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.
.svg) | |||
| Full name | Al-Duhail Sports Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Red Knights | ||
| Founded | 2009 (as Lekhwiya) | ||
| Ground | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium Doha, Qatar | ||
| Capacity | 9,000[1] | ||
| Chairman | Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani | ||
| Head coach | Christophe Galtier | ||
| League | Qatar Stars League | ||
| 2023–24 | Qatar Stars League, 6th of 12 | ||
| Website | http://www.duhailsc.qa/ | ||
|
| |||
| Al Duhail SC active sections | ||
|---|---|---|
 Football |
 Basketball |
 Handball |
_pictogram.svg){kind=small} Volleyball |
 Futsal |
 Athletics |
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
editThe 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 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
editLekhwiya'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
editShirt sponsors and manufacturers
edit| Period | Kit manufacture | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2009–11 | Burrda | None |
| 2011–19 | Masraf Rayan | |
| 2020– | Puma |
Kit history
edit
     Home kit 2009 |
    Home kit 2011 |
Players
edit- As of 12 June 2024[12]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Personnel
editCurrent technical staff
edit| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Christophe Galtier
|
| Assistant coach | Thierry Oleksiak  João Sacramento Nelson Caldeira
|
| Goalkeeping coach | Fabrice Grange
|
| Physiotherapist |  Sabeur Zidi
|
| Physiotherapist | Pedro Silva
|
| Massager |  Anselmo Apolinario
|
| Massager | Anderson Apolinario
|
| Doctor | Mohamed Soltani
|
Last updated: 23 December 2022
Source: https://www.duhailsc.qa/main-team/
Records and statistics
editLast update: 2 November 2024.
Players whose names are in bold are still active with the club.
| # | Nat. | Name | Career | Goals | League Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Michael Olunga | 2020– | 120 | 75 |
| 2 | 
|
Nam Tae-hee | 2012–2019, 2021–2023 | 117 | 84 |
| 3 | 
|
Youssef El-Arabi | 2016–2019 | 108 | 76 |
| 4 |
|
Youssef Msakni | 2012–2021 | 99 | 73 |
| 5 | 
|
Almoez Ali | 2016– | 73 | 54 |
| 6 |
|
Sebastián Soria | 2012–2015 | 58 | 42 |
| 7 |
|
Ismaeel Mohammad | 2011– | 50 | 36 |
Reserves and academy
edit
Source: Lekhwiya |
Source: Al Raya
|
Administrative staff
edit
Source: [13] |
Source: [13]
|
Honours
editDomestic
edit- Qatar Stars League
- Qatari Second Division
- Winners (1): 2009–10
- Emir of Qatar Cup
- Qatar Cup
- Qatari Stars Cup
- Winners (1): 2022–23
- Qatar Super Cup / Shiekh Jassem Cup
- Winners (2): 2015, 2016
Regional
editAl-Duhail in Asia
edit| 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
| Round | Country | 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 |
Managerial history
edit- Khalifa Khamis (2008) (unofficial)[15]
- 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)[16]
- Sabri Lamouchi (2020–2021)
- Luís Castro (2021–2022)
Hernán Crespo (2022–2023)- Christophe Galtier (2023–present)
Other sports
editHandball
editReferences
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "Shabab Al Ahli edge Al Duhail to win maiden Qatar-UAE Super Shield". Qatar Stars League. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "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.