The Kuwait Premier League ( Arabic : الدوري الكويتي , romanized : Dawriyy al-Kuwaytī ), known as Zain Premier League due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Kuwait football pyramid system. Formed in 1961, Kuwait SC holds the best record in the competition, having won 19 times.
25-507: The Kuwaiti Premier League officially began in the 1961/62 season, after playing unofficially for eight years (played with group of clubs: "Ahli - Al Jazeera - Arabism - Gulf - Solidarity - Al-Qubali, Al-Nahda, Al-Sharqai, Al-Merqab, Al-Mawalim and Al-Taawon). National companies and ministries were club's first sponsors. In the 1961/1962 season, several new clubs joined ( Al-Arabi , Qadsia , Kuwait SC , Kifan High School, Shuwaikh Secondary School, Industrial College and Police Team). Al-Arabi won
50-476: A capacity of 1,500 spectators. Club also has 4 tennis courts, gymnastics hall, judo , table tennis and boxing sections. Through the years Al-Arabi SC has won the Kuwait Premier League 7 times. They have also won 3 Joint Leagues , 6 Emir Cup's and 1 Federation Cup . They were the first-ever Kuwaiti team to play outside Kuwait, by competing in friendly matches against teams through
75-504: A sweep of the Arabi club when it won six titles against two titles for Kuwait and a title for Qadsia. The 1970 era began with Qadsia's winning the 1971/1970 season, for the second time in its history. Al-Arabi lost its championship in a strange way during ten years. They did not win any title during this period until the end of the 1979/1980 season. The eighties witnessed three new league champions, namely Al-Salmiya who won its first title in
100-399: Is mainly focused on cooperation in football. FIFA World Cup 1982 [REDACTED] 1984 AFC Asian Cup [REDACTED] 1996 AFC Asian Cup [REDACTED] 2000 AFC Asian Cup [REDACTED] 2011 AFC Asian Cup [REDACTED] 2015 AFC Asian Cup [REDACTED] Kuwait Crown Prince Cup The Crown Prince Cup ( Arabic : كأس ولي العهد ) is
125-619: Is not needed in Al-Arabi SC. When Al-Arabi SC left for a 2-week pre-season in Turkey , they took Ahmad Hawas , former Al-Salmiya player. They have claimed seasonal seats to be sold the first time, for a fee of $ 385. On 16 October 2014 Al-Arabi SC became the first Kuwaiti team to have an anthem. After defeating Kuwait SC 4–2 (aet) in the Crown Prince Cup final, it was Al-Arabi's 57th official title. ِAl-Arabi lost
150-703: Is the second-largest stadium in Kuwait. It had the same points as Kuwait SC in 2014–15 season, but the title went to Kuwait by the principle of the results of the matches between the two teams. Al-Arabi SC is the only team in Kuwait that has never lost in the Kuwait Super Cup . Holding both records for appearances in the final of the Kuwait Crown Prince Cup 4 consecutive times tied with Kuwait SC and in Kuwait Emir Cup going to
175-484: The Crown Prince Cup . Boris Bunjak returned to manage the team right after. After the loss of Emir Cup Final to Kuwait SC , the club went into war between fans and head office. After signing with Miodrag Ješić on 13 November 2016, they became the first club in the middle east to have seven managers across two seasons. By 2021, Al-Arabi managed to win the seventeenth league title in its history, with
200-520: The Kuwait Super Cup and Kuwait Crown Prince Cup . On 27 December 2011, they were crowned champions of the Crown Prince Cup after 3 trophy-less seasons. Al-Arabi had qualified for the final match of UAFA CUP . They were faced against Al-Fateh SC of Saudi Arabia . In the first leg they won 3–2 in Kuwait City , and in the away leg played in Saudi Arabia they tied 2-2, but they qualified to
225-401: The 1980/81 season, and Kazma club which won the titles of 1985/86 and 1986/87, as well as Jahra club, which ended the 1980s by winning the title. The league championship was not held in the 1990–91 season because of Iraqi invasion of Kuwait . Competition began again in the 1991–92 season, which was held as group system with qualification. Old format returned with participation of 14 teams in
250-457: The 1994–95 season. Era of the nineties witnessed a parity between clubs, where both Al-Arabi and Al-Salmiya won 3 titles, and Qadsia and Kazma two. At the beginning of a new millennium, Kuwait SC achieved the league championship after a long absence of 22 years, followed by victory of Al-Arabi for the sixteenth time in its history in the 2001–02 season. Since then until 2020–21 season, Qadsia has won nine titles while Kuwait Club won five. Al-Arabi
275-644: The Arabian Peninsula, showing competitive play. On 3 December 1974 Al-Arabi SC faced Lazio from Italy and beat them 1–0 in a friendly match. In 1982 Al-Arabi SC was the first-ever team to win Gulf Club Champions Cup ( GCC Champions League ), and then won it again in 2003. Al-Arabi SC had changed their logo in 1991. From 1990 to 2005 they have won 26 titles. Their then-last league title came in 2001–02, with occasional AFC Cup appearances. Through these 2 seasons they won 2 titles:
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#1732793172539300-533: The beginning of 1953, and changed to Al-Arabi SC (The Arabian) in 1960. As winners of the Kuwait Emir Cup in 2008, Al-Arabi SC was the first Kuwaiti team to compete in the AFC Cup . Al-Arabi SC has 63 official trophies next to its name (61 domestic and 2 GCC), the most of any Kuwaiti football team. Al-Arabi SC's stadium is Sabah Al-Salem Stadium in Mansūriya , a suburb of the capital of the country, Kuwait City . It
325-445: The crucial Kuwait City Derby on 10 April 2015 vs Kuwait SC 1–0. The match had all the seats filled to the last, for the first time in the history of Kuwaiti football. Manager Bunjak has requested preparation tour to Italy which was announced, but on 17 July 2015 it was officially stated that he has left the club. On 7 December 2015 it was announced that Luiz Felipe has left the club immediately after defeat to Al-Salmiya SC in
350-432: The decisive match. Arabi managed to maintain the title after defeating Qadsia 2-0, scoring overall 42 goals and conceding nine. In the fourth season, school teams were removed from participating and league saw participation of 3 new clubs ( Salmiya , Fahaheel and Al-Shabab ). The Kuwait Club managed to end the Arabi monopoly to achieve its first title, after winning the competition without any defeat. The 1960s witnessed
375-510: The final 11 consecutive times since 1962 to 1973, more than any Kuwaiti team. The club was founded as Al-Uruba in mid-1953 as one of the first Kuwaiti teams. Some of the most notable players were Abdulwahab Al-Awadie, Abdulaziz Al-Khatieb, Musad Al-Musad, Mohammed Al-Dawlee, Abdulmajied Mohammed, Mohammed Al-Somale, Dasman Bakhiet, Ahmad Bodha, Monaier Al-Dagag, Fuad Al-Ashgar, Ahmad Hussain, Abbas Al-Shemaly, Mossa Al-Somale, Nayef Dalool and Mohhamed Salah Al-Roomy. At first in 1960s Al-Arabi SC
400-501: The final because of the away goals rule . In the final, they played against USM Alger from Algeria . They tied 0–0 in Kuwait and lost they away leg 3–2, with several controversial refereeing decisions. In the 2013–14 season, Al-Arabi SC qualified for the Kuwait Crown Cup final third time in a row, losing to Al-Qadsia SC (2–1), with more controversial refereeing decisions. In the same season Al-Arabi SC finished 5th in
425-476: The help of its Croatian coach Ante Miše after nineteen years, without any loss in 18 games. One of the first songs was in 2004, "Panorama Al-Arabi", dedicated to the fans and goal celebrations. As of 2012 the next song was released, "Hello Za'eem". It was used for the 2011–12 Kuwait Crown Prince Cup . On 16 October 2014 Al-Arabi SC became the first Kuwaiti team to have an anthem, first introduced VS Al-Yarmouk . Al-Arabi SC have changed their colors over
450-562: The league and got knocked out of the Kuwait Emir Cup by Al-Qadsia penalties, but ended their season winning Kuwait Federation Cup 4–2 over Al-Salmiya SC . In the 2014–15 season Al-Arabi signed Firas Al-Khatib , showing how strong they want to win Kuwaiti Premier League. They also signed Ivusa from Sahel SC , sent Mahmoud Al-Maowas on loan, and eventually released Ivusa, resigning Maowas and buying Hashem Al-Ramzi . However, Boris Bunjak told Khaled Khalaf he
475-471: The league title without losing, and winning 7 points ahead of Qadsia, scoring 42 goals and conceding 10. In the following season, the number of teams was reduced to 7. Al-Arabi managed to win the second title in a row after winning 18 points ahead of Qadsia, scoring 45 goals and conceding 6. The third season of the league almost witnessed the end of Arabi monopoly, after fierce competition from Qadsia and other teams. Arabi and Qadsia were equal on points before
500-849: The logo colors from yellow to gold, and for the word 'club' in Arabic they made it white. 2021–2022 The Kuwait City derby is match between Al-Arabi SC and Kuwait SC . Matches between Al-Salmiya SC and Al-Arabi SC are often high-profile. As of the 2014–15 season, Al-Salmiya had many new signings to the team and won their first encounter in the league. Notes: * Round Rubin tournament The Founding Committee in 1953 through 1960 involved Mohalhel Mohammed Al-Mudhaf and Khalid Ahmed Al-Mudhaf. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. KPL/VPL clubs are limited to 5 foreign professionals (4 + 1 Asian) per squad while signing 2 non-nationality Kuwaitis where 5 play on
525-405: The next round on aggregate (5–4). In the quarter finals, they were matched up against Al-Nassr , again of Saudi Arabia. They lost 3–2 in the first leg played away in Saudi Arabia, however they won 2–0 at home, thus qualifying to the semi-final on aggregate (4–3). In the semi-final, they were matched up against Raja Casablanca . They tied at home 1-1 and in the away leg 2-2. However, they moved on to
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#1732793172539550-430: The pitch and 6 Kuwaitis play on the pitch. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Most appearances : Celtic officially announced their affiliation with Al-Arabi SC in order to help both teams assist one another through ideas, experience and scouting. The agreement encompasses all sports mutually practiced by both clubs, but
575-444: The years. Since 1960–90 their colors were light green and white as the away kit. From 2000–present, they changed to a darker green and the away color was still white. By 2012 it was announced that Al-Arabi SC will be wearing dark green as their home kit, the away kit will be blue, and the third kit will be white with green. In the 2013–14 season, Al-Arabi SC wore only the home kit and third kit. In 2019–present, Al-Arabi SC changed
600-502: Was able to break their dominance and win the mentioned season title. Source: Notes: Al-Arabi SC (Kuwait) Al-Arabi Sporting Club ( Arabic : النادي العربي الرياضي ) is a Kuwaiti sports club based in Mansuriya district of Kuwait City . The most notable section is football team in the Kuwait Premier League . Al-Arabi SC was named Al-ʿUrūba ( Arabic : العُروبَة , lit. 'The Arabism') at
625-410: Was structured with divisions of football, basketball , volleyball and weightlifting . At the beginning Al-Arabi SC made many achievements, thanks to their players and submitted board members. Al-Arabi has many sports with separate facilities. Abdulaziz Al-Khatib multi-purpose hall is used for basketball, handball, volleyball, squash , and can accommodate about 2,000 spectators. The swimming pool has
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