Al-Arabi Sports Club (Arabic: نادي العربي), also known as Al-Arabi Al-Saudi, is a professional multi-sports club based in Unaizah, Saudi Arabia. The football team competes in the Saudi First Division League, the second tier of Saudi football.[1]
| Full name | Al-Arabi Sports Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Fares Unaizah (The Knight of Unaizah) | |
| Founded | 1958 | |
| Ground | Department of Education Stadium Unaizah, Saudi Arabia | |
| Capacity | 10,000 | |
| Chairman | Ameen Al-Malah | |
| Manager | Damir Burić | |
| League | First Division League | |
| 2023–24 | FDL, 4th of 18 | |
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History
Establishment
Al Arabi Sporting Club was formed in Unaizah in 1958, by a group of young people in the city. The club operated unofficially as an amateur club until 1967 and was registered officially in the same year when General Presidency of Youth Welfare Abdulrahman Al-N'aim officially took over. The club has had fourteen presidents from its establishment until 2010, Currently, Adeeb Al-Kwiter is the president.
Football
Al-Arabi played for the first time in the Saudi First Division in the 1986–87 season. However, It played for four seasons until it won the Saudi First Division in 1989–90 season and was promoted to the Saudi Premier League. The club played one season in the Saudi Premier League and then was relegated to the Saudi First Division, where they played for four years. Al-Arabi was relegated in 1994–95 to the Saudi Second Division and attempted to rise back to the Saudi First Division in the 1995–96 season. Al-Arabi lost in the qualifier finals which was held in Al-Hasa. They played the 1996–97 and the 1997–98 season in the second division, until they were relegated to the third division in the 1998–99 season. The club continued in the third division until managing to qualify in 2001–02 in the final qualification match which was held in Najran and was promoted. The team played in the second division for from the 2002–03 season until the 2004–05 season where it was once again to the third division. Al-Arabi returned to the Saudi Second Division in the 2008–09 season after getting second place in the final qualification which was held in Dammam. In the 2021–22 season, they were champions of the Saudi Second Division and was promoted in the Saudi First Division. They have been playing in that division since the 2022–23 season.
- 1 season in Saudi Professional League
- 8 seasons in Saudi First Division
- 18 seasons in Saudi Second Division
- 7 seasons in Saudi Third Division
Current squad
As of 1 July 2023:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Club honours (Football)
- Saudi First Division :
- Runner up (1) : 1989–90
- Saudi Second Division :
- Champion (2) : 1986–87, 2021–22
- Saudi Third Division :
- Champion (1) : 2001–02
Current technical staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Maher Al-Shammari |
| Assistant Manager |  Vacant |
| Goalkeeping Coach |  Abdali Al-Aoaqbi |
| Under-17-team Coach |  Abdulaziz Ibrahim |
| Under-14-team Coach | Tariq Sharif |
| Goalkeeping Coach-Youth system | Tarek Atia |
| Head of Medical | Mahmoud Karim |
Coaches history
Akram Ahmad Salman 1989–1992[2]
Wardi Murad 2010–2011[3]
Zdravko Logarusic 2023- Alen Horvat 2023–present
Basketball
Club honours (Basketball)
- Saudi Basketball U-17 tournament: 1
1997
Club honours (Hand Ball)
- Saudi Federation Handball Cup: 1
1983
- Saudi Youth Handball Tournament: 1
1977
- Saudi Handball U-17 Premier League: 1
2009
Stadium
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Al-Arabi does not have its own football stadium, and uses a playground for training. A sport compound was built in Unaizah with facilities for a wide range of competitive sports, and the General Presidency of Youth Welfare decided to hold a draw between the city's two clubs for the right to use it. Al-Najma SC gained the right to use the stadium without a draw. In February 2007 during an interview on a program called C.V., Saleh Al-Wassel, the then-president of Al-Najma, admitted that he used his influence to obtain the newly built sports facility in Unaizah.
Al Arabi is currently playing all of its home matches at the Department of Education Stadium.
Indoor facilities
Al-Arabi Pavilion is an indoor sports arena used particularly for basketball and handball matches for the club. The capacity of the stadium is 7,000 people, and was built in 2007.
Presidents
Suleiman Al-Badi- Abdulrahman Al-Naim
- Ahmed Al-Turki
- Mohammed Al-Manea
- Ibrahim Al-Zaki
- Abdulrahman Al-Musaed
- Ahmad Al-Mansur
- Fahad Al-Wahaibi
- Ahmad Al-Subaie
- Ahmed Al-Marzouq
- Adeeb Al-Kwiter
- Mohammed Al-Dukahil
- Abdulaziz Al Dera
- Ameen Al Malah
See also
References
External links
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