Al Shabab

Founding and Early Years

Al-Shabab was founded in 1947 in Riyadh as "Shabab Al-Riyadh," the capital's first football club, before taking its current name in 1967.

Club Evolution

Nicknamed "Al-Laith" (The Lion), the club plays at Al-Shabab Club Stadium, opened in 1984 and fully renovated between 2021 and 2023, raising capacity to around 13,500.

Great Managers

Luiz Felipe Scolari had his first coaching spell with the club in the 1980s, before going on to win the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. More recently, the club has seen heavy managerial turnover, with Vítor Pereira, Fatih Terim and Imanol Alguacil succeeding one another between 2024 and 2026, before Thomas Letsch's arrival in July 2026.

Iconic Players

Mohamed Al-Deayea, a legendary goalkeeper who spent his entire career at the club (1988-2001), remains one of the most significant figures in Saudi football history. Éver Banega and Ivan Rakitić, both former Barcelona players, wore the club's colors during the 2020s.

Major Achievements

Al-Shabab have won 6 Saudi league titles, including three in a row between 1990 and 1993, a first in Saudi football, along with the 2000-01 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.

The Club Today

Coached by Thomas Letsch since July 2026, Al-Shabab are going through a rebuilding period, amid instability at chairman level and a 2025-26 season that finished 13th, clear of the relegation zone but without much spark.