2020–21 Iraqi Premier League
Season | 2020–21 |
---|---|
Dates | 25 October 2020 – 28 July 2021 |
Champions | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (7th title) |
Relegated | Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya Al-Hudood Al-Samawa |
AFC Champions League | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Al-Zawraa |
Matches played | 380 |
Goals scored | 773 (2.03 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Aymen Hussein (22 goals) |
Biggest home win | Al-Shorta 7–0 Al-Samawa (2 April 2021) |
Biggest away win | Naft Maysan 0–4 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (16 May 2021) |
Highest scoring | Al-Shorta 7–0 Al-Samawa (2 April 2021) Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 3–4 Al-Najaf (12 May 2021) |
Longest winning run | 6 matches Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
Longest unbeaten run | 15 matches Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
Longest winless run | 20 matches Al-Hudood |
Longest losing run | 6 matches Al-Talaba |
← 2019–20 2021–22 → |
The 2020–21 Iraqi Premier League was the 47th season of the Iraqi Premier League since its establishment in 1974. The season started on 25 October 2020 and ended on 28 July 2021, with the relegation play-off held on 30 July 2021.[1]
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya sealed their seventh Premier League title with three matches to spare, finishing ahead of Al-Zawraa and Al-Najaf. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya also won the Iraq FA Cup to become the first Iraqi club since the 2001–02 season to win the double. Their manager Ayoub Odisho became the most successful coach in Premier League history with four titles.[2][3][4]
New rule[]
For the first time in the Iraqi Premier League, the Iraq Football Association decided to use head-to-head points as the first tiebreaker for teams level on points, followed by head-to-head goal difference, total goal difference and goals scored.
Teams[]
![2020–21 Iraqi Premier League is located in Iraq](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Iraq_adm_location_map.svg/440px-Iraq_adm_location_map.svg.png)
![Baghdad Baghdad](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Blue_pog.svg/8px-Blue_pog.svg.png)
![Basra Basra](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Yellow_pog.svg/8px-Yellow_pog.svg.png)
![Al-Qasim Al-Qasim](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Al-Najaf Al-Najaf](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Naft Al-Wasat Naft Al-Wasat](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Al-Diwaniya Al-Diwaniya](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Erbil Erbil](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Naft Maysan Naft Maysan](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Al-Samawa Al-Samawa](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
![Baghdad teams Al-Hudood Al-Kahrabaa Al-Karkh Al-Naft Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Al-Shorta Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya Al-Talaba Al-Zawraa Amanat Baghdad Baghdad teams Al-Hudood Al-Kahrabaa Al-Karkh Al-Naft Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Al-Shorta Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya Al-Talaba Al-Zawraa Amanat Baghdad](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/TransparentPlaceholder.png/1px-TransparentPlaceholder.png)
Al-Hudood
Al-Kahrabaa
Al-Karkh
Al-Naft
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Al-Shorta
Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya
Al-Talaba
Al-Zawraa
Amanat Baghdad
![Basra teams Al-Minaa Naft Al-Basra Basra teams Al-Minaa Naft Al-Basra](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/TransparentPlaceholder.png/1px-TransparentPlaceholder.png)
Al-Minaa
Naft Al-Basra
Twenty teams are competing in the league – the top eighteen teams from the 2018–19 season and the two promoted teams from the 2018–19 Iraq Division One.
Clubs and locations[]
Team | Manager | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|
Al-Diwaniya | ![]() |
Diwaniya | Al-Diwaniya Stadium | 5,000 |
Al-Hudood | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Taji Stadium | 5,000 |
Al-Kahrabaa | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Taji Stadium | 5,000 |
Al-Karkh | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Saher Ahmed Radhi Stadium | 5,000 |
Al-Minaa | ![]() |
Basra | Al-Fayhaa Stadium | 10,000 |
Al-Naft | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Sinaa Stadium | 10,000 |
Al-Najaf | ![]() |
Najaf | Al-Najaf International Stadium | 30,000 |
Al-Qasim | ![]() |
Babil | Al-Kifl Stadium | 10,000 |
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Shaab Stadium | 34,200 |
Al-Samawa | ![]() |
Samawa | Al-Samawa Stadium | 5,000 |
Al-Shorta | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Shaab Stadium | 34,200 |
Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Taji Stadium | 5,000 |
Al-Talaba | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Shaab Stadium | 34,200 |
Al-Zawraa | ![]() |
Baghdad | Al-Shaab Stadium | 34,200 |
Amanat Baghdad | ![]() |
Baghdad | Amanat Baghdad Stadium | 5,000 |
Erbil | ![]() |
Erbil | Franso Hariri Stadium | 25,000 |
Naft Al-Basra[a] | ![]() |
Basra | Al-Fayhaa Stadium | 10,000 |
Naft Al-Wasat | ![]() |
Najaf | Al-Najaf International Stadium | 30,000 |
Naft Maysan | ![]() |
Amara | Maysan Olympic Stadium | 25,000 |
Zakho | ![]() |
Zakho | Zakho International Stadium | 20,000 |
- Notes
- ^ On 23 October 2020, Naft Al-Junoob officially changed its name to Naft Al-Basra.
League table[]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (C) | 38 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 68 | 29 | +39 | 83 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage |
2 | Al-Zawraa | 38 | 20 | 15 | 3 | 46 | 19 | +27 | 75 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League play-off round |
3 | Al-Najaf[a] | 38 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 26 | +20 | 74 | |
4 | Al-Shorta | 38 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 60 | 27 | +33 | 72 | |
5 | Naft Al-Wasat | 38 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 46 | 31 | +15 | 63 | |
6 | Al-Naft | 38 | 12 | 17 | 9 | 36 | 34 | +2 | 53 | |
7 | Amanat Baghdad | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 30 | 32 | −2 | 50 | |
8 | Al-Minaa | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 49 | |
9 | Zakho | 38 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 46 | |
10 | Al-Karkh | 38 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 45 | |
11 | Naft Al-Basra | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 35 | 45 | −10 | 44[b] | |
12 | Erbil | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 39 | 41 | −2 | 44[b] | |
13 | Naft Maysan | 38 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 38 | 48 | −10 | 43 | |
14 | Al-Kahrabaa | 38 | 8 | 17 | 13 | 36 | 39 | −3 | 41[c] | |
15 | Al-Qasim | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 39 | 50 | −11 | 41[c] | |
16 | Al-Diwaniya | 38 | 7 | 20 | 11 | 22 | 36 | −14 | 41[c] | |
17 | Al-Talaba | 38 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 36 | 47 | −11 | 39 | |
18 | Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya (R) | 38 | 7 | 16 | 15 | 27 | 39 | −12 | 37 | Qualification to the relegation play-off |
19 | Al-Hudood (R) | 38 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 32 | 48 | −16 | 31 | Relegation to the Iraq Division One |
20 | Al-Samawa (R) | 38 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 22 | 58 | −36 | 26 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Since the winners of the 2020–21 Iraq FA Cup, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, also qualified for the AFC Champions League based on league position, the second AFC Champions League play-off round spot was passed to the third-placed team. However, Al-Najaf failed to obtain an AFC license. The fourth-placed team, Al-Shorta, declined to participate in place of Al-Najaf, therefore Iraq's second AFC Champions League play-off round spot was annulled.
- ^ a b Naft Al-Basra finished ahead of Erbil on head-to-head points: Erbil 0–1 Naft Al-Basra, Naft Al-Basra 1–0 Erbil.
- ^ a b c Al-Kahrabaa finished ahead of Al-Qasim and Al-Diwaniya on head-to-head points: Al-Kahrabaa 8, Al-Qasim 3, Al-Diwaniya 3. Al-Qasim finished ahead of Al-Diwaniya on goal difference: Al-Qasim –11, Al-Diwaniya –14.
Results[]
Relegation play-off[]
Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya | 1–1 | Samarra |
---|---|---|
|
|
|
Penalties | ||
2–4 |
Samarra are promoted to the Iraqi Premier League, while Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya are relegated to the Iraq Division One.
Season statistics[]
Top scorers[]
Rank | Player | Club | Goals[5] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 22 |
2 | ![]() |
Al-Hudood | 15 |
3 | ![]() |
Al-Talaba | 14 |
![]() |
Al-Najaf | ||
![]() |
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | ||
6 | ![]() |
Al-Zawraa | 13 |
![]() |
Al-Zawraa | ||
8 | ![]() |
Al-Shorta | 12 |
9 | ![]() |
Al-Kahrabaa | 11 |
![]() |
Naft Al-Basra | ||
![]() |
Naft Al-Wasat |
Hat-tricks[]
Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Al-Naft | Al-Samawa | 3–1 (H) | 12 December 2020 | [6] |
![]() |
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | Al-Naft | 4–1 (H) | 31 January 2021 | [7] |
![]() |
Al-Talaba | Al-Minaa | 4–2 (H) | 4 July 2021 | [8] |
Awards[]
Award | Winner[9] | Club |
---|---|---|
Soccer Iraq Goal of the Season | ![]() |
Al-Hudood |
Number of teams by region[]
Region | Number | Teams |
---|---|---|
Baghdad | 10 | Al-Hudood, Al-Kahrabaa, Al-Karkh, Al-Naft, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Shorta, Al-Sinaat Al-Kahrabaiya, Al-Talaba, Al-Zawraa and Amanat Baghdad |
Kurdistan Region | 2 | Erbil and Zakho |
Basra | Al-Minaa and Naft Al-Basra | |
Najaf | Al-Najaf and Naft Al-Wasat | |
Al-Qadisiya | 1 | Al-Diwaniya |
Maysan | Naft Maysan | |
Babil | Al-Qasim | |
Muthanna | Al-Samawa |
Match ball[]
On 23 October 2020, Umbro announced their official partnership with Iraq Football Association to manufacture the official match ball for the Iraqi Premier League.[10][11] The official match ball is named Neo Toba.[12] The design was conceived in such a way as to reflect the colours of the Iraqi flag and the patterns represent symbols of ancient Mesopotamian civilization.[13] The term Toba is taken from the Iraqi dialect (Arabic: طوبة) which means "ball" in common parlance.[14]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Season dates". Eurosport. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "الشرطة يفوز بلقب الدوري العراقي".
- ^ "صعود القاسم وزاخو".
- ^ "فوز الصقور والحدود والنفط وهبوط البحري وفريق الحسين لدوري الدرجة الأولى".
- ^ "Iraqi Premier League 2020-2021 – Scorers". Goalzz.com. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ "موسى عدنان يسجل الهاتريك الأول في دورينا".
- ^ "هداف الدوري العراقي يواصل خطف الأنظار بـ"هاتريك" قياسي".
- ^ "الطلبة يدك شباك الميناء".
- ^ "Soccer Iraq – Domestic Seasons". Soccer Iraq. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ "Umbro announce partnership with Iraq Football Association".
- ^ "Umbro Announces Partnership With Iraq Football Association As Official Kit Sponsor".
- ^ "Neo Toba, official match ball of the Iraq Premier League".
- ^ "Neo Toba Ball".
- ^ "نيو طوبة للدوري الكروي الممتاز".
External links[]
- Official website (in Arabic)
- Iraq Football Association
- Iraqi Premier League seasons
- 2020–21 in Iraqi football
- 2020–21 in Asian association football leagues