Al-Duhail SC

Al-Duhail SC
Full name	Al-Duhail Sports Club
Nickname(s)	The Red Knights
Founded	2009; 15 years ago (as Lekhwiya)
Ground	Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium; Doha, Qatar
Capacity	9,000
Chairman	Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Manager	Christophe Galtier
League	Qatar Stars League
2022–23	Qatar Stars League, 1st of 12
Website	Club website
Home colours	Away colours
	Current season

Al-Duhail Sports Club (Arabic: نادي الدحيل الرياضي), formerly Lekhwiya SC, is a Qatari sports club, best known for its football team, which plays in the Qatar Stars League. The club is based in the Duhail district in the city of Doha and plays its home games at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. It is the first team in Qatari football to win the first division title on its debut season.

In April 2017, it was announced that the club would take over El Jaish SC and merge with it following the 2016–17 Qatar Stars League and be known as Al-Duhail Sports Club in a rebranding of Lekhwiya SC.^[2]^[3]

History

The club was founded as Al-Shorta Doha and in 2009 was renamed Lekhwiya.^[4] Lekhwiya Club has the biggest financial budget in Qatar.

Upon the club's reformation, it was entered into the Qatari 2nd Division. It came fourth in the league on its first year before winning the next season in 2010.

In the club's first season in the Qatar Stars League, Lekhwiya finished at the top of the standings to win the 2010–11 Qatar Stars League.^[5] It was the first league title in the club's history. They also managed to reach the final of the 2010 Sheikh Jassem Cup, losing in the final to Al-Arabi.^[6]

Their first official debut in a continental competition came on March 7, 2012, in the 2012 AFC Champions League. They won their first match against Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, with Nam Tae-Hee scoring the only goal and also scoring the first-ever goal for Lekhwiya in any regional competition.^[7]

In the 2011–12 Qatar Stars League season, Lekhwiya retained the league title with two games left to be played.^[8]

They inaugurated a new stadium Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, also known as Lekhwiya Sports Stadium, on February 15, 2013 in a match against Al Khor and won their third league title in the first season at the new stadium.^[9]

in April 2017 the club announced that they would take over El Jaish SC and rebranded the club into Al-Duhail SC.

At the end of the 2017–2018 Season the Club became the first club to hold all three domestic Titles the league, Qatar Cup and Emir Cup.

In 2024, it was one of the teams invited to take part in the first installment of the Equality Cup.^[10]

Stadium

Lekhwiya's stadium began construction in 2011.^[9] The first phase was completed in May 2012.^[11] The stadium was officially inaugurated on February 15, 2013 with the first match played being a Qatar Stars League fixture against Al Khor. The official seating capacity is 10,000, it is located in the ISF area of Doha.

Colours and crest

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period	Kit manufacture	Shirt sponsor
2009–11	Burrda	None
2011–19	Burrda	Masraf Rayan
2020–	Puma	Masraf Rayan

Kit history

Home kit
2009

Home kit
2011

Players

As of 10 September 2023^[12]

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	QAT	Salah Zakaria
2	DF	QAT	Mohammed Musa
3	DF	QAT	Mohamed Al-Naemi
4	DF	QAT	Yousef Aymen
5	DF	BRA	Lucas Veríssimo
6	MF	QAT	Khaled Mohammed
7	MF	QAT	Ismaeel Mohammad
8	MF	QAT	Luiz Júnior
9	MF	BRA	Philippe Coutinho (on loan from Aston Villa)
11	FW	QAT	Almoez Ali (captain)
12	MF	QAT	Karim Boudiaf
13	GK	QAT	Mohamed Saeed Ibrahim (on loan from Al-Wakrah)
14	FW	KEN	Michael Olunga
16	FW	QAT	Abdulaziz Mohamad Hassan
17	MF	QAT	Abdelrahman Moustafa
18	DF	QAT	Sultan Al-Brake
19	FW	FRA	Isaac Lihadji
20	FW	QAT	Lotfi Madjer


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
21	DF	QAT	Fares Amer
22	DF	ITA	Ibrahima Bamba
23	MF	QAT	Assim Madibo
24	FW	QAT	Mubarak Hamza
25	MF	QAT	Suhaib Gannan
27	MF	FRA	Ibrahima Diallo
28	FW	QAT	Rashid Al-Abdulla
29	FW	QAT	Mohammed Muntari
32	MF	QAT	Abdulla Muhsin
33	DF	KOR	Kim Moon-hwan
37	FW	QAT	Abdulaziz Abu Shabab
40	MF	QAT	Abdulla Sabet
44	MF	QAT	Jassim Al-Mheiri
45	MF	QAT	Abdulaziz Mohamad
49	MF	QAT	Abdallah Haroun
52	MF	QAT	Karim Fadi
66	MF	QAT	Abdulhamid Sibai
99	GK	QAT	Shehab Ellethy

Unregistered players

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


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
10	MF	BEL	Edmilson Junior

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	QAT	Bassam Al-Rawi (at Al-Rayyan)
26	FW	QAT	Rabh Boussafi (at Al-Wakrah)
41	MF	QAT	Ahmed Reyed (at Al-Khor)


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	QAT	Ali Ghulais (at Muaither)
—	DF	QAT	Mohammed Emad Aiash (at Al Ahli)
—	MF	QAT	Abdullah Al-Ahrak (at Qatar SC)

Personnel

Current technical staff

Position	Staff
Head coach	Christophe Galtier
Assistant coach	Juan Branda
Goalkeeping coach	Gustavo Nepote
Fitness coach	Federico Martinetti
Fitness coach	Raul Esmeriz
Physiotherapist	Sabeur Zidi
Physiotherapist	Pedro Silva
Massager	Anselmo Apolinario
Massager	Anderson Apolinario
Doctor	Murad Almekrani

Last updated: 23 December 2022
Source: https://www.duhailsc.qa/main-team/

Records and statistics

Last update: 6 April 2024.
Players whose names are in bold are still active with the club.

**Most goals**
#	Name	Career	Goals	League Goals
1	Nam Tae-hee	2012–2019, 2021–2023	117	84
2	Youssef El-Arabi	2016–2019	108	76
3	Michael Olunga	2020–	106	64
4	Youssef Msakni	2012–2021	99	73
5	Almoez Ali	2016–	67	48
6	Sebastián Soria	2012–2015	58	42
7	Ismaeel Mohammad	2011–	47	34

Reserves and academy

Reserves technical staff

Position	Staff
Manager	Gerard Zaragoza
Fitness coach	Didier Filipe
Goalkeeping coach	Karim Zaza
Director of football	Mohammad Bashir Sulaiti
Team administrator	Ali Hilal
General manager	Mohsen Al Yazidi

Source: Lekhwiya

U21 technical staff

Position	Staff
Manager	Hamdan Hamad
Assist. coach	Saifuddin Komy
Assist. coach	Peter Pollák
Goalkeeping coach	Adam Abdelnasser Abbasi
Team administrator	Khalid Abdullah
General manager	Faisal Al Marri

Source: Al Raya

Administrative staff

Board of Directors

Position	Staff
President	Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Vice Chairman	Khalifa Khamis Sulaiti
General Manager	Adnan Al Ali

Source: ^[13]

Management (Football)

Position	Staff
Chief Executive Officer	Adnan Al Ali
Sports Officer	Faraj Saleh Al-Marri
Marketing Officer	Nadim Hussien Abdullah
Media Coordinator	Mohamed Bachir Al Sulaiti
Director of Football Team	Ismail Ahmed

Source: ^[13]

Honours

Qatar Stars League
- Winners (8): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2022–23
Qatari Second Division
- Winners (1): 2009–10
Emir of Qatar Cup
- Winners (4): 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022
Qatar Cup
- Winners (4): 2013, 2015, 2018, 2023
Qatari Stars Cup
- Winners (1): 2022–23
Qatar Super Cup / Shiekh Jassem Cup
- Winners (2): 2015, 2016

Al-Duhail in Asia

Competition	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
AFC Champions League	71	35	15	21	123	95
Total	71	35	15	21	123	95

Q = Qualification
GS = Group stage
R16 = Round of 16
QF = Quarter-final
SF = Semi-final

AFC Champions League

Round	Club	Home	Away
2012
GS	Al-Ahli	1–0	0–3
GS	Al-Nasr	1–2	1–2
GS	Sepahan	1–0	1–2
2013
GS	Al-Shabab	2–1	1–3
GS	Al-Ittifaq	0–0	2–0
GS	Pakhtakor	3–1	2–2
R16	Al-Hilal	1–0	2–2
QF	Guangzhou Evergrande	0–2	1–4
2014
GS	Al-Ain	1–2	0–5
GS	Tractor	0–0	1–0
GS	Al-Ittihad	2–0	1–3
2015
GS	Persepolis F.C.	3–0	0–3
GS	Al-Nassr FC	1–1	3–1
GS	Bunyodkor	1–0	1–0
R16	Al-Sadd	2–2	2–1
QF	Al-Hilal	2–2	1–4
2016
GS	Zob Ahan	0–1	0–0
GS	Al-Nassr FC	4–0	1–1
GS	Bunyodkor	0–0	0–2
R16	El Jaish SC	0–4	4–2
2017
GS	Al Jazira	3–0	3–1
GS	Al-Fateh	4–1	2–2
GS	Esteghlal Khuzestan	2–1	1–1
R16	Persepolis	0–1	0–0
2018
GS	Zob Ahan	3–1	1–0
GS	Lokomotiv Tashkent	3–2	2–1
GS	Al Wahda	1–0	3–2
R16	Al Ain	4–1	4–2
QF	Persepolis	1–0	1–3
2019
GS	Al-Hilal	2–2	1–3
GS	Al Ain	2–2	2–0
GS	Esteghlal	3–0	1–1
R16	Al-Sadd	1–1	1–3
2020
GS	Persepolis	2–0	1–0
GS	Al-Taawoun	0–1	0–2
GS	Sharjah	2–1	2–4
2021
GS	Al-Shorta	2–0	1–2
GS	Al-Ahli	1–1	1–1
GS	Esteghlal	4–3	2–2
2022
GS	Al-Taawon	1–2	4–3
GS	Sepahan	5–2	1–0
GS	Pakhtakor	3–2	3–0
R16	Al-Rayyan	1–1	7–6 (p)
QF	Al-Shabab	2–1
SF	Al-Hilal	0–7
2023–24
GS	Istiklol	2–0	0–0
GS	Persepolis	2–1	0–1
GS	Al-Nassr	3–4	2–3

Club rankings

National ranking

As of 9 May 2023.^[14]

Current Rank	Team	Points
1	Al-Duhail SC	1583
2	Al Sadd SC	1578
3	El Jaish SC	1427
4	Al-Rayyan SC	1390
5	Al-Arabi SC	1363

Asian ranking

As of 9 May 2023.^[15]

Current Rank	Team	Points
5	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	1586
6	Al Nassr FC	1583
7	Al-Duhail SC	1583
8	Yokohama F. Marinos	1578
9	Al Sadd SC	1578

World ranking

As of 9 May 2023.^[16]

Current Rank	Team	Points
149	Atlético Nacional	1583
150	Al Nassr FC	1583
151	Al-Duhail SC	1583
152	CFR Cluj	1582
153	U.S. Salernitana 1919	1582

Managerial history

Khalifa Khamis (2008) (unofficial)^[17]
Abdullah Saad (2008–2009) (unofficial)
Abdullah Mubarak (2009–2010)
Djamel Belmadi (2010–2012)
Eric Gerets (2012–2014)
Michael Laudrup (2014–2015)
Djamel Belmadi (2015–2018)
Nabil Maâloul (2018–2019)
Rui Faria (2019–2020)
Walid Regragui (2020)
Hatem Almoadab (2020)^[18]
Sabri Lamouchi (2020–2021)
Luís Castro (2021–2022)
Hernán Crespo (2022–2023)
Christophe Galtier (2023–present)

Other sports

Handball

References

^ "Capacity Stadium". Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
^ "Lekhwiya, El Jaish clubs to merge" (in Arabic). Gulf Times. 11 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^ "Lekhwiya, Al Jaish Clubs to Merge into One Club under the Name of Al Duhail Sports Club". www.qna.org.qa. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^ "Qatar 2009/10". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
^ Lekhwiya SC new Qatar Star league champions!
^ "Cabore seals Sheikh Jassim Cup triumph for Al Arabi". qfa.com.qa. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
^ "Qatar's Lekhwiya launch Asian campaign with a brave win". qsl.com.qa. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
^ "لخويا يتوج باللقب الثاني ويدفع العربي للخطر". Al Kass. March 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
^ a b لخويا يستضيف الخور على ملعبه الجديد (in Arabic). Al Kass. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
^ "Equality Cup Football Tournament in collaboration with Zenit Saint Petersburg FC". Aspire Zone. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
^ "Lekhwiya Sports Stadium". Urbacon-Intl. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
^ "Main Teaml". Retrieved 15 September 2023.
^ a b "Board Members". Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
^ "Qatar Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^ "Asia Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^ "World Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
^ "Archive al-watan.com 2011/04/12". Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
^ "Al Duhail SC Manager history". Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-22.

External links

Official website

[1] "Capacity Stadium". Archived from the original on 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2018-04-12.

[2] "Lekhwiya, El Jaish clubs to merge" (in Arabic). Gulf Times. 11 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.

[3] "Lekhwiya, Al Jaish Clubs to Merge into One Club under the Name of Al Duhail Sports Club". www.qna.org.qa. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.

[4] "Qatar 2009/10". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2013.

[5] Lekhwiya SC new Qatar Star league champions!

[6] "Cabore seals Sheikh Jassim Cup triumph for Al Arabi". qfa.com.qa. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.

[7] "Qatar's Lekhwiya launch Asian campaign with a brave win". qsl.com.qa. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.

[8] "لخويا يتوج باللقب الثاني ويدفع العربي للخطر". Al Kass. March 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.

[stadiumalkass-9] لخويا يستضيف الخور على ملعبه الجديد (in Arabic). Al Kass. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2013.

[10] "Equality Cup Football Tournament in collaboration with Zenit Saint Petersburg FC". Aspire Zone. Retrieved 10 February 2024.

[11] "Lekhwiya Sports Stadium". Urbacon-Intl. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.

[12] "Main Teaml". Retrieved 15 September 2023.

[duh1-13] "Board Members". Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-05-10.

[14] "Qatar Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2023-05-10. Retrieved 2023-05-09.

[15] "Asia Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2023-05-09.

[16] "World Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking". Archived from the original on 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-09.

[17] "Archive al-watan.com 2011/04/12". Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2014-06-25.

[18] "Al Duhail SC Manager history". Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-22.

Al Duhail SC active sections
Football	Basketball	Handball
Volleyball	Futsal	Athletics

v t e Al-Duhail Sports Club
The Club	Managers Presidents Seasons Records and statistics Current season
History	History International Honors
Stadiums	Suheim bin Hamad Stadium (2010–12) Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium (2012–)
Seasons	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22
Players	Men 100+ appearances International Players
Other sports	Handball
Rivalries	Al Sadd SC Al Rayyan
Category:Al-Duhail SC Portal:Association football Al-Duhail SC task force Commons:Al-Duhail SC

v t e Qatar Stars League
Qatar Stars League	Al Ahli Al Arabi Al-Duhail Al Gharafa Al-Markhiya Al Rayyan Al Sadd Al-Shamal Al Wakrah Muaither Qatar Umm Salal
Qatari Second Division	Al-Bidda Al Kharaitiyat Al Khor Al Sailiya Al Shahaniya Al-Waab Lusail Mesaimeer
Competitions	Emir of Qatar Cup Qatar Cup Sheikh Jassem Cup Qatari Stars Cup AFC Champions League GCC Champions League
Lists and categories	Clubs Managers Players (foreign) Performance in Asian competition Performance in AFC Champions League
Seasons	1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2016–17 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24