Kuwait Premier League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Kuwaiti Premier League)
Kuwait Premier League
Founded1961; 63 years ago (1961)
CountryKuwait Kuwait
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toKuwaiti Division One
Domestic cup(s)Kuwait Emir Cup
Kuwait Crown Prince Cup
Kuwait Federation Cup
Kuwait Super Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League 2
UAFA Club Championship
Current championsKuwait SC (18th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsKuwait SC (18 titles)
Top goalscorerKuwait Bader Al-Mutawa
(164 goals)
TV partnersSHASHA
Current: 2023–24 Kuwaiti Premier League

The Kuwait Premier League (Arabic: الدوري الكويتي, romanizedDawriyy al-Kuwaytī), known as Zain Premier League due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of the Kuwait football pyramid system. Formed in 1961, Kuwait SC hold the best record in the competition, having won 18 times.

History[edit]

The Kuwaiti Premier League officially began in the 1961/62 season, after playing unofficially for eight years (played with group of clubs: "Ahli - Al Jazeera - Arabism - Gulf - Solidarity - Al-Qubali, Al-Nahda, Al-Sharqai, Al-Merqab, Al-Mawalim and Al-Taawon). National companies and ministries were club's first sponsors.

1960s[edit]

In the 1961/1962 season, several new clubs joined (Al-Arabi, Qadsia, Kuwait SC, Kifan High School, Shuwaikh Secondary School, Industrial College and Police Team). Al-Arabi won the league title without losing, and winning 7 points ahead of Qadsia, scoring 42 goals and conceding 10.

In the following season, the number of teams was reduced to 7. Al-Arabi managed to win the second title in a row after winning 18 points ahead of Qadsia, scoring 45 goals and conceding 6.

The third season of the league almost witnessed the end of Arabi monopoly, after fierce competition from Qadsia and other teams. Arabi and Qadsia were equal on points before the decisive match. Arabi managed to maintain the title after defeating Qadsia 2-0, scoring overall 42 goals and conceding nine.

In the fourth season, school teams were removed from participating and league saw participation of 3 new clubs (Salmiya, Fahaheel and Al-Shabab). The Kuwait Club managed to end the Arabi monopoly to achieve its first title, after winning the competition without any defeat.

The 1960s witnessed a sweep of the Arabi club when it won six titles against two titles for Kuwait and a title for Qadsia.

1970s[edit]

The 1970 era began with Qadsia's winning the 1971/1970 season, for the second time in its history. Al-Arabi lost its championship in a strange way during ten years. They did not win any title during this period until the end of the 1979/1980 season.

1980s[edit]

The eighties witnessed three new league champions, namely Al-Salmiya who won its first title in the 1980/81 season, and Kazma club which won the titles of 1985/86 and 1986/87, as well as Jahra club, which ended the 1980s by winning the title.

1990s[edit]

The league championship was not held in the 1990–91 season because of Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Competition began again in the 1991–92 season, which was held as group system with qualification. Old format returned with participation of 14 teams in the 1994–95 season. Era of the nineties witnessed a parity between clubs, where both Al-Arabi and Al-Salmiya won 3 titles, and Qadsia and Kazma two.

2000s[edit]

At the beginning of a new millennium, Kuwait SC achieved the league championship after a long absence of 22 years, followed by victory of Al-Arabi for the sixteenth time in its history in the 2001–02 season. Since then until 2020–21 season, Qadsia has won nine titles while Kuwait Club won five. Al-Arabi was able to break their dominance and win the mentioned season title.

Previous winners[edit]

Source:[1]

By season[edit]

Most titles[edit]

Club Titles Seasons
Kuwait SC
18
1964–65, 1967–68, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1978–79, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
Al-Arabi
17
1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1969–70, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1979–88, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1996–97, 2001–02, 2020–21
Qadsia
17
1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16
Kazma
4
1985–86, 1986–87, 1993–94, 1995–96
Al-Salmiya
4
1980–81, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1999–2000
Al-Jahra
1
1989–90

Total titles won by Governorate[edit]

Governorate Number of titles Clubs
Al Asimah
39
Kuwait SC (18), Al-Arabi (17), Kazma (4)
Hawalli
21
Qadisia (17), Al-Salmiya (4)
Jahra
1
Al-Jahra (1)

Topscorers[edit]

All-time top scorers[edit]

As of 12 March 2024
Rank Players Goals Club(s)
1 Kuwait Bader Al-Mutawa 164 Qadsia
2 Syria Firas Al-Khatib 162 Al-Nasr, Al-Arabi, Qadsia, Al-Salmiya, Kuwait
3 Kuwait Jasem Yaqoub 146 Qadsia
4 Kuwait Faisal Al-Dakhil 141 Qadsia
5 Kuwait Yussef Al-Suwayed 137 Kazma
6 Brazil Patrick Fabiano 133 Al-Nasr, Kazma, Al-Salmiya, Kuwait
7 Kuwait Ali Marwi 111 Al-Salmiya
8 Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla 105 Al-Arabi
9 Kuwait Bashar Abdullah 104 Al-Salmiya, Kuwait
10 Kuwait Anbar Sayed 90 Al-Arabi

Topscorers by season[edit]

Table key
Record number of goals
Year[2] Top scorers Team Goals
1961–62 Kuwait Khalifa Al-Shatti Qadsia 21
Kuwait Saleh Zakaria Al-Kuliya Al-Sanaya
1962–63 Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla Al-Arabi 15
1963–64 Kuwait Othman Al-Ossimi Qadsia 17
1964–65 Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla Al-Arabi 16
1965–66 Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla Al-Arabi 22
1966–67 Kuwait Abdulrahman Al-Dawla Al-Arabi 12
1967–68 Kuwait Mohamed Yusif Al-Salmiya 6
1968–69 Kuwait Mohamed Al-Misud Qadsia 6
Kuwait Ali Hasiz Arti Al-Arabi
1969–70 Egypt Hassan Shehata Kazma 7
1970–71 Egypt Hassan Shehata Kazma 9
1971–72 Kuwait Mohamed Al Misud Qadsia 7
Egypt Hassan Shehata Kazma
1972–73 Kuwait Ali Al-Mali Al-Arabi 16
1973–74 Kuwait Jasem Yaqoub Qadsia 10
1974–75 Kuwait Jasem Yaqoub Qadsia 25
1975–76 Kuwait Jasem Yaqoub Qadsia 16
1976–77 Kuwait Faisal Al-Dakhil Qadsia 12
Kuwait Jasem Yaqoub Qadsia
1977–78 Kuwait Saud Buhamad Qadsia 10
1978–79 Kuwait Ali Al-Mali Al-Arabi 10
1979–80 Kuwait Jasem Yaqoub Qadsia 31
1980–81 Kuwait Faisal Al-Dakhil Qadsia 19
Kuwait Ahmad Khalaf Al-Arabi
1981–82 Kuwait Tariq Najm Kazma 16
1982–83 Kuwait Talib Hasin Sulaibikhat 23
1983–84 Kuwait Yussef Al-Suwayed Kazma 26
1984–85 Kuwait Faisal Al-Dakhil Qadsia 22
1985–86 Kuwait Salah Al-Masnad Kazma 9
1986–87 Kuwait Nassir Al-Ghanem Kazma 9
1987–88 Kuwait Faisal Al-Dakhil Qadsia 11
1988–89 Kuwait Bader Al-Anbari Kazma 8
1989–90 Kuwait Khaled Al-Nasr Al-Arabi 8
1991–92 Kuwait Jassem Al Houwaidi Al-Salmiya 10
1992–93 Kuwait Ali Marwi Al-Salmiya 10
1993–94 Kuwait Hamad Al Salah Qadsia 12
Kuwait Nawaf Jadid Al Jahra
1994–95 Czech Republic Roman Hanus Kazma 13
1995–96 Brazil Luiz Carlos Kazma 14
1996–97 Brazil Luiz Carlos Kazma 11
1997–98 Kuwait Ali Marwi Al-Salmiya 28
1998–99 Kuwait Ali Marwi Al-Salmiya 22
1999–2000 Kuwait Bashar Abdullah Al-Salmiya 11
2000–01 Kuwait Faraj Laheeb
Kuwait Bashar Abdullah
Kuwait
Al-Salmiya
10
2001–02 Senegal Malek John Kazma 10
2002–03 Brazil Dênis Marques Kuwait 9
2003–04 Kuwait Khalaf Al Salamah Qadsia 12
2004–05 Syria Firas Al Khatib Al-Arabi 13
2005–06 Kuwait Hamad Al Harbi Al-Fahaheel 22
2006–07 Kuwait Bashar Abdullah Kuwait 10
2007–08 Kuwait Ahmad Ajab Qadsia 14
2008–09 Brazil Careca Kuwait 13
2009–10 Oman Ismail Al Ajmi Kuwait 13
2010–11 Syria Firas Al Khatib Qadsia 14
2011–12 Brazil Vinícius Lopes Al-Jahra 9
2012–13 Brazil Rogerinho Kuwait 11
2013–14 Syria Omar Al Soma Qadsia 23[3]
2014–15 Brazil Patrick Fabiano Kazma 22[4]
2015–16 Syria Firas Al Khatib Al-Arabi 23[5]
2016–17 Brazil David da Silva Qadsia 14[6]
2017–18 Kuwait Faisal Ajab Al Tadhamon 15
2018–19 Kuwait Hussain Al-Musawi Al-Arabi 17
2019–20 Kuwait Yousef Nasser
Brazil Patrick Fabiano
Kuwait
Al-Salmiya
14
2020–21 State of Palestine Oday Dabbagh Al-Arabi 13
2021–22 Kuwait Shabaib Al-Khaldi Kazma 11
2022–23 Tunisia Taha Yassine Khenissi Kuwait 20

Participation by the years[edit]

Notes:

References[edit]

  1. ^ Atsushi Fujioka (6 May 2016). "Kuwait – List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  2. ^ "الاتحاد الكويتي لكرة القدم". Archived from the original on 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  3. ^ "دوري VIVA الكويت". www.kooora.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  4. ^ "دوري VIVA الكويت". www.kooora.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  5. ^ "دوري VIVA الكويت". www.kooora.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-03. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  6. ^ "دوري VIVA الكويت". www.kooora.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2017-05-26.

External links[edit]