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Qatar Stars League

(Redirected from Qatari League)

The Qatar Stars League (Arabic: دوري نجوم قطر; abbreviated as QSL), known as Ooredoo Stars League for sponsorship reasons, is the top level football league in Qatar football league system. Contested by 12 teams, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Qatari Second Division (QSD). The QSL season usually runs from September to April. The league's first season was played in 1963, although the first official season occurred in 1972. The league currently features 12 clubs, with one club being demoted to make room for one club being promoted.

Qatar Stars League
Founded1972; 52 years ago (1972)
CountryQatar
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toQatari Second Division
Domestic cup(s)
International cup(s)
Current championsAl-Sadd (17th title)
(2023–24)
Most championshipsAl-Sadd (17 titles)
TV partnersbeIN Sports
Alkass Sports
Sponsor(s)Ooredoo
Websiteqsl.qa
Current: 2024–25 Qatar Stars League

The Qatari league system provides 5 domestic cups that various clubs can compete for: the Emir of Qatar Cup, open to all teams in both the first and second divisions, the Qatar Crown Prince Cup a postseason tournament played by the top four first division teams, the Sheikh Jassem Cup, a prelude to the first division regular season, the Qatari Stars Cup, a round-robin tournament played midseason, and the Qatar FA Cup, where the bottom 8 teams from the QSL and the entire QSD participate. The league title has been officially won by 7 clubs since its inception. The club that has won the most championships is Al Sadd SC, with 16 titles.

League structure

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There are 2 divisions in the Qatari football structure and the league has previously seen one club promoted and relegated each year except in expansion seasons. The Qatar Stars League, previously known as the Q-League currently features 12 teams, with the 2nd division featuring 8 teams. The top four clubs at the end of the regular league system participate in the Qatar Crown Prince Cup, which was formed in the 1994/95 season.[1]

The Qatar Stars League has slowly expanded since the turn of the decade moving from 9 clubs to 10 clubs, and then latest setup of 12 clubs for the Qatari League 2009-10 campaign. It was announced that in the 2013-14 season, the number of clubs in the top division would increase to 14, whereas the second division would increase to 18 clubs which includes the reserve teams of the top division clubs.[2]

It was announced on 15 April 2009 that no clubs would be relegated from the top flight in the 2008–09 Qatar Stars League season, due to expansion reasons, however the announcement was made with only one game remaining.[3] That year, the top league expanded to 12 clubs. In May 2013, the QFA again expanded the league by two more teams, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 14.[4] In 2017 the number of teams moved back to 12.

There are currently 4 official amateur football leagues in Qatar. Three amateur leagues are under the jurisdiction of the Qatar Community Football League (QCFL), established by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and the fourth, known as the Qatar Amateur League (QAL) is recognized by the QFA. Inaugurated in November 2013,[5] the QAL has 14 teams, all of which were established through the country's government, political and social sectors.[6]

History

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Early history

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The first unofficial season of the Qatar Stars League was the 1963–64 season, 3 years after the formation of the QFA. Similarly, a second division was also created during this time. For many years, there was no promotion or relegation system.[7] Al-Maref, a club representing the Ministry of Education, was dissolved in 1966-67 by decision of the QFA and its players distributed to other clubs.[8]

First official season

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In 1972–73, the first official season was played.[9] Al Esteqlal, now known as Qatar SC, won the first championship.[10]

The first time there was a playoff for the championship was in 1980, between Al Sadd and Al Arabi. Al Sadd won the match 1–0.[7]

Although a second division had been in place for some time, there was no relegation or promotion system. However, in 1981, such a system was put in place for the first time. Five clubs participated in the second division that year.[7]

In 1984–85, there was no relegation or promotion due to a lack of players as members of the Qatar national football team were preparing for the qualification rounds of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.[7]

In 1994, for one season, the QFA launched a new system where matches ending in draws would end in a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. This was put in place in an effort to improve attendance.[7]

Three second division clubs were dissolved in the 1990 season: Al Nasr, Al Tadamon, and Al Nahda. Many of their players were distributed to first division clubs and became prominent players in Qatari football history, such as Fahad Al Kuwari, Ahmed Al Kuwari and Hamad Al Khalifa. After the dissolution of these clubs, there was no longer any relegation or promotion for five years. In 1995/96, the second division was brought back with five clubs, while there were ten clubs participating in the first division.[7]

The 2003 money influx from QFA

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A successful method the QFA used to develop the league was allocating each Q-League club with a sum of $10,000,000 to buy big-name foreign players in order to increase popularity, in the summer of 2003. The attempt brought in players such as Ronald and Frank de Boer, Romário, Pep Guardiola, Fernando Hierro, Marcel Desailly, Stefan Effenberg, Claudio Caniggia, and Gabriel Batistuta who soon appeared and shone in the league.[11][12]

In addition, in 2004, the Aspire Academy was formed, which provides training facilities to young people in order to improve the footballing standard not only in Qatar, but internationally. Many notable players have graduated from the academy, including Abdelkarim Hassan, Saad Al Sheeb, and Ibrahim Majid.[13]

2009: Changing name to Qatar Stars League

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In 2009, no clubs were relegated from the top division. Due to the recent formation of Lekhwiya and El Jaish, this meant that the second division would lose two clubs while two more clubs would enter the first division, bringing the total number of clubs in the first division to 12, and the second division to 6.[3] As part of the expansion campaign, the "Q-League" changed its name to what it is currently known as, "Qatar Stars League",[14] and inaugurated a new domestic cup, the "Qatari Stars Cup".[15]

Clubs

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Champions

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Al Sadd are the most successful team in the league
Club Wins Winning years[16]
Al Sadd 17 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2012–13, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24
Al-Duhail 8 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23
Al-Rayyan 8 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1994–95, 2015–16
Qatar SC 8 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1972-73, 1976–77, 2002–03
Al-Arabi 7 1982–83, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97
Al-Gharafa 7 1991–92, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
Al-Wakrah 2 1998–99, 2000–01

Total titles won by region

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Region Number of titles Clubs
Doha
39
 Al-Sadd SC (17), Qatar SC (8), Al-Duhail SC (8), Al-Arabi SC (7)
Al Rayyan
15
 Al-Rayyan SC (8), Al-Gharafa SC (7)
Al Wakrah
2
 Al-Wakrah SC (2)

Media coverage

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Qatar

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In 2012, Alkass Sports signed a deal to have the rights to broadcast Stars League in English.[17] beIN Sports also bought rights to broadcast Stars League.

Seasons Channel
2012–present Alkass Sports
beIN Sports

International

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Seasons Countries Channel
2023–present   Brazil Paramount
  South Korea SPOTV
  ASEAN

Post-season awards

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An award system was developed in 2006 in which the best player and coach of the footballing season are selected by a panel of journalists. Each award winner receives $100,000.[18][19] There are also awards for youth players and club staff.

Year Best Player Club Best Player U23 Club Best Coach Club
2006[18]   Sebastián Soria Al Gharafa Not held   Jorge Fossati Al Sadd
2007[18]   Emerson Sheik Al Sadd Not held   Jorge Fossati Al Sadd
2008[18]   Aziz Ben Askar Umm Salal   Hassan Al Haydos Al Sadd   Marcos Paquetá Al Gharafa
2009[18]   Leonardo Pisculichi Al Arabi Not held   Sebastião Lazaroni Qatar SC
2010[18]   Juninho Pernambucano Al Gharafa Not held   Caio Júnior Al Gharafa
2011[18]   Bakari Koné Lekhwiya Not held   Abdullah Mubarak Al Ahli
2012[20]   Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan Not held   Diego Aguirre Al-Rayyan
2013[21]   Khalfan Ibrahim Al Sadd Not held   Hussein Amotta Al Sadd
2014   Nadir Belhadj Al Sadd Not held   Sami Trabelsi Al-Sailiya SC
2015   Hassan Al-Haydos Al Sadd   Abdurahman Al-Harazi Al-Sailiya SC   Michael Laudrup Lekhwiya SC
2016   Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan   Abdelkarim Hassan Al Sadd   Jorge Fossati Al-Rayyan
2017   Nam Tae-hee Lekhwiya   Almoez Ali Lekhwiya SC   Jesualdo Ferreira Al Sadd
2018   Youssef Msakni Al-Duhail SC   Almoez Ali Lekhwiya SC   Djamel Belmadi Al-Duhail SC
2019   Akram Afif Al Sadd   Bassam Al-Rawi Al-Duhail SC   Jesualdo Ferreira Al Sadd
2020   Akram Afif Al Sadd  Tarek Salman Al Sadd   Diego Aguirre Al-Rayyan
2021   Santi Cazorla Al Sadd   Homam Al-Amin Lekhwiya SC   Xavi Al-Sadd
2022   Akram Afif Al Sadd   Homam Al-Amin Al Gharafa   Tintín Márquez Al-Wakrah
2023   Youssef Msakni Al Arabi   Osama Al Tairy Al-Rayyan   Younes Ali Al Arabi
2024   Akram Afif Al Sadd   Jassim Jaber Al Arabi   Pedro Martins Al-Gharafa

Top goalscorers

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Source:[22][23]

Year Best scorers Team Goals
1972–73   Awodh Hassan Al-Esteqlal 10
1973–74   Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan 15
1974–75 Not held
1975–76   Jamal Al Khatib Al-Esteqlal 13
1976–77   Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan 13
1977–78   Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan 11
1978–79   Hassan Mattar Al-Sadd 11
1979–80  
 
 
 		 Hamdan Hamed
Badr Bilal
Sharif Abdul-Hamed
Mansoor Muftah		 Al-Ahli
Al-Sadd
Qatar SC
Al-Rayyan		 5
1980–81   Hassan Mattar Al-Sadd 9
1981–82   Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan 18
1982–83   Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan 10
1983–84   Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan 7
1984–85   Ahmed Yaqoub Al-Arabi 7
1985–86   Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan 22
1986–87   Hassan Sabela Al-Ahli 9
1987–88   Hassan Jowhar Al-Sadd 11
1988–89   Farshad Pious Al-Ahli 9
1989–90   Marquinho Carioca Al-Arabi 10
1990–91  
 
  		Mahmoud Soufi
Adel Khamis
Hassan Sabela 		Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad
Al-Ahli 		8
1991–92    Mubarak Mustafa
Rabah Madjer 		Al-Arabi
Qatar SC 		12
1992–93   Mubarak Mustafa Al Arabi 9
1993–94  
 
 		 Ahmed Daham
Mahmoud Soufi
Marquinho Carioca		 Al-Shamal
Al-Ittihad
Al-Arabi		 9
1994–95   Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi Al-Rayyan 9
1995–96   Ricky Owubokiri Al-Arabi SC 16
1996–97  
  		Mubarak Mustafa
Alboury Lah 		Al-Arabi
Al-Ahli 		11
1997–98  
 
  		Hussein Ammouta
Alboury Lah
Cláudio Prates 		Al-Sadd
Al-Ahli
Al-Arabi 		10
1998–99   Akwá Al-Wakrah 11
1999–2000   Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi Al-Rayyan 14
2000–01   Mamoun Diop Al-Wakrah 14
2001–02   Rachid Amrane Al-Ittihad 16
2002–03   Rachid Rokki Al-Khor 15
2003–04   Gabriel Batistuta Al-Arabi 25
2004–05   Sonny Anderson Al-Rayyan 20
2005–06   Carlos Tenorio Al-Sadd 21
2006–07   Younis Mahmoud Al-Gharafa 24
2007–08   Clemerson Al-Gharafa 27
2008–09   Magno Alves Umm Salal 25
2009–10  
 		 Cabore
Younis Mahmoud		 Al-Arabi
Al-Gharafa		 21
2010–11   Younis Mahmoud Al-Gharafa 15
2011–12   Adriano El Jaish 18
2012–13   Sebastián Soria Lekhwiya 19
2013–14   Dioko Kaluyituka Al-Ahli 22
2014–15   Dioko Kaluyituka Al-Ahli 25
2015–16  
  		Abderrazak Hamdallah
Rodrigo Tabata 		El Jaish
Al-Rayyan 		21
2016–17   Youssef El-Arabi Lekhwiya 24
2017–18   Youssef El-Arabi Al-Duhail 26
2018–19   Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd 39
2019–20  
  		Yacine Brahimi
Akram Afif 		Al-Rayyan
Al-Sadd 		15
2020–21   Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd 21
2021–22   Michael Olunga Al-Duhail 24
2022–23   Michael Olunga Al-Duhail 22
2023–24   Akram Afif Al-Sadd 26

By player

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Rank Player Country Titles Seasons
1 Mansoor Muftah   Qatar 8 1973–74, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
2 Mubarak Mustafa   Qatar 3 1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97
2 Younis Mahmoud   Iraq 3 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11
2 Baghdad Bounedjah   Algeria 2 2018–19, 2020–21
5 Hassan Mattar   Qatar 2 1977–78, 1980–81
5 Hassan Sabela   Qatar 2 1986–87, 1990–91
5 Marquinho Carioca   Brazil 2 1989–90, 1993–94
5 Mahmoud Soufi   Qatar 2 1990–91, 1993–94
5 Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi   Qatar 2 1994–95, 1999–2000
5 Alboury Lah   Senegal 2 1996–97, 1997–98
5 Dioko Kaluyituka   Democratic Republic of the Congo 2 2013–14, 2014–15
5 Youssef El-Arabi   Morocco 2 2016–17, 2017–18
5 Akram Afif   Qatar 2 2019–20, 2023–24
5 Michael Olunga   Kenya 2 2021–22, 2022–23

All-time top scorers

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Rank Nat Name Club Years Goals Apps Assists
1   Sebastián Soria Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC, Al-Rayyan, Al-Duhail, Al-Arabi 2004– 210 430 58
2   Mansour Muftah Al-Rayyan, Al-Wakrah 1973–1998 182 — —
3   Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd, Al-Shamal 2015– 160 166 43
4   Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan, Al-Sadd 2011– 148 278 102
5   Younis Mahmoud Al-Gharafa, Al-Sadd, Al-Arabi, Al-Khor, Al-Wakrah 2004–2013 131 190 4
6   Meshal Abdullah Al-Gharafa, Qatar SC, Al-Wakrah, Al-Sailiya, Al-Ahli 1999–2010 123 354 28
7   Youssef Msakni Al-Arabi, Al-Duhail 2013– 110 184 60
8   Akram Afif Al-Sadd 2018– 103 123 67
9   Hassan Al-Haydos Al-Sadd 2007– 102 336 86
10   Nam Tae-hee Al-Sadd, Al-Duhail 2012–2023 94 231 75
11   Mubarak Mustafa Al-Arabi SC,Al-Khor,Al-Gharafa 1990–2007 91 179 42
12   Dioko Kaluyituka Al-Duhail , Al-Gharafa, Al-Kharaitiyat, Muaither, Al-Ahli 2011–2017 84 121 12
13   Khalfan Ibrahim Al-Arabi , Al-Sadd, Al-Rayyan 2004–2020 83 241 49
14   Youssef El-Arabi Al-Duhail 2016–2019 76 59 13
15   Michael Olunga Al-Duhail 2020 75 76 6
16   Moumouni Dagano Al-Sailiya, Qatar SC, Al-Shamal, Al-Duhail, Al-Khor 2008–2015 72 158 20
17   Akwá Qatar SC, Al-Gharafa, Al-Wakrah 1998–2006 70 123
18   Clemerson Araújo Al-Gharafa 2007–2010 68 84
19   Rachid Rokki Al-Khor, Umm Salal 2000–2008 65 118
20   Carlos Tenorio Al-Sadd 2003–2008 63 88
21   Leonardo Pisculichi Al-Arabi 2007–2012 63 112 15
22   Yahia Kébé Al-Kharaitiyat 2009–2016 58 132 21
23   Wagner Ribeiro Al-Sailiya, Al-Arabi, El Jaish,Al-Ahli 2009–2018 57 174 29
24   Cabore Umm Salal, Al-Arabi 2009–2014 57 90 15
25   Mirghani Al Zain Al-Gharafa, Al-Wakrah ,Al-Sailiya 1996–2019 57 420
26   Júlio César Al-Khor, Al-Ahli 2009–2016 56 117 13
27   Yacine Brahimi Al-Gharafa, Al-Rayyan 2019– 56 99 30
28   Abdulgadir Ilyas Bakur Al-Sailiya, Al-Arabi, El Jaish,Umm Salal,Al-Markhiya 2008– 55 184 39
29   Almoez Ali Al-Duhail 2016– 54 157
30   Amad Al-Hosni Qatar SC,Al-Rayyan 2005–2010 52 100 6
31   Yannick Sagbo Umm Salal 2015–2020 51 98 12
32   Mohamed Benyettou Al-Wakrah 2019– 51 103
33   Ali Afif Al-Sadd ,Al-Duhail 2015–2020 50 286 34
34   Boualem Khoukhi Al-Sadd ,Al-Arabi 2009– 50 268 25

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Heir Apparent Cup finals" (in Arabic). Al Kass. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. ^ "QSL confirms expansion move". Doha Stadium Plus. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Qatar Stars League (QSL)". mail.asiancup2011.com.qa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  4. ^ "QSL expands to 14 teams". Qatar Sports Today. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Qatar Amateur League". Qatar Stars League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Amateur League kick-off on Nov 11". Doha Stadium Plus. 13 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f دوري نجوم قطر. mail.asiancup2011.qa (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Qatar — List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  9. ^ "« عن الريان « تاريخ النادي" (in Arabic). Al Rayyan Club. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Al-Esteqlal Doha Qatar Stars League (1. League)". Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  11. ^ "Football in Qatar". Qatar Visitor. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
  12. ^ Ken Salmon (9 June 2022). "When Effenberg, Batistuta and Guardiola played in Qatar". 90soccer.com.
  13. ^ "Champ magazine, issue 7". Aspire Academy. December 2014. p. 9. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  14. ^ Matthias Krug (29 August 2009). "An Asian armada sets sail for Europe". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  15. ^ "QNB The Exclusive Partner of QATAR STARS CUP". QNB. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Qatar - List of Champions". 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  17. ^ "'Football is a powerful marketing tool'". 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g "QFA to name Player of the Year on Sunday". Qatar Football Association. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012.
  19. ^ QFA announce $100,000 for best player Doha Press.
  20. ^ "Tabata & Aguirre named season heroes". Qatar Stars League. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Sadd's Khalfan, Raul, Amotta shine at QFA awards gala". Gulf Times. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  22. ^ "Qatar - List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Qatar Football Association Award 2021-22". Retrieved 2022-12-19.
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