Qatar Stars League
![]() | |
Founded | 1972 |
---|---|
Country | Qatar |
Confederation | AFC |
Number of teams | 12 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Qatari Second Division |
Domestic cup(s) | Emir Cup Crown Prince Cup Sheikh Jassem Cup |
International cup(s) | AFC Champions League AFC Cup GCC Champions League |
Current champions | Al-Sadd (16h title) (2021–22) |
Most championships | Al-Sadd (16 titles) |
TV partners | beIN Sports Alkass Sports |
Website | qsl.qa |
Current: 2021–22 Qatar Stars League |
The Qatar Stars League (Arabic: دوري نجوم قطر), or the QSL, also called QNB 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). Seasons of the QSL usually run from September to April.
The league's first season was played in 1963, although the first official season occurred in 1972. The club that has won the most championships is Al Sadd SC, with 15 titles. The league currently features 12 clubs, with one club being demoted to make room for one club being promoted.
The Qatari league system provides 4 domestic cups that these clubs are able to participate in: 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, and the Qatari Stars Cup, a round-robin tournament played midseason. The league title has been won by 8 clubs since its inception.
League structure[]
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 14 teams, with the 2nd division featuring 18 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]
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,[3] the QAL has 14 teams, all of which were established through the country's government, political and social sectors.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
History[]
Early history[]
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[]
In 1972–73, the first official season was played.[9] Al Estaqlal, now known as Qatar SC, won the first championship.
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]
Another method the QFA attempted 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 2003. It succeeded, and players such as Ronald and Frank de Boer, Romário, Pep Guardiola, Fernando Hierro, Marcel Desailly, Stefan Effenberg, Claudio Caniggia, and Gabriel Batistuta soon appeared in the league.[10]
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.[11]
Changing name to Qatar Stars League[]
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.[5] As part of the expansion campaign, the "Q-League" changed its name to what it is currently known as, "Qatar Stars League",[12] and inaugurated a new domestic cup, the "Qatari Stars Cup".[13]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Al_Sadd_AFC_Champions_League.jpg/245px-Al_Sadd_AFC_Champions_League.jpg)
Clubs[]
Champions[]
Club | Wins | Winning years |
---|---|---|
Al-Sadd | 16 | 1971–72, 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 |
Al-Rayyan | 8 | 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1994–95, 2015–16 |
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-Duhail | 7 | 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 |
Qatar SC | 3 | 1972–73, 1976–77, 2002–03 |
Al-Wakrah | 2 | 1998–99, 2000–01 |
2021–22 season[]
Qatar Stars League | |||
---|---|---|---|
Club | Location | Stadium | Year Formed |
Al Ahli | Doha | Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium | 1950 |
Al-Arabi | Doha | Grand Hamad Stadium | 1952 |
Al-Duhail | Doha | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium | 2009 |
Al-Gharafa SC | Doha | Thani bin Jassim Stadium | 1979 |
Al-Khor SC | Al Khor | Al-Khor Stadium | 1961 |
Al-Rayyan SC | Al Rayyan | Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium | 1967 |
Al Sadd SC | Al Sadd | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium | 1969 |
Al Sailiya | Doha | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium | 1995 |
Al-Shamal SC | Madinat ash Shamal | Al-Shamal SC Stadium | 1980 |
Al-Wakrah SC | Al Wakrah | Al Janoub Stadium | 1959 |
Qatar SC | Doha | Suheim bin Hamad Stadium | 1959 |
Umm Salal SC | Umm Salal | Thani bin Jassim Stadium | 1979 |
Total titles won by region[]
Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
---|---|---|
Doha | 40
|
Al-Sadd SC (16), Qatar SC (8), Al-Arabi SC (7), Al-Duhail SC (7), Al Maref (3) |
Al Rayyan | 15
|
Al-Rayyan SC (8), Al-Gharafa SC (7) |
Al Wakrah | 2
|
Al-Wakrah SC (2) |
Media coverage[]
Qatar[]
In 2012, Alkass Sports signed a deal to have the rights to broadcast Stars League in English. beIN Sports also bought rights to broadcast Stars League.
Seasons | Channel |
---|---|
1972–2012 | NA |
2012–present | Alkass Sports |
beIN Sports |
Post-season awards[]
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.[14][15] There are also awards for youth players and club staff.
Year | Player of the Year | Club | Manager of the Year | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006[14] | ![]() |
Al Gharafa | ![]() |
Al Sadd |
2007[14] | ![]() |
Al Sadd | ![]() |
Al Sadd |
2008[14] | ![]() |
Umm Salal | ![]() |
Al Gharafa |
2009[14] | ![]() |
Al Arabi | ![]() |
Qatar SC |
2010[14] | ![]() |
Al Gharafa | ![]() |
Al Gharafa |
2011[14] | ![]() |
Lekhwiya | ![]() |
Al Ahli |
2012[16] | ![]() |
Al-Rayyan | ![]() |
Al-Rayyan |
2013[17] | ![]() |
Al Sadd | ![]() |
Al Sadd |
2014 | ![]() |
Al Sadd | ![]() |
Al-Sailiya SC |
2015 | ![]() |
Al Sadd | ![]() |
Lekhwiya SC |
2016 | ![]() |
Al-Rayyan | ![]() |
Al-Rayyan |
2017 | ![]() |
Lekhwiya | ![]() |
Al Sadd |
2018 | ![]() |
Al-Duhail SC | ![]() |
Al-Duhail SC |
2019 | ![]() |
Al Sadd | ![]() |
Al Sadd |
2020 | ![]() |
Al Sadd | ![]() |
Al-Rayyan |
Top goalscorers[]
Source:[18]
Year | Best scorers | Team | Goals | |
1972–73 | ![]() |
Al-Esteqlal | 10 | |
1973–74 | unknown | |||
1974–75 | Not held | |||
1975–76 | ![]() ![]() |
Al-Esteqlal | 8 | |
1976–77 | unknown | |||
1977–78 | unknown | |||
1978–79 | ![]() |
Hassan Mattar | Al-Sadd SC | 11 |
1979–80 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Badr Bilal |
Al Ahli SC Al-Sadd SC Qatar SC |
? |
1980–81 | ![]() |
Hassan Mattar | Al-Sadd SC | 9 |
1981–82 | ![]() |
Mansoor Muftah | Al-Rayyan SC | 19 |
1982–83 | ![]() |
Mansoor Muftah | Al-Rayyan SC | 10 |
1983–84 | ![]() |
Mansoor Muftah | Al-Rayyan SC | 7 |
1984–85 | ![]() |
Al-Arabi SC | 7 | |
1985–86 | ![]() |
Mansoor Muftah | Al-Rayyan SC | 20 |
1986–87 | ![]() |
Al Ahli SC | 9 | |
1987–88 | ![]() |
Hassan Jowhar | Al-Sadd SC | 11 |
1988–89 | ![]() |
Farshad Pious | Al Ahli SC | 9 |
1989–90 | ![]() |
Marquinho Carioca | Al-Arabi SC | 10 |
1990–91 | ![]() ![]()
|
Mahmoud Soufi
|
Al-Ittihad | 10 |
1991–92 | ![]() ![]() |
Mubarak Mustafa
Rabeh Madjer |
Al Arabi SC | 12 |
1992–93 | ![]() |
Mubarak Mustafa | Al Arabi SC | 9 |
1993–94 | ![]() |
Ahmed Radhi | Al-Wakrah SC | 16 |
1994–95 | ![]() |
Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi | Al-Rayyan SC | 9 |
1995–96 | ![]() |
Ricky Owubokiri | Al-Arabi SC | 16 |
1996–97 | ![]() ![]() |
Mubarak Mustafa | Al-Arabi SC | 11 |
1997–98 | ![]() ![]()
|
Hussein Amotta | Al-Sadd SC | 10 |
1998–99 | ![]() |
Fabrice Akwa | Al-Wakrah SC | 11 |
1999–2000 | ![]() |
Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi | Al-Rayyan SC | 14 |
2000–01 | ![]() |
Al-Wakrah SC | 14 | |
2001–02 | ![]() |
Rachid Amrane | Al-Ittihad | 16 |
2002–03 | ![]() |
Rachid Rokki | Al-Khor SC | 15 |
2003–04 | ![]() |
Gabriel Batistuta | Al-Arabi SC | 25 |
2004–05 | ![]() |
Sonny Anderson | Al-Rayyan SC | 20 |
2005–06 | ![]() |
Carlos Tenorio | Al-Sadd SC | 21 |
2006–07 | ![]() |
Younis Mahmoud | Al-Gharafa SC | 24 |
2007–08 | ![]() |
Clemerson de Araújo | Al-Gharafa SC | 27 |
2008–09 | ![]() |
Magno Alves | Umm Salal SC | 25 |
2009–10 | ![]() ![]() |
Cabore Younis Mahmoud |
Al-Arabi SC Al-Gharafa SC |
21 |
2010–11 | ![]() |
Younis Mahmoud | Al-Gharafa SC | 15 |
2011–12 | ![]() |
Adriano | El Jaish SC | 18 |
2012–13 | ![]() |
Sebastián Soria | Lekhwiya SC | 19 |
2013–14 | ![]() |
Dioko Kaluyituka | Al Ahli SC | 22 |
2014–15 | ![]() |
Dioko Kaluyituka | Al Ahli SC | 25 |
2015–16 | ![]() ![]() |
Abderrazak Hamdallah Rodrigo Tabata |
El Jaish SC Al Rayyan |
21 |
2016–17 | ![]() |
Youssef El-Arabi | Al-Duhail SC | 24 |
2017–18 | ![]() |
Youssef El-Arabi | Al-Duhail SC | 26 |
2018–19 | ![]() |
Baghdad Bounedjah | Al-Sadd SC | 39 |
2019–20 | ![]() ![]() |
Yacine Brahimi Akram Afif |
Al Rayyan SC Al-Sadd SC |
15 |
2020–21 | ![]() |
Baghdad Bounedjah | Al-Sadd SC | 21 |
By player[]
Rank | Player | Country | Titles | Seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mansoor Muftah | ![]() |
4 | 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86 |
2 | Mubarak Mustafa | ![]() |
3 | 1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97 |
2 | Younis Mahmoud | ![]() |
3 | 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11 |
4 | ![]() |
2 | 1986–87, 1990–91 | |
4 | Alboury Lah | ![]() |
2 | 1996–97, 1997–98 |
4 | Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi | ![]() |
2 | 1994–95, 1999–2000 |
4 | Dioko Kaluyituka | ![]() |
2 | 2013–14, 2014–15 |
4 | Youssef El-Arabi | ![]() |
2 | 2016–17, 2017–18 |
4 | Baghdad Bounedjah | ![]() |
2 | 2018–19, 2020–21 |
By country[]
Country | Players | Total |
---|---|---|
![]() |
24 | 15 |
![]() |
7 | 7 |
![]() |
5 | 5 |
![]() |
5 | 4 |
![]() |
3 | 2 |
![]() |
2 | 4 |
![]() |
2 | 1 |
![]() |
6 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Heir Apparent Cup finals" (in Arabic). Al Kass. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "QSL confirms expansion move". Doha Stadium Plus. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ "Qatar Amateur League". Qatar Stars League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Qatar Stars League (QSL)". mail.asiancup2011.com.qa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ "QSL expands to 14 teams". Qatar Sports Today. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Archived copy" دوري نجوم قطر. mail.asiancup2011.qa (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Qatar — List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "« عن الريان « تاريخ النادي" (in Arabic). Al Rayyan Club. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
- ^ "Football in Qatar". Qatar Visitor. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
- ^ "Champ magazine, issue 7". Aspire Academy. December 2014. p. 9. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ Matthias Krug (29 August 2009). "An Asian armada sets sail for Europe". ESPN FC. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "QNB The Exclusive Partner of QATAR STARS CUP". QNB. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ QFA announce $100,000 for best player[permanent dead link] Doha Press.
- ^ "Tabata & Aguirre named season heroes". Qatar Stars League. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Sadd's Khalfan, Raul, Amotta shine at QFA awards gala". Gulf Times. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Qatar - List of Topscorers". rsssf.com. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
External links[]
- Qatar Stars League
- Football leagues in Qatar
- Top level football leagues in Asia
- Sports leagues established in 1963