1985 Asian Champion Club Tournament Final

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. Its name lasted for only one year before it was changed to its current name on 3 December 1958 by King Saud. Al-Hilal made their first mark by lifting the King's Cup trophy in 1961. They won the King's Cup again in 1964, with a penalty shootout victory over two-time Asian champions Al Ittihad.

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. They also won the league title in 1978–79. In the 1980s, the club won four league titles as well as four kings cup titles in ten years.

Al-Hilal were the runners-up in the Asian Club Championship twice: they were second after the round-robin in the final round in 1986, and reached the final in 1987 but were unable to field a team due to nine starting players being chosen for the Saudi team's preparation camp. The club won their first Asian title, the Asian Club Championship, in 1991, beating Iranian club Esteghlal on penalties in the final. In 1997 the Asian Cup Winners Cup and Asian Super Cup were obtained.

The club won the Asian Club Championship again in 1999–2000, beating Japanese club Júbilo Iwata in extra time. The last Asian title secured in that era was the 2002 Cup Winners Cup. Al-Hilal won league titles in 2004–05, 2007–08, 2009–10, and 2010–11. The 2007–08 season saw Al-Hilal crowned league champions in Jeddah under the management of Cosmin Olăroiu, coupled with the Crown Prince Cup for a double.

Before the 2009–10 season, Eric Gerets was hired as manager; under him Al-Hilal dominated the league and were crowned champions with three games to spare, also winning a crown prince cup.

Did You Know?

• Al-Hilal has a market value of €242.5 million as of 2024, the highest in Saudi Arabia.
• Brazilian legends Mario Zagallo and Rivellino played for Al-Hilal in the 1970s.