🇸🇦 Everything you need to know about the new Saudi Pro League season | OneFootball

The Saudi Pro League returns this week with more star names than Hollywood Boulevard.

Things are a little different in 2024/25 though, with squads being reduced from 30 to 25, 10 non-Saudi players being allowed in each squad and the introduction of ‘Magic Rounds’ where derbies are played on matchweeks nine and 26.

It’s sure to be another thrilling season then and here’s all you need to know ahead of kick off on Thursday.

Al-Ahli

Based: Jeddah

Coach: Matthias Jaissle

Star man: Roberto Firmino

Position last season: 3rd

Aims for 2024/25: A third-place finish last time out for the Jeddah side will see them return to the Asian Champions League this season.

And although that can be considered a success for Matthias Jaissle and his men, Al-Ahli finished a full 31 points behind champions Al-Hilal and have yet to add any big-name signings to the squad this summer.

Another top three finish could be a long-shot this time out despite the creative talents of Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez.

Al-Ettifaq

Based: Dammam

Coach: Steven Gerrard

Star man: Georginio Wijnaldum

Position last season: 6th

Aims for 2024/25: Steven Gerrard is coming up to his first anniversary in charge of Al-Ettifaq and will almost certainly be hoping to kick on this season after a slightly indifferent 2023/24.

Despite ending the campaign in sixth, the Commandos finished closer to the relegation places in terms of points than they did to the top three, scoring a lowly 43 goals.

Gerrard meanwhile has conceded that this term will be harder than ever.

“You can already see things have gone up a notch with the league, not just in the quality of the teams but how the league are going about things,” he told the Saudi Pro League.

“We’re really looking forward to the new derby weekends, which I think will give those fixtures an added edge and I think some of the transfers in and out across the league are really smart.”

Al-Fateh

Based: Al-Hasa

Coach: N/A

Star man: Jason Denayer

Position last season: 7th

Aims for 2024/25: Another side who finished firmly mid-table last term, Al-Fateh were one of the most exciting sides to watch in 2023/24 owing to their relatively gung-ho approach under coach Slaven Bilić.

Bilić however, has left the club by mutual consent and with no head coach at the time of writing, they could find things difficult in the opening weeks of this new campaign. A battle against relegation could be on the cards here.

Al-Fayha

Based: Al Majma’ah

Coach: Christos Kontis

Star man: Henry Onyekuru

Position last season: 9th

Aims for 2024/25: Former Olympiacos and APOEL Nicosia defender Christos Kontis is the new man in charge of Al-Fayha after Vuk Rašović was giving his marching orders earlier in the summer.

It won’t be an easy job for the Greek coach though, with the Orange boasting little in the way of big names on big salaries.

Ex-Galatasaray striker Henry Onyekuru is the star of the show but keep an eye on local midfielder Saud Zidan as they try to maintain their position in mid-table.

Al-Hilal

Based: Riyadh

Coach: Jorge Jesus

Star man: Aleksandar Mitrović

Position last season: 1st

Aims for 2024/25: The reigning champions and, once again, the side to beat this time out.

Jorge Jesus hasn’t really added to his already impressive squad over the summer, but crucially, hasn’t lost anyone either.

In Aleksandar Mitrović, Al-Hilal has a goal-a-game striker who looks to be in his absolute prime, whilst world class names like Sergej Milinković-Savić and Ruben Neves continue to provide the bullets. National and continental dominance surely waits.

Al-Ittihad

Based: Jeddah

Coach: Laurent Blanc

Star man: Karim Benzema

Position last season: 5th

Aims for 2024/25: World Cup winner Laurent Blanc is the new coach tasked with trying to turnaround Al-Ittihad’s fortunes this season.

The Jeddah club were thoroughly disappointing last term under Marcelo Gallardo and finished outside the top four despite boasting the likes of Karim Benzema, Fabinho and N’Golo Kanté.

As Benzema said to the league website though, he’s confident things will be different this time: “We’re here to challenge for everything, not just make up the numbers.

“We know we need to improve. We have a new manager and have added some real quality to the squad with Moussa Diaby and Houssem Aouar, and I’ve been really impressed by some of the younger guys who have come in to the squad.”

Al-Khaleej

Based: Saihat

Coach: Georgios Donis

Star man: Khaled Narey

Position last season: 11th

Aims for 2024/25: Another club with a new coach heading into the upcoming season, Al-Khaleej survived by just five points last time out and will need to improve on their record of just 36 goals in 34 games.

The loss of Ivo Rodrigues to Portuguese side Arouca could prove to be a huge blow but former Hamburg wide man Khaled Narey will hopefully step up and salve that particular wound.

If not though, it could be another difficult season in Saihat.

Al-Kholood

Based: Ar Rass

Coach: Paulo Duarte

Star man: Kevin N’Doram

Position last season: 3rd in the Yelo League (promoted)

Aims for 2024/25: Having secured promotion into the Saudi Pro League by just two points last term, don’t expect too much from Paulo Duarte and his side this season.

Al-Kholood are a relatively small club with limited ambitions and just staying in the top flight will be a big achievement come May. The signing of midfielder Kevin N’Doram however, does show that they mean business heading into their opening game this week with the 28-year-old a regular in the Metz side over the past four years.

Al-Nassr

Based: Riyadh

Coach: Luis Castro

Star man: Cristiano Ronaldo

Position last season: 2nd

Aims for 2024/25: Despite boasting Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané, it’s fair to say that 2023/24 was a disappointment for Al-Nassr.

The capital club finished 14 points behind champions Al-Hilal despite scoring 100 goals over the campaign and Mané knows his men have to improve this term.

“We fell short last season and we need to step up this year,” he told the leage.

“Everyone in the squad, myself included. I’m sure every other team in the league is hoping to do the same. I’m expecting a super competitive season with some very good players joining the league and new young boys coming through.”

Al-Okhdood

Based: Najran

Coach: Stjepan Tomas

Star man: Sebastian Pedroza.

Position last season: 15th

Aims for 2024/25: Al-Okhdood flirted with relegation last term but survived thanks to an impressive 2-0 win at Al-Tai on the final day.

Spanish attacker Álex Collado was the star that day but the 25-year-old has returned to parent club Real Betis and will be an enormous miss for coach Stjepan Tomas this season.

Another season of looking over their shoulder awaits.

Al-Orobah

Based: Khobar

Coach: Alvaro Pacheco

Star man: Rubin Hebaj

Position last season: 2nd in the Yelo League (promoted)

Aims for 2024/25: The second of this season’s promoted sides and once again, another team who could find it a struggle in the top flight.

Former Estoril and Vasco da Gama coach Alvaro Pacheco comes in and will most likely be relying on the goals of Albanian striker Rubin Hebaj to maintain their top flight status.

Al-Qadsiah

Based: Buraidah

Coach: Michel

Star man: Ezequiel Fernandez

Position last season: 1st in the Yelo League (promoted)

Aims for 2024/25: Comfortably the best-equipped of the promoted sides to try and stay up this season, Al-Qadsiah could surprise a few of the bigger names in the Pro League too.

Veteran names such as Real Madrid legend Nacho and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been added to the squad whilst 22-year-old Ezequiel Fernandez has been added from Boca Juniors as one of South America’s brightest young talents.

A top four finish definitely isn’t out of the question for Michel’s men.

Al-Raed

Based: Buraidah

Coach: Odair Hellmann

Star man: Karim El Berkaoui

Position last season: 12th

Aims for 2024/25: One of the 10 sides heading into 2024/24 with a new man at the helm, Al-Raed welcome Brazilian boss Odair Hellmann to the club with the 47-year-old having managed Al-Riyadh last term.

Veteran goalscorer Karim El Berkaoui will be the man the Buraidah side turn to once again to get them out of trouble. The Moroccan goal-getter netted 12 in 30 appearances last season and will need to re-find in scoring boots if Al-Raed are to stay in the top flight.

Al-Riyadh

Based: Riyadh

Coach: Sabri Lamouchi

Star man: Nawaf Shaker Fayrouz Al-Abed

Position last season: 14th

Aims for 2024/25: Ex-Nottingham Forest and Watford coach Sabri Lamouchi joins the capital side this summer hoping to return them to former glories.

Al-Riyadh enjoyed a golden period in the mid-1990s, winning the Pro League and Kings Cup before falling on harder times recently.

They are one of the rare squads without any international stars but Saudi Arabia international Nawaf Shaker Fayrouz Al-Abed adds some gloss out wide.

Al-Shabab

Based: Riyadh

Coach: Victor Pereira

Star man: Yannick Carrasco

Position last season: 8th

Aims for 2024/25: A fascinating squad with a journeyman manager should make this season a captivating one for Al-Shabab.

Whether that fascination comes from their beautiful, attacking football or if it’s like a car crash in slow motion really is anyone’s guess at this point.

Yannick Carrasco is the star out wide whilst former Milan man Giacomo Bonaventura can produce world class moments on a whim.

It really could be anything from fourth to 14th for this side though.

Al-Taawoun

Based: Buraidah

Coach: Rodolfo Arruabarrena

Star man: Mateus Castro

Position last season: 4th

Aims for 2024/25: Al-Taawoun hit the ground running last term and never really let up for the entire campaign.

From matchweek three onwards, the Buraidah side never placed below fifth in the table and eventually finished in fourth, ahead of giants like Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq.

Journeyman Brazilian João Pedro was consistently excellent, scoring 11 in his first season at the club whilst local hero Abdulfattah Adam chipped with eight across the season.

Another top four finish seems unlikely but both men will need to keep up that form is there is to be a repeat.

Al-Wehda

Based: Mecca

Coach: Josef Zinnbauer

Star man: Odio Ighalo

Position last season: 13th

Aims for 2024/25: Goals certainly weren’t the problem for Al-Wedha last season with former Manchester United man Odion Ighalo netting 16 in all competitions.

At the other end though, Al-Wehda were leakier than Richard Nixon’s White House, conceding 60 – the worst of all the non-relegated teams.

The news of defensive midfielder Craig Goodwin’s injury comes at the worst possible time then. It could be a difficult year for Josef Zinnbauer’s side.

Damac

Based: Khamis Mushait

Coach: Cosmin Contra

Star man: Georges-Kévin Nkoudou

Position last season: 10th

Aims for 2024/25: Cameroon international Georges-Kévin Nkoudou was the standout for Damac last term, scoring 16 goals as they finished in 10th place.

The former Tottenham forward is joined by Dutch midfielder Adam Maher and Egpyptian defensive stalwart Tarek Hamed.

It’s a solid if unspectacular squad that should be finishing in mid-table again.