Al Shabab
Al Shabab Club, also known as Al-Shabab, is a Saudi Arabian professional football club based in Riyadh that competes in the Saudi Pro League. Founded in 1947 as Shabab Al-Riyadh, the club was renamed Al-Shabab in 1967 following a unification with other local clubs. The team plays at their home stadium in Riyadh and has achieved significant success in Saudi football, including six Saudi Pro League titles and becoming the first Saudi club to win three consecutive league championships from 1991 to 1993. The club's name "Shabab," meaning "youth" in Arabic, reflects its historical emphasis on developing young players.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Al Shabab was the first football club established in Riyadh, with its origins tracing back to before 1947. The club earned its distinctive name due to its emphasis on developing young players at its inception, unlike its rivals which primarily featured senior players. This focus on nurturing youth talent became a defining characteristic that persisted for many years, making the club renowned for its commitment to youth development.
Most recent season and achievements
The club has maintained its position in the Saudi Pro League and continues to compete at the highest level of Saudi Arabian football. Al Shabab finished as runners-up in the 2020-21 Saudi Pro League season, demonstrating their continued competitiveness in domestic football.
History
Early years
Al Shabab began before 1947, experiencing numerous conflicts among its members before being officially settled in 1947 with Abdulrahman Bin Saeed as president. Five years later, the club won its first tournament by defeating Sakit Al Hadeed (Railway Club) in Riyadh. In 1955, Al Shabab achieved another milestone by beating the Military College to win the King Saud Cup.
Crisis and recovery
A major crisis emerged in 1957 when internal conflicts led to significant upheaval. Player Saleh Jaber was initially assigned as captain but was later dismissed, with Ahmed Lmfoon taking over the role. This decision displeased some club members, creating an irreconcilable conflict. Abdulrahman Bin Saeed and several members left Al Shabab, taking the best players with them and leaving the club in chaos. The club was forced to stop operations for half a year due to financial weakness, and from this separation, a new football club emerged that is known today as Al-Hilal.
In early 1959, another crisis occurred when president Abdullah Bin Ahmed found himself handling the club alone. Unable to cope with the pressure, he decided to take a vacation abroad and disbanded the first team before leaving. Most players signed with other clubs, mainly Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. Only the youth team remained, with player Abdulrahman Bin Ahmed taking care of the young players, which led to the name "Shabab Al Riyadh" meaning "Riyadh's youth."
When Abdullah Bin Ahmed returned, many members came back to support the club, and he announced the reformation of the first team. Some players returned, though others remained with Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. The year 1959 also marked the formation of the Saudi Football Federation, making all football clubs official. In 1960, during the first official tournament called the King Saud Cup for the Central Province, Al Shabab faced Al Hilal in their first official encounter and won 3-0 to claim their first official cup.
Successful period
In the 1960s, the club became highly popular, with many players wanting to join. Following requests from Al Najmah FC and Al Marekh in 1967, these clubs united with Al Shabab, and the name was changed from Shabab Riyadh to simply Al Shabab. The team's colors evolved over time, starting with white and green, then changing to orange and blue after unification, before settling on the current white, gray, and black in 1977.
Despite facing relegation to the First Division in 1975, Al Shabab bounced back by gaining first place the following season and returning to the Premier League in 1976. The club achieved a historic milestone in 1993 by becoming the first club in Saudi Arabia to win three premier leagues consecutively.
Current period
In 2007, Al Shabab became the first club in Saudi Arabia to build revenue-generating projects, launching a 200 million dollar project that included a 5-star hotel and shopping mall. During a visit in January 2008, the club's main supporter, Khalid bin Sultan, announced two additional projects: Al Laith TV Channel and Al Shabab Museum.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Al Shabab has achieved considerable success in domestic competitions. The club has won the Saudi Pro League six times (1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2011-12) and finished as runners-up on six occasions (1981-82, 1984-85, 1988-89, 1997-98, 2004-05, 2020-21). In the King's Cup, they have claimed three titles (2008, 2009, 2014) and reached the final once more in 2013. The club has also won the Crown Prince's Cup three times (1993, 1996, 1999) with four runner-up finishes (1992, 1994, 2000, 2009). Additional domestic honors include one Saudi Super Cup title (2014), four Saudi Federation Cup victories (1988, 1989, 2009, 2010), and one Saudi First Division League championship (1978-79).
Continental and global competitions
In continental competitions, Al Shabab reached the final of the Asian Club Championship in 1992-93 as runners-up and won the Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 2001. The club has also achieved success in regional competitions, winning the Arab Club Champions Cup twice (1992, 1999), the Arab Super Cup twice (1996, 2001), and the Gulf Club Champions Cup twice (1993, 1994).
Symbols and Colors
Traditional home and away kits colors
The club's colors have evolved throughout its history. Initially, Al Shabab wore white and green, which changed to orange and blue following the 1967 unification with other clubs. In 1977, the colors were changed to the current combination of white, gray, and black, which has remained the club's traditional colors since then.
Traditional Rivals
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal represents Al Shabab's most significant rivalry, with historical roots dating back to the club's formation. The rivalry intensified after the 1957 crisis when Abdulrahman Bin Saeed and several members left Al Shabab to form what became Al-Hilal. Their first official encounter occurred in 1960 during the King Saud Cup, which Al Shabab won 3-0.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Nicknames
The club is commonly referred to as "Shabab," which means "youth" in Arabic, reflecting its historical emphasis on developing young players and its origins as a youth-focused football club.
Ownership and finances
The club has demonstrated financial innovation by becoming the first Saudi club to develop revenue-generating projects. In 2007, Al Shabab launched a 200 million dollar project that included a 5-star hotel and shopping mall. The club's main supporter, Khalid bin Sultan, has been instrumental in supporting these developments and announced additional projects including Al Laith TV Channel and Al Shabab Museum in 2008.
Traditions and culture
Al Shabab has maintained its identity as a youth-development focused club since its inception. This tradition of nurturing young talent became a defining characteristic that distinguished it from rival clubs and contributed to its reputation in Saudi football. The club's commitment to youth development has remained consistent throughout its history.