Al-Arabi Irbid Sports Club (Arabic: نادي العربي إِربِد الرياضي) is a football club based in Irbid, Jordan which currently competes in the Jordanian First Division League.[2]

Quick Facts Full name, Founded ...
Al-Arabi Irbid
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Full nameAl-Arabi Irbid Sports Club
Founded1945; 79 years ago (1945)
GroundAl-Hassan Stadium
Capacity15,000
ChairmanHabes Al-Zinati
ManagerImad Rashad[1]
LeagueJordanian First Division League
2023Jordanian First Division League, 4th of 14
Current season
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The previous logo of Al-Arabi SC (Irbid)

History

Al-Arabi Sports Club's origins began when a group of 22 young intellectuals were interested in establishing a place, where they could gather and practice their various hobbies. Thus, the Acting and Music Club was formed in 1945.[3] The club began as one that focused on youth culture and music, and sports was not a focus of the club at the time. It established its sports branch in 1955, under the current name Al-Arabi SC.[4] Al-Arabi SC is considered to be one of the oldest football clubs formed in Jordan, and the oldest club in Northern Jordan.[5]

According to Fayez Salim, the football team rose to the ranks of the Premier League team and was the first team from Irbid to win the Jordan FA Cup in 1986 and is still the only team from the city of Irbid to have won it[6] as of 2024.

Al-Arabi was also famous for its handball team,[7][8] as it dominated the Kingdom’s championships for nearly 16 consecutive years, between 1983 and ending in 1991, as well as hosting other sports such as tennis, volleyball, cycling and athletics.[9] A peculiarity within the club during the domination of its handball team was that some of their players switched between representing Al-Arabi in handball and Al-Arabi in football.[10]

Recent history

Al-Arabi finished as runners-up of the 2009–10 Jordan FA Cup, where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Al-Wehdat at the King Abdullah II Stadium.[11]

On 8 November 2017, Al-Arabi was threatened with collapse as it faced a difficult financial situation, owing a debt of over 1 million dinars.[12]

On 1 July 2019, various properties of Al-Arabi were put up for sale that amounted to approximately $10.4 million.[13]

On 17 December 2019, Al-Arabi and Al-Hussein began renovating a football stadium in the Zabada area of Irbid. It would be used as a training ground for both clubs, as opposed to go all the way to Ar-Ramtha to conduct their training.[14]

Current squad

As of 22 September 2024[15] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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Personnel

Current staff

More information Position, Name ...
Position Name
President Jordan Habes Al-Zinati[26]
Vice-president Jordan Abdullah Al-Akour[27]
Director Jordan Ayman Al-Naimi Abu Al-Abd[28]
Secretary Jordan Khaled Abu Zaid
Manager Jordan Fathi Al-Dhawahra[29]
Technical director / Head-coach Jordan Imad Rashad
Assistant coaches Jordan Hadi Al-Maharmeh[30]
Jordan Abdel-Ilah Al-Hanahneh[31]
U-19 head coach Jordan Tariq Salah[32]
U-13, U-15, U17 technical director Jordan Abdul Rahman Suleiman[33]
Goalkeeping coach Jordan Mohamed Badarna[34]
U-13 head coach and physical trainer Jordan Moamen Hamed[35]
U-17 head coach and U-15 assistant coach Jordan Mohamed Ahmed Al-Azayda[36]
U-15 assistant coach Jordan Mustafa Al-Turkmani[37]
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Notable players

The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before, during or after playing for Al-Arabi SC (Irbid):

Managerial history

  • Jordan Fares Shdifat (?–2009)
  • Iraq Kadhim Khalaf (2009–2010)
  • Jordan Osama Qasem (2010)
  • Jordan Muneer Masbah (2010–2011)
  • Jordan Mustafa Al-Lubani (2011–2012)
  • Syria Hisham Khalf (2011)
  • Jordan Issa Al-Turk (2012)
  • Syria Maher Bahri (2012–2013)
  • Jordan Ahmed Sobh (2013)
  • Iraq Kadhim Khalaf (2013–2014)
  • Serbia Bega (2014)
  • Jordan Mohammad Al-Ababneh (2014)

Honours

Kit Providers

References

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