1983–84 Saudi Premier League

The 1983–84 Saudi Premier League was the 8th season of Saudi Premier League since its establishment in 1976. Al-Ettifaq were the defending champions, having won their 1st title in the previous season. The campaign began on 5 October 1983 and ended on 17 February 1984. The league was contested by 10 teams the top 8 teams from the previous season as well as Al-Wehda and Al-Riyadh, who joined as the promoted clubs from the 1982–83 First Division.

Saudi Premier League

Season	1983–84
Dates	5 October 1983 – 17 February 1984
Champions	Al-Ahli (2nd title)
Asian Club Championship	Al-Ahli
Gulf Club Champions Cup	Al-Ahli
Arab Club Champions Cup	Al-Ahli
Matches played	90
Goals scored	221 (2.46 per match)
Top goalscorer	Hussam Abu Dawood (13 goals)
Biggest home win	Al-Ahli 5–0 Al-Shabab (27 January 1984)
Biggest away win	Al-Riyadh 0–4 Al-Hilal (4 November 1983) Al-Wehda 1–5 Al-Ettifaq (23 January 1984)
Highest scoring	Al-Shabab 4–4 Al-Qadisiyah (20 January 1984)
Longest winning run	6 games Al-Ahli
Longest unbeaten run	12 games Al-Ittihad
Longest winless run	11 games Al-Wehda
Longest losing run	7 games Al-Riyadh
← 1982–83 1984–85 →

Going into the final matchday, Al-Ahli were leading the table with 2 points ahead of derby rivals Al-Ittihad. Al-Ittihad would face fourth-placed Al-Qadisiyah at home while Al-Ahli would face ninth-placed Al-Nahda away from home. Al-Ittihad would play on 9 February while Al-Ahli were originally scheduled to play on 10 February. However, Al-Ahli's match was delayed to 17 February.^[1] Al-Ahli won the League title on 9 February 1984 after Al-Ittihad drew Al-Qadisiyah 1–1 at home.^[2] Telê Santana became the fifth Brazilian to win the Saudi Premier League after Didi, Mário Zagallo, Chico Formiga, and Chinesinho.^[3]

No relegation would happen this season following the decision to expand the league to 12 teams.

This season was notable for the absence of Saudi internationals. This was due to the Saudi national team's participation in the qualifiers for the 1984 Summer Olympics. These players include Al-Nassr's Majed Abdullah, Al-Ahli's Mohamed Abd Al-Jawad, Al-Hilal's Saleh Nu'eimeh, Al-Ettifaq's Saleh Khalifa, Al-Ittihad's Ahmed Bayazid, and Al-Shabab's Khalid Al-Ma'ajil among others.

Teams

Ten teams competed in the league – the top eight teams of the previous season and the two promoted teams from the First Division. Al-Wehda and Al-Riyadh were promoted to the Premier League and returned to the top flight after an absence of one year.^[4] Al-Wehda were promoted on 24 March 1983 after defeating Al-Taawoun 2–0 at home.^[5] Al-Wehda clinched the title after drawing Al-Riyadh 0–0 in the final matchday. Al-Riyadh were promoted after drawing Al-Wehda 0–0 in the final matchday.

Ohod were the first team to be relegated following a 5–1 away defeat to Al-Shabab on 7 April 1983.^[6] The following day, Al-Rawdhah were defeated by Al-Qadisiyah 2–0 and were relegated.^[7]

Stadiums and locations

 

 

Al-Ahli
Al-Ittihad

 

Al-Ettifaq
Al-Nahda

 

Al-Hilal
Al-Nassr
Al-Riyadh
Al-Shabab

 

Al-Qadisiyah

 

Al-Wehda

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Locations of teams in the 1982–83 Saudi Premier League

Club	Location	Stadium
Al-Ahli	Jeddah	Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah
Al-Ettifaq	Dammam	Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam
Al-Hilal	Riyadh	Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz
Al-Ittihad	Jeddah	Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah
Al-Nahda	Dammam	Youth Welfare Stadium in Dammam
Al-Nassr	Riyadh	Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz
Al-Qadisiyah	Khobar	Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Rakkah
Al-Riyadh	Riyadh	Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz
Al-Shabab	Riyadh	Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Malaz
Al-Wehda	Mecca	Youth Welfare Stadium in Jeddah

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Al-Ahli (C)	18	10	7	1	27	11	+16	27	Gulf Club Champions Cup and Arab Club Champions Cup and Asian Club Championship
2	Al-Ittihad	18	9	7	2	28	17	+11	25
3	Al-Ettifaq	18	7	8	3	26	20	+6	22
4	Al-Qadisiyah	18	7	8	3	30	25	+5	22
5	Al-Nassr	18	7	6	5	27	18	+9	20
6	Al-Hilal	18	5	9	4	18	11	+7	19
7	Al-Shabab	18	5	7	6	20	25	−5	17
8	Al-Wehda	18	3	6	9	16	22	−6	12
9	Al-Nahda	18	2	5	11	11	29	−18	9
10	Al-Riyadh	18	2	3	13	18	43	−25	7

Source: rsssf.com Al-Jazirah
(C) Champions

• Promoted: Ohod, Al-Jabalain.

Saudi Premier League 1983-84 winners
Al-Ahli 2nd title

Results

Home \ Away	AHL	ETT	HIL	ITT	NAH	NSR	QAD	RIY	SHB	WHD
Al-Ahli		2–1	0–0	2–0	2–0	1–0	1–0	1–3	5–0	1–0
Al-Ettifaq	1–1		0–0	2–1	2–0	1–4	1–1	3–1	3–3	0–2
Al-Hilal	0–3	0–0		0–1	1–0	0–2	1–1	3–0	0–0	0–0
Al-Ittihad	1–1	1–1	1–1		4–2	2–2	1–1	4–1	3–0	1–0
Al-Nahda	0–0	0–0	0–4	1–2		0–3	0–2	2–2	2–1	2–2
Al-Nassr	2–2	0–1	0–0	0–1	0–0		1–1	5–1	0–3	2–1
Al-Qadisiyah	2–3	2–2	3–2	2–3	2–1	2–2		1–1	1–0	2–1
Al-Riyadh	0–1	1–2	0–4	1–1	0–1	0–2	1–2		2–3	1–4
Al-Shabab	0–0	0–1	0–2	0–0	1–0	2–1	4–4	2–0		0–0
Al-Wehda	1–1	1–5	0–0	0–1	1–0	0–1	0–1	2–3	1–1

Source: Al-Jazirah
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Hussam Abu Dawood	Al-Ahli	13
2	Mohaisen Al-Jam'an	Al-Nassr	11
	Abdullah Ghurab	Al-Ittihad
4	Jamal Mohammed	Al-Ettifaq	9
5	Nasser Sodoos Al-Dossari	Al-Riyadh	8
	Abdulrahman Al-Dawood	Al-Wehda
	Hamad Al-Dossari	Al-Qadsiah
8	Ahmed Al-Bishi	Al-Qadsiah	7
	Mohammed Abo Haidar	Al-Ettifaq
10	Talal Sobhi	Al-Ahli	6
	Naif Marzooq	Al-Shabab
	Saad Abo Samrah	Al-Ittihad
	Hathal Al-Dossari	Al-Hilal

See also

• 1984 King Cup
• 1985–86 Asian Club Championship
• 1985 Arab Club Champions Cup

References

1. "تاجيل مباراة الاهلي و النهضة الى الجمعة ما بعد القادم".
2. "عرض اتحادي باهت اسفر عن التعادل مع الفريق القدساوي".
3. "Jazirah newspaper 18-02-84".
4. "الوحدة و الرياض يصعدان الى دوري الاضواء".
5. "الوحدة ضمنت بطولة اندية الدرجة الاولى".
6. "الشباب يودع احد بخمسة اهداف".
7. "القادسية تعلن هبوط الروضة".^{[permanent dead link]}

External links

• RSSSF Stats
• Article writer for Saleh Al-Hoireny - Al-Jazirah newspaper 03-09-2010