Club Championship	1R	Al-Orouba	4–2	1−0	5–2
		QF	Port Authority	3–1		1st
			Al Shabab	2–1
			Mohammedan	3–1
		SF	Esteghlal	1–2		1–2
		Third Place	Al Shabab	2–2		2–2 (5–4 p)
1996–97	Asian Club Championship	2R	Kazma	1–1	1−0	2–1
		QF	Al-Nassr	2–1		4th
			Al-Zawraa	0–2
			Persepolis	1–2
1997–98	Asian Club Championship	1R	Al-Riffa	–	–	w/o[A]
		2R	Al-Hilal	0–0	2–3	2–3
2005	AFC Champions League	Group A	PAS Tehran	1–2	1–2	3rd
			Al-Salmiya	2–1	0–2
			Al-Shorta	2–0	0–0
2007	AFC Champions League	Group A	Al Wahda	0–1	0–3	4th
			Al-Zawraa	1–3	0–0
			Al-Arabi	1–3	1–1
2010	AFC Cup	Group E	Al-Wehdat	3–0	4–2	1st
			Al-Nahda	3–2	2–0
			Al-Riffa	0–2	4–1
		R16	Muangthong United	1–1	–	1–1 (2–4 p)
2011	AFC Champions League	Group D	Al-Shabab	1–1	0–1	4th
			Emirates	2–0	0–2
			Zob Ahan	1–3	0–1
2012	AFC Champions League	Group A	Esteghlal	0–1	0–3	3rd
			Al Jazira	3–4	2–3
			Nasaf Qarshi	3–1	1–0
2013	AFC Champions League	Group D	Esteghlal	3–3	0–3	4th
			Al-Hilal	0–2	1–3
			Al Ain	2–1	1–2
2014	AFC Champions League	Group A	Al Jazira	2–3	2–3	4th
			Esteghlal	1–0	1–3
			Al-Shabab	0–2	3–4
2017	AFC Champions League	Group D	Al Wahda	2–1	1–5	3rd
			Al-Hilal	3–4	1–2
			Persepolis	3–1	0–0
2018	AFC Champions League	Group D	Esteghlal	2–2	0–2	3rd
			Al Ain	1–4	1–1
			Al-Hilal	2–1	1–1
2019	AFC Champions League	PO	Saipa	3–1	–	3–1
		Group B	Al-Ittihad	0–2	1–5	4th
			Lokomotiv Tashkent	2–1	2–3
			Al Wahda	1–2	3–4
2020	AFC Champions League	PO	Esteghlal	0–5	–	0–5
2021	AFC Champions League	Group E	Goa	1–1	0–0	4th
			Persepolis	1–3	2–4
			Al Wahda	0–1	2–3
2022	AFC Champions League	Group A	Istiklol	1–0	3–2	2nd
			Al-Hilal	0–3	2–0
			Sharjah	3–1	1–1
		R16	Al-Duhail	1–1		1–1 (6–7 p)

Key: PO – Play-off round; 1R/2R – First/Second round; R16 – Round of 16; QF – Quarter-final; SF – Semi-final;

Notes

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Arabic: ملعب أحمد بن علي), popularly known as the Al-Rayyan Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar which serves as the home stadium for Al Rayyan's football section. It will be used as a venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Statistics correct as March 7, 2023

P	Player	Goals	Games
1	Rodrigo Tabata	11	32
2	Gelmin Rivas	6	6
=	Yohan Boli	6	13
4	Mansour Muftah	4
=	Sebastián Soria	4	17
=	Kalu Uche	4	3
7	Nilmar	3	6
=	Steven Nzonzi	3	7
=	Abdeslam Laghrissi	3
=	Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi	3
=	Gonzalo Viera	3	18
=	Sergio García	3	6
=	Abderrazak Hamdallah	3	5

As of Qatar Stars League:

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   QAT Fahad Younes 2 DF   QAT Ali Jasimi 3 DF   JPN Shogo Taniguchi 4 DF   QAT Ahmed Yasser 5 DF   QAT Bassam Al-Rawi (on loan from Al-Duhail) 6 MF   QAT Abdulaziz Hatem 7 MF   QAT Rodrigo Tabata 8 MF   QAT Naif Al-Hadhrami 9 FW   QAT Ahmed Al-Rawi 11 MF   BRA Gabriel Pereira 12 DF   QAT Ahmed Al-Minhali 13 DF   POR André Amaro 14 MF   QAT Adel Bader 15 FW   QAT Tameem Al-Abdullah 16 MF   QAT Abdurahman Al-Harazi 17 MF   QAT Mohamed Surag 18 DF   QAT Abdullah Al-Ali 19 FW   ESP Rodrigo

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF   QAT Khalid Ali Sabah 21 GK   QAT Saud Al Hajiri 23 MF   BRA Thiago Mendes 24 DF   QAT Khalid Muftah 25 MF   QAT Mostafa Essam 26 MF   QAT Osama Al-Tairi 27 MF   QAT Ibrahim Al-Hassan 28 MF   MAR Achraf Bencharki 29 DF   QAT Hassan Al-Ghareeb 30 GK   QAT Fahad Al-Qasaimi 33 MF   QAT Davi Cruz 37 MF   QAT Wassim Matar 38 MF   QAT Abdulhadi Al-Oun 42 MF   QAT Yousef Al-Alawi 77 DF   QAT Mouz Abdalla 88 MF   QAT Moameen Mutasem 96 MF   BRA Róger Guedes — DF   PLE Ameed Mahajna

Unregistered players

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 10 MF   MAR Sofiane Boufal

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF   QAT Yousif Umar

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 31 GK   QAT Sami Mazen (at Lusail) 71 DF   QAT Moustafa Asar (at Lusail)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF   QAT Mubarak Al-Nasser (at Muaither) — FW   QAT Hadi Tabasideh (at Al-Sailiya)

Last update: August 2023.

First team

Position	Staff
Head coach	Leonardo Jardim
Analyst	Diogo Jardim
Assistant coaches	António Vieira   José Araujo   Abdughafoor Murad
Goalkeeping coach	Welesley
Fitness coach	Miguel Moita
Club analyst	Yuri de Souza
Academy manager	Albert Valentín
Sports scientist	Gavin Donoghue

Notable players

This list includes players whom have made significant contributions to their national team and to the club. At least 90 caps for the club or 100 caps for their national team is needed to be considered for inclusion.

Present and past managers of Al-Rayyan from 1967 (incomplete):

Administrative managers

•   Ashraf Mehdi (1984–85)
•   Saad Abu El Dahab (1985–)

Notes

• 1. Non-professional coach; worked as local physical education teacher.
• 2. First professional coach.
• 3. First non-Arab coach.

National ranking

As of 9 May 2023.

Current Rank	Country	Team	Points
2		Al Sadd SC	1578
3		El Jaish SC	1427
4		Al-Rayyan SC	1390
5		Al-Arabi SC	1363
6		Al-Gharafa SC	1356

Asian ranking

As of 9 May 2023.

Current Rank	Country	Team	Points
60		Pune FC	1392
61		Al Fateh FC	1392
62		Al-Rayyan SC	950
63		Nejmeh SC	1390
64		Al Ansar SC	1387

World ranking

As of 9 May 2023.

Current Rank	Country	Team	Points
716		Heracles Almelo	1390
717		Smouha SC	1390
718		Al-Rayyan SC	1390
719		FK Željezničar Sarajevo	1390
720		Once Caldas	1390