The First Division League (FDL;[1] Arabic: دوري الدرجة الأولى), known as Yelo league for sponsorship reasons,[2] is the second tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia. The First Division League is ranked below the Saudi Pro League and above the Saudi Second Division League in the Saudi Arabian football league system.
 | |
| Organising body | Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 18 (since 2022–23) |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Saudi Pro League |
| Relegation to | SD League |
| Domestic cup(s) | King's Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League Two (via winning the King's Cup) |
| Current champions | Al-Qadsiah (4th titles) (2023–24 season) |
| Most championships | Hajer Al-Wehda Al-Qadsiah (4 titles each) |
| Top goalscorer | Ousmane Barry (108 goals) |
| TV partners | Riyadiya |
| Website | fdl |
| Current: 2024–25 First Division League | |
History
The league was founded in 1976 along side the Premier League Which is now known as the Saudi Pro League.
being the second tier league it allows the first tier league clubs to either discover talents or send players on loan so they can develop.
Hajer, Al-Wehda and Al-Qadsiah hold the record number of championships in the league with four. While Ohod holds the record for number of promotions from the First Division to the Pro League, nine.
Competition format
- As of 2024
There are 18 clubs in the FD League. During the course of a season (usually from August to May) each club plays the other clubs twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss.
The top two teams are promoted to the Saudi Pro League directly, a play-off system to determine the third team to be promoted along side the two. Teams placed between third and sixth position took part in the promotion play-offs. The fifth-placed would face the fourth, while the sixth-placed team would face the third. The final would be single-legged, hosted by the higher-placed team, while the bottom three teams are relegated to the SD League.
Since the 2018–19 season the number of foreign players in the league was increased from 3 to 7, Seven substitutes are permitted to be selected, from which three can be used in the duration of the game.[3]
Current clubs
For details on the FD League 2024–25 season, see here.
Stadium and locations
- Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Champions
Champions and Runners-up[20]
- Note
- 1First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82 out of concern for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process.
Performance by club
| Club | Winners | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Hajer | 4 |
1988, 1998, 2011, 2014 |
| Al-Wehda | 4 |
1983, 1996, 2003, 2018 |
| Al-Qadsiah | 4 |
2002, 2009, 2015, 2024 |
| Al-Nahda | 3 |
1977, 1991, 1993 |
| Al-Tai | 3 |
1985, 1995, 2001 |
| Ohod | 3 |
1981, 1984, 2004 |
| Al-Riyadh | 2 |
1978, 1989 |
| Al-Najma | 2 |
1990, 1994 |
| Al-Ansar | 2 |
1986, 2000 |
| Al-Raed | 2 |
1992, 2008 |
| Al-Hazem | 2 |
2005, 2021 |
| Al-Khaleej | 2 |
2006, 2022 |
| Al-Shabab | 1 |
1979 |
| Al-Jabalain | 1 |
1980 |
| Al-Kawkab | 1 |
1987 |
| Al-Taawoun | 1 |
1997 |
| Sdoos | 1 |
1999 |
| Al-Watani | 1 |
2007 |
| Al-Faisaly | 1 |
2010 |
| Al-Shoulla | 1 |
2012 |
| Al-Orobah | 1 |
2013 |
| Al-Ettifaq | 1 |
2016 |
| Al-Fayha | 1 |
2017 |
| Abha | 1 |
2019 |
| Al-Batin | 1 |
2020 |
| Al-Ahli | 1 |
2023 |
Top scorers
- As of the 2023–2024 season
| Nat. | Top Scorers | Club | Season | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Mbaye Diagne | Al-Qadsiah | 2023–2024 | 26 |
|
Ablaye Mbengue | Al-Arabi | 2022–2023 | 29 |
 |
Carolus Andria | Ohod | 2021–2022 | 25 |
 |
Ibrahim Diomandé | Ohod | 2020–2021 | 24 |
 |
Ousmane Barry | Al-Bukiryah | 2019–2020 | 27 |
|
Carolus Andria | Al-Adalah | 2018–2019 | 22 |
 |
Mashari Al-Enezi | Al-Tai | 2017–2018 | 21 |
|
Abdulfattah Adam | Al-Jeel | 2016–2017 | 20 |
|
Abdulfattah Adam | Al-Jeel | 2015–2016 | 20 |
|
Mousa Madkhali | Al-Wehda | 2014–2015 | 20 |
|
Hamad Al-Juhaim | Al-Tai | 2013–2014 | 20 |
|
Mousa Madkhali | Hetten | 2012–2013 | 22 |
|
Younes Alaiwi | Al-Batin | 2011–2012 | 21 |
|
Hussain Al-Turki | Al-Khaleej | 2010–2011 | 20 |
|
Hussain Al-Turki | Al-Khaleej | 2009–2010 | 16 |
|
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi Mohammad Alhelo |
Al-Qadsiah Sdoos |
2008–2009 | 15[21] |
|
Khalid Al Rejaib | Hajer | 2007–2008 | 9 |
|
Al-Hasan Al-Yami | Najran | 2006–2007 | 20 |
|
Mubarak Al Khaleefah | Al-Khaleej | 2005–2006 | 18 |
|
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2004–2005 | 19 |
|
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2003–2004 | 15 |
|
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2002–2003 | 16 |
|
Mohammed Manga | Sdoos | 2001–2002 | 12[22] |
|
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2000–2001 | 14 |
|
Mohammed Harshan | Najran | 1999–2000 | 11 |
|
Mubarak Al Khaleefah | Al-Rawdhah | 1998–1999 | 13[23] |
| 1997–1998 | ||||
|
Mousa Sahab | Al-Taawoun | 1996–1997 | |
|
Obeid Al-Dosari | Al-Wehda | 1995–1996 | |
|
Yehey Jako | Al-Tai | 1994–1995 | 11[24] |
|
Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1993–1994 | 15 |
|
Hamzah Idris | Ohod | 1992–93 | 10 |
|
Sulaiman Al Hadaithi Mohamed Al Khalifa Nasser Al-Qahtani |
Al-Najma Hajer Al-Rawdhah |
1991–1992 | 11 |
|
Ahmed Al-Zaaq | Al-Taawoun | 1990–1991 | 11 |
|
Khalid Al-Mansour Hamzah Idris |
Al-Arabi Ohod |
1989–1990 | 11 |
|
Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1988–1989 | 14 |
|
Khalid Al-Mansour Fahd Al-Hamdan |
Al-Arabi Al-Riyadh |
1987–1988 | 11 |
|
Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1986–1987 | 16 |
|
Abdullah Al-Saab | Al-Fayha | 1985–1986 | 8[25] |
|
Walid Sharqi | Al-Ansar | 1984–1985 | |
|
Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed | Damac | 1983–1984 | 11 |
|
Shaye Al-Nafisah | Al-Kawkab | 1982–1983 | 12 |
| - | - | - | 1981–1982 First Division and Premier League were merged in 1981–82 out of concern for the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification process. |
- |
|
Abdullah Al-Mansour | Al-Taawoun | 1980–1981 | 9 |
|
Daran Al Daran | Al-Jabalain | 1979–1980 | 16[26] |
| 1978–1979 | ||||
| 1977–1978 | ||||
| 1976–1977 | ||||
Sponsorship
- Yelo league (2021–Present)
See also
References
External links
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