Al-Fayha FC

Al Fayha
Full nameAl Fayha Football Club[citation needed]
Nickname(s)Al Burtuqali (The Orange)
Tawahin Sudair (The Mills of Sudair)
Founded1953; 71 years ago (1953)
GroundAl Majma'ah Sports City
Capacity7,000
ChairmanTawfiq Al-Modaiheem
ManagerVuk Rašović
LeaguePro League
2022–23Pro League, 11th of 16
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Al Fayha FC (Arabic: نادي الفيحاء السعودي) is a professional football club based in Al Majma'ah, that plays in the Saudi Pro League, the first tier of Saudi football. It was founded in 1953.

Al Fayha's colors are orange and blue, hence the nickname "Al-Burtuqali." Al-Fayha have won the Saudi Second Division once in the 2013–14 season and have finished runners-up once in the 2003–04. On 29 April 2017, Al-Feiha won their first promotion to the Pro League, winning their first ever First Division title on 5 May 2017. They won the King Cup for the first time in 2022.[1]

The club plays their home games at King Salman Sport City Stadium in Al Majma'ah, sharing the stadium with city rivals Al-Faisaly and Al-Mujazzel.[2]

History

Al Fayha (Arabic: الفيحاء, romanized: al-fayḥāʿ, lit. 'wide, extensive')[3] was founded in 1953 in Al Majma'ah and were officially registered on August 15, 1966. Al Fayha is one of the oldest clubs in the country and the oldest club in Al Majma'ah. Al Fayha is a merging of two different clubs, Minikh and Al-Fayha, who joined to become the only representative of Al Majma'ah.

Since the formation of the club, Al Fayha has played a continuous role in the service of the youth in Al-Majma'ah. Al Fayha is considered to be one of the most active and interactive clubs in the city, often acting as a safe haven for the youth.[4]

First ever piece of silverware

Al Fayha won their first-ever promotion to the First Division in 1985 and spent five consecutive seasons in the First Division before getting relegated at the end of the 1989–90 season. After an absence of 14 years, Al-Fayha returned to the First Division after finishing as runners-up in the 2003–04 Second Division. Al Fayha spent 4 consecutive seasons in the First Division before getting relegated at the end of the 2007–08 season. They were then promoted once again during the 2013–14 season when they won the Second Division title. On 29 April 2017, Al-Fayha won promotion to the Pro League for the first time in their history following their 2–1 home win against Ohod.[5] They were crowned champions of the 2016–17 Saudi First Division for the first time on 5 May 2017 after drawing Wej 1–1 away from home.[6]

Al Fayha spent three consecutive seasons in the Saudi top flight, performing above expectations in their debut season and barely escaping relegation in their second season, however they couldn't avoid relegation in the 2019–20 season, losing 0–1 to Al-Taawoun in the final matchday. In their first season back in the Saudi First Division Al-Fayha managed to achieve promotion back to the top flight following a 0–0 home draw with Al-Tai on the 20th of May 2021, as well as finishing the season as runners-up with 81 points. In their first season back in the Pro League Al Fayha acquired the services of players such as; veteran Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković, Greek midfielder Panagiotis Tachtsidis and Macedonian international Aleksandar Trajkovski. Vuk Rašović managed his squad with a direct play approach along with disciplined organisation, and as a result the club has had the best defensive record in the 2021–22 league.

King Cup winners and AFC Champions League debut

Al Fayha partook in the 2021–22 King Cup, with their first match being against Abha whom they routed 4–0 to progress to the quarter-finals. In the quarter-final they faced Al-Batin, whom they beat 2–1. In the semi-final they were up against Al Ittihad in a highly contested and hard-fought match in which Al Fayha came up on top to win 1–0 and advance to a historic cup final. Al Fayha would face Al Hilal in the final.The two sides were locked at 1–1 after extra time with Al Fayha prevailing in the penalty shootout thanks to a superb performance from their Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic to clinch their maiden Saudi King's Cup at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and also qualified them to the first ever 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage.[7] On 3 October 2023 in the AFC Champions League group stage fixtures, Al-Fayha recorded their first ever win in a 2–0 victory against Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan with both goal scored by Abdelhamid Sabiri. Al Fayha finished as group runners-up with 9 points which send the club to the Round of 16 fixtures against Al Nassr. However the club bowed out from the AFC Champions League after a 3–0 defeat on aggregate.

Honours

League

Cup

Current squad

As of 12 August 2023:[8][9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Saudi Arabia KSA Abdulraouf Al-Duqayl
2 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Mukhair Al-Rashidi
3 DF Ivory Coast CIV Ghislain Konan (on loan from Al-Nassr)
4 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Sami Al-Khaibari (captain)
6 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Saud Zidan
7 FW Nigeria NGA Henry Onyekuru
8 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Abdulrahman Al-Safri
9 FW Nigeria NGA Anthony Nwakaeme
11 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Khalid Kaabi
12 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Yousef Haqawi (on loan from Al-Nassr)
13 MF Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Gojko Cimirot
17 FW Zambia ZAM Fashion Sakala
19 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Mohammed Majrashi
22 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Mohammed Al-Baqawi
27 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Sultan Mandash
29 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Nawaf Al-Harthi
No. Pos. Nation Player
33 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Hussein Al-Shuwaish
34 GK Saudi Arabia KSA Osama Al-Thumairy
37 MF Brazil BRA Ricardo Ryller
40 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Mohammed Al-Dowaish
45 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Sattam Al-Lehyani
49 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Ali Al Jubaya
62 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Hossam Majrashi
66 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Rakan Kaabi
70 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Abdulrahman Al-Anazi
75 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Khalid Al-Rammah
77 MF Morocco MAR Abdelhamid Sabiri (on loan from Fiorentina)
80 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Osama Al-Khalaf
81 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Yazid Jadhami
88 GK Serbia SRB Vladimir Stojković
98 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Muhannad Al-Qaydhi
99 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Malek Al-Abdulmenem

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Naif Almas (on loan to Al-Orobah)
14 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Sultan Al-Harbi (on loan to Al-Qaisumah)
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Muteb Al-Khaldi (on loan to Al-Taraji)

Management staff

Position Name
Manager Serbia Vuk Rašović
Assistant Manager Serbia Ljubiša Ranković
Montenegro Rudolf Marić
Goalkeeping Coach Brazil Fábio Muchinel Tepedino
Fitness Coach Serbia Vladan Popović
Video Analyst Algeria Ahmed Walid Charchari
Performance Analyst Vacant
Sporting Director Vacant
Doctor Vacant
Physiotherapist Vacant
Director of Development Algeria Alioua Mohamed Lamine

Managerial history

  • Tunisia Youssef Baati (2001 – 2002)
  • Tunisia Habibe Othmani (August 1, 2002 – November 2, 2002)
  • Tunisia Hassan Oueslati (November 2, 2002 – May 1, 2003)
  • Tunisia Rasheed Ben Ammar (August 1, 2003 – June 6, 2004)
  • Brazil Lula (October 11, 2004 – April 23, 2005)
  • Saudi Arabia Ali Komaikh (April 23, 2005 – May 18, 2005)
  • Saudi Arabia Turki Al-Sultan (caretaker) (May 18, 2005 – June 1, 2005)
  • Tunisia Zouhair Louati (June 25, 2005 – March 10, 2006)
  • Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Al-Qarmalah (caretaker) (March 10, 2006 – May 1, 2006)
  • Tunisia Hichem Grioui (July 14, 2006 – November 25, 2006)
  • Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Al-Qarmalah (caretaker) (November 25, 2006 – December 17, 2006)
  • Tunisia Zouhair Louati (December 17, 2006 – May 10, 2007)
  • Tunisia Ghazi Ghrairi (July 30, 2007 – February 19, 2008)
  • Egypt Bahaaeddine Qebisi (February 19, 2008 – April 27, 2008)
  • Tunisia Zouhair Ghodbani (April 27, 2008 – April 30, 2008)
  • Saudi Arabia Hamdan Al-Jara'ah (caretaker) (April 30, 2008 – May 17, 2008)
  • Tunisia Nasser Nefzi (July 1, 2008 – January 13, 2009)
  • Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Al-Qarmalah (January 13, 2009 – March 23, 2009)
  • Egypt Mohammed Farouk (March 23, 2009 – October 18, 2009)
  • Tunisia Selim Al Manga (October 20, 2009 – May 10, 2010)
  • Tunisia Yousri bin Kahla (July 1, 2010 – December 5, 2010)
  • Tunisia Selim bin Gholis (caretaker) (December 5, 2010 – December 11, 2010)
  • Tunisia Selim Al Manga (December 11, 2010 – May 10, 2011)
  • Egypt Mohammed Farouk (July 1, 2011 – December 1, 2011)
  • Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Al-Qarmalah (caretaker) (December 1, 2011 – December 17, 2011)
  • Tunisia Moncef Mcharek (December 17, 2011 – April 17, 2013)
  • Jordan Rateb Al-Awadat (April 17, 2013 – August 21, 2013)
  • Tunisia Makram Abdullah (August 23, 2013 – May 1, 2014)
  • Tunisia Ahmed Labyad (May 7, 2014 – November 12, 2014)
  • Tunisia Abderrazek Chebbi (November 13, 2014 – May 1, 2015)
  • Saudi Arabia Khalil Al-Masri (June 9, 2015 – September 20, 2015)
  • Tunisia Lassaad Maamar (September 28, 2015 – May 2, 2016)
  • Tunisia Habib Ben Romdhane (May 2, 2016 – May 10, 2017)
  • Romania Constantin Gâlcă (May 20, 2017 – November 1, 2017)
  • Argentina Gustavo Costas (November 1, 2017 – October 15, 2018)
  • Serbia Slavoljub Muslin (October 15, 2018 – February 2, 2019)
  • Algeria Noureddine Zekri (February 5, 2019 – May 17, 2019)
  • Portugal Jorge Simão (June 8, 2019 – August 27, 2020)
  • Saudi Arabia Yousef Al-Ghadeer (August 27, 2020 – September 10, 2020)
  • Tunisia Habib Ben Romdhane (September 24, 2020 – June 1, 2021)
  • Serbia Vuk Rašović (June 21, 2021 – )

Continental record

2023–24:
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2023–24 Champions League Group A Turkmenistan Ahal 3–1 0–1 2nd
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor Tashkent 2–0 4–1
United Arab Emirates Al Ain 2–3 1–4
Round of 16 TBD

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "رسالة - نادي الفيحاء السعودي". www.alfiha.com.
  2. ^ "ملعب مدينة المجمعة الرياضية". Kooora.
  3. ^ Wortabet, John; Porter, Harvey (December 5, 1995). Arabic-English English-Arabic Dictionary. Hippocrene Books. ISBN 9780781803830 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "رسالة - نادي الفيحاء السعودي". www.alfiha.com.
  5. ^ "رسمياً.. الفيحاء أول الصاعدين إلى دوري جميل". dawriplus. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  6. ^ "مسيرة للاعبي الفيحاء بـ "الباص المكشوف" بعد الصعود لدوري جميل". sportksa. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Al Fayha upset Al Hilal to win historic Saudi King's Cup". the-AFC. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  8. ^ "التشكيلة". kooora.
  9. ^ "اللاعبين". Retrieved 1 January 2019.

External links

  • Official website
  • Al-Fayha FC on Twitter
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