Search

2015–16 Saudi Pro League

The 2015–16 Saudi Professional League (known as the Abdul Latif Jameel Professional League for sponsorship reasons) was the 40th season of the Saudi Professional League, the top Saudi professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1976. The season began on 19 August 2015 and ended on 14 May 2016.[7] Al-Nassr were the two time defending champions having won their seventh title last season.[8] The league was contested by the 12 teams from the 2014–15 season as well as Al-Qadisiyah and Al-Wehda, who joined as the promoted clubs from the 2014–15 First Division. They replace Al-Orobah and Al-Shoulla who were relegated to the 2015–16 First Division.

Professional League
Season2015–2016
Dates19 August 2015 – 14 May 2016
ChampionsAl-Ahli (3rd title)
RelegatedNajran
Hajer
AFC Champions LeagueAl-Ahli
Al-Hilal
Al-Taawoun
Al-Fateh
Arab Club ChampionshipAl-Hilal
Al-Nassr
Matches played182
Goals scored508 (2.79 per match)
Top goalscorerOmar Al-Somah
(27 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Hilal 7–0 Al-Khaleej
(21 November 2015)
Biggest away winHajer 0–5 Al-Ittihad
(24 April 2016)
Al-Ittihad 0–5 Al-Nassr
(8 May 2016)
Highest scoringAl-Ittihad 6–2 Al-Raed
(4 February 2016)
Longest winning runAl-Ahli (8 games)[1]
Longest unbeaten runAl-Ahli (17 games)[2]
Longest winless runHajer (15 games)[3]
Longest losing runHajer (9 games)[4]
Highest attendance60,051[5]
Al-Ahli 3–2 Al-Fateh
(13 May 2016)
Lowest attendance46[5]
Najran 2–0 Hajer
(20 November 2015)
Average attendance6,906[6]

On 24 April, Al-Ahli secured their third league title and first since 1984 with two games to spare after defeating second-placed Al-Hilal 3–1 at home.[9]

Hajer were the first team to be relegated following a 1–0 home defeat to Al-Ahli Al-Orobah on 17 April.[10] Najran became the second and final team to be relegated following a 3–3 draw with Al-Raed on the final matchday.[11]

Teams

Fourteen teams competed in the league – the twelve teams from the previous season and the two teams promoted from the First Division. The promoted teams were Al-Qadisiyah (returning to the top flight after three years) and Al-Wehda (returning to the top flight after two years). They replaced Al-Orobah (ending their two-year top-flight spell) and Al-Shoulla (ending their three-year top-flight spell).

Stadiums and locations

class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2014–15 Saudi Professional League
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Al-AhliJeddahKing Abdullah Sports City62,345[12]
Al-FaisalyHarmahPrince Salman Sport City Stadium5,200[13]
Al-FatehAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium19,096[14]
Al-HilalRiyadhKing Fahd International Stadium
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium		62,685[15]
22,500[16]
Al-IttihadJeddahKing Abdullah Sports City62,345[12]
Al-KhaleejSaihatPrince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium (Dammam)21,701[17]
Al-NassrRiyadhKing Fahd International Stadium
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium		62,685[15]
22,500[16]
Al-QadisiyahKhobarPrince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium11,000[18]
Al-RaedBuraidahKing Abdullah Sport City Stadium23,600[19]
Al-ShababRiyadhKing Fahd International Stadium
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium		62,685[15]
22,500[16]
Al-TaawounBuraidahKing Abdullah Sport City Stadium23,600[19]
Al-WehdaMeccaKing Abdul Aziz Stadium33,195[20]
HajerAl-HasaPrince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium19,096
NajranNajranKing Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium (Jeddah)[a]1,000

Personnel and kits

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Al-Ahli Christian Gross Taisir Al-JassimUmbroQatar Airways, Almosafer1
Al-Faisaly Liviu Ciobotariu Omar AbdulazizErreàALDREES, Roco1
Al-Fateh Nacif Beyaoui Hamdan Al-HamdanJakoHyundai, Al Kifah1, AlMoosa Hospital1
Al-Hilal Giorgos Donis Salman Al-FarajNikeVolkswagen, Mobily, Abdul Samad Al Qurashi1, Tasnee1, Bupa2, ExxonMobil2
Al-Ittihad Victor Pițurcă Mohammed NoorAdidasBupa2, ExxonMobil2
Al-Khaleej Jalel Kadri Hussain Al-TurkiErreàHyundai
Al-Nassr Raúl Caneda Hussein AbdulghaniSportaMobily
Al-Qadisiyah Hamad Al-Dossari Naif HazaziLottoeXtra
Al-Raed Aleksandar Ilić Ibrahim MadkhaliHattrickHana Water
Al-Shabab Fathi Al-Jabal Ahmed OtaifRomai
Al-Taawoun José Gomes Adnan FallatahErreàHerfy, Al Qassim Corner1
Al-Wehda Kheïreddine Madoui Majed Al-HazzaniErreàNagoor Group
Hajer Abdullah Al-Janoubi Mustafa MalayekahErreàAl-Ajmi Co., Almulhim Auto
Najran Hélio dos Anjos Abdulaziz HamsalUhlsportPolystar
  • 1 On the back of the strip.
  • 2 On the right sleeve of the strip.

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of
departure		Date of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of
appointment
Al-Shabab Adel Abdel RahmanEnd of contract15 May 2015Pre-season Álvaro Gutiérrez21 May 2015[21]
Al-Raed Ammar Souayah19 May 2015 Abdelkader Amrani8 June 2015[22]
Najran Fouad Bouali19 May 2015 Fathi Al-Jabal27 June 2015[23]
Al-Faisaly Toni ConceiçãoSacked22 May 2015[24] Liviu Ciobotariu6 June 2015[25]
Al-Ittihad Victor Pițurcă11 June 2015[26] László Bölöni22 July 2015[27]
Al-Raed Abdelkader Amrani29 August 2015[28]13th Takis Lemonis3 September 2015[29]
Al-Nassr Jorge da Silva24 October 2015[30]7th René Higuita (caretaker)24 October 2015
René Higuita (caretaker)End of caretaker period28 October 20156th Fabio Cannavaro28 October 2015[31]
Al-Qadisiyah Jameel QassemSacked30 October 2015[32]9th Alexandre Gallo30 October 2015[33]
Al-Wehda Juan Rodríguez30 October 2015[34]13th Badreldin Hamed (caretaker)30 October 2015
Hajer Nebojša Jovović30 October 2015[35]11th Abdullah Al-Janoubi (caretaker)30 October 2015
Abdullah Al-Janoubi (caretaker)End of caretaker period5 November 201512th Stéphane Demol5 November 2015[36]
Al-Wehda Badreldin Hamed (caretaker)6 November 201510th Kheïreddine Madoui6 November 2015[37]
Al-Ittihad László BölöniSacked24 November 2015[38]3rd Adel Abdel Rahman (caretaker)24 November 2015
Adel Abdel Rahman (caretaker)End of caretaker period9 December 20153rd Victor Pițurcă9 December 2015[39]
Najran Fathi Al-JabalSacked17 December 2015[40]13th Al Hasan Al-Yami (caretaker)17 December 2015
Al Hasan Al-Yami (caretaker)End of caretaker period25 December 201513th Hélio dos Anjos25 December 2015[41]
Al-Shabab Álvaro GutiérrezSacked3 January 2016[42]6th Fathi Al-Jabal3 January 2016[42]
Al-Qadisiyah Alexandre GalloMutual consent29 January 2016[43]11th Hamad Al-Dossari30 January 2016[44]
Al-Raed Takis LemonisSacked1 February 2016[45]12th Reda Hakam (caretaker)1 February 2016
Reda Hakam (caretaker)End of caretaker period4 February 201612th Aleksandar Ilić4 February 2016[46]
Al-Nassr Fabio CannavaroSacked12 February 2016[47]6th René Higuita (caretaker)12 February 2016
René Higuita (caretaker)End of caretaker period19 February 20167th Raúl Caneda19 February 2016[48]
Hajer Stéphane DemolSacked8 March 2016[49]14th Abdullah Al-Janoubi8 March 2016

Foreign players

The number of foreign players is limited to 4 per team, and should not be a goalkeeper.[50]

Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Former Players
Al-Ahli Marquinho Mohamed Abdel Shafy Giannis Fetfatzidis Omar Al Somah Nabil Bahoui
Al-Faisaly Adriano Pardal Javier Balboa Abel Camará Sadat Ouro-Akoriko Fernando Gabriel
André Ndame Ndame
Hamza Al-Dardour
Ifeanyi Onyilo
Al-Fateh Élton Salam Shaker Patrick Gbala Juan Falcón Josimar
Marko Stanojević
Al-Hilal Aílton Carlos Eduardo Digão Kwak Tae-hwi
Al-Ittihad Sulley Muntari Lucian Sânmărtean Gelmin Rivas James Troisi
Al-Khaleej Aminou Bouba Aboubacar Sylla Abdoulaye Koffi Ibrahim Al-Zawahreh Marwan Hussein
Al-Nassr Mohamed Husain Marquinhos Gabriel Modibo Maïga Adrian Mierzejewski Youness Mokhtar
Fabián Estoyanoff
Al-Qadisiyah Gilberto Macena Jandson Vitor Júnior Saad Abdul-Amir Farid Mellouli
Diego Maurício
Jhon Cley
Rubinho
Héctor Ramos
Al-Raed Marcos Pizzelli Boubacar Kébé Ismaël Bangoura Eid Al-Farsi Kamil Zayatte
Amjad Radhi
Oussama Darragi
Al-Shabab Mohamed Benyettou Camilo Rafinha Diego Arismendi Saif Al Hashan
Mauricio Affonso
Al-Taawoun Sandro Manoel Paul Alo'o Ricardo Machado Jehad Al-Hussain
Al-Wehda Anderson Ernest Webnje Nfor Jehad Al Baour Adolfo Lima Łukasz Gikiewicz
Zouheir Dhaouadi
Hajer Bruno Lopes André Ndame Ndame Ashraf Nu'man Adama François Gualberto Mojica
Saif Salman
Dragan Ćeran
Nemanja Tubić
Najran Adriano Alves Bismark Eric Tozin Mamadou Wagué
Winful Cobbinah
Faisal Zayid
Aboubacar Tambadou
Malick Mané
David Simbo

League table

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Al-Ahli (C)2619615521+3463Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage[a]
2Al-Hilal2617455223+2955Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage and Arab Club Championship group stage[a]
3Al-Ittihad[b]2615475437+1749
4Al-Taawoun2613675435+1945Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage[a]
5Al-Fateh2611873528+741Qualification for the AFC Champions League play-off round[a]
6Al-Shabab2611692728−139
7Al-Khaleej268992743−1633
8Al-Nassr2671183933+632Qualification for the Arab Club Championship group stage[c]
9Al-Wehda2687113037−731
10Al-Faisaly2678112837−929
11Al-Qadisiyah26610102632−628
12Al-Raed (O)2666143045−1524Qualification to relegation play-offs
13Najran (R)2656153653−1721Relegation to the First Division
14Hajer (R)2623211556−419
Source: SLstat.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total goals scored; 6) Play-off (only for deciding champion, relegation and AFC competitions participation).[52]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Positions by round

The following table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve the chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. If a club from the Saudi Professional League wins the King Cup, they will qualify for the AFC Champions League, unless they have already qualified for it through their league position. In this case, an additional AFC Champions League group stage berth will be given to the 3rd placed team, and the AFC Champions League play-off round spot will be given to 4th.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Al-Ahli64221222211112222211111111
Al-Hilal32113111122221111122222222
Al-Ittihad43542345334333333333333333
Al-Taawoun86355553443444444444444444
Al-Fateh27768979897957776897665555
Al-Shabab11434434579565555555556666
Al-Khaleej1314131010867656678889966777777
Al-Nassr78676686765786667789888888
Al-Wehda141112121310111310101010101010101011101010101010109
Al-Faisaly11129977989888999986789999910
Al-Qadisiyah55889111011121111111111111111131213131112121111
Al-Raed1213141412131310111212131212121313121312121311111212
Najran109111314141212131313121313131212101111111213131313
Hajer910101111121414141414141414141414141414141414141414
Leader
2017 AFC Champions League group stage
2017 AFC Champions League play-off round
Qualified for relegation play-off
Relegation to 2016–17 First Division
Source: SLstat.com

Results

Home \ AwayAHLFSYFATHILITTKHJNSRQADRAESHBWHDTWNHJRNAJ
Al-Ahli1–13–23–14–21–14–22–03–13–12–02–21–01–2
Al-Faisaly1–21–20–11–31–22–21–02–20–02–11–23–12–2
Al-Fateh0–22–11–21–10–02–12–21–00–02–01–01–13–1
Al-Hilal1–20–03–30–17–02–01–01–01–12–03–14–12–0
Al-Ittihad0–31–20–04–34–10–51–16–22–10–24–15–01–0
Al-Khaleej0–42–10–20–32–21–10–01–01–21–41–10–13–1
Al-Nassr1–10–03–11–23–01–10–01–21–21–13–20–02–0
Al-Qadisiyah0–21–02–10–01–32–02–21–10–11–11–21–14–2
Al-Raed2–55–00–00–10–20–20–02–10–11–01–12–12–3
Al-Shabab1–10–11–00–11–20–01–00–23–11–10–13–13–2
Al-Wehda0–12–21–31–30–20–00–21–03–12–12–11–01–1
Al-Taawoun0–03–11–21–02–12–33–35–12–04–04–24–04–1
Hajer0–10–11–01–50–51–20–10–21–21–21–21–41–2
Najran0–10–11–32–31–22–34–31–13–30–12–21–12–0
Updated to match(es) played on 14 May 2016. Source: SLstat.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season progress

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Al-AhliDWWWWDWWDWWWWDDWDLWWWWWWWW
Al-FaisalyLLWDWDLDDLWWLWLLWWDLLLLDDD
Al-FatehWLDDDDWWLWLWLDDLWLDWWWWDWL
Al-HilalWWWWLWWWWWLWWWDWLLDWWDWLWD
Al-IttihadWWLWWDWLDWWLWWWWDWDLLWWWLL
Al-KhaleejLLDWDWWLDWDDDDDLLWWWLLWDLL
Al-NassrDDWLWDLDWDDWLWDLDDDLWLLDWL
Al-QadisiyahWDLLDLLLDLWDDLDLDLDLWWDDWW
Al-RaedLLLDDLWDWDLLLLLLLWLWWLWDLD
Al-ShababWWDWDDLWLLLLWWWWWWLLLDLDDW
Al-WehdaLDLDLWLLLWWLDLDLLDWWLWDDWW
Al-TaawounDWWLDWWDWLWWLDWWWLDWLWLDLW
HajerDLDLLLLLLLLLDLLWWLLLLLLLLL
NajranLDLLLLLWDLLLWLDWLWDLWLLDLD
Source: SLstat.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose

Relegation play-offs

Al-Raed who finished 12th faced Al-Batin who finished 3rd in the 2015–16 Saudi First Division for a two-legged play-off. The winner on aggregate score will take part in the 2016–17 Saudi Professional League.[52] Al-Raed won 5–3 on aggregate and secured their place in the next season.[53]

Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Al-Batin3–5Al-Raed2–11–4

First leg

Al-Batin2–1Al-Raed
Al-Yami 15' (o.g.)
Metlaq 58'		ReportBangoura 50'
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoaish

Second leg

Al-Raed4–1Al-Batin
Pizzelli 3' (pen.)
Al-Shehri 30'
Al-Sawadi 81'
Bangoura 90+4' (pen.)		ReportJadoua 84'
Referee: Shukri Al-Hanfoush

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[54]
1 Omar Al SomahAl-Ahli27
2 Gelmin RivasAl-Ittihad19
3 Carlos EduardoAl-Hilal14
4 Abdulmajeed Al-RuwailiAl-Taawoun13
5 Élton JoséAl-Fateh12
6 Ali AwajiAl-Wehda11
7 Adrian MierzejewskiAl-Nassr10
Paul Alo'oAl-Taawoun
9 Hamad Al-JuhaimAl-Fateh8
Javier BalboaAl-Faisaly

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
Gelmin RivasAl-IttihadAl-Qadisiyah3–1 (A)17 October 2015[55]
Omar Al SomahAl-AhliAl-Nassr4–2 (H)18 October 2015[56]
Gelmin RivasAl-IttihadHajer5–0 (H)10 December 2015[57]
Omar Al SomahAl-AhliAl-Raed3–1 (H)14 December 2015[58]
Yasser Al-Qahtani4Al-HilalHajer4–1 (H)8 May 2016[59]
Omar Al SomahAl-AhliAl-Raed5–2 (A)8 May 2016[60]
Notes

(H) – Home; (A) – Away
4 Player scored 4 goals

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets[61]
1 Yasser Al-MosailemAl-Ahli10
Khalid SharhiliAl-Hilal
3 Mohammed Al-OwaisAl-Shabab8
4 Faisel MasrahiAl-Shabab7
5 Abdullah Al-OwaishirAl-Fateh6
6 Moslem Al FreejAl-Khaleej5
Mansoor Al-NajaiAl-Faisaly
Assaf Al-QarniAl-Ittihad
Fayz Al-SabiayAl-Taawoun
10 Fahad Al-ShammariAl-Raed4
Mutab SharahiliAl-Nassr

Discipline

Player

Club

  • Most yellow cards: 61[62]
    • Al-Khaleej
  • Most red cards: 7[62]
    • Najran

Attendances

By round

2015–16 Professional League Attendance
RoundTotalGP.Avg. Per Game
Round 132,12274,589
Round 229,84074,263
Round 393,882713,412
Round 453,70177,672
Round 569,08479,869
Round 639,15675,594
Round 748,28576,898
Round 857,64478,235
Round 944,46276,352
Round 1072,727710,390
Round 1147,42276,775
Round 1243,78376,255
Round 1330,29574,328
Round 1463,27979,040
Round 1552,70977,530
Round 1628,51874,074
Round 1755,13777,877
Round 1838,55175,507
Round 1953,19177,599
Round 2056,59578,085
Round 2145,34276,477
Round 2218,18472,598
Round 2334,39174,913
Round 2467,87079,696
Round 2514,01872,003
Round 2666,62279,517
Total
1,256,810
1826,906

Source:[63]

By team

PosTeamTotalHighLowAverageChange
1Al-Ahli360,31260,0517,14427,716−18.7%†
2Al-Ittihad295,46559,0371,78722,728−46.4%†
3Al-Hilal154,33826,6532,37111,872−8.7%†
4Al-Nassr82,19321,7161,0746,323−60.9%†
5Al-Taawoun72,91012,5071,2745,608+108.9%†
6Al-Raed61,52012,3241,4744,732+42.9%†
7Al-Shabab38,20114,8503922,939−10.7%†
8Al-Wehda37,99010,9393102,922n/a†

†

9Al-Fateh37,18411,6882822,860+3.0%†
10Al-Qadisiyah35,02212,0501822,694n/a†

†

11Najran34,76118,777462,674+181.8%†
12Hajer22,2116,7541061,709+5.4%†
13Al-Khaleej18,4456,714931,419−47.2%†
14Al-Faisaly6,2581,75063481−15.6%†
League total1,256,81060,051466,906−24.5%†

Updated to games played on 14 May 2016
Source: [64][5][65]
Notes:
† Teams played previous season in First Division.

See also

References

External links

Retrieved from "https:https://www.search.com.vn/wiki/index.php?lang=en&q=2015–16_Saudi_Pro_League&oldid=1217713534"
🔥 Top keywords: Main PageSpecial:SearchIndian Premier LeagueWikipedia:Featured picturesPornhubUEFA Champions League2024 Indian Premier LeagueFallout (American TV series)Jontay PorterXXXTentacionAmar Singh ChamkilaFallout (series)Cloud seedingReal Madrid CFCleopatraRama NavamiRichard GaddDeaths in 2024Civil War (film)Shōgun (2024 miniseries)2024 Indian general electionJennifer PanO. J. SimpsonElla PurnellBaby ReindeerCaitlin ClarkLaverne CoxXXX (film series)Facebook2023–24 UEFA Champions LeagueYouTubeCandidates Tournament 2024InstagramList of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finalsJude BellinghamMichael Porter Jr.Andriy LuninCarlo AncelottiBade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024 film)