Qatar Stars League
Alkass Sports | |
Website | qsl.qa |
---|---|
Current: 2023–24 Qatar Stars League |
The Qatar Stars League (
The Qatari league system provides 5 domestic cups that various clubs can compete for: the
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
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
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.[3] 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.[4] In 2017 the number of teams moved back to 12.
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,[5] the QAL has 14 teams, all of which were established through the country's government, political and social sectors.[6]
History
Early history
The first unofficial season of the Qatar Stars League was the
First official season
In 1972–73, the first official season was played.[9] Al Esteqlal, now known as Qatar SC, won the first championship.[10]
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:
The 2003 money influx from QFA
A successful method the QFA used 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 the summer of 2003. The attempt brought in players such as Ronald and Frank de Boer, Romário, Pep Guardiola, Fernando Hierro, Marcel Desailly, Stefan Effenberg, Claudio Caniggia, and Gabriel Batistuta who soon appeared and shone in the league.[11][12]
In addition, in 2004, the
2009: 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.[3] As part of the expansion campaign, the "Q-League" changed its name to what it is currently known as, "Qatar Stars League",[14] and inaugurated a new domestic cup, the "Qatari Stars Cup".[15]
Clubs
Champions
Club | Wins | Winning years[16] |
---|---|---|
Al Sadd | 16 | |
Qatar SC | 8 | 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1972–73, 1976–77, 2002–03 |
Al-Duhail | 8 | 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23 |
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-Wakrah | 2 | 1998–99, 2000–01 |
2022–23 season
Qatar Stars League | |||
---|---|---|---|
Club | Location | Stadium | Year formed |
Al Ahli SC | Doha | Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium | 1950 |
Al-Arabi SC | Doha | Grand Hamad Stadium | 1952 |
Al-Duhail SC | Doha | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium | 2009 |
Al-Gharafa SC | Doha | Thani bin Jassim Stadium | 1979 |
Al-Markhiya SC | Al-Markhiya
|
Al-Markhiya Stadium | 1995 |
Al-Rayyan SC | Al Rayyan | Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium
|
1967 |
Al Sadd SC | Al Sadd | Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium
|
1969 |
Al-Sailiya SC | Doha | Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium | 1950 |
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 | 39
|
Al-Sadd SC (16), Qatar SC (8), Al-Duhail SC (8), Al-Arabi SC (7) |
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.[17] beIN Sports also bought rights to broadcast Stars League.
Seasons | Channel |
---|---|
2012–present | Alkass Sports |
beIN Sports |
International
Seasons | Countries | Channel |
---|---|---|
2023–present | Brazil | ESPN |
South Korea | SPOTV | |
ASEAN |
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.[18][19] There are also awards for youth players and club staff.
Top goalscorers
By player
Rank | Player | Country | Titles | Seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mansoor Muftah |
Qatar | 8 | 1973–74,1976-1977, 1977–78,1979–80
1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86 |
2 | Baghdad Bounedjah | Algeria | 4 | 2016-17, 2018–19, 2019-20, 2020–21 |
3 | Mubarak Mustafa | Qatar | 3 | 1991–92, 1992–93, 1996–97 |
3 | Younis Mahmoud | Iraq | 3 | 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11 |
5 | Hassan Sabela | Qatar | 2 | 1986–87, 1990–91 |
5 | Alboury Lah | Senegal | 2 | 1996–97, 1997–98 |
5 | Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi | Qatar | 2 | 1994–95, 1999–2000 |
5 | Mahmoud Soufi | Qatar | 2 | 1990–91, 1993–1994 |
5 | Dioko Kaluyituka | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2 | 2013–14, 2014–15 |
5 | Youssef El-Arabi | Morocco | 2 | 2016–17, 2017–18 |
5 | Michael Olunga | Kenya | 2 | 2021–22, 2022–23 |
All-time top scorers
See also
References
- ^ "Heir Apparent Cup finals" (in Arabic). Al Kass. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "QSL confirms expansion move". Doha Stadium Plus. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Qatar Stars League (QSL)". mail.asiancup2011.com.qa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ "QSL expands to 14 teams". Qatar Sports Today. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ "Qatar Amateur League". Qatar Stars League. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d e f دوري نجوم قطر. mail.asiancup2011.qa (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ "Qatar — List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "« عن الريان « تاريخ النادي" (in Arabic). Al Rayyan Club. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
- ^ "Al-Esteqlal Doha Qatar Stars League (1. League)". Retrieved 2022-12-12.
- ^ "Football in Qatar". Qatar Visitor. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
- ^ Ken Salmon (9 June 2022). "When Effenberg, Batistuta and Guardiola played in Qatar". 90soccer.com.
- ^ "Champ magazine, issue 7". Aspire Academy. December 2014. p. 9. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ Matthias Krug (29 August 2009). "An Asian armada sets sail for Europe". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "QNB The Exclusive Partner of QATAR STARS CUP". QNB. 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Qatar - List of Champions". 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
- ^ "'Football is a powerful marketing tool'". 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ^ 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.
- ^ QFA announce $100,000 for best player Doha Press.
- ^ "Tabata & Aguirre named season heroes". Qatar Stars League. 13 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Sadd's Khalfan, Raul, Amotta shine at QFA awards gala". Gulf Times. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Qatar - List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
- ^ "Qatar Football Association Award 2021-22". Retrieved 2022-12-19.
External links
- QSL Official website
- QFA Official website
- Qatar Stars League – worldfootball.net (multilingual)
- Qatar Stars League – goal.com
- Qatar Stars League – hailoosport.com (in Arabic)
- Qatar Stars League – hailoosport.com
- Qatari Football on Twitter