First Division League | |
Country: | Saudi Arabia |
Organiser: | Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) |
Teams: | 18 (since 2022–23) |
Promotion: | Saudi Pro League |
Relegation: | Saudi Second Division League |
Levels: | 2 |
Domest Cup: | King Cup |
Champions: | Al-Qadsiah (4th titles) |
Season: | 2023–24 season |
Most Successful Club: | Hajer Al-Wehda Al-Qadsiah (4 titles each) |
Top Goalscorer: | Ousmane Barry (108 goals) |
Tv: | Riyadiya |
Website: | https://fdl.sa/ |
Current: | 2024–25 First Division League |
The First Division League (FDL;[1]), known as Yelo league for sponsorship reasons,[2] is the second tier of professional football in Saudi Arabia. The First Division League is ranked below the Saudi Professional League and above the Saudi Second Division in the Saudi Arabian football league system.
Hajer, Al-Wehda and Al-Qadsiah hold the record number of championships in the league with four. While Ohod holds the record for number of promotions from the First Division to the Pro League, nine.[3]
The top two teams are promoted to the Saudi Pro League directly, a play-off system to determine the third team to be promoted along side the two. Teams placed between third and sixth position took part in the promotion play-offs. The fifth-placed would face the fourth, while the sixth-placed team would face the third. The final would be single-legged, hosted by the higher-placed team, while the bottom three teams are relegated to the Second Division.
For details on the FDL League 2024–25 season, see here.
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Since the 2018–19 season the number of foreign players in the league was increased from 3 to 7.[20] Seven substitutes are permitted to be selected, from which three can be used in the duration of the game.
Club | Winners | Winning years |
---|---|---|
Hajer | 1988, 1998, 2011, 2014 | |
Al-Wehda | 1983, 1996, 2003, 2018 | |
Al-Qadsiah | 2002, 2009, 2015, 2024 | |
Al-Nahda | 1977, 1991, 1993 | |
Al-Tai | 1985, 1995, 2001 | |
Ohod | 1981, 1984, 2004 | |
Al-Riyadh | 1978, 1989 | |
Al-Najma | 1990, 1994 | |
Al-Ansar | 1986, 2000 | |
Al-Raed | 1992, 2008 | |
Al-Hazem | 2005, 2021 | |
Al-Khaleej | 2006, 2022 | |
Al-Shabab | 1979 | |
Al-Jabalain | 1980 | |
Al-Kawkab | 1987 | |
Al-Taawoun | 1997 | |
Sdoos | 1999 | |
Al-Watani | 2007 | |
Al-Faisaly | 2010 | |
Al-Shoulla | 2012 | |
Al-Orobah | 2013 | |
Al-Ettifaq | 2016 | |
Al-Fayha | 2017 | |
Abha | 2019 | |
Al-Batin | 2020 | |
Al-Ahli | 2023 | |
Nat. | Top Scorers | Club | Season | Goals | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mbaye Diagne | Al-Qadsiah | 2023–2024 | 26 | ||
Ablaye Mbengue | Al-Arabi | 2022–2023 | bgcolor=mistyrose | 29 | |
Carolus Andria | Ohod Club | 2021–2022 | 25 | ||
Ibrahim Diomandé | Ohod Club | 2020–2021 | 24 | ||
Ousmane Barry | Al-Bukiryah FC | 2019–2020 | 27 | ||
Carolus Andria | Al-Adalah | 2018–2019 | 22 | ||
Mashari Al-Enezi | Al-Tai | 2017–2018 | 21 | ||
Abdulfattah Adam | Al Jeel | 2016–2017 | 20 | ||
Al Jeel | 2015–2016 | 20 | |||
Mousa Madkhali | Al-Wehda | 2014–2015 | 20 | ||
Hamad Al-Juhaim | Al-Ta'ee | 2013–2014 | 20 | ||
Mousa Madkhali | Hetten | 2012–2013 | 22 | ||
Younes Alaiwi | Al-Batin | 2011–2012 | 21 | ||
Hussain Al-Turki | Khaleej | 2010–2011 | 20 | ||
Hussain Al-Turki | Khaleej | 2009–2010 | 16 | ||
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi Mohammad Alhelo | Al-Qadsiah Sdoos | 2008–2009 | 15[21] | ||
Khalid Al Rejaib | Hajer | 2007–2008 | 9 | ||
Al Hasan Al-Yami | Najran | 2006–2007 | 20 | ||
Mubarak Al Khaleefah | 2005–2006 | 18 | |||
Mohammed Abuarad | 2004–2005 | 19 | |||
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2003–2004 | 15 | ||
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2002–2003 | 16 | ||
Mohammed Manga | Sdoos | 2001–2002 | 12[22] | ||
Mohammed Abuarad | Abha | 2000–2001 | 14 | ||
Mohammed Harshan | Najran | 1999–2000 | 11 | ||
Mubarak Al Khaleefah | Al-Rawdhah | 1998–1999 | 13[23] | ||
1997–1998 | |||||
Mousa Sahab | Al-Taawoun | 1996–1997 | |||
Obeid Al-Dosari | Al-Wehda | 1995–1996 | |||
Yehey Jako | Al-Ta'ee | 1994–1995 | 11[24] | ||
Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1993–1994 | 15 | ||
Hamzah Idris | Ohod | 1992–93 | 10 | ||
Sulaiman Al Hadaithi Mohamed Al Khalifa Nasser Al-Qahtani | Al-Najma Hajer Al-Rawdhah | 1991–1992 | 11 | ||
Ahmed Al-Zaaq | Al-Taawoun | 1990–1991 | 11 | ||
Khalid Al-Mansour Hamzah Idris | Al-Arabi Ohod | 1989–1990 | 11 | ||
Khalid Al-Mansour | Al-Arabi | 1988–1989 | 14 | ||
Khalid Al-Mansour Fahd Al-Hamdan | Al-Arabi Al-Riyadh | 1987–1988 | 11 | ||
Al-Arabi | 1986–1987 | 16 | |||
Abdullah Al Saab | Al-Fayha | 1985–1986 | 8[25] | ||
Walid Sharqi | Al-Ansar | 1984–1985 | |||
Mohamed Al-Suwaiyed | Damac | 1983–1984 | 11 | ||
Shaye Al-Nafisah | Al-Kawkab | 1982–1983 | 12 | ||
1981–1982 1First Division and Premier League were merged | |||||
Abdullah Al-Mansour | Al-Taawoun | 1980–1981 | 9 | ||
Daran Al Daran | Al-Jabalain | 1979–1980 | 16[26] | ||
1978–1979 | |||||
1977–1978 | |||||
1976–1977 | |||||