Abdullah Dossary

The crescent moon of Saudi football, crowned as Asia's greatest club of the 20th century.

Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club, commonly known simply as Al-Hilal, is a Saudi Arabian professional multi-sports club based in Riyadh. Its football team competes in the Saudi Pro League. The name "Al-Hilal" is Arabic for "the crescent moon". Founded on 16 October 1957, the club is one of three teams to have participated in every season of the Saudi Pro League since its establishment in 1976.

Quick Facts

Role: Defender
Affiliation: Al Hilal SFC

Lore & Background

In domestic competitions, Al-Hilal are the most successful Saudi club, having won a record 21 league titles, along with a record 13 Crown Prince Cup titles, seven Saudi Federation Cup titles, 10 King's Cup titles, five Saudi Super Cups, and the Saudi Founder's Cup. In continental competitions, the club has won a record eight AFC trophies, including four AFC Champions League titles (1991, 2000, 2019, 2021), two Asian Cup Winners' Cups (1997, 2002), and two Asian Super Cups (1997, 2000). Internationally, Al-Hilal have made multiple appearances in the FIFA Club World Cup and were runners-up in the 2022 edition, becoming the first Asian club from outside the host nation to reach the final. In September 2009, Al-Hilal was awarded Greatest Asian Club of the 20th Century by the IFFHS.

Reader's Guide

The club was established on 15 October 1957 in Riyadh. The club's name lasted for only one year before it was changed to its current name on 3 December 1958 by King Saud. Al-Hilal won the King's Cup trophy in 1961, and again in 1964. The club also won the Crown Prince Cup in 1963–64.

Al-Hilal were the inaugural winners when the Saudi Premier League came into existence in the 1976–77 season, and also won the league title in 1978–79. In the 1980s, the club won four league titles and four King's Cup titles. Al-Hilal won their first Asian title, the Asian Club Championship, in 1991, beating Iranian club Esteghlal in penalties in the final. The club won the Asian Club Championship again in 1999–2000, when they scored an equaliser in the 89th minute and won the match against Japanese club Júbilo Iwata in extra time.

The 2002 Asian Cup Winners' Cup was also secured in this era. In the 2007–08 season, Al-Hilal won the league title under Cosmin Olăroiu, coupled with the Crown Prince Cup. Under Eric Gerets in the 2009–10 season, Al-Hilal won the league and the Crown Prince Cup.

Did You Know?

Al-Hilal has a market value of €242.5 million as of 2024, the highest in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Hilal were runners-up in the Asian Club Championship in 1986 and 1987.