Saudi Professional League
The Saudi Arabian Football Championship (Arabic الدوري السعودي ), is a professional football league in Saudi Arabia and is played since 1975/76. It is also the highest league in the country. Main sponsor of the league is the telecommunications company Zain, which is why the league officially Zain League (Arabic دوري زين السعودي ) is also referred to.
History
Until the founding of the League Championships took place mainly on a regional basis. The only national competition was by then the King 's Cup. As had improved by 1975 both the structures of the clubs as well as the infrastructure of the country decided to then introduce a national league. The first season started the league with eight teams. With Al -Nasr was determined at the end of the first national champion in the country.
In 1981 it was decided to involve more clubs in the current league system. To enable both ascents and descents a second league was introduced for this reason. It was then 1981/82 played a so-called placement league. It was attended by 18 teams, of which the top eight for the First League and the last eight for the new second division had to qualify. From the 1984/85 season for the first time played twelve clubs in the Saudi league. Until 1990, was played in a conventional league system, consisting of round-trip games. In 1991, an additional championship round has been introduced. Here, the four best teams in the Final Table qualify for the play- off games. At first, the third and fourth play in a game from the opponent of the Second Table. The winner plays against the league leaders the final game for the championship. 2007, the association decided to abolish the championship round again and return to the old talent system.
The season 2008/ 09 was Al -Ittihad decide for themselves and in the end win the ninth overall title. Two games before the end of the season was Al -Hilal Ittihad only two points behind. On the final day there came to the encounter between these two clubs, with Al -Ittihad had the upper hand and sealed the championship. In the duel of the two climbers, Al - Raed and Abha, Al - Raed had the better end. Only thanks to the better goal remained Al- Raed at the end in the league. The following year, Al -Hilal secured the twelfth title. Since the number of teams was increased to 14, no team dismounted. The 2011/12 season was once again decided on the last game: In the game between the second placed at this time Al -Ahli and Al -Shabab leading the latter needed only a 1-1 draw. In the final quarter of an hour it was rough to: Although it was Al -Ahli compensate for the interim leadership by the opponent, but you cashed during the 83rd and 93rd minutes respectively a red card.
Mode
The top four teams qualify for the AFC Champions League. The two bottom team relegated from the Premier League and are replaced by the two leading teams in the second league.
Clubs in the 2011/12 season
Final Table 2011/12
The last- placed teams ranked 13 and 14 from rising.
Statistics
Record champions
(As of 2012)
Previous titleholders
- 2006/ 07 Al -Ittihad
- 2007/ 08 Al -Hilal
- 2008/ 09 Al -Ittihad
- 2009/10 Al -Hilal
- 2010/11 Al -Hilal
- 2011/12 Al -Shabab
- 2012/13 Al- Fateh