Al-Duhail SC
Full nameAl-Duhail Sports Club
Nickname(s)The Red Knights
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009) (as Lekhwiya)
GroundAbdullah bin Khalifa Stadium
Doha, Qatar
Capacity9,000[1]
ChairmanKhalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
ManagerChristophe Galtier
LeagueQatar Stars League
2022–23Qatar Stars League, 1st of 12
WebsiteClub website
Current season
Al Duhail SC active sections

Football
Basketball
Handball

Volleyball
Futsal
Athletics

Al-Duhail Sports Club (Arabic: نادي الدحيل الرياضي), formerly Lekhwiya SC, is a Qatari sports club, best known for its football team, which plays in the Qatar Stars League. The club is based in the Duhail district in the city of Doha and plays its home games at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. It is the first team in Qatari football to win the first division title on its debut season.

In April 2017, it was announced that the club would take over El Jaish SC and merge with it following the 2016–17 Qatar Stars League and be known as Al-Duhail Sports Club in a rebranding of Lekhwiya SC.[2][3]

History

The club was founded as Al-Shorta Doha and in 2009 was renamed Lekhwiya.[4] Lekhwiya Club has the biggest financial budget in Qatar.

Upon the club's reformation, it was entered into the Qatari 2nd Division. It came fourth in the league on its first year before winning the next season in 2010.

In the club's first season in the Qatar Stars League, Lekhwiya finished at the top of the standings to win the 2010–11 Qatar Stars League.[5] It was the first league title in the club's history. They also managed to reach the final of the 2010 Sheikh Jassem Cup, losing in the final to Al-Arabi.[6]

Their first official debut in a continental competition came on March 7, 2012, in the 2012 AFC Champions League. They won their first match against Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, with Nam Tae-Hee scoring the only goal and also scoring the first-ever goal for Lekhwiya in any regional competition.[7]

In the 2011–12 Qatar Stars League season, Lekhwiya retained the league title with two games left to be played.[8]

They inaugurated a new stadium Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, also known as Lekhwiya Sports Stadium, on February 15, 2013 in a match against Al Khor and won their third league title in the first season at the new stadium.[9]

in April 2017 the club announced that they would take over El Jaish SC and rebranded the club into Al-Duhail SC.

At the end of the 2017–2018 Season the Club became the first club to hold all three domestic Titles the league, Qatar Cup and Emir Cup.

In 2024, it was one of the teams invited to take part in the first installment of the Equality Cup.[10]

Stadium

Main article: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium

Lekhwiya's stadium began construction in 2011.[9] The first phase was completed in May 2012.[11] The stadium was officially inaugurated on February 15, 2013 with the first match played being a Qatar Stars League fixture against Al Khor. The official seating capacity is 10,000, it is located in the ISF area of Doha.

Colours and crest

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period Kit manufacture Shirt sponsor
2009–11 Burrda None
2011–19 Masraf Rayan
2020– Puma

Kit history

Home kit
2009
Home kit
2011

Players

As of 10 September 2023[12]

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 Qatar QAT Salah Zakaria
2 DF Qatar QAT Mohammed Musa
3 DF Qatar QAT Mohamed Al-Naemi
4 DF Qatar QAT Yousef Aymen
5 DF Brazil BRA Lucas Veríssimo
6 MF Qatar QAT Khaled Mohammed
7 MF Qatar QAT Ismaeel Mohammad
8 MF Qatar QAT Luiz Júnior
9 MF Brazil BRA Philippe Coutinho (on loan from Aston Villa)
11 FW Qatar QAT Almoez Ali (captain)
12 MF Qatar QAT Karim Boudiaf
13 GK Qatar QAT Mohamed Saeed Ibrahim (on loan from Al-Wakrah)
14 FW Kenya KEN Michael Olunga
16 FW Qatar QAT Abdulaziz Mohamad Hassan
17 MF Qatar QAT Abdelrahman Moustafa
18 DF Qatar QAT Sultan Al-Brake
19 FW France FRA Isaac Lihadji
20 FW Qatar QAT Lotfi Madjer
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 DF Qatar QAT Fares Amer
22 DF Italy ITA Ibrahima Bamba
23 MF Qatar QAT Assim Madibo
24 FW Qatar QAT Mubarak Hamza
25 MF Qatar QAT Suhaib Gannan
27 MF France FRA Ibrahima Diallo
28 FW Qatar QAT Rashid Al-Abdulla
29 FW Qatar QAT Mohammed Muntari
32 MF Qatar QAT Abdulla Muhsin
33 DF South Korea KOR Kim Moon-hwan
37 FW Qatar QAT Abdulaziz Abu Shabab
40 MF Qatar QAT Abdulla Sabet
44 MF Qatar QAT Jassim Al-Mheiri
45 MF Qatar QAT Abdulaziz Mohamad
49 MF Qatar QAT Abdallah Haroun
52 MF Qatar QAT Karim Fadi
66 MF Qatar QAT Abdulhamid Sibai
99 GK Qatar QAT Shehab Ellethy

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 Belgium BEL Edmilson Junior

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
5 DF Qatar QAT Bassam Al-Rawi (at Al-Rayyan)
26 FW Qatar QAT Rabh Boussafi (at Al-Wakrah)
41 MF Qatar QAT Ahmed Reyed (at Al-Khor)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Qatar QAT Ali Ghulais (at Muaither)
— DF Qatar QAT Mohammed Emad Aiash (at Al Ahli)
— MF Qatar QAT Abdullah Al-Ahrak (at Qatar SC)

Personnel

Current technical staff

Position Staff
Head coach France Christophe Galtier
Assistant coach Argentina Juan Branda
Goalkeeping coach Argentina Gustavo Nepote
Fitness coach Argentina Federico Martinetti
Fitness coach Portugal Raul Esmeriz
Physiotherapist Qatar Sabeur Zidi
Physiotherapist Portugal Pedro Silva
Massager Tunisia Anselmo Apolinario
Massager Tunisia Anderson Apolinario
Doctor Tunisia Murad Almekrani

Last updated: 23 December 2022
Source: https://www.duhailsc.qa/main-team/

Records and statistics

Last update: 17 April 2024.
Players whose names are in bold are still active with the club.

Most goals
# Nat. Name Career Goals League Goals
1 South Korea Nam Tae-hee 2012–2019, 2021–2023 117 84
2 Morocco Youssef El-Arabi 2016–2019 108 76
3 Kenya Michael Olunga 2020– 108 66
4 Tunisia Youssef Msakni 2012–2021 99 73
5 Almoez Ali 2016– 68 49
6 Sebastián Soria 2012–2015 58 42
7 Ismaeel Mohammad 2011– 47 34

Reserves and academy

Main article: Al-Duhail FC Reserves

Administrative staff

Honours

Domestic

Regional

Al-Duhail in Asia

Competition Pld W D L GF GA
AFC Champions League 71 35 15 21 123 95
Total 71 35 15 21 123 95

AFC Champions League

Round Country Club Home Away
2012
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 1–0 0–3
GS United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr 1–2 1–2
GS Iran Sepahan 1–0 1–2
2013
GS United Arab Emirates Al-Shabab 2–1 1–3
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Ittifaq 0–0 2–0
GS Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 3–1 2–2
R16 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 1–0 2–2
QF China Guangzhou Evergrande 0–2 1–4
2014
GS United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 1–2 0–5
GS Iran Tractor 0–0 1–0
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 2–0 1–3
2015
GS Iran Persepolis F.C. 3–0 0–3
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr FC 1–1 3–1
GS Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 1–0 1–0
R16 Qatar Al-Sadd 2–2 2–1
QF Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 2–2 1–4
2016
GS Iran Zob Ahan 0–1 0–0
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr FC 4–0 1–1
GS Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 0–0 0–2
R16 Qatar El Jaish SC 0–4 4–2
2017
GS United Arab Emirates Al Jazira 3–0 3–1
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Fateh 4–1 2–2
GS Iran Esteghlal Khuzestan 2–1 1–1
R16 Iran Persepolis 0–1 0–0
2018
GS Iran Zob Ahan 3–1 1–0
GS Uzbekistan Lokomotiv Tashkent 3–2 2–1
GS United Arab Emirates Al Wahda 1–0 3–2
R16 United Arab Emirates Al Ain 4–1 4–2
QF Iran Persepolis 1–0 1–3
2019
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 2–2 1–3
GS United Arab Emirates Al Ain 2–2 2–0
GS Iran Esteghlal 3–0 1–1
R16 Qatar Al-Sadd 1–1 1–3
2020
GS Iran Persepolis 2–0 1–0
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Taawoun 0–1 0–2
GS United Arab Emirates Sharjah 2–1 2–4
2021
GS Iraq Al-Shorta 2–0 1–2
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 1–1 1–1
GS Iran Esteghlal 4–3 2–2
2022
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Taawon 1–2 4–3
GS Iran Sepahan 5–2 1–0
GS Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 3–2 3–0
R16 Qatar Al-Rayyan 1–1 7–6 (p)
QF Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab 2–1
SF Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0–7
2023–24
GS Tajikistan Istiklol 2–0 0–0
GS Iran Persepolis 2–1 0–1
GS Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 3–4 2–3

Club rankings

National ranking

As of 9 May 2023.[15]
Current Rank Country Team Points
1 Qatar Al-Duhail SC 1583
2 Qatar Al Sadd SC 1578
3 Qatar El Jaish SC 1427
4 Qatar Al-Rayyan SC 1390
5 Qatar Al-Arabi SC 1363

Asian ranking

As of 9 May 2023.[16]
Current Rank Country Team Points
5 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1586
6 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr FC 1583
7 Qatar Al-Duhail SC 1583
8 Japan Yokohama F. Marinos 1578
9 Qatar Al Sadd SC 1578

World ranking

As of 9 May 2023.[17]
Current Rank Country Team Points
149 Colombia Atlético Nacional 1583
150 Saudi Arabia Al Nassr FC 1583
151 Qatar Al-Duhail SC 1583
152 Romania CFR Cluj 1582
153 Italy U.S. Salernitana 1919 1582

Managerial history

See also: Category:Al-Duhail SC managers

Other sports

Handball

Further information: Al Duhail SC (handball)

References

  1. ^ "Capacity Stadium". Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  2. ^ "Lekhwiya, El Jaish clubs to merge" (in Arabic). Gulf Times. 11 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Lekhwiya, Al Jaish Clubs to Merge into One Club under the Name of Al Duhail Sports Club". www.qna.org.qa. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Qatar 2009/10". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  5. ^ Lekhwiya SC new Qatar Star league champions!
  6. ^ "Cabore seals Sheikh Jassim Cup triumph for Al Arabi". qfa.com.qa. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Qatar's Lekhwiya launch Asian campaign with a brave win". qsl.com.qa. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  8. ^ "لخويا يتوج باللقب الثاني ويدفع العربي للخطر". Al Kass. March 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  9. ^ a b لخويا يستضيف الخور على ملعبه الجديد (in Arabic). Al Kass. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Equality Cup Football Tournament in collaboration with Zenit Saint Petersburg FC". Aspire Zone. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Lekhwiya Sports Stadium". Urbacon-Intl. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Main Teaml". Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Board Members". Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  14. ^ "Shabab Al Ahli edge Al Duhail to win maiden Qatar-UAE Super Shield". Qatar Stars League. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Qatar Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  16. ^ "Asia Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  17. ^ "World Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  18. ^ "Archive al-watan.com 2011/04/12". Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  19. ^ "Al Duhail SC Manager history". Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-22.

External links

Al-Duhail Sports Club
Al-Duhail SC – current squad
Qatar Stars League
Categories