Qatar Stars League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Qatar Stars League
Qatar Stars League logo.png
Founded1972; 50 years ago (1972)
CountryQatar
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toQatari 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 championsAl-Sadd (16h title)
(2021–22)
Most championshipsAl-Sadd (16 titles)
TV partnersbeIN Sports
Alkass Sports
Websiteqsl.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]

Al Sadd are the most successful team in the league

Clubs[]

See also:

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] Qatar Sebastián Soria Al Gharafa Uruguay Jorge Fossati Al Sadd
2007[14] Qatar Emerson Sheik Al Sadd Uruguay Jorge Fossati Al Sadd
2008[14] Morocco Aziz Ben Askar Umm Salal Brazil Marcos Paquetá Al Gharafa
2009[14] Argentina Leonardo Pisculichi Al Arabi Brazil Sebastião Lazaroni Qatar SC
2010[14] Brazil Juninho Pernambucano Al Gharafa Brazil Caio Júnior Al Gharafa
2011[14] Ivory Coast Bakari Koné Lekhwiya Qatar Abdullah Mubarak Al Ahli
2012[16] Brazil Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan Uruguay Diego Aguirre Al-Rayyan
2013[17] Qatar Khalfan Ibrahim Al Sadd Morocco Hussein Amotta Al Sadd
2014 Algeria Nadir Belhadj Al Sadd Tunisia Sami Trabelsi Al-Sailiya SC
2015 Qatar Hassan Al-Haydos Al Sadd Denmark Michael Laudrup Lekhwiya SC
2016 Qatar Rodrigo Tabata Al-Rayyan Uruguay Jorge Fossati Al-Rayyan
2017 South Korea Nam Tae-hee Lekhwiya Portugal Jesualdo Ferreira Al Sadd
2018 Tunisia Youssef Msakni Al-Duhail SC Algeria Djamel Belmadi Al-Duhail SC
2019 Qatar Akram Afif Al Sadd Portugal Jesualdo Ferreira Al Sadd
2020 Qatar Akram Afif Al Sadd Uruguay Diego Aguirre Al-Rayyan

Top goalscorers[]

Source:[18]

Year Best scorers Team Goals
1972–73 Qatar Al-Esteqlal 10
1973–74 unknown
1974–75 Not held
1975–76 Qatar Lebanon Al-Esteqlal 8
1976–77 unknown
1977–78 unknown
1978–79 Qatar Hassan Mattar Al-Sadd SC 11
1979–80 Qatar
Qatar
Egypt
Badr Bilal
 Al Ahli SC
Al-Sadd SC
Qatar SC		 ?
1980–81 Qatar Hassan Mattar Al-Sadd SC 9
1981–82 Qatar Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan SC 19
1982–83 Qatar Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan SC 10
1983–84 Qatar Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan SC 7
1984–85 Qatar Al-Arabi SC 7
1985–86 Qatar Mansoor Muftah Al-Rayyan SC 20
1986–87 Qatar Al Ahli SC 9
1987–88 Qatar Hassan Jowhar Al-Sadd SC 11
1988–89 Iran Farshad Pious Al Ahli SC 9
1989–90 Brazil Marquinho Carioca Al-Arabi SC 10
1990–91 QatarQatar

Qatar

Mahmoud Soufi

Adel Khamis

Al-Ittihad

Al-Ittihad

Al Ahli SC

10
1991–92 QatarAlgeria Mubarak Mustafa

Rabeh Madjer

Al Arabi SC

Qatar SC

12
1992–93 Qatar Mubarak Mustafa Al Arabi SC 9
1993–94 Iraq Ahmed Radhi Al-Wakrah SC 16
1994–95 Qatar Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi Al-Rayyan SC 9
1995–96 Nigeria Ricky Owubokiri Al-Arabi SC 16
1996–97 QatarSenegal Mubarak Mustafa

Alboury Lah

Al-Arabi SC

Al Ahli SC

11
1997–98 MoroccoSenegal

Brazil

Hussein Amotta

Alboury Lah

Cláudio Mendes Prates

Al-Sadd SC

Al Ahli SC

Al-Arabi SC

10
1998–99 Angola Fabrice Akwa Al-Wakrah SC 11
1999–2000 Qatar Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi Al-Rayyan SC 14
2000–01 Senegal Al-Wakrah SC 14
2001–02 Algeria Rachid Amrane Al-Ittihad 16
2002–03 Morocco Rachid Rokki Al-Khor SC 15
2003–04 Argentina Gabriel Batistuta Al-Arabi SC 25
2004–05 Brazil Sonny Anderson Al-Rayyan SC 20
2005–06 Ecuador Carlos Tenorio Al-Sadd SC 21
2006–07 Iraq Younis Mahmoud Al-Gharafa SC 24
2007–08 Brazil Clemerson de Araújo Al-Gharafa SC 27
2008–09 Brazil Magno Alves Umm Salal SC 25
2009–10 Brazil
Iraq		 Cabore
Younis Mahmoud		 Al-Arabi SC
Al-Gharafa SC		 21
2010–11 Iraq Younis Mahmoud Al-Gharafa SC 15
2011–12 Brazil Adriano El Jaish SC 18
2012–13 Qatar Sebastián Soria Lekhwiya SC 19
2013–14 Democratic Republic of the Congo Dioko Kaluyituka Al Ahli SC 22
2014–15 Democratic Republic of the Congo Dioko Kaluyituka Al Ahli SC 25
2015–16 Morocco
Qatar 		Abderrazak Hamdallah
Rodrigo Tabata 		El Jaish SC
Al Rayyan 		21
2016–17 Morocco Youssef El-Arabi Al-Duhail SC 24
2017–18 Morocco Youssef El-Arabi Al-Duhail SC 26
2018–19 Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd SC 39
2019–20 Algeria
Qatar 		Yacine Brahimi
Akram Afif 		Al Rayyan SC
Al-Sadd SC 		15
2020–21 Algeria Baghdad Bounedjah Al-Sadd SC 21

By player[]

Rank Player Country Titles Seasons
1 Mansoor Muftah  Qatar 4 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
2 Mubarak Mustafa  Qatar 3 1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97
2 Younis Mahmoud  Iraq 3 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11
4  Qatar 2 1986–87, 1990–91
4 Alboury Lah  Senegal 2 1996–97, 1997–98
4 Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi  Qatar 2 1994–95, 1999–2000
4 Dioko Kaluyituka  Democratic Republic of the Congo 2 2013–14, 2014–15
4 Youssef El-Arabi  Morocco 2 2016–17, 2017–18
4 Baghdad Bounedjah  Algeria 2 2018–19, 2020–21

By country[]

Country Players Total
 Qatar 24 15
 Brazil 7 7
 Algeria 5 5
 Morocco 5 4
 Senegal 3 2
 Iraq 2 4
 Democratic Republic of the Congo 2 1
 Iran 6 1
 Argentina 1 1
 Egypt 1 1
 Lebanon 1 1

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Heir Apparent Cup finals" (in Arabic). Al Kass. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. ^ "QSL confirms expansion move". Doha Stadium Plus. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  3. ^ "Qatar Amateur League". Qatar Stars League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ a b "Qatar Stars League (QSL)". mail.asiancup2011.com.qa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  6. ^ "QSL expands to 14 teams". Qatar Sports Today. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ "Qatar — List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  9. ^ "« عن الريان « تاريخ النادي" (in Arabic). Al Rayyan Club. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Football in Qatar". Qatar Visitor. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Champ magazine, issue 7". Aspire Academy. December 2014. p. 9. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  12. ^ Matthias Krug (29 August 2009). "An Asian armada sets sail for Europe". ESPN FC. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  13. ^ "QNB The Exclusive Partner of QATAR STARS CUP". QNB. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ QFA announce $100,000 for best player[permanent dead link] Doha Press.
  16. ^ "Tabata & Aguirre named season heroes". Qatar Stars League. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Sadd's Khalfan, Raul, Amotta shine at QFA awards gala". Gulf Times. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Qatar - List of Topscorers". rsssf.com. Retrieved 11 August 2015.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""