Wikipedia

UAE Pro League

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The UAE Pro-League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Persian Gulf League,[1][2] is the top professional football league in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first team to win the title was Al Orouba (Sharjah), whilst Al Ain has the record with 13 league titles to their name. Fourteen clubs compete in the League that operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the First Division League.

UAE Pro League
File:UAE Pro-League.png
Organising bodyPro League Committee
Founded1973; 51 years ago (1973)
CountryUnited Arab Emirates
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toFirst Division League
Domestic cup(s)UAE President's Cup
UAE Super Cup
League cup(s)UAE League Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
Current championsSharjah (6 titles)
(2018–19)
Most championshipsAl Ain (13 titles)
TV partnersAbu Dhabi Sports
Dubai Sports
Sharjah Sports
Websitewww.uaeproleague.ae
Current: 2019–20 season

The League was founded in 1973 as the UAE Football League. The first 1973–74 season was a "trial" championship but was declared official by the UAE FA in 2001.[3] In February 2007, the Pro League Committee was formed, and became the organizing body of the League.

Name change

Starting from the 2013–14 season the name was changed from UAE Pro League to Arabian Gulf League, which was named after the Arabian Gulf as per the chairman of Pro League Committee.[4] However, the name change has been viewed as a revival of the Persian Gulf naming dispute[5] with Iran accusing the United Arab Emirates of racism,[6] and the Iranian Football Federation barring the transfer of Javad Nekounam to a UAE club.[7] After about four months of the name change a 70 million AED one-year renewable partnership deal was announced with Arabian Gulf Development to be named Official Title Partner.[8]

Ranking

Main article: AFC Club Competitions Ranking

Ranking

As of 10 June 2019[9]

Ranking Member Association Total Points FIFA Points Club Points 2018 2017 2016 2015
2019 2018 Mvmt Points (10%) Points (90%)
5 5   —   Japan 88.73 1414 0.000 58.000 88.730 11.800 13.850 21.850 10.500
6 6   —   Saudi Arabia 75.65 1335 0.000 49.450 75.65 11.350 10.000 18.600 9.500
7 7   —   United Arab Emirates 66.930 1309 0.000 43.750 66.930 6.300 8.100 11.350 18.000
8 8   —   Thailand 57.062 1160 0.000 37.300 57.062 5.050 16.200 15.050 1.000
9 9   —   Iraq 54.613 1271 0.000 35.699 54.613 8.300 8.633 8.933 9.833

Member clubs (2019–20)

Note: Table lists clubs in alphabetical order.
Club Home city Stadium Capacity
Ajman Ajman City Ajman Stadium 5,537
Al Ain Al-Ain Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium 22,965
Al Dhafra Madinat Zayed Al Dhafra Stadium 5,020
Al Jazira Abu Dhabi City (Al Nahyan) Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium 42,056
Al Nasr Dubai City (Bur Dubai) Al-Maktoum Stadium 15,058
Al Wahda Abu Dhabi City (Al Nahyan) Al Nahyan Stadium 12,201
Al Wasl Dubai City (Bur Dubai) Zabeel Stadium 8,439
Baniyas Abu Dhabi City(Al Shamkha) Baniyas Stadium 10,000
Hatta Hatta Hamdan Bin Rashid Stadium 5,000
Fujairah Fujairah City Fujairah Club Stadium 10,645
Kalba Kalba Ittihad Kalba Stadium 8,500
Khor Fakkan Khor Fakkan Saqr bin Mohammad al Qassimi Stadium 4,373
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai City (Deira) Rashid Stadium 12,052
Sharjah Sharjah City Sharjah Stadium 20,000

Managers

Nat. Name Club Appointed
  Ayman Elramady Ajman 3 June 2016
  Abdulaziz Mohamed Sharjah 15 October 2017
  Krunoslav Jurčić Baniyas 30 May 2018
  Vuk Rašović Al Dhafra 30 June 2018
  Fabio Viviani Kalba 2 September 2018
  Rodolfo Arruabarrena Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai 14 October 2018
  Laurențiu Reghecampf Al Wasl 26 December 2018
  Caio Zanardi Al Nasr 31 March 2019
  Ivan Leko Al Ain 1 June 2019
  Maurice Steijn Al Wahda 9 June 2019
  Christos Kontis Hatta 10 June 2019
  Jurgen Streppel Al Jazira 16 June 2019
  Madjid Bougherra Fujairah 16 June 2019
  Paulo Comelli Khor Fakkan 17 July 2019

List of champions

Source:[10]

No Season Champion Runner up
  1 1973–74 Sharjah Shabab Al Ahli
  2 1974–75 Shabab Al Ahli Sharjah
  3 1975–76 Shabab Al Ahli Al Ain
  4 1976–77 Al Ain Sharjah
  5 1977–78 Al Nasr Al Ain
  6 1978–79 Al Nasr Sharjah
  7 1979–80 Shabab Al Ahli Sharjah
  8 1980–81 Al Ain Al Nasr
  9 1981–82 Al Wasl Al Ain
  10 1982–83 Al Wasl Sharjah
  11 1983–84 Al Ain Al Wasl
  12 1984–85 Al Wasl Sharjah
  13 1985–86 Al Nasr Al Wasl
  14 1986–87 Sharjah Al Wasl
  15 1987–88 Al Wasl Sjarjah
  16 1988–89 Sharjah Al Wasl
  17 1989–90 Shabab Al Ahli Al Wasl
× 1990–91 Cancelled
  18 1991–92 Al Wasl Sharjah
  19 1992–93 Al Ain Al Wasl
  20 1993–94 Sharjah Al Ain
  21 1994–95 Shabab Al Ahli Al Ain
  22 1995–96 Sharjah Al Wasl
  23 1996–97 Al Wasl Al Nasr
  24 1997–98 Al Ain Sharjah
  25 1998–99 Al Wahda Al Ain
  26 1999–00 Al Ain Al Nasr
  27 2000–01 Al Wahda Shabab Al Ahli
  28 2001–02 Al Ain Al Jazira
  29 2002–03 Al Ain Al Wahda
  30 2003–04 Al Ain Shabab Al Ahli
  31 2004–05 Al Wahda Al Ain
  32 2005–06 Shabab Al Ahli Al Wahda
  33 2006–07 Al Wasl Al Wahda
  34 2007–08 Shabab Al Ahli Al Jazira
  35 2008–09 Shabab Al Ahli Al Jazira
  36 2009–10 Al Wahda Al Jazira
  37 2010–11 Al Jazira Baniyas
  38 2011–12 Al Ain Al Nasr
  39 2012–13 Al Ain Shabab Al Ahli
  40 2013–14 Shabab Al Ahli Al Wahda
  41 2014–15 Al Ain Al Jazira
  42 2015–16 Shabab Al Ahli Al Ain
  43 2016–17 Al Jazira Al Wasl
  44 2017–18 Al Ain Al Wahda
  45 2018–19 Sharjah Shabab Al Ahli

Champions

Performance by club

Club Name Won Runners-up Winning seasons
Al Ain
13
7
 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18
Shabab Al Ahli
10*
5
 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1989–90*, 1994–95*, 2005–06, 2007–08*, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16
Al Wasl
7
8
 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07
Sharjah
6
10*
 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19
Al Wahda
4
5
 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10
Al Nasr
3
4
 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86
Al Jazira
2
5
 2010–11, 2016–17
Baniyas
0
1
 —

Performance by city

City / Area Titles Clubs Winning seasons
Dubai
20
Shabab Al Ahli (10): 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1989–90, 1994–95 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2015–16
Al Wasl (7): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1996–97, 2006–07
Al Nasr (3): 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86
Al Ain
13
Al Ain (13): 1976–77, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18
Abu Dhabi
6
Al Wahda (4): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2009–10
Al Jazira (2): 2010–11, 2016–17
Sharjah Sharjah (6): 1973–74, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2018–19

As of July 2016 following clubs are officially allowed to wear stars while playing in the League, Each country's usage is unique and in UAE the practice is to award one star for each five titles won. The number in parentheses is for League titles won. [11]

Players

All-time top scorers

Source:[12]

Rank Nat Name Club Years Goals Apps
1   Fahad Khamees Al Wasl 1980–1997 166 230
2   Mohammad Omar Al Wasl
Al Ain
Al Jazira
Al Dhafra
Al Nasr
Ajman 		1992–2011 132 237
3   Adnan Al Talyani Al Shaab 1980–1999 129 232
4   Abdulaziz Mohamed Sharjah N/A–2002 127 N/A
5   Ali Mabkhout Al Jazira 2009–Present 122 161
6  
  		Youssouf Atiq
Ahmed Abdullah 		Al Ahli
Al Ain 		1988–2002
1978–1995		 117 N/A
7   Faisal Khalil Al Ahli
Al Wasl
Al Shaab 		1999–2013 114 302
8   Asamoah Gyan Al-Ain
Al Ahli 		2011–2017 101 97
9   Anderson Barbosa Sharjah
Al Wasl 		2002–2009 99 128
10   Ali Thani Sharjah N/A 93 128

Top scorers by season

Season Player Club Goals
1974–75[13]   Suhail Salim Al Ahli 14
1975–76[14]   Ali Nawaz Baloch Al Wahda 12
1976–77[14]   Al Fadhel Santo Al Nasr 10
1977–78[14]   Mohieddine Habita Al Ain 20
1980–81[15]   Karim Abdul Razak Emirates 14
1981–82[16]   Ahmed Abdullah Al Ain 12
1982–83[17]   Carlos Al Nasr 12
1983–84[18]   Ahmed Abdullah
  Fahad Khamees 		Al Ain
Al Wasl 		20
1984–85[19]   Fahad Khamees
  Adnan Al Talyani 		Al Wasl
Al Shaab 		14
1985–86[15][19]   Mohammed Salem Al Wahda 16
1986–87[15][19]   Adnan Al Talyani
  Khalil Ghanim 		Al Shaab
Al Khaleej 		13
1987–88[20]   Zuhair Bakheet Al Wasl 25
1988–89[21]   Fahad Khamees Al Wasl 14
1989–90[19]   Hussain Yaslam Baniyas 16
1991–92[22][23]   Youssouf Atiq Al Ahli 25
1992–93[15][23]   Saif Sultan Al Ain 20
1993–94[15][24]   Abdulaziz Mohammed Sharjah 18
1994–95[15][23]   Bader Jassim Al Wahda 10
1995–96[23][25]   Jassim Al Dokhi Al Shaab 10
1996–97[15][23]   Bader Jassim Al Wahda 11
1997–98[23]   Ali Thani Sharjah 18
1998–99[26]   Alboury Lah Al Wahda 29
1999–00[23][27]   Alboury Lah Al Wahda 18
2000–01[28][29]    Mohammed Al Enazi Al Wahda 22
2001–02[28][30]    Mohammed Al Enazi Al Wahda 22
2002–03[31]   Cristián Montecinos Dubai 19
2003–04[32]   Ali Karimi Al Ahli 14
2004–05[17][33]   Valdir
  Anderson Barbosa 		Al Nasr
Sharjah 		23
2005–06[34]   Anderson Barbosa Sharjah 19
2006–07[35]   Anderson Barbosa Al Wasl 19
2007–08[36]   Faisal Khalil
  Anderson Barbosa 		Al-Ahli
Al-Sharjah 		16
2008–09[37]   Fernando Baiano Al Jazira 25
2009–10[38]   José Sand Al Ain 24
2010–11[39]   André Senghor Baniyas 18
2011–12[40]   Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 22
2012–13[41]   Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 31
2013–14[42]   Asamoah Gyan Al Ain 29
2014–15   Mirko Vučinić Al Jazira 25
2015–16   Sebastián Tagliabué Al Wahda 25
2016–17   Ali Mabkhout Al Jazira 33
2017–18   Marcus Berg Al Ain 25
2018–19   Sebastián Tagliabué Al Wahda 27

By country

Country Players Seasons
  United Arab Emirates 17 20
  Brazil 4 6
  Ghana 2 4
  Argentina 2 3
  Senegal 2 3
  Pakistan 1 1
  Sudan 1 1
  Tunisia 1 1
  Chile 1 1
  Iran 1 1
  Montenegro 1 1
  Sweden 1 1

References

  1. ^ Studios, XS. "Persian Gulf Development introduced as new Title Sponsor for the Persian Gulf League - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.uaeproleague.ae. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. ^ Studios, XS. "Persian Gulf Development renews League sponsorship - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.agleague.ae. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  3. ^ "1973/74 UAE Football League". Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  4. ^ "New League name announced by H.E. Mohammed Thani Murshed Al Romaithi - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.uaeproleague.ae.
  5. ^ "Gulf rivalry between Iran, UAE transfered [sic] to the football pitch". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. ^ Category: Asia (29 May 2013). "Iran accuses UAE of racism in renaming Pro League to the Arabian Gulf League". Inside World Football. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Iran bars captain's UAE transfer over Gulf name". Fox News. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Arabian Gulf Development introduced as new Title Sponsor for the Arabian Gulf League - News - UAE Pro League Committee". www.uaeproleague.ae. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  9. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". Asian Football Confederation.
  10. ^ Atsushi Fujioka (19 May 2011). "United Arab Emirates - List of Champions". UAE FA website. RSSSF. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  11. ^ "لماذا ستوضع نجمة على قمصان بعض الفرق الإماراتية؟ - سبورت 360 عربية". arabic.sport360.com.
  12. ^ "100s". FootballUAE.net. Archived from the original on 25 June 2002. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  13. ^ "United Arab Emirates 1974/75". RSSSF.com.
  14. ^ a b c "1975-1978" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "Scorers 1980-2001". FootballUAE.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 16 December 2001. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  16. ^ "The league championship 35 years old story" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
  17. ^ a b "Top-scorer Valder calls for professional set-up in UAE". GulfNews.com.
  18. ^ "1983–84: Goals" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
  19. ^ a b c d "1984–91" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
  20. ^ "1987–88: Goals". RSSSF.com.
  21. ^ "1974–06" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
  22. ^ "1991–92: Goals". RSSSF.com.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "Al Ain achieve a record in the ninth title" (in Arabic). AlIttihad.ae.
  24. ^ "1993–94: Goals". RSSSF.com.
  25. ^ "1995–96: Goals". RSSSF.com.
  26. ^ "The Pro-League 4th edition launches today". AGLeague.ae.
  27. ^ "1999–00: Goals". RSSSF.com.
  28. ^ a b "2000-01: Goals". GulfNews.com.
  29. ^ "2000-01: Goals". RSSSF.com.
  30. ^ "2001-02: Goals". GulfNews.com.
  31. ^ "2002-03: Goals". GulfNews.com.
  32. ^ "2003-04: Goals". RSSSF.com.
  33. ^ "2004-05: Goals". Goalzz.com.
  34. ^ "2005-06: Goals". Goalzz.com.
  35. ^ "2006-07: Goals". Goalzz.com.
  36. ^ "2007-08: Goals". Goalzz.com.
  37. ^ "2008-09: Goals". Goalzz.com.
  38. ^ "2009-10: Goals". Soccerway.com.
  39. ^ "2010-11: Goals". Soccerway.com.
  40. ^ "2011-12: Goals". Soccerway.com.
  41. ^ "2012–13: Goals". Soccerway.com.
  42. ^ "2013-14: Goals". Soccerway.com.
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