Riyadh F.C. or Al-Riyadh (Arabic: نادي الرياض السعودي, romanized: nādī ar-Riyāḍ as-saʿūdī, lit. 'Saudi Riyadh Club') is a professional football club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It currently plays in the Saudi Pro League (the first tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia). It was established in 1953 as Ahli Al-Riyadh, then changed its name to Al-Yamamah and finally to Al-Riyadh. Best known for its football team, Al-Riyadh also have squads in other sports.
Al-Riyadh have won one major title: the Crown Prince Cup in 1994. The team also finished as runners-up in the Saudi Premier League in 1994; they have never won the top league.
Al-Riyadh was promoted to the Saudi Pro League in 2023.
Contents
History
Early history
The club was founded in 1953 under the name "Ahli Al-Riyadh", before changing to "Al-Yamama" and then to "Al-Riyadh." It is currently based in west Riyadh. They reached the final of the Kings Cup in 1962 and 1978, but triumphed on neither occasion.
Golden era
Al-Riyadh was promoted to the Saudi Premier League at the end of the 1988/89 season after winning the Saudi First Division League.
In the early 1990s, under the leadership of the Brazilian coach Zumario and players such as Khalid Al-Qarouni, Talal Al-Jabreen, Yasser Al-Taafi and Fahd Al-Hamdan, Al-Riyadh won the Crown Prince Cup in 1994. They were unable to retain the Cup in 1995, losing in the final to Al-Hilal. However, they did win the 1995 Federation Cup and reached the semi-final of the 1995 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. In 1998, Al-Riyadh once again reached the finals of the Crown Prince Cup, and lost to Al-Ahli.
Al-Riyadh were relegated at the end of the 2004/5 season.
Return to the top flight
Al-Riyadh finished fourth in the Saudi First Division League in the 2022/23 season. Normally, a fourth-place finish would not be good enough for promotion, but the Saudi Premier League was expanding from 16 teams to 18, offering an additional promotion spot.
Honours
Domestic
Saudi Premier League (tier 1)
Runners-up (1): 1993–94
Saudi First Division League (tier 2)
Winners (2): 1977–78, 1988–89
Runners-up (2): 1979–80, 1982–83
King's Cup
Runners-up (2): 1962, 1978
Crown Prince's Cup
Winners (1): 1993–94
Runners-up (2): 1994–95, 1997–98
Saudi Federation Cup
Winners (1): 1994–95
Continental
Arab Super Cup
Runners-up (1): 1996
Players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
International competitions
Overview
As of 1 July 2023
Matches
Key: QR – Qualifying round; 1R/2R – First/Second round; R16 – Round of 16; QF – Quarter-final; SF – Semi-final;
Notes
^