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2022–23 Saudi First Division League

The 2022–23 First Division League (known as the Yelo League for sponsorship reasons) was the second season of the Saudi First Division League after its rebrand, and the 46th season of the Saudi First Division since its establishment in 1976. The season started on 22 August 2022 and concluded on 29 May 2023.[1]

First Division League
Season2022–23
Dates22 August 2022 – 29 May 2023
ChampionsAl-Ahli (1st title)
PromotedAl-Ahli
Al-Okhdood
Al-Hazem
Al-Riyadh
RelegatedNajran
Al-Sahel
Al-Shoulla
Matches played306
Goals scored709 (2.32 per match)
Top goalscorerAblaye Mbengue
(29 goals)
Biggest home winAl-Shoulla 3–0 Al-Orobah
(22 August 2022)
Al-Hazem 4–1 Najran
(5 September 2022)
Al-Ahli 3–0 Ohod
(16 September 2022)
Al-Hazem 3–0 Al-Arabi
(11 January 2023)
Al-Ahli 3–0 Al-Jabalain
(24 January 2023)
Al-Qadsiah 3–0 Ohod
(16 May 2023)
Al-Faisaly 4–1 Al-Ain
(23 May 2023)
Al-Okhdood 4–1 Najran
(29 May 2023)
Biggest away winAl-Shoulla 0–5 Al-Jabalain
(28 December 2022)
Highest scoringAl-Riyadh 3–3 Al-Arabi
(6 March 2023)
Al-Okhdood 4–2 Al-Orobah
(9 April 2023)
Jeddah 2–4 Al-Okhdood
(24 April 2023)
Longest winning runAl-Riyadh
(8 matches)
Longest unbeaten runAl-Ahli
(16 matches)
Longest winless runAl-Shoulla
(26 matches)
Longest losing runAl-Shoulla
(8 matches)
All statistics correct as of 29 May 2023.

On 5 May, Al-Ahli became the first team to be promoted following Al-Faisaly's 2–2 draw with Najran.[2] They were crowned champions following a 1–0 win against Al-Qadsiah on 23 May.[3] The second club to be promoted was Al-Okhdood who were promoted after Al-Faisaly's 2–2 draw with Jeddah on 15 May.[4] The third club to be promoted was Al-Riyadh who were promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Orobah.[5] The fourth and final club to be promoted was Al-Hazem who were promoted following a 3–2 win against Al-Sahel.[6]

On 1 May, Al-Shoulla became the first team to be relegated following Jeddah's 1–0 win against Al-Orobah.[7] On 23 May, Al-Sahel became the second team to be relegated despite a 3–2 win against Al-Okhdood.[8] Najran became the third and final club to be relegated after a 4–1 defeat to derby rivals Al-Okhdood on the final matchday.[9]

Overview

Changes

On 9 October 2020, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the league would be decreased to 18 starting from the 2022–23 season. Due to this decision, 5 teams were relegated last season instead of the usual 4 teams. In addition, only 3 teams were promoted from the Second Division instead of 4 teams.[10]

On 14 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of teams in the Pro League would be increased from 16 to 18 teams. To prepare for this change, only 2 teams would be relegated to the First Division League and 4 teams would be promoted to the Pro League.[11]

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2022–23 season.

Teams

A total of 18 teams are contesting the league, including 12 sides from the 2021–22 season, the three promoted teams from the Second Division and the three relegated sides from the Pro League.

The first club to be relegated to the First Division League was Al-Hazem following a 5–2 defeat away to Al-Ettifaq on 21 May.[12] Al-Hazem were relegated after just one year in the top flight. This was their second relegation in three years. Both Al-Ahli and Al-Faisaly were relegated following on the final day of the season. Al-Ahli were relegated following a 0–0 away draw with Al-Shabab.[13] Al-Ahli were relegated for the first time in their history while Al-Faisaly were relegated after 12 consecutive seasons in the top flight.

The first club to be promoted was Al-Arabi who were promoted following a 1–0 home win against Al-Rawdhah on 30 March 2022.[14] On 31 March 2022, Al-Qaisumah became the second side to be promoted following a 2–1 win over Al-Nairyah.[15] The third and final club to be promoted was Al-Riyadh, who were promoted following a 3–2 aggregate win over Al-Taraji in the promotion play-offs.[16]

Al-Arabi were crowned champions after defeating Al-Qaisumah 1–0 to win their second title and first since 1986.[17]

Al-Arabi return to the First Division League after an absence of 27 years. They return to the league for the first time since the 1994–95 season and will play in their 9th overall season. Al-Qaisumah return after an absence of three seasons and will play in their 4th overall season in the First Division League. Al-Riyadh return after an absence of six seasons and will play in their 18th overall season in the First Division League.

Stadia and locations

class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams in the 2022–23 First Division League
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Al-AhliJeddahPrince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium27,000
Al-AinAl BahahKing Saud Sport City Stadium10,000[18]
Al-ArabiUnaizahDepartment of Education Stadium10,000[19]
Al-FaisalyHarmahAl Majma'ah Sports City (Al Majma'ah)7,000
Al-HazemAr RassAl-Hazem Club Stadium8,000[20]
Al-JabalainHa'ilPrince Abdul Aziz bin Musa'ed Stadium12,000[21]
Al-KholoodAr RassAl-Hazem Club Stadium8,000[20]
Al-OkhdoodNajranPrince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium
Najran University Stadium		12,000[22]
10,000[23]
Al-OrobahSakakahAl-Orobah Club Stadium6,000[24]
Al-QadsiahKhobarPrince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium15,000[25]
Al-QaisumahHafar al-BatinAl-Batin Club Stadium6,000[26]
Al-RiyadhRiyadhPrince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium15,000[27]
Al-SahelAnakPrince Saud bin Jalawi Stadium (Khobar)15,000[25]
Al-ShoullaAl-KharjAl-Shoulla Club Stadium5,200
HajerAl-Hasa (Hofuf)Hajer Club Stadium12,000[28]
JeddahJeddahReserve Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City1,000
NajranNajranPrince Hathloul bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium
Najran University Stadium		12,000[22]
10,000[23]
OhodMedinaPrince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Stadium24,000[29]

Foreign players

On 15 April 2022, the Saudi FF announced that the number of foreign players was increased from 5 players to 6 players.[30]

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

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6Former Players
Al-Ahli Ryad Boudebouz Bastos Marcão Modou Barrow Hicham Faik Nicolás Milesi Franck Kom
Lewis Grabban
Youssef Abdelli
Al-Ain Hicham Belkaroui Ibrahim Chenihi Lahouari Touil Abdallah Al-Fakhouri Majdi Attar Mohannad Khairullah Okiemute Odah
Thaer Krouma
Alaeddine Marzouki
Al-Arabi Sandro Manoel Wellington Cheick Comara Mohammed El Fakih Ablaye Mbengue Birama Ndoye Soufyan Ahannach
Al-Faisaly Mariano Vázquez Willy Semedo Josip Vuković Masoud Juma Omar Arjoune Marin Jurina
Cassiano
Ismael
Rossi
Reda Hajhouj
Al-Hazem Paulo Ricardo Joel Tagueu Youssef Obama Francis Cann Ben Traoré Ola John Uilliam
Abdelilah Hafidi
Nawfel Zerhouni
Yousef Omar
Luka Stojanović
Al-Jabalain Rédha Bensayah Isael Lázaro Nailson Anderson Plata Yazid Abu Layla Malik Raiah
Carlão
Jô
Al-Kholood Roberto Dias Jobson Uilliam Jiloan Hamad Ahmed Yasin Khemais Maaouani Malik Asselah
Jhonnattann
Alain Akono
Muhadjiri Hakizimana
Al-Okhdood Kaká Mendes Maicon Douglas Reinaldo Dutra Ousmane Barry Vladimir Stojković Borhen Hkimi
Al-Orobah Tiago Bezerra Rayllan Bruno Philipe Maia Diego Silva Mostafa Matar Milan Vušurović
Al-Qadsiah Karim Aribi Raïs M'Bolhi Cédric Amissi Walter Bwalya Soualio Ouattara Saimon Msuva Bruno Bispo
Ibrahim Amada
Amadou Moutari
Al-Qaisumah Achraf Boudrama Hamid Djaouchi Khaled Nèche Souleymane Sakandé Odeni George Ward Al Salama
Al-Riyadh Marcinho Diego Miranda Muralha Emanuel Novo Miodrag Gemović Nikola Stojiljković Jens Cools
Al-Sahel Rafael Martins Medwin Biteghé Ibrahim Diomandé Zakaria Lahlali Ricardo Machado Mourad Hedhli Lawson Bekui
Al-Shoulla Sofiane Khedairia Carlos Henrique David Molinga Piqueti Sylla Daouda Taoufik Ijrouten Zoubir Motrani
Mirzad Mehanović
Hajer Fabrício Adriano Pardal Tiago Real Clarence Bitang Jean-Marc Mundele Reda Hajhouj William Henrique
Modibo Maïga
Souleymane Cissé
Jeddah Bruno Grassi Othman Maloum Mohammad Fouad Gozie Ugwu Lamin Samateh Johnatan Opoku
Najran Jhonnattann Alain Akono Mikael Dyrestam Carolus Andria Alassane Diarra Cristian Martínez Coutinho
Vitor
Donald Molls
Kwame Opoku
Soualio Ouattara
Ohod Emilio Zelaya Reagy Ofosu Badr Boulahroud Youssef El Jebli Alexandru Răuță Gerald Takwara Adil Djabout
Jamal Arago
Houssam Amaanan
Babacar Guèye

League table

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Al-Ahli (C, P)3421944824+2472Promotion to the Pro League
2Al-Hazem (P)3420865529+2668[a]
3Al-Okhdood (P)3421586435+2968[a]
4Al-Riyadh (P)3419695237+1563
5Al-Faisaly34161084532+1358
6Al-Arabi341310114343049
7Al-Kholood34127153331+243[b]
8Hajer341110133641−543[b]
9Ohod341012122938−942
10Al-Jabalain34914114243−141
11Al-Qadsiah341010142934−540[c]
12Al-Orobah34117163541−640[c][d]
13Al-Qaisumah34816103544−940[c]
14Al-Ain34116173446−1239
15Jeddah34108163440−638
16Najran (R)3499163654−1836Relegation to the Second Division
17Al-Sahel (R)34711163651−1532
18Al-Shoulla (R)3458212346−2323[d]
Updated to match(es) played on 29 May 2023. Source: goalzz.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) Fair-play points (Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).[32]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled but added to the full round they were played immediately afterward.

Team ╲ Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
Al-Ahli8151112774355795666413222212211111111
Al-Hazem5522233433234422322111121123443322
Al-Okhdood3111112222312233231444333432222233
Al-Riyadh151618141212101214141287554545333444344334444
Al-Faisaly4433321111121111154556666665555555
Al-Arabi7764556544443345666665555556666666
Al-Kholood12589119101299131011111110871089777777777777
Hajer611151615141214910117111212121214109979119988111199108
Ohod1010131013131511131315141414151415119810121112131311988101089
Al-Jabalain9139644598810111210799101312121312108810109988910
Al-Qadsiah16141617161617161516131013131313141515151515151515151515141314121211
Al-Orobah17181213141513151112812991010119111314101091110911101011111312
Al-Qaisumah1387966887666678881212111311131312111313131512131113
Al-Ain18171718181816171717171716161415131314141114141414141212121213141414
Jeddah14128789116675588977787788810121414151415151615
Najran1191415171718181818181818181716161717171717171716161616161616161516
Al-Sahel1261011118771011141515151617171616161616161617171717171717171717
Al-Shoulla2345101014131615161617171818181818181818181818181818181818181818
Leader
Promotion to the Pro League
Relegation to the Second Division
Updated to match(es) played on 29 May 2023. Source: [citation needed]

Results

Home \ AwayAHLAINARBFSYHAZJABKHOOKHOROQADQAIRIYSAHSHOHJRJEDNAJOHD
Al-Ahli1–01–22–21–03–01–01–41–01–01–10–22–22–03–11–02–13–0
Al-Ain0–02–00–10–12–00–31–22–21–00–10–21–23–21–22–10–04–1
Al-Arabi0–03–10–20–10–02–20–22–12–01–11–22–01–02–20–02–10–2
Al-Faisaly1–24–12–33–23–11–11–31–21–01–00–11–11–11–02–02–22–0
Al-Hazem0–02–03–00–12–21–11–02–11–03–02–13–21–12–02–14–12–1
Al-Jabalain1–21–21–21–23–11–02–01–32–13–11–41–10–03–11–11–11–0
Al-Kholood1–21–21–20–10–21–12–11–02–00–11–00–22–01–01–00–10–0
Al-Okhdood2–03–12–12–10–10–01–14–20–03–11–22–11–02–13–24–11–0
Al-Orobah0–02–11–30–10–22–22–11–00–11–10–10–02–00–11–01–00–0
Al-Qadsiah1–10–13–20–01–11–01–01–31–21–01–11–11–11–10–01–23–0
Al-Qaisumah0–20–02–21–11–12–20–22–21–40–11–10–01–02–22–12–12–0
Al-Riyadh0–23–03–31–20–00–01–10–31–01–22–11–21–32–12–13–22–1
Al-Sahel1–32–10–11–12–30–00–33–20–21–21–21–31–11–20–13–21–1
Al-Shoulla0–10–12–01–00–00–50–11–23–0[33]0–20–10–30–11–21–21–31–2
Hajer1–21–21–11–03–20–01–01–02–22–02–20–11–10–11–01–11–0
Jeddah1–12–20–22–21–32–00–12–41–02–11–12–02–01–02–12–00–0
Najran0–20–01–00–10–31–32–10–42–11–11–11–23–21–12–01–00–2
Ohod0–21–01–10–02–12–22–11–12–01–01–11–31–01–10–02–11–1
Updated to match(es) played on 29 May 2023. Source: goalzz.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics

As of 29 May 2023

Scoring

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[34]
1 Ablaye MbengueAl-Arabi29
2 Ousmane BarryAl-Okhdood22
3 Tiago BezerraAl-Orobah21
4 Ola JohnAl-Hazem18
Nikola StojiljkovićAl-Riyadh
6 Lahouari TouilAl-Ain13
7 Adriano PardalHajer12
8 Ibrahim DiomandéAl-Sahel11
Alain AkonoAl-Kholood/Najran
10 MuralhaAl-Riyadh10
Haitham AsiriAl-Ahli
Borhen HkimiAl-Okhdood

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef.
Ousmane BarryAl-OkhdoodAl-Qadsiah3–1 (A)23 August 2022[35]
Ablaye MbengueAl-ArabiAl-Orobah3–1 (A)18 October 2022[36]
MuralhaAl-RiyadhAl-Jabalain4–1 (A)7 November 2022[37]
Nikola StojiljkovićAl-RiyadhAl-Sahel3–1 (A)20 December 2022[38]
Rédha BensayahAl-JabalainAl-Shoulla5–0 (A)28 December 2022[39]
Tiago BezerraAl-OrobahAl-Qaisumah4–1 (A)3 April 2023[40]
Note

(H) – Home; (A) – Away

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1 Mohammed Al-RubaieAl-Ahli14
2 Ahmed Al-KassarAl-Faisaly13
Ibrahim ZaidAl-Hazem
4 Emanuel NovoAl-Riyadh10
Raïs M'BolhiAl-Qadsiah
Salem QabbosOhod
7 Jassem Al-AshbanAl-Kholood9
Bruno GrassiJeddah
9 Vladimir StojkovićAl-Okhdood8
Abdulraouf Al-DaqeelHajer

Awards

Monthly awards

MonthManager of the MonthReference
ManagerClub
August & September Jorge MendonçaAl-Okhdood[41]
October Ante MišeAl-Faisaly[42]
November Habib Ben RomdhaneAl-Qadsiah[43]
December Damir BurićAl-Riyadh[44]
January Damir BurićAl-Riyadh[45]
February Pitso MosimaneAl-Ahli[46]
April Gjoko HadžievskiNajran[47]
May Pitso MosimaneAl-Ahli[48]

Round awards

RoundPlayer of the RoundReference
PlayerClub
Round 1 Ousmane BarryAl-Okhdood[49]
Round 2 Abdullah Al-DawsariAl-Sahel[50]
Round 3 Tiago BezerraAl-Orobah[51]
Round 4 NailsonAl-Jabalain[52]
Round 5 CarlãoAl-Jabalain[53]
Round 6 Adriano PardalHajer[54]
Round 7 Tiago BezerraAl-Orobah[55]
Round 8 Ablaye MbengueAl-Arabi[56]
Round 9 Adriano PardalHajer[57]
Round 10 Ousmane BarryAl-Okhdood[58]
Round 11 MuralhaAl-Riyadh[59]
Round 12 Salem QabbosOhod[60]
Round 13 Nikola StojiljkovićAl-Riyadh[61]
Round 14 Rédha BensayahAl-Jabalain[62]
Round 15 Ola JohnAl-Hazem[63]
Round 16 Diego MirandaAl-Riyadh[64]
Round 17 Saleh Al-HarthiAl-Okhdood[65]
Round 18 Youssef ObamaAl-Hazem[66]
Round 19 Ousmane BarryAl-Okhdood[67]
Round 20 Joel TagueuAl-Hazem[68]
Round 21 Lahouari TouilAl-Ain[69]
Round 22 Tiago BezerraAl-Orobah[70]
Round 23 Walter BwalyaAl-Qadsiah[71]
Round 24 UilliamAl-Kholood[72]
Round 25 Mohammed Al-HarthiAl-Qaisumah[73]
Round 26 Lahouari TouilAl-Ain[74]
Round 27 Tiago BezerraAl-Orobah[75]
Round 28 Masoud JumaAl-Faisaly[76]
Round 29 Reinaldo DutraAl-Okhdood[77]
Round 30 Karim AribiAl-Qadsiah[78]
Round 31 Miodrag GemovićAl-Riyadh[79]
Round 32 Ola JohnAl-Hazem[80]
Round 33 Alain AkonoNajran[81]
Round 34 Tiago BezerraAl-Orobah[82]

Annual awards

AwardWinnerClub
Manager of the Season[83] Filipe GouveiaAl-Hazem
Player of the Season[83] Ousmane BarryAl-Okhdood
Young Player of the Season[83] Eid Al-Muwallad
Top Scorer[83] Ablaye MbengueAl-Arabi
Best Goalkeeper[83] Salem QabbosOhod

See also

References

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