List of Iraqi football champions
Iraqi League (1st tier) |
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National League (Institutions) (1973–1974) Premier League (1974–present) |
Country |
![]() |
Founded |
1973 |
Number of teams |
20 (since 2014–15 season) |
Current champions |
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (2020–21) |
Most successful club |
Al-Zawraa (14 championships) |
The Iraqi football champions are the winners of the highest league in Iraqi football. Following the establishment of the Iraq Football Association (IFA) in 1948, a regional league called the Iraq Central FA League was held for teams from Baghdad and its neighbouring cities, alongside three other regional leagues in Basra, Kirkuk and Mosul. These league championships lasted until 1973,[1] when the IFA established the first nationwide football league in Iraq by the name of Iraqi National League, which featured a mixture of clubs and institute teams.
After one season, a new clubs-only league competition was established, with many of the institute teams merging together or being replaced by sports clubs. The first season saw Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya achieving the league title.[2] The four "Popular Teams" of Baghdad (Al-Zawraa, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, Al-Shorta and Al-Talaba), have dominated the now-called Iraqi Premier League over the years. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Shorta have appeared in every season of the top-flight, while Al-Zawraa and Al-Talaba (known as Al-Jamiea at the time) made their first appearance in the top-flight in 1975–76.[2]
Al-Zawraa have won 14 titles, the most of any club.[3] Erbil are the only club outside of Baghdad to achieve more than one title, having won four titles, all in the 21st century.[4][5]
List of champions[]
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Champions also won the Iraq FA Cup that season for a double |
* | Champions also won the Iraq FA Cup and Arab Club Champions Cup that season for a treble |
† | Champions also won the Iraq FA Cup and Iraqi Elite Cup that season for a domestic treble |
‡ | Champions also won the Iraqi Elite Cup that season |
# | Champions also won the AFC Cup that season |
1973–1974: Iraqi National League (Institutions)[]
Season | Champions (number of titles) | Runners-up | Third place | Top scorer(s) (club) (goals) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1973–74 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | Aliyat Al-Shorta[a] | Al-Minaa | Zahrawi Jaber (Shorta Al-Najda)[a] Ammo Yousif (Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya) (13) |
1974–present: Iraqi Premier League[]
Total titles won[]
There are 11 clubs who have won the Iraqi title.
Teams in bold compete in the Premier League as of the 2021–22 season.
Rank | Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Al-Zawraa | 14 | 7 | 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2017–18 |
2 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 8 | 12 | 1973–74, 1974–75, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2004–05, 2016–17, 2020–21 |
3 | Al-Talaba | 5 | 7 | 1980–81, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1992–93, 2001–02 |
4 | Al-Shorta | 4[e] | 3 | 1979–80, 1997–98, 2012–13, 2018–19 |
Erbil | 4 | 2[f] | 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12 | |
6 | Al-Rasheed | 3 | 2 | 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89 |
7 | Al-Jaish | 1 | 2 | 1983–84 |
Al-Minaa | 1 | 1977–78 | ||
Duhok | 2009–10 | |||
Naft Al-Wasat | 2014–15 | |||
Salahaddin | 0 | 1982–83 |
Titles won by club (%)
By region[]
Region | Championships | Clubs |
---|---|---|
Baghdad | Al-Zawraa (14), Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (8), Al-Talaba (5), Al-Shorta (4)[e], Al-Rasheed (3), Al-Jaish (1) | |
Kurdistan | Erbil (4), Duhok (1) | |
South | Al-Minaa (1) | |
Central | Salahaddin (1) | |
Central Euphrates | Naft Al-Wasat (1) |
By city[]
City / Town | Championships | Clubs |
---|---|---|
Baghdad | Al-Zawraa (14), Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (8), Al-Talaba (5), Al-Shorta (4)[e], Al-Rasheed (3), Al-Jaish (1) | |
Erbil | Erbil (4) | |
Basra | Al-Minaa (1) | |
Duhok | Duhok (1) | |
Najaf | Naft Al-Wasat (1) | |
Tikrit | Salahaddin (1) |
See also[]
- For Iraqi women's football champions, see Iraqi Women's Football League: List of champions
- Iraq Central FA League
- Iraq FA Basra League
- Iraq FA Kirkuk League
- Iraqi National League (Institutions)
- Iraqi Premier League
Notes[]
- ^ a b The Police teams were replaced by the singular club Al-Shorta for the new national club league in 1974.
- ^ a b Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya were known as Al-Tayaran from 1974 until 1991.
- ^ Al-Muwasalat were formed in 1974 by the merger of Al-Bareed and Al-Minaa, but folded in 1975 and Al-Minaa were brought back.
- ^ Al-Talaba were known as Al-Jamiea until 1977.
- ^ a b c d Al-Shorta also finished in first place in 2013–14 but were not crowned champions due to the season ending prematurely, and were only considered as champions for the purpose of enabling admission into the AFC Cup.
- ^ Erbil also finished in second place in 2013–14 but were not awarded as runners-up due to the season ending prematurely, and were only considered runners-up for the purpose of enabling admission into the AFC Cup.
References[]
- ^ "Story of the Iraqi Football League". Kooora Forums (in Arabic). Abu Baqer Al-Ahmed. 11 February 2007.
- ^ a b Hashim, Refel. "Iraq 1975/76". RSSSF.
- ^ Al-Nasser, Falah (22 May 2016). "Al-Zawra'a Are the Champions of the Premier League for the 13th Time in Their History". As-Sabah Al-Jadeed (in Arabic).
- ^ Al-Sabti, Ali (2014). Iraqi League History 1974–2011. Iraq.
- ^ Al-Munshi, Dr.Dhia (2005). Iraqi Football Encyclopedia: Chico.. Jamoli… and football in Iraq. Citadel Printing & Design, Al-Saadoun, Baghdad.
External links[]
- Football in Iraq
- Iraqi Premier League
- National association football champions